Hello,

I'm struggling to find proof of compatibility between the Yamaha P105 and linux through the midi over usb port.
Pretty sure it'll work but I need to be sure.

Has anyone tested this, perhaps with a very similar Yamaha model?


Best regards, Sven

Define "work". It should be recognized by the USB subsystem, and auto-create /dev/midi1 or similar.

I think Yamaha USB-MIDI is class compliant so it would be very odd indeed if it did not work with linux. My old Kawai isn't class complaint (I don't think) and doesn't claim linux compatibility but it works fine with linux. It did NOT work with the windows that was current at the time I bought it (without a driver installation). But it always worked with linux.

Actually I think it's a safe bet that it will work. I would be surprised if anyone could find a DP with USB-MIDI that doesn't work with linux.

Typically, no... they are, I believe, the only major player who usually (always?) isn't. You have to install drivers on your Mac or PC. So what to do on linux is a good question.

I wonder why it doesn't have a 5 pin DIN connector, which is the standard for midi...

That's a different issue, but yes, it has USB MIDI only, which is the reason I would never buy one. But for non-gigging musicians, it may not be as important. if they intend to integrate it with their computer anyway for any MIDI applications.

Linux driver has much much more drivers than win or mac. Also most drivers are designed to be general to handle the same kind of devices. So it is expected typical hardware is working out of box in Linux.
e. g. emu 0404 midi does not work on win8, but it is perfect on Linux.

Really? I guess it's been many years since I owned a Yamaha. I don't actually recall whether I ever ran it through my linux computer, unfortunately.

I guess we'll have to have a Yamaha owner with a linux computer tell us.

I have both right here, but no cable!

Thanks everyone for the input.
Some say it definitely will work, some say it wont so it's still not clear. With 'work' Xorbe: I indeed mean that it must be able to create a /dev/midi1 or similar manually or automatically.

I know that if things are not class compliant, there is usually some kind of support in the Linux kernel. However, I can't seem to find documentation for it. I find it rather strange because Yamaha is a big brand and I think a lot of musicians use Linux. So what's up with that?

It would be great if someone could test it.
Xorbe, isn't there a cable provided with the keyboard?

Small update:
In the Alsa quirks-table.h header file (see http://fossies.org/dox/alsa-driver-1.0.25/quirks-table_8h.html) I have found 'quirks' for different Yamaha keyboards. Some have their name next to the vendor ID, some don't. I don't find the name P-105 in the list, but maybe the vendor ID is somewhere in the list without the name?

Perhaps there is someone with a P-105 and a Windledows PC who can check this ID?
If it is not in the list I can try to add it manually but that doesn't mean it will work if USB-MIDI behaves differently on the P-105 than on the P-250 for example.

I am getting more confident though, but I'm still not sure...

Edit: I'm going to a music store tomorrow. I'll take my Linux laptop with me and hopefully I'm allowed to test it there. Will keep you folks updated.

So I went to the music store, attached my Linux laptop and it was autodetected as 'Digital Piano'. That seems quite right doesn't it!

Although I forgot to install Midi software I did saw the 'Digital Piano' with its midi in and midi out in Jack so now I'm sure it will work.

Kind greetings!