what's a ok cheap sound module?

[InfiniteMH]

Hi, I'm a new, but enthusiastic kid trying to pull this together in a tight budget.

Right now, I've got a computer w/ :

750 MHz CPU
384 MB RAM
Sound Blaster PCI512 (I know.. I know..)

+

Shure SM58,

A Cheap Digital Piano,

and I'm just about to order a Behringer MX602A (probably after I write this thread)

For now, I'm just recording vocals, but would like to make my originals..

So... I need a sound module.. Right?..

Or do I need an interface too?.. cuz that's gonna suck.

After I buy the MX602A, I'll be left with about $250.

Any chance I can buy a sound module?

Oh, and if it helps, R&B.

Thanks guys-

[Stealthtech]

$250 can get you a sound module, but what sounds do you want ? Drums, Bass, Synths, SF, or a combination of all ? Based on these options cost will vary from $150 upwards of 2-3 G's.
Dont forget, if your keyboard is midi you can also use the soundfonts included on your soundblaster. And of course your keyboard will need to be midi if your going to use a midi triggered sound module.

[InfiniteMH]

it is a midi digital piano..

sound font? do i already have it?..

i think i've seen it before on my desktop.. but..

let's see..

do i need an interface to connect all these stuff?..

and i want all kinds of sounds..

which one should i buy first?..

interface? sound module?

please help..

[Stealthtech]

All you need is a set of midi cables to access the soundfonts from your soundcard. Roughly $20 for the cables at any music store.
The soundfonts will be general midi and approx. 127 instruments to choose from including drums, but they can be a little cheesy, but its a good starting point especially to learn midi.
Sound modules will have better quality and can be all percussion or all synths or a combination of things.

[Stealthtech]

Oh, and not just a couple of midi cables, you actually ned the interface cable to hook to your soundcard.

Like this
http://www.lastar.net/product.asp?ca...6301&sku=27033

[Beltrom]

Do the PCI512 really have soundfont capability? I thought the PCI-cards didn't? Either way getting a card with soundfonts isn't a bad move. The live - and audigys might not be the best solution for audiorecording, but as cheap sampleplayers they're not bad.

If you still want an external module and don't mind buying used the Korg NX5R is one of those modules people never really caught up on so it should be cheap, but still has a lot going for it. It's not a bad sounding box. Has lots of sounds and voices, GS and XG emultation apart from Korgs own mode and an included Yamaha XG-synth, so there's in effect three midiports on it. The XP and 2000-drivers for its serial interface are still in beta, and I haven't tried them. But I'm impressed they even made drivers for a module that's not manufactured anymore.

There's certainly better modules out there, but in the bang for the buck-department I think you could do a lot worse.

Together with a sblive you've got an awful lot of midichannels to handle...