What is the fastest way to connect a midi controller to a pc?

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hirokumata

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Hi... this xmas i pretend to buy an M-Audio Keystation 49e to connect to my pc for helping me producing...
Here's my question... what is the fastest way (with less latency) to connect the keyboard to my pc? Via usb or via midi, using a midi<->usb cable? Or its the same thing? Thanks
 
The fastest way is to buy a PCI card with true MIDI ports on it.

Something like the E-MU 0404 card.

I think that between the two you mentioin, a joystick port MIDI adapter is better than USB.

Carl
 
I will go ahead and disagree ;)

the radium has its own USB midi built in and you should go with that since the programmer will want to use its onboard midi. Latency is rarely midi related
 
I have one and use the USB plug. Zero problems.

(ALWAYS test something out yourself before getting your panties in a bunch. If it works, go with it....)
 
Krakit said:
The fastest way is to buy a PCI card with true MIDI ports on it.

Something like the E-MU 0404 card.

I think that between the two you mentioin, a joystick port MIDI adapter is better than USB.

Carl
Click to expand...

I would get an E-Mu 0404 card, but I've already decided to buy a delta 44 one

HMm I'll connect the keyboard to usb then ;)
Thanks all for your help
 
hirokumata: curious whether you checked out the audiophile 192 and how you picked the delta 44? Maybe you don't need/want midi I/O?
 
picked the delta 44 because it has the basic inputs and outputos to connect the daw to the mixer and the mixer to the daw and because it has a friendly interface ^^... if I'll need a midi i/o in the future I'll buy an usb<->midi cable, but for now I'll just plug the 49e to an usb port ;)
 
Krakit said:
The fastest way is to buy a PCI card with true MIDI ports on it.

Something like the E-MU 0404 card.

I think that between the two you mentioin, a joystick port MIDI adapter is better than USB.

Carl
Click to expand...

I agree. I had bought a mini MIDI controller (49 keys) and its USB interface was waaaay too slow. It had incredible latency which was throwing me off when playing anything live. Only way to use it was to step input notes. Although that's fine when doing disco music, it's annoying when trying to sequence a ballad.

In my experience, nothing has been able to beat out my SB Live! joystick input MIDI interface. No latency using the same software (Cakewalk).
 
Lord_GalAthon,

That makes no sense. If the bandwidth of the joystick MIDI port on a SoundBlaster is great enough to accept MIDI signals and move them along, a USB port is far better. Clearly you had some kind of misconfiguration issue, or you are comparing softsynth performance triggered via the USB interface to the onboard sounds on the SB card, or something.
 
Hmmm, I'm confused now... what is more faster? The joystick port that comes with SB or the usb? I have a SB Audigy sound card on my old pc with that joystick port... could take it and put on my new DAW
 
Dont be. Any latency with a USB port is driver or setup related. A USB port is hundreds of time faster than a game port and should be used. Put that Audigy up on ebay, you wont be needing it. I run 4 different Midi interfaces via my usb, 2 of which are 8x8, and have 0 problems with timing
 
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