Since I use MIDI to compose and arrange, people ask me questions about how to use it. So I would like to know more about MIDI and Vista. John in Kansas probably already answered this (thanks John!) but I lost track.

Let's separate the use of MIDI into two areas.

1. A surfer comes upon a site with MIDI files and wants to listen to them, perhaps save them. What does he need to do?

2. A musician has a MIDI controller (piano-shaped object)which has a cable with a MIDI connection at one end. The MIDI connection is round and has pins in a half circle. How does he get his music software to listen to the keyboard?

(Two people are coming to my house in 4 hours to learn about computers and composing.)