midisport2x2 vs. edirolUM2C

[altcountry]

I've about narrowed my decision down to these two products for a midi interface. Does anyone have any experience with either of these? Any suggestions for a comparable alternative? I just want to beef up some acoustic guitar/vocal tracks via midi keyboard/interface/sequencing sftwr. I'm I on the right track? (I am very new to midi---midily challenged, that is)

BTW-I'm using a Mac G4 and Cubase SL 2.0, if it makes any difference.

Thanks

[James Argo]

I'm not familiar with Mac and Cubase SL. But I know they can work for audio and MIDI. From your description, I assume you already record guitar and vox on your BR-8 (?) and want to add more parts using MIDI, am I right? Then you need at least sound card and MIDI intrface. I've already given you hints on your other thread.

Set metronome in your Cubase to match tempo on your BR-8, then record audio one by one into cubase using audio cable. Insert MIDI track, point port to your MIDI interface (which is connected to your MIDI keyboard), set necessary adjustment (bank, patch, volume, etc), record MIDI. Edit MIDI data on track as necessary, repeat the procedure untill all MIDI instruments are recorded. You'll have audio tracks of your guitar and vox, plus MIDI tracks of the rest instruments.

That's it? No... you need to "convert" all MIDI track to audio before mixing and burn to CD.

Insert audio track, arm for recording. Solo either one MIDI track, connect your keyboard's audio output to soundcard's line input. Make necessary adjustment (gain, etc..). Then record audio track while the soloed MIDI track being played.

Cubase MIDI track (play)--> Interface --> Keyboard --> Audio out --> Soundcard-->Cubase audio track(record).

Do same procedure until all MIDI tracks "recorded" into audio track. Then you can mix all audio tracks into stereo wave file, and burn the result to CD.


Jaymz

[altcountry]

Thanks Jaymz,
BTW, that's MR-8 from Fostex. I'm still a little confused by this midi thing. I'm going to print out your reply and tack it to my bulletin board and read it several times a day and eventually, I'll get a grasp on it. I looked at the starter kit at the link in your reply on my other thread. I would have to go with the USB midi adapter version of the kit since I don't have a joystick port. The only thing that concerns me is the software that comes with it. It doesn't say if it's Mac compatible (in fact, it mentions 'PC' several times, which leads me to believe it is PC only). That's why I narrowed my purchasing decisions down to the 2 products I mentioned in thread subject title-

They're Mac compatible
They're affordable (yet not the 'cheapest')
and I can get them from the same place I'm ordering all my other equipment from (musiciansfriend.com)

Thanks again and keep up the good help!

[altcountry]

Thanks Jaymz,
BTW, that's MR-8 from Fostex. You are correct in assuming that I want to add more parts to my recordings with midi, however, I haven't ordered the MR-8 yet (or anything else untill I'm sure of my purchasing decisions). I've just been recording straight into my soundcard and editing with Audacity freeware. I'm still a little confused by this midi thing. I'm going to print out your reply and tack it to my bulletin board and read it several times a day, and eventually, I'll get a grasp on it. I looked at the starter kit at the link in your reply on my other thread. I would have to go with the USB midi adapter version of the kit since I don't have a joystick port. The only thing that concerns me is the software that comes with it. It doesn't say if it's Mac compatible (in fact, it mentions 'PC' several times, which leads me to believe it is PC only). That's why I narrowed my purchasing decisions down to the 2 products I mentioned in thread subject title-

They're Mac compatible
They're affordable (yet not the 'cheapest')
and I can get them from the same place I'm ordering all my other equipment from (musiciansfriend.com)

Thanks again and keep up the good help!