connected to the UNO usb port to the pc's usb port:
I downloaded realterm, and I definitely see data coming over.
But I still have no way to see if data comes through my USB to MIDI cable. When it's plugged into the UNO and then into my pc's USB port, it shows up as a MIDI device, not a COM port (to monitor via a terminal app).
edit: I also tried BomeSX MIDI monitoring app, and still I get nothing from the MIDI shield.