Just a couple of comments about USB-to-MIDI...

1) there is at least one USB<->MIDI adapter that has caused headaches. 
People have reported success with the MidiSport UNO and the Edirol UM1 
so I guess those are good. Personally I use the joystick port on my 
soundcard and the cable that converts between the d-sub 15 joystick 
connector and midi in/out DIN-style connectors.

2) You may need to fiddle with the settings in your control panel to 
make sure your USB<->MIDI adapter is being used rather than any other 
available MIDI interface, and you may also have to similarly fiddle with
settings in GenEdit and GenUpdate.

IMHO these two items are typical of dealing with just about any new 
hardware/software on the PC and are by no means showstoppers.

cheers,

Arch (rawfish in the gnx3 board)