Pre-usb Keyboards And Usb/fiwi Audio Interface, will all keyboards work as a controller? Options

[amswineh]

As I begin to piece together some equipment for composing music, I've decided my first hardware buys are:

MIDI controller keyboard
Audio (USB or FireWire) interface (1/4" inputs, MIDI, XLRs, etc)
Studio Mic

and I'll go from there with appropriate software.

But I was wondering: I could get a USB controller keyboard. But since I am going to get some sort of audio interface (say a Tascam US-122 or M-Audio 410), do the MIDI inputs transfer through the USB/FiWi. For example, if I want to hook up an old pre-USB keyboard via MIDI, will the hardware properly transfer the MIDI calls from the keyboard and send through USB/FiWi to the computer? And will any MIDI keyboard work? Any problems you see with this setup? Did I just confuse the hell out of you?

Also, I need more information on the "debate" between USB and FireWire audio interfaces. I know which one is the best, but it's also the more expensive, and I'm pretty low on money at the moment.

just a caveman,
alphonse

[sethjacquay]

okay churls,

i only recently got into the midi/audio input device stuff, so i will
share my experience with you.

Setup is as follows:

Yamaha DX-11 (circa 1988)
got it for free from my Uncle (in perfect condition)

Midi Mate XP (USB to midi)
hooked up to the Yahama DX-11 (got at tigerdirect.com $40)

M-Audio Firewire 410
(purchased for $400 from zzounds.com)

Behringer B1 Single Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone

Sony Minidisc MZ-N707
use as a prerecorded input or Mic Input (with the Sony ECM-MS907)

Reason 2.5
Soundtrack
Garageband
Live 3.0

iMac G4 800Mhz Flat Panel 512MB 60GB HD SuperDrive
Ezquest Cobra 7200RPM 120GB Firewire HD

I was planning on buying a Oxygen8 for Christmas but the Yamaha landed in my lap.
I purchased the midimate xp and got a copy of Reason 2.5 and i was up and running.
I decided I wanted to add some voice and guitar, but my Griffin iMic was picking
up lots of static from the power on the usb channel and since I had a lot of other
stuff on the usb channel (about 9 other devices) there was latency. So I decided to actually
spend a couple hundred and attempt getting something decent. I decided not
to go usb after the iMic Latency and Static issues. Looked at the Firewire 410 and
the MOTU 828mkII. Since the 828mkII was twice the price I went for the 410.

The Firewire 410 is a solid unit. I got the midi working, with Reason, going through the
410. But I switched my midi back to the midimate usb channel for two reasons:

1 - Garageband would not recognize the midi signals from the 410 properly, only the usb
midimate, this might just be a Garageband Issue with firewire midi. For what ever reason
Garageband decide to add a incredible amount of delay after each key press.

2 - While recording in Live 3 using rewire and a mic (both connected to the 410)
there was a lot of hiccups in the monitor and some delay. (this might be processor
power issue.)

But other than those issues with Garageband and duel recording, the Firewire 410 works as
advertised. You should read my posts regarding mono input so that you are not surprised
when your playback is only coming through one side of the headphones, as I was. The 410
is recognized by all my apps as follows:

Reason 2.5 - midi input
Live 3 - midi input/line in/guitar/phatom powered microphones
Soundtrack 1.2 - midi sync/line in/guitar/phatom powered microphones
Garageband 1.0 - line in/guitar/phatom powered microphones

Garageband is the only app that I have figured out how two create mono inputs in.
Garageband is also a ton of fun hooked up to Acoustic Electric or Electric guitar, as the
effects are funny and really cool. Makes my Acoustic Electric sound like any other
type of guitar. (not really classical though)

So I recommend the Firewire 410 as it has worked well and the latency issue
is definitely a thing of the past. If you are going to purchase one though, go
in knowing about:

a. mono instruments (and how to correct it)
b. the recording issue with multiple inputs in Live
c. the issues with midi going through the 410 and Garageband

One thing to also think about when purchasing the Behringer B-1 Microphone:
the Mic comes with a shock mount that fits to a European mic stand 3/8 as opposed
5/8. You can by a cheap adapter for this but they are kind of hard to find,

I can't recommend anything else, but I can guarantee that this works better than
my old iMic setup and the dual monitoring of 410 is a pretty nice feature, so is
the clean sound, the lack of latency, and of course the phantom power.

that is my story and it is all true...

This post has been edited by sethjacquay: Wed 11 Feb 2004, 20:05