USB Music Studio Kit

 Absolutely No Problems Under XP
I must admit that I was mildly amused by some of the reviews of this product.

First, you ARE NOT purchasing software with this package...you are purchasing the USB-MIDI adapter. The additional software that may be included in this package are bonuses; so do not be surprised that some of them are demo versions. Also, there is no spyware included. An Internet connection absolutely IS NOT required for any of the included software, though you can register the software via an Internet connection if you so choose.

Second, the adapter works just fine in Windows XP and requires NO EXTRA SOFTWARE to work. Plug one end into your MIDI device, plug the other end into a USB port, and the built-in Windows drivers will take care of the rest. The device also works under Windows 98, though not as well (it has difficulty with simultaneous events, so chords from a MIDI keyboard may not register correctly).

As with most inexpensive adapters, there are latency issues with this device. Performing multi-track recordings with this device will be difficult. But as a simple MIDI device, it works quite well.

I thought this was a good purchase though a bit overpriced. Then again, I knew what I was buying.

 Didn't work on my Windows XP system
I'd like to be able to say more about this product but I've
been unable to get the included MIDI cable working with my
Toshiba XP system. I've exchanged about 10 emails with their
support person, but so far still no luck. He insists that they
have tested it successfully with other XP installations, but since they can't tell me why it doesn't work with mine, I'd be concerned that it may not work with yours.

 DO NOT BUY IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS XP
This software says it's supports Windows XP but it does not. Voyetra does not have good customer service. This is what Voyetra had to say about this package:

"The USB Music Studio Kit is compatible with Windows XP. The drivers just aren't XP certified, but that doesn't mean they don't work.

They do work of course, otherwise how could we sell it?"

If you are on XP it will give you a warning that it is not XP certified and it may damage your system.

If you have $50 to gamble on this package then go for it.

 Good value! Software registration needs Internet connection
I bought it because I neded USB to MIDI adapter cable to use my older Windows 2000 laptop with my MIDI keyboard. MIDI worked as soon as I installed the software from CD. The only thing I do not like is the registration with included Voyetra Record Producer software, it forces registration throught Internet to be able to use the software or it goes in 30 days demo mode.

 Setup is a challenge, but performance is awesome
I have finally connected my Yamaha PSR-225GM keyboard to my Toshiba XP laptop and now I am recording music directly from the keyboard into MIDI format. The software takes a while to get used to and there are some places where it might have been more user-friendly, but it is powerful and easy to use once you understand it. I like how you can select and move notes, change the length of the notes, change the musical instrument, and print out music. The music recording captured dynamics.

Getting things to work took a lot of time. I spent a few hours and was about to give up. I am still not sure which of the things I tried made the recording to work. I ended up using the Edirol UM-1SX (purchased separately) instead of the USB MIDI cable that came with the studio kit. I configured the keyboard MIDI settings to channel 1 and made sure the MIDI would be sent out. I uninstalled and reinstalled the application. Then tried recording and voila it worked! Used EDIROL as MIDI input and Microsoft MIDI Mapper as MIDI output.

 WARNING: SPYWARE
"System Requirements: Internet Access" The included software is spyware / 30 day shareware even though you paid for it. Very irritating multi pop-up messages that demand access to the internet. They are time consuming to dismiss.