Cable Confusion re: midi out to audio interface to computer

[dave60]

I am very new at this.

I have yamaha DTX Elect Drum Kit with midi out.
I have M-Audio Fast track pro.
Ihave windows 7 64-bit laptop.
I have Mixcraft 5.0



I can see where I would plug the midi out from the drum kit's 'brain' into the midi-in on the M-Audio Fast Track Pro. But then I get confused:

1. Do I then need to run a cable from the Fast Track Pro's midi out into the computer? ( I don't have a midi in on the computer..so would I need some kind of plug converter?)

or

2. Do I only need to plug the USB from the Fast Track Pro into the computer's USB port?

 

[dintymoore]

You should only need the USB cable from the Fast Track Pro into the computer's USB port.

MIDI is a type of code that can be sent through MIDI cables or USB cables. You only need to use MIDI cables when the gear you're hooking up doesn't have USB.

 

[dave60]

Thanks!

Thanks for the info!!.... very much appreciated!!

 

[Reek]

Further more are you recording MIDI or Audio? They are different.

MIDI Like dintymoore said is "MIDI is a type of code that can be sent through MIDI cables or USB cables." Its performance data it tell the software that it is being recorded to what note was played how hard and and furthe controller data. The if your kit has a MIDI in it can play back on the unit it self kind like a player piano. it can be edited to what you want it to be also before the final record in of it which leads to:

I assume that you want to just record yourself playing on the DTX. Just hook up the audio outs to the ins(1/4" cables) on your M-audio. Most simple approach.

 

[Chili]

And to further expand on Reek's expansion of dinty's post. If you're going into the computer with Midi, you need a sound source to generate the audio. You can use a VSTi like EZDrummer to create the audio. You play your edrums, data goes over midi cables to your computer and your computer creates the audio for your drums. All in real time. EZdrummer or other VSTi's might have better source sounds than your edrum module.

Either way, if you're using midi, you need something to generate the audio.

peace,