Here is my take on connections.

MIDI - a round connection very similar to keyboard or mouse connections. Can
be used to pass music-related data , but the GNX only uses it to pass patches and
firmware upgrades.

Joystick - a trapezoidal type of connection similar to a monitor or serial
port connection. Most soundcards have them (right next to the mic and
speaker connections.

USB - Universal Serial Bus connection. These are recangular. They are
definitely the standard in terms of connection. You can connect everything
from your digicam to your headphones with USB connections. Also with the
use of USB hubs, you can connect up to 128 devices to a single port.

S/PDIF - a digital connection resembling an RCA jack.

The basic problem is not everyone has every type of connection, so they
make adapters.

MIDI > MIDI - Your soundcard has to have a MIDI input and output. Then
you simply buy two MIDI cables and you are off and running.

MIDI > Joystick - Most soundcards have a joystick port. You buy a cable
that has two MIDI connections for your GNX3 and then a Connection for your
Joystick port. Many also have an extra connection to replicate your lost
Joystick port (so you can still play flight simulator!).

MIDI > USB - You pick up a little USB adapter that usually comes with
cables. It plugs into your USB ports on your computer. This is the connection
that I use and works really well. I did have some set up problems, but
the kind folks on this message board helped me through it.

S/PDIF > S/PDIF - Your soundcard needs to have this connection. As I
understand it, it allows the music to transfer to your computer without using
the SmartMedia cards. You can record in real time, and are only limited by
the size of your hard drive. Sounds like a sweet deal, but I am too cheap
to go buy a new soundcard!  

Contributed by Thorvund...