player1 wrote:Magnaton and John,
I was looking today at midi interfaces and audio interfaces. From lefranc22's post, using an audio interface means I would not need a midi interface. Can I buy a audio interface and use that to do the experimentation magnaton lined out?
Yes, several of the audio interfaces recommended for HW include a MIDI port so a single cable to the computer can handle both audio and MIDI. There was one thread a while back that mentioned where a user stated his interface unit was maxed out with all x audio channels active plus the MIDI port in use. In this setup the interface became overtaxed with dropped notes and latency playing fast passages with heavy registration. The simple solution was to add a separate MIDI interface. So 2 separate computer connections one for MIDI the other for audio.
Your profile doesn't state where you are located, but here is a simple, inexpensive MIDI interface I used for years with out issue just to get started.
https://www.amazon.com/VicTsing-Cable-Converter-Keyboard-Adapter/dp/B00ACGMOA6/ref=sr_1_17?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1533913840&sr=1-17&keywords=Midi+interface
Other more robust interfaces would be the Roland UM-One, iConnectivity Mio, or M-Audio Midisport Uno all under $40 US.
player1 wrote:Magnaton and John,
Regarding multiple channels, I would like to buy the equipment now so if I chose to go that way in the future, I will not need more equipment. Need I get a more sophisticated audio interface to do that or will a E-MU usb interface be enough? While we are at it, should i go for a unit with FireWire? Several on the "Requirements" list have that in the title. I need some understanding here.
Modern audio interfaces are now USB or Thunderbolt. Years ago, FireWire was the only viable option as USB-1 was too slow. USB-2 (and now USB-3) offers the bandwidth and speed that meets or surpasses FireWire so this standard (IEEE 1394) is kind of being phased out. Some interfaces still offer that port for backwards compatibility. Many Macs had a FireWire port as standard for years.
Keep in mind that audio interfaces are marketed for the home studio or professional recording studio market. Their specifications and details explain how they work with live recording & playback and the quality of their inputs. With HW we are only concerned with "output" quality and number of output ports or potential number of output channels. The advice here is to search the forum for "audio interface" and read past discussions, take note of makes and models and comments. If you are looking to be 'future proof' then I'd recommend a unit with at least 8 to 10 channels. Before making a purchase, read the owner's manual and focus on the true number of "independent" output channels. A couple of models piggy back the the main channels or channels 3 & 4 to the headphone jack. If you never intent to use headphones then this point is moot. If you do, its nice to know that the headphone jack is independent of any output channels.
Danny B.