How to Rename a MIDI Port in Windows 10?

Introduction

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that enables electronic devices like computers, synthesizers, and other musical instruments to communicate with each other. A MIDI port is a hardware interface that allows you to connect MIDI devices to your computer. In Windows 10, when you connect a USB MIDI device to your computer, it gets a unique name. However, if you connect the same device to a different USB port, it gets a different name. This can be a problem if you are using a script that expects to find a MIDI device with a specific name. In this blog post, we will show you how to rename a MIDI port in Windows 10.

Step-by-Step Guide to Rename a MIDI Port in Windows 10

To rename a MIDI port in Windows 10, follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect the USB MIDI device to your computer.

Step 2: Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the list of options.

Step 3: In the Device Manager window, expand the “Sound, video and game controllers” category.

Step 4: Right-click on the USB MIDI device that you want to rename and select “Properties” from the context menu.

Step 5: In the Properties window, click on the “Details” tab.

Step 6: In the “Property” drop-down menu, select “Device instance path”.

Step 7: Copy the value next to “Device instance path”.

Step 8: Open Notepad or any other text editor and paste the copied value.

Step 9: Locate the value “MIDI{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}” in the pasted text.

Step 10: Replace “MIDI” with the new name that you want to give to the MIDI port.

Step 11: Save the text file with a “.reg” extension.

Step 12: Double-click on the saved “.reg” file to add the new name to the Windows registry.

Step 13: Restart your computer.

Step 14: The USB MIDI device will now have the new name that you specified.

Where Does Windows 10 Store the MIDI Port Names for USB Devices?

Windows 10 stores the MIDI port names for USB devices in the Windows registry. The registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options for the operating system, hardware, and installed applications. When you connect a USB MIDI device to your computer, Windows 10 creates a new registry key for the device. The name of the key is based on the device’s hardware ID. The registry key contains information about the device, including its name, manufacturer, and driver.

Why Rename a MIDI Port in Windows 10?

There are several reasons why you might want to rename a MIDI port in Windows 10. One common reason is to make it easier to identify the device when you have multiple MIDI devices connected to your computer. If you have several devices with similar names, it can be confusing to know which device is which. Renaming the MIDI port can help you to quickly identify the device that you want to use. Another reason to rename a MIDI port is to make it compatible with scripts or software that expects to find a device with a specific name. If you are using a script or software that relies on a specific MIDI port name, renaming the port can help to ensure that the script or software works correctly.

Can You Rename a MIDI Port for a Built-in Sound Card?

No, you cannot rename a MIDI port for a built-in sound card. The reason for this is that built-in sound cards do not use USB MIDI ports. Instead, they use a different type of port called a “game port” or “joystick port”. These ports are not designed to be renamed, and attempting to do so can cause problems with the sound card or the operating system.

Conclusion

Renaming a MIDI port in Windows 10 can be a useful way to make it easier to identify your MIDI devices and ensure compatibility with scripts and software. By following the step-by-step guide in this blog post, you can quickly and easily rename your MIDI ports in Windows 10. Remember that you cannot rename a MIDI port for a built-in sound card, and that renaming a port incorrectly can cause problems with your computer. As always, be careful when editing the Windows registry and make sure that you have a backup before making any changes.

The fact that Windows has been renaming devices since Windows XP makes me doubt the competence of the script author who did not account for this issue. It should have been addressed in the script from the outset. Ideally, the script should have some kind of warranty to cover this problem.

However, since you need to address this issue now, there is a helpful article on how to resolve the Windows 10 MIDI device renaming problem. The article suggests the following steps:

1. Disconnect the device
2. Use USBDeview to uninstall all instances
3. Restart the computer
4. Connect the device

By following these steps, the device should always receive the same name when connected for the first time, regardless of the USB port used. I have tested this method and it seems to work, but there are some major drawbacks:

1. The method requires unplugging and reconnecting the device, which is the very action that causes the problem in the first place.
2. It also requires a computer restart, which can be inconvenient for users.
3. Microsoft does not guarantee that the first connection will always receive the same name, so this method may stop working after a Windows update without warning.

Therefore, even though it may not seem like the easiest solution at the moment, fixing the script could be a better long-term solution.