how to use a MIDI keyboard during recording and where to plug it in at

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Rock Star 87

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okay, i get the picture. a MIDI keyboard produces better instrument sounds than my internal synth. but how would i make convert what i'm sending to my MIDI out to an audio track so i could mix it down. and my second question is where do i plug it in at. i have no MIDI input on my SBPCI, but i do have USB and serial ports.
 
You plug the audio line output(s) of the keyboard into the Line In on the SB.

The SB cards all have a game port that accepts a special MIDI-to-gameport adapter, costs $10-20.
 
Where's the cheapset place to get that adapters? I still gotta hookl the headphones out on kebyard to the midi inport sound cards, but need teh addapters. Thanks alot.
 
I use a Midi Sport 2 by M-Audio, about 60 bucks allows me to run up two midi instruments at once and is connected via usb.... even though my audigy 2 sz has midi jacks. What I do is set up a midi track, run midi out of my compter into tne midi in of my keyboard or drum module and then i run out of the audio jack back into the computer and into an audio track to record the signal. Works fine for me.
Chris Lorenzo
 
seems reasonable enough, but next friday, i'm getting an SB live card, just thought i could brag a little. one more question, but using Voodoo valve's method, how would i mix down MIDI and audio at the same time. should i set line-in and wave to record at the same time.
 
The reason I do it the way I do is because the sounds in my pc are weak, very, plus the output level is down as well. Basically I set up the midi track and an audio track, the midi track, (and sequencer) is what i work with until I'm happy with what I have then I'll record it to the audio track. At that point I will either delete the midi track or just mute it in mix down...... just incase i need to go back.
Let's say i want to sequence drums..... the notes that I put in the measure are just the trigger for my drum module...... it's the modules drum sounds that I like and want to record. I can keep changing the notes all through the project, tweaking it. When everything is the way I want it, I then record the audio signal for the drum module. At this point I no longer need to keep the midi track that I used to trigger my drum module, same for keys if that is the case.
The midi cables between the computer and the sound device don't carry an audio signal, they are just a medium for communication. You still need to record the audio signal from whatever external device you are using.
You can also use the DXi plugins and not have an external device (ie. drum module or keyboard) but you still need to convert the midi infornation to an audio signal by creating and additional track.
I hope I have explained this in a way that is easy to understand.......
Chris Lorenzo
 
Rock Star 87 said:
i'm getting an SB live card, just thought i could brag a little.
Click to expand...
That's the first time somebody's been braging about a Live!-card around here (except James, of course)...

:D
 
u know what, i'm proud of the Live im getting, so :P.

now what, beeeyatch. :)
 
what's so bad about a live. its good for my usage, and it's way within my price range. i don't know if my compaq presario 5900Z from 98 is worth sticking a shitload of money into. btw, i am applying to full sail next year and i need opinions, or if its that bad, alternatives.
 
I hear where you are coming from, but if you want to take this seriously you will quite quickly grow out of a Live card if you are doing audio work.

Think about Creative Labs stuff as being the top end of consumer oriented cards. What most folk have here are entry level "pro-sumer" type cards, which will give you less noise and a bigger, wider sound with more even frequency response.

Sure, it is cheaper now but if you are then shelling out another $XXX dollars in eighteen months time, it probably would be better to just save your cash. But hey, it's always a juggle of options, so whatever works for you mate...

Ciao,

Q.
 
I have the Creative Lab Sound Audigy 2 ZS.......... I find that the card works very well..... what are the types of cards which are better suited for this application, and what kind of price range?

Chris
 
VooDu Valve said:
I have the Creative Lab Sound Audigy 2 ZS.......... I find that the card works very well..... what are the types of cards which are better suited for this application, and what kind of price range?

Chris
Click to expand...

What you sooner or later will find out: Creative make soundcards for gamers! They're not meant to do any serious recording with. Their drivers are lousy for recording, and you don't need all that fancy EAX-stuff on a recording-soundcard, you need good converters and drivers.

If you want a good recording-soundcard, look for something like the M-Audio Audiophile 2496.

:)
 
Yep. What he said.

Lower signal to noise ratio, more flexible routing options, lower latency, greater headroom, more even frequency representation across different listening levels.

To give an example -- if I now listen to a CD that is coming out of my SB Live! card it sounds like crap. It's the difference between feeling like you were there compared to hearing it on the radio.

Combine even the "pro-sumer" type card that Moskus listed, or any of the other similar level, well-regarded brands, with some decent studio monitors (speakers) and you may well never leave your studio again...

:) Q.
 
Moskus, Q,
Thanks for showing me the light........ we'll be changing that soon.
 
you'll probably find that these pro-sumer sound cards will also have more of the inputs and outputs you need to make recording easier. I am going ot get the omni studio by m-audio soon. It has plenty of ins and outs, preamps (which may be very important to you), aux ins, effects send, 2 headphone outs plus some other junk. It just makes life easier to have those types of connections. Also, if you are always using wires to adpat this connection to that, you are probably loosing some quality.
 
I once used a SB Live card, but when I got more interested in recording I went for an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 (the PCI card, not the USB or Firewire versions).

It gives me great performance for my uses. The cost must be well under $200 by now. You only really get two line inputs, but then that's all you get with the SB Live as well. They put the money into the A/D converters, which is where you want it. There are other cards in similar price ranges that also get good reviews (Terratec, Echo), but I don't have much experience with them.

One potential downside with the audiophile is that you need an external pre-amplifier or mixer. There is no "mic" jack like there is on the SBLive. Of course, if you really care about your sound at all, you shouldn't be using that mic jack! You should use the line jack with an external pre-amplifier or mixer. However, I don't know what your budget will allow.

There are some cards on the market that have preamplifiers built in, although I am not sure which of the cheaper cards do. Another line that is getting a lot of interest lately is the new E-MU cards. E-MU is owned by Creative but is geared towards folks like us instead of gamers. The initial reviews seem good, and there are different options depending on how much you want to spend. Anyone tried them?
 
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