MIA and SBLIVE

[amt7565]

Folks!
I got a MIA just intsalled. I have left the SBLIVE to playback MIDI.
In the "Windows controls panel" I have selected the MIA to playback audio.
Can someone advise what's the best way to playback all the sound to my monitors? Are the MIA outputs stereo or just 2 MONO outputs? Should I tie the output of the SBLIVE to the input of the MIA? I am looking for optimum clarity in sound. Right now, when I plug in my stereo headphones to the MIA output, I hear the sound distorted. Also I hear only one channel. Not Stereo.

Thanks!

[TimOBrien]

I also have a Mia and SBLive. Been running them for a couple of months with no problems.

First, get out the Mia manual and look at the diagram of the input and output jacks on page 10.

The top 2 jacks are left and right out - yes, they're MONO. You'll need adapter cables to go to your monitoring system of choice (which needs an amplifier--- those are line level jacks, not amplified.) I have two 1/4" cables with 1/4"-to-RCA adapters on one end running into my Sony stereo... not a high-end monitoring system but it's how my music is going to be played anyway.

For the SBLive, you'll need to take a 1/8" stereo plug and run it to the Mia inputs. I run my SBLive output to a channel of my little mixer, which goes to the inputs of the Mia. That way as long as my mixer is on I can hear the CD-audio, soundfont or MIDI output. Set the MIDI output of your sequencer to go to the SBLive and the audio to the Mia. It helps to think of the SBLive as an onboard sampler/instrument that you're playing back through the mixer and Mia.

Hope this helps.

[amt7565]

Thanks Tim,
I thought I had both working properly and now..suddenly, everything quit working. They PC is not even detecting the SBLIVE card. I tried re-installing the SBLIVE( after removing the MIA) but the diagnostic tests fail. It's not detecting the drivers for MIDI, AUIDO and MIXER of the SBLIVE. What a bummer!

I even tried changing the PIC slots. still nothing......

Another thing: Are the inputs of the MIA MONO too? In that case..I can't plug in my guitar into the MIA I suppose....because..I will be using the inputs of the MIA for the SBLIVE output.

[TimOBrien]

I think you are confusing Mono with stereo channels.

The plug on your headphones has 3 conductors.... a ground, a left channel and a right channel. Left and right together are stereo.

The two 1/4" plugs on the Mia inputs and outputs are left and right for stereo. Each one of them is a single mono plug but together they are right and left for stereo. They used 1/4" mono plugs because most mixers and pro audio gear use separate 1/4" plugs for the right and left channels.

You will need a pre-amp, mixer, POD or J-Station to plug a guitar into the Mia. By the way, I have a J-Station and use the S/PDIF digital input on the J-Station to do my guitar recording to the Mia and it's great.... noisefloor goes down to -100db and quality is super.

[amt7565]

Thanks Tim!
I did get a Behringer mixer today. Got it for $70.00. I do have both cards working now. I have been thinking about the POD or the Jstation seriously. Do you know, if I buy any of the high end amps, I may be able to avoid the POD? Will these amps have like a XLR output for the Mixer?

My SONAR is giving some problems after having both cards running. It does not allow me to select the WDM. if I select this it complains and plays in MONO or does not play at all. If I select the MME driver option then it plays ok.

What is the cheapest amp I will need, if I get the POD or the Jstation?
Thanks!

[TimOBrien]

I have a Behringer mixer, too. I bought an MX-802A over a year ago and it has served me very well with no problems.

If you get a standard guitar amp, you'll have to put a mic in front of it to record it. You want to start looking for some of the books that teach how to mic an amp. A cheap Shure SM-57 in front of the speaker has been standard since the Beatles. And some of the big guys who are into distortion use only small cheap practice amps, so you'll have to do some homework to find out what you are aiming for.

If you go with a POD or J-Station, it will emulate -- or try to emulate at least -- the coloring the sound of a real amp. They plug directly into your mixer and go right to the computer.

And there's nothing wrong with using MME drivers (I do). You won't get the ultra-low latency that's needed for virtual MIDI instruments, but if you're only recording straight audio it's more than good enough... and in fact better than most high-end studios had up until ten years ago.

[amt7565]

Hey Thanks Tim!
SONAR is now working fine( I think!). It's using the WDM drivers as promised. The only problem is, it won't play any of my old data since it was sampled at 16 bits.
Well, as for guitar input to the PC, I will have to avoid the mic at all costs, since I live in apartment and don't want to mess with the neighbors. So I must go direct into the mixer. I have been looking into some high end amps which will give me the flexibility to JAM and also use maybe it's XLR outputs or something to plug into the mixer. If I strictly use the POD then it won't give me the flexibility to JAM right? Aldo, the sound might be too stiff through the MONITOR speakers and it might deprive me of any emotions while playing. Do you agree?

By the way, have you tried those FENDER cyber twins? They are totally cool. It's probably the best amp I have laid my hands on.