Do I Need An Audio Interface? Which One?, Audio interface DX7 MIDI Sequencer Setup Options

Hello!

I've got PTFree, Logic 4.8.1 installed on my imac OS 9.2.2.
Concerning MIDI, my DX7 is connected to the imac via the Midiman Uno 1*1 (Midi Interface).
I've connected the sound output of the DX7 to the mic input of the imac via an adapter but when I record/play a midi track on any of my sequencers, there's just NO SOUND going out of my imac!
Actually, the only possibility to hear this sound is to listen to the DX7 via the headphones or to connect the sound output of the DX7 to my stereo!

It seems like I need an audio interface since my imac is not expensive enough to provide me with good staff (the internal speakers are worse than any ones on PCs....let's switch!!!)....
Which one would you recommend me?
How is the delta 44 from midiman ?

Finally, as a beginner , I'm wondering what else should I get before beeing able to RECORD MUSIC?!

thanx !

[Levon River]

Hamard, here's an outline of three ways to go with your iMac:

BUDGET STARTER PACKAGE:
1. A Griffin Technology's iMic for audio input (around $50.00)
2. A Grifiin Technology's Speaker Breakout cable, for connecting any speakers of your choice. (Check to make sure you have the right port on your iMac, but I believe most or all iMacs have it; around $25.00)

That's essentially all you'd need to start making music. I have no affiliation with Griffin Technology; they just have the cheapest solution around. There are conflicting reports on results with the iMic, and I don't have one, so can't tell you.

BIT BETTER STARTER PACKAGE:
1. A good mixer with mic pre-amps (Mackie 1202s can be picked up used very reasonably)
2. Adapters for I/O between the mixer and your iMac. (You'll need the kind of pigtails that combine two separate cords from the L/R output of the mixer to a stereo mini-plug into the iMac, and then one going the other way out from the iMac back to L/R inputs on the mixer for output to your monitor speakers.)

This doesn't require an audio interface, per se, since you're using the mixer to give the computer the proper signal for whatever you're feeding through it. The attractive thing about this is the mixer will always be useful for many things, and can carry right over to and be used with the...

EVEN BETTER STARTER PACKAGE:
1. Mixer (see above--but optional depending on 2, below)
2. USB audio interface, with/without mixer capabilities

There are several options to chooe from for USB audio interfaces. All give you control over the signal levels (sort of a mini-mixer), many have decent mic preamps. Some, like the Event EZbus, are themselves complete digital mixers as well as audio interfaces, and even have MIDI connection capabilities too. There are too many to list here, but this page list most of them at many different price points:

http://www.audiomidi.com/viewgroup.cfm?Sub...p_ID=63&clid=74

Edirol has several choices. The Tascam US-224 might be a good choice. Explore. Do some research.

Hope that helps give you a kick-start and some options.