Interface/Preamp/MIDI input needed; purchase recommendation?

[mbouteneff]

Hello,

I hope you can help me out, I'm a tad overwhelmed by the hardware options available..!

I currently have:
Computer: Dell Dimension 8200
Soundcard: Turtle Beach - Santa Cruz
Keybaord: Yamaha DGX201
Software: Acid & Reason
Mic: Shure SM57

I need:
a Preamp, and a better soundcard/interface to achieve zero latency in audio (guitars, bass, vocals) and MIDI recording

I was thinking of buying:
an M-Audio Mobile Pre for the preamp and card.

Would I still run into the latency problem with MIDI?

Is there a piece of hardware that has the Preamp/interface/MIDI solution all in one piece, or could you recommend something that would take care of the MIDI latency? (or will the Santa Cruz soundcard be enough?)

Thanks for your help!

 

[trogdor]

The problem is probably your soundcard's audio that is causing the latency.

I'm assuming that you are trying to play notes from the synths in reason, but the notes are coming out a half-second or so AFTER you actually hit the key no?

M-audio and other more professional audio cards have quality ASIO audio drivers which offer very fast audio signal transmission so you shouldn't have this problem. MIDI data is a lot smaller and easier to transmit fast, so I'm thinking your card will probably do okay for the MIDI stuff.

Do this test... When you press the key on your keyboard, do you immediately see the MIDI activity LED in Reason light up? If you do, then your midi latency is fine...reason is getting the midi quickly, and your card will do fine for the midi.

It's most likely the audio part that needs to be remedied.

hope that helps,
trog