Contemporary MIDI controllers and synthesizers now have the benefit of USB connectivity that these new pieces of gear can operate any software synthesizer installed on any computer, whether it’s a PC or Mac, as long as there is a USB port. Sadly though, pieces of equipment that have been labeled as “legacy” suffer from the technological divide between the late 20th century and the 21st, including those synthesizers and MIDI controllers that have MIDI ports but lack USB connectivity. Having no MIDI interface existing in today’s standard computer doesn’t help either and even widens that technological gap. Being the latest problem-solving cable in its series, the Alesis AudioLink USB-MIDI cable makes its way to Summer NAMM 2009.

This new USB-MIDI cable has traditional male and female MIDI (DIN) connectors on one end and a USB connector on the other. Any MIDI-compliant software can be then controlled using any hardware device with a MIDI output jack. The USB-MIDI Cable is class compliant for plug-and-play USB connectivity on Mac and PC without requiring driver installation or external power.

Jim Norman, product manager for Alesis, says that the Alesis AudioLink USB-MIDI cable is the perfect solution to bring last century’s MIDI gear into the computer music age, making it one of those problem solvers described as a studio’s insurance policy. The third quarter of 2009 will see the influx of this USB-MIDI cable into the shelves of music equipment and professional audio retailers.