Midi Probs....2 Sound Cards...agghh!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter willsc
  • Start date Start date
W

willsc

New member
newbie here, so please excuse the ignorance.

I have a Darla 24 sound card which I've been using to record guitars, drum machine, vocals, etc. I also have a Creative Labs pci 128 card which supports midi. So I bought a midiman usb keystation midi controller. I'm using the Clabs card for midi, and the data is inputing into Sonar. But I can't hear anything. So is there a way to route the midi data back out through the darla card which is going through my speakers? I don't think the darla supports midi, but maybe it does. If so, should I just designate that as the output for midi? not sure if i even have the option on that one. plse help!
 
No, the MIDI sounds from the card can only come out its own outputs.

The way I do this is by using a mixer. I route the outputs of my Sound Blaster and my Delta to the mixer and then from their to the speakers.
 
Al, this is a hypothetical question for me because I don't own a Darla or a midi synth soundcard but am looking at some 2 card options for recording midi and audio... In willsc's case or in 2 card scenarios generally would you have to record through the said mixer as well or is recording in wav. file format possible internally within the computer?

Thanks

Nige
 
okay. There are two outputs from the Clabs card (front and rear). I'm assuming I should route the signal from both outputs into a mixer along with the 2 outputs from my darla.

any recommendations on a mixer for this job?

thanks so much for the help
willsc
 
will, do you have the preferences set in Sonar (sorry, I don't use Sonar but the principle is the same) to send MIDI to the pci128 and audio to the Darla????


Here's what I'm doing:

I have an Echo Mia 24-bit card and an SBLive for MIDI, soundfonts and CD-audio. In my sequencer application (N-track Studio) I have the MIDI set to go to the SBLive and the audio to the Mia.

The line-out from my SBLive goes to my mixer goes to my mixer, and the outputs of my mixer of course go to the inputs of the Mia.

All I have to do is make sure my mixer is on whenever I want to have the MIDI sound come through the mix.

As an alternative, I can also have the SBLive render the MIDI to a .wav file which I can then bring into my sequencer and again all audio output is through my 24-bit Mia card.


Personally, I love having the options of working with 2 soundcards.
 
willsc, the "front" and "rear" are for surround sound. Use one or the other, not both.
 
Just hook the output of the soundblaster to the input on the darla and you wont need a mixer. Just make sure you have a track set up to monitor the inputs on the Darla or you wont hear anything.

You can also use Front and Rear as CH 1-4 so you have 4 discreet outs if you need them. Just pick whatever out you want to use in Sonar.
 
direct into darla?

So would it be better to run the output from the clab card into the darla?? Because I have both signals running into a mixer and it just doesn't quite sound right. Something is causing distortion. Even though it's a small amount, it is unsatisfying. And how do I set up a track to monitor??
 
Nigie said:
Al, this is a hypothetical question for me because I don't own a Darla or a midi synth soundcard but am looking at some 2 card options for recording midi and audio... In willsc's case or in 2 card scenarios generally would you have to record through the said mixer as well or is recording in wav. file format possible internally within the computer?

Thanks

Nige
Click to expand...
You could get yourself a Delta Audiophlie 24/96 which has Audio and midi combined...no need for 2 cards
 
In sonar setup a track to record using the Input on the Darla that the Clab is connected to. I dont use Sonar so not sure if it needs to be record enabled to hear what is coming through on that input.

Distortion - You have several gain stages to watch. They must all be set for optimum level.

Output of Clab(set in windows)
Input of mixer (channel gain)
Output of Darla (master mixer gain)
Input of Darla (set in windows or Darla driver)

Try hooking up the Clab directly to the Darla. Less gain stages to worry about and fewer cables.
 
Thanks stealthtech, yes I have been tossing up between Audiophile, c-port (both midi compatible but without synth sound generator) and echo mia (no midi at all) + a usb port midi connector.

Nige
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top