Do I need a soundcard with Midi?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian Ferrell
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Brian Ferrell

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I have a SB Live! Drive with midi I/O. I want to use a better sounding card for recording. Would I need midi I/O on the new card to control my midi gear or would I be able to use the Live Drive's midi interface at the same time I'm recording with the new card?
 
You can keep the old SB in there and continue to use it for MIDI i/o. It's also a great sampler with its Sound Font capablity. Be aware that it might be really simple but it also might be a pain in the neck getting the Live card and another sound card to co-exist in the same system.

I use the SB Live and the M-Audio Delta 66 and I'm quite happy with how it all works. Actually I also have a Midiman MIDISport 2x2 USB MIDI interface so I don't even use the SB Live for a MIDI interface, just as a sampleblaster. (I actually have no outboard MIDI sound modules at all so it's my only MIDI instrument).

If you're interested there's a couple of good articles on using the SB Live as a sampler here:

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/articles/E5F90F70241EFF6D862566B20024C532

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/articles/E8FC6F1272005BC0862568D700634565
 
How'd you know?---- the Delta 66 was exactly the card I had in mind when I started this thread. So, you haven't actually used the Midisport 2x2? Or do you use it to interface external MIDI controllers only? Please forgive me if I seem ignorant, because my experience with MIDI (and with PC recording)is very limited and I'm trying to get a clearer picture before I invest in more equipment. You are saying then, you would be able to use your Live Drive's MIDI I/O to control MIDI functions of sound apps AT THE SAME TIME you were recording on the Delta??? In other words, you would be able to use it the same way as you would be able to use the Midisport 2x2 (taking into account one less extra in and out, of course)?
 
Is there a disadvantage to using the Soundblaster as the midi interface? Just wondering about the reason for using the Midisport, instead of the Soundblaster.

Thanks.
 
Brian Ferrell,

Yes, the MIDI signals don't get in the way of the audio at all. I have used the Midisport -- I have a controller keyboard, and I have a POD and and old Alesis Quadraverb GT that have MIDI ports for program and parameter changes. I don't use the MIDI port on the SB, but I suppose I could without any trouble if I had need of more than two MIDI ins or outs.

Etcher,

The reason I use the MIDISport is simply, I have it. When I bought it I had an SB AWE64 that had a faulty MIDI interface.

-AlChuck
 
Ok, that really clears things up. Thanks AlChuck and RWhite. And thanks to Etcher for asking a question I wanted to know the answer to. Welcome aboard, Etcher!
 
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