USB MIDI adaptor question..

[Paul Van Dyk]

I have a Roland XP30 that I want to control with Cubase on my laptop. I used to have an SB Extigy which had midi in/out but since that broke I no longer have a midi solution.

I'm also thinking of buying a module one of these days so then i'd have a keyboard, module and computer.

Should I invest in a 2in/2out midi box or will one of those $10 USB->MIDI in/out cables on ebay do the trick? What would be my advantage to the 2in/2out? I figure I can just use the THRU on my keyboard and that way my computer can talk to my keyboard which can send whatever it gets to the module...

 

[ssscientist]

There's nothing wrong with the midi cables you find on Ebay except that they're cheap --- both in price and quality.

Your reasoning is solid --- that you could use the midi thru of your keyboard to connect a module, but unless you're REALLY strapped for cash, this would be a much better solution. If you've put money into Cubase and a laptop you might as well go whole hog and spend $40 on a professional quality midi interface.

 

[Paul Van Dyk]

HI
I looked at that M-Audio you suggested but what do you think about this?

Edirol UM-2EX @ http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UM2EX/

Its only $10 more. Would that be better since I can connect a dedicated midi cable to my synth AND my external module.. Or would you still recommend the cable you sent??

pvd

 

[ssscientist]

The Edirol would do the job just fine.

You have 2 midi ins with your keyboard and your module so you might as well have 2 midi outs --- expecially if its only $10 more!

And yes, it's better to have more than less midi outs especially if you plan on going beyond 2 or 3 modules. Midi is a 31.2Kb serial language and there is a defacto limit to how many modules you can string together before there is a noticable delay from the first one to last one in a chain.