Replacing SB Audigy with M-Audio Omni Studio for Sonar 3

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ed Driscoll
  • Start date Start date
E

Ed Driscoll

New member
Hi all,

Right now I'm using Sonar 3.0 and Propellerhead Reason with SB's Audigy card and LiveDrive front input bay. The sound isn't bad, but the latency when recording audio is frustrating. And I'd like to use multiple mics (without an XLR to 1/4" converter!) from time to time.

I was seriously considering buying M-Audio's Omni Studio PCI card and breakout box, until I noticed that it doesn't have MIDI inputs, and I'd like to be able to plug in a MIDI keyboard from time to time.

So should I keep the Audigy card and LiveDrive bay for MIDI, and use the Omni Studio for everything else?

Just curious as to what other Omni Studio and Sonar users are doing for MIDI.

Thanks,

Ed
 
You could do that, and that would also leave you the synth chip on the card as a MIDI instrument.

If you choose this route, dunna be surprised if your in for a little hair-pullin' getting the two device to play nice with each other.
 
Al,

Thanks for your reply.

If you choose this route, dunna be surprised if your in for a little hair-pullin' getting the two device to play nice with each other.
Click to expand...
So I've gathered from reading the various threads here.

I'm certainly open to suggestions to alternatives though.

Ed
 
There are USB MIDI interfaces available with anywhere from 2-8 MIDI ports from Midiman/M Audio, Emagic, Roland, and others... also some serial and parallel port models still on the market.
 
I have a Midiman 2x2 USB interface and it's working beautifully! :)
 
moskus said:
I have a Midiman 2x2 USB interface and it's working beautifully! :)
Click to expand...

Me too. It's for my Pods!

And I've got a Evolution USB keyboard....

I love USB
 
Thanks all.

Just so I understand everything I've read here, USB is fast enough for MIDI, even if PCI is better for recording audio.

Is that a fair summation?

Ed
 
Ed Driscoll said:
Just so I understand everything I've read here, USB is fast enough for MIDI, even if PCI is better for recording audio.

Is that a fair summation?
Click to expand...
In my opinion, yes. :)
 
There's some stuff about how the inherent jitter in the timing of a USB port causes enough of a problem to be audible. There was an article in Mix a couple of years ago about this.

http://www.digitalprosound.com/2001/01_jan/features/midi2001-3.htm

MOTU and Steinberg use a proprietary time stamp along with its MIDI messages to correct for this, but you need their stuff to get any benefit. E.g.: http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/107AES/MOTU/MTS.html

But I don't have lots of MIDI gear and I have never noticed anything audible in my MIDI tracks that detracts from their timing. Even at several milliseconds I think it is undetectable to any but the most discerning ears. Anyone that would be bothered by that probably will never be happy playing with human beings at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top