Hello,
I recently have run into the need to connect my midi keyboard to my computer. I have a pretty nice sound card (Audigy Soundblaster 2 ZS), but it only has analog, digital, and firewire ports on the back plate. My keyboard uses regular midi, so what would be the best way to connect it well?

I have USB 2.0 ports, and I heard that it can (and is usually) done this way, but I don't want to buy a whole unit to do it. Yamaha offers a direct connection cable (midi through a small converter straight to USB), but I'm a little skeptical of its performance compared to the audio box type set up.

Are there any firewire solutions? If it helps, I'm running windows XP now, but I will soon be getting a Mac Book Pro. Should I just go for the box and use USB? I hear it lags a bit at times. What do you keyboard players use?

I use a little midiman 1x1 that goes into the USB. If you're sure you'll be running just your keyboard that would be enough. I've got several sound modules that I use to hear different timbres, etc. so I use a midi patchbay that I've had for, oh, I'd say 25 years. All my instruments midi into the patchbay which then goes into the 1x1 and that goes into the computer. I have no problems at all with it. (I'm running XP too)