Confused about midi (among other things)

[SonVolt]

Hi all,
Let me see if I can explain this with my limited knowledge:
I recently replaced my SB Audigy with an OmniStudio/Delta 66.I use Sonar and a lot of softsynths etc, mostly NI stuff.
So now when I start Sonar and am prompted to select midi devices, I have none listed under Inputs and only Microsoft Midi mapper under outputs.This is prolly a lame question and I'm prolly answering it myself but ,since the Delta 66 has no midi capability, do I need to reinstall the soundblaster card as well to use it's midi capability to play/hear softsynths in Sonar?
Thanks and I hope this makes sense

 

[Dags]

This is prolly a lame question and I'm prolly answering it myself but ,since the Delta 66 has no midi capability, do I need to reinstall the soundblaster card as well to use it's midi capability to play/hear softsynths in Sonar?

Hey SonVolt.
Rather than reinstalling the dodgy soundblaster card, why not get yourself a simple 1 in/1 out USB MIDI interface? I have heard that in some cases the drivers for the soundblaster card screw up the drivers for other better audio converters, so jump on it a few times and throw it in the bin
You're probably better off without it.

Dags

 

[SonVolt]

Thanks Dags for the reply.
I guess the part I'm confused about is this:
Don't most soundcards have an onboard midi synth so I can hear midi?And the Delta 66 doesn't?Or does it have a midi synth but just no midi interface?
Or are they related?Or am i a moron? So if the Delta has no midi synth how do I hear midi playback?
So if I get a 1 in/1 out USB MIDI interface as you recommended, does this have a midisynth?
I'm so in the dark here, sorry

 

[travelin travis]

You don't need midi in/out on your sound card to hear playback. MIDI is actually just information, not sound. Sound cards do have built in synths which could be used if you wanted to but you would be better off using synth plugins than the General MIDI sounds that are produced by a sound card. You can find tons of free soft synths on www.KVRAudio.com.

If you want to use a controller, like a MIDI keyboard for entering MIDI notes rather than manually entering the notes, you will need a MIDI interface like the one on your Sound Blaster. You might be able to use it without any problems but alot of people tend to run into problems when using two sound cards on the same system. I would try it though, before buying a new MIDI interface.

 

[travelin travis]

Here's how the MIDI thing works:

It starts with MIDI notes, which are just notes that include information like velocity, pan, etc. You create the notes by entering them manually into a sequencer or by performing the notes with a controller and recording those notes to a MIDI track in your sequencer software.

Then, the MIDI goes out from the MIDI track or directly from the MIDI controller as you perform, to the input of a synthesizer or sound module. The MIDI notes trigger the sounds from the synth or sound module. A synth is a device that electronically creates sound (synthesizes sound) and a sound module is a device that contains samples of real audio. Synths and sound modules can be either hardware or software. Software synths and sound modules are called VSTi's (Virtual Studio Technology instruments).

Last, the sound from the synth or sound module is sent out to your speakers or recorded directly to an audio track.

So it's like this MIDI info from controller/midi track > Synth/Sound Module > Speakers/Audio track.

 

[travelin travis]

sorry, removing duplicate post.

 

[Dags]

You don't need midi in/out on your sound card to hear playback. MIDI is actually just information, not sound. Sound cards do have built in synths which could be used if you wanted to but you would be better off using synth plugins than the General MIDI sounds that are produced by a sound card.
If you want to use a controller, like a MIDI keyboard for entering MIDI notes rather than manually entering the notes, you will need a MIDI interface like the one on your Sound Blaster.

Well fielded, TF. I was a little late in replying

The soundblaster card I believe has General MIDI instruments on it, so yes, you'll be losing those if you remove the card and will have to rely on whatever virtual instruments you have on your PC. As TravisinFlorida mentioned, give the old soundcard a bash to try to get MIDI up and running on it, but if you start running into problems with the Delta, chances are the soundblaster drivers are screwing with the M-Audio drivers - I have heard that the latency on these things can be rather horrific as well.

Best of luck!
Dags

 

[SonVolt]

Thanks guys,very helpful replies.
It's all starting to make sense now
I think