I am completely new to music and bought a CME UF8 (MIDI controller) keyboard to teach myself how to play the piano - I figured the the aftertouch and hammer action would make it good to learn on and I got a good deal on it.

After a two month wait, it finally arrived this afternoon - and a big bastard it is, too.

Anyway, I've hooked it up via USB to my WinXP computer and successfully installed the drivers that came on the included CD.

I have Cakewalk Pro 6.01 installed and working but it doesn't seem to be receiving key presses from the UF8. Cakewalk's MIDI settings are as follows:

Input Ports: UF MIDI IN
Output Ports: SB Audigy 2 Synth A [DF00]

I previously had the output port set to UF MIDI OUT but couldn't hear Cakewalk play MIDI files, so, I changed it to one of the SB Audigy options and now I can here MIDI files play. I figure that the UF8 just needs the input port, to get the key press info into Cakewalk, right? Sorry for being such a newbie.

Incidentally, I tried loading the Cakewalk template that came on the UF's driver CD, following the instructions on the accompanying ReadMe:

1.Launch Cakewalk Program
2.File->New->"16 Channel Multitrack"(or other)
3.File->Open->"CME UF_Cakewalk.CakewalkStudioWare"

... but Cakewalk doesn't recognize the .CakewalkStudioWare extension! Should I rename it to something else?

Anyway, right now my main priority is to make sure the UF8 is working and, of course, it would be really nice to produce some sort of sound as I tinkle away on this gorgeous keyboard, so.... until I get the more complex software sorted, can anyone recommend some simple software, preferably freeware, that will recognise my key presses and turn them into good old-fashioned piano notes?

I would appreciate any and all advice, thanks.

I'm not a cakewalk user, try the cakewalk lads found here:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/
_________________
Recording Studio Suntans

Thanks for the pointer towards the Cakewalk forums, I'll check them out.

Unfortunately, it is now clear that the problem is beyond any individual application, it's some sort of USB MIDI problem: the computer receives signals from the keyboard for a few minutes but then drops out.

Apart from that, I'm sure the Cakewalk problem will be useful, thanks.

Did you update your drivers? Worth a go.

I always get the latest drivers and updates.
_________________
Recording Studio Suntans

Yeah, always good advice.

Actually, in a way, it irks me that, in this age of Internet ubiquity, manufacturers continue to package driver CDs with their products, they're almost always out-dated and, therefore, more trouble than they're worth.

Ideally, manufacturers should place a big warning on driver CDs, saying "Use this if you DON'T have access to the Internet, otherwise visit our website".