I am no electrician, but I know enough to tell you should always be careful when it comes to voltage. What a device requires to receive should be on a label by its power port and in the product manual (easily found online for Roland SC devices). Too little and components can be strained, possibly resulting in malfunction and shortening device life; too much and the results could be dangerous to you as well as the electronics.

No such stipulations exist for MIDI-to-USB: do what homework you can (that is: read reviews) and just go with what works.

Thanks for the reply, it's good to know that any MIDI cable should work as long as it is good enough quality. With the voltage, I know that getting the correct voltage is really important, but a lot of the step down converters I find are 110 volts which makes me skeptical that they would work properly

For power you may want to consider a replacement power supply. The 88VL needs 9VDC at 800mA through a barrel jack (at least mine does). You should be able to get a generic wall wart for this voltage. The amps don't matter as long as they are the same or more. However, be mindful of the polarity. The 88VL has a center negative configuration (positive voltage on the outside of the barrel, negative on the inside). This is opposite of anything you have today, so be sure to get an adapter with the correct polarity or get an adapter which lets you select or set the polarity. And double, then triple check your polarity before applying power to the unit.

Devices like the 88VL are small and aren't voltage hardwired (or are 110-240V compatible). You do not need a stepdown for this product (or many Roland products in fact). So as the above poster has said, you just need to make sure the power supply is the exact right voltage, at least as many amps and that the tip polarity of the plug is correct, and everything will be fine.

Effectively you can:
1. Use a stepdown transformer with the foreign power supply, or
2. Source a new power supply. Typically in Aus/NZ eBay is the easiest place, although if unsure about polarity, plug etc you may want to go to a local NZ electronics store and match from the foreign one you got.

Spikey wrote on 2025-05-11, 06:10:

Devices like the 88VL are small and aren't voltage hardwired (or are 110-240V compatible). You do not need a stepdown for this p […]
Show full quote

Devices like the 88VL are small and aren't voltage hardwired (or are 110-240V compatible). You do not need a stepdown for this product (or many Roland products in fact). So as the above poster has said, you just need to make sure the power supply is the exact right voltage, at least as many amps and that the tip polarity of the plug is correct, and everything will be fine.

Effectively you can:
1. Use a stepdown transformer with the foreign power supply, or
2. Source a new power supply. Typically in Aus/NZ eBay is the easiest place, although if unsure about polarity, plug etc you may want to go to a local NZ electronics store and match from the foreign one you got.

You didn't mention POLARITY and with Roland/Edirol/BOSS devices it is CRITICAL.
Inside barrel is negative ( - ), outside POSITIVE ( + ).

Using regular power supply without modification lead to big money loss.

Cbb wrote on 2025-05-13, 14:58:

You didn't mention POLARITY and with Roland/Edirol/BOSS devices it is CRITICAL. Inside barrel is negative ( - ), outside POSITIV […]
Show full quote

Spikey wrote on 2025-05-11, 06:10:

Devices like the 88VL are small and aren't voltage hardwired (or are 110-240V compatible). You do not need a stepdown for this p […]
Show full quote

Devices like the 88VL are small and aren't voltage hardwired (or are 110-240V compatible). You do not need a stepdown for this product (or many Roland products in fact). So as the above poster has said, you just need to make sure the power supply is the exact right voltage, at least as many amps and that the tip polarity of the plug is correct, and everything will be fine.

Effectively you can:
1. Use a stepdown transformer with the foreign power supply, or
2. Source a new power supply. Typically in Aus/NZ eBay is the easiest place, although if unsure about polarity, plug etc you may want to go to a local NZ electronics store and match from the foreign one you got.

You didn't mention POLARITY and with Roland/Edirol/BOSS devices it is CRITICAL.
Inside barrel is negative ( - ), outside POSITIVE ( + ).

Using regular power supply without modification lead to big money loss.

Read my message again:
"...and that the tip polarity of the plug is correct..."

An earlier poster had covered polarity in more detail so I didn't think it was necessary to do so again.

Hey, thanks for all the advice, I've had a look for adapters that should work with it, and found this one which I just want to confirm it should work with it.

doesnt say if its ac or dc 9v out, i assume from whats written its 9v ac.... but it doesnt state cleraly so ? who knows

Generic Username wrote on 2025-05-24, 05:18:

Hey, thanks for all the advice, I've had a look for adapters that should work with it, and found this one which I just want to confirm it should work with it.

Yeah, looks fine. Pricey though! I'd probably look for something cheaper on eBay myself.

Some examples:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/164518540203?_skw … %3ABFBMsP2H9eBl
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/316591684446?_skw … ABk9SR7D9h_XgZQ