New Computer Questions

[eliktronik]

Hey everyone, I recently purchased a new dell computer which does not have a joystick port. Because of this I cannot currently hook up my midi keyboard. The built in sound card actually sounds pretty good, and I don't want to buy just any generic sound card w/ joystick port since it might sound much worse.

I have considered buying a usb-midi adapter, but I have heard of and personally seen huge delay problems w/ usb interfaces. Correct me if I'm wrong.

So what's my next step? I basically need a low cost midi/serial or parallel adapter or a new sound card. Any suggestions?

Just so you guys understand, I basically do very basic recording on my computer i.e. acoustic/electric plugged directly into soundcard. While I'm sure many of you don't like this it works out quite well for me.

Thanks in advance for any input

 

[AlChuck]

I use a USB MIDI interface (the Midiman MIDISPORT 2x2) and it has no delay problems at all that I can percieve, certainly not "huge" ones.

But then I am not a keyboardist and maybe my chops are so sloppy I couldn't tell if there was some perceptible delay or not...

 

[eliktronik]

Well, my friend just bought a 1x1 midi interface (can't remember the brand) for use w/ his new laptop and just by watching him press one note and listening to the audio, there's a noticable delay. In fact if we listen to the sound from both keyboard/computer, the computer acts as an echo. Also, I've read of some people on google groups having similar problems. What can I say, maybe the issue isn't w/ the midi-usb and somewhere else in his setup.

Edit: by the way, if anyone knows why this is happening, please let me know.

 

[RWhite]

Define "low cost".

Audiophile 2496, 24 bit audio card with MIDI and digital in/out, about $130

SoundBlaster Audigy, 16/ pseudo 24 bit card, with built-in firewire port, an OEM is about $70