Solved USB 2.0 Card

  • Thread starter Thread starter danny.guitar
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danny.guitar

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I'm getting a USB MIDI keyboard.

My computer is a little outdated and the USB ports are 1.0. So I'm expecting there would be some latency using 1.0?

If so, what kind of PCI USB 2.0 card should I get?

It's the: M-Audio Keystation 88es USB MIDI Keyboard Controller. You can see it here .

Also, instead of posting another thread, I thought I'd go ahead and ask here about what keyboard stand I should get for it? Preferably something cheap. I'll end up getting a better one pretty soon.
 
The only thing a USB keyboard sends down it's USB connection is good old midi.

Midi is a 31.2kB serial language and as such USB 1.1 (the slower USB port speed) is more than fast enough to handle all the midi info you can throw at it. Latency is a usually a function of the drivers, not of the connection anyway.

As far as a stand goes, you should be able to get a serviceable single tier for $50. If that's too much try the old TV table.


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There's lots of low end audio cars that have midi/joystick connections. I've seen them as low as $10.00 on NewEgg.
 
OHCI card. They cost a little more, but they use less CPU horsepower than UHCI cards when working with slow (USB 1.x) devices.
 
The stand looks good but the keyboard gets a lukewarm rating from the real piano players around here. But for that price, you really can't go too far wrong.

Just be aware that you will have no real access to midi continuous controllers to control soft synths.

It might be a good idea, since (according to your alias anyway) keyboard is not your first instrument to sacrifice a few keys for some more controller knobs and sliders. This one or this one with latter being the favorite.


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ssscientist said:
Just be aware that you will have no real access to midi continuous controllers to control soft synths.
Click to expand...

So you're saying the keyboard won't be that good for synths? (strings, orchestra, etc.)?

I really want some decent piano parts in my songs but I'll also be using it for other stuff like strings, weird/ambient effects, etc.

So I really need all 88 keys plus have it be able to play other things besides piano.
 
danny.guitar said:
So you're saying the keyboard won't be that good for synths? (strings, orchestra, etc.)?
Click to expand...
No.

I'm not saying that at all.

What I'm saying is that what you're planning to get is essentially for people who have piano/organ/harpsichord/clavier training and need something to practice on, not for guitar player looking to add some piano, strings, orchestra sounds to their songs.

The CME controller I linked will transpose up and down the keyboard range so you can reach all 88 notes, and if you've written a part that has a very low low and very high high you can track them separately.

If you play around with midi softsynths even for just a little while you will discover that each sound or 'patch' can be altered either a little or a lot by using midi continuous controllers. The MAudio 88es will provide you with little or no access to these continuous controllers, and in my experience it won't take you too long to realize that you need to add something to it to make up for it's shortcomings in this crucial area.


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Well, I did take piano lessons along time ago but I'm kind of rusty. It certainly won't be used for solo piano or anything.

And I don't have much experience with different VST Instruments, so I'm not really sure I understand what you mean.

88 keys is really necessary because I don't want to have to track the high notes and low notes separately.

I don't mind stretching the budget if I have to. But I do want to be satisfied with the controller for awhile...

Could you possibly give me a couple examples of some situations I'm likely to encounter when using the M-Audio for, say, a Piano, or String Ensemble, or something like that?

And if possible, suggest another controller with 88 keys that you would recommend for what I'm doing?

I don't want to sound like I'm asking too much. :o

You've helped a lot already.

Thanks.
 
danny.guitar said:
88 keys is really necessary because I don't want to have to track the high notes and low notes separately.
Click to expand...
I play keyboards regularly and I get by just fine with a 49-key controller. I can get both hands on the keyboard and with the transpose feature I can reach all 88 notes. A compromise would be something like this which is a 61 key controller. The lowest octave and the highest octave are accessed using, again, the transpose feature. I've never run into a piece of music in which I felt it was necessary to track the high notes and the low notes separately.

As far as understanding Midi continuous controllers and what they can do for your music, here's a link to a good article from Sound on Sound about using midi controllers to control a sequencer's mix --- LINK --- and a link to a site I hate but it's the only one I could find with a reasonable complete explanation of continuous controllers --- LINK. I think I'm going to have to do my own one of these days.

And sorry, but I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'give you examples'.


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Well the reason I want 88 keys is because I don't want to have to go in and edit the MIDI data on the program...change notes, velocity, etc. I'd rather just play it right from the start.

I appreciate the SoundOnSound link but that was only talking about using the controller to control the DAW...effects, parameters, faders, etc. I don't need anything for that.

I just need something to hook into my computer and play through a VSTi...whether it be a piano, orchestra, etc. That's all. I don't plan on doing anything to the recorded MIDI data afterwards.

So do you think the M-Audio 88 key will work ok for this?
 
Oh, all right.

Have it your way.

That keyboard will be fine.


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