Does anyone here have a musical device MIDIed to their computer?

[ST4RCUTTER]

I'm posting this here because threads seem to die in the peripherals forum.

I'm planning on MIDI-ing my Casio WK 1630 using a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz to my MP3 server, which in turn uses my home stereo for output. My reasoning for the Santa Cruz is that it comes with an impressive dynamic DSP chipset, bundled MIDI/audio composition software (such as Musicwrite LE and Digital Orchestrator), and a wavetable header for a MIDI daughter card. I don't think I need a higher end card...just entry level for now. Since I've never done something like this, I have a few questions.

1. Do I have to have software managing the connection, or will simply connecting my KB to my computer's soundcard allow me to play through my home stereo?

2. Is the software bundled with the Santa Cruz adequate? Should I pick something else up? If so, what is good for displaying played notes, recording multiple tracks for layering, etc?

3. Do I need a MIDI daughter card for keyboard playback? This may sound silly, but it seems to me that if my keyboard is replaying MIDI sounds an additional MIDI daughter card may not be necessary for this one task, although it should be better for other MIDI purposes.

Thanks!

 

[ScottMac]

I don't how much help I'm gonna be, but I'll give it a shot, based on having done it "A while ago."

After you connect all the Ins & Outs & throughs (if you have 'em)...

Go to START|SETTINGS|CONTROL PANEL|AUDIO & MULTIMEDIA and verify that you have a driver active for "MIDI."

I've never seen the driver for your sound card, but generally speaking, there's a tab available to edit the device. If you get that option it may display a table of MIDI channels and the instruments you want to associate with a given channel. If it's not available through the control panel, then there should be a tray application or SOMETHING that'll let you do it. Another function is / used to be whether the channel is internal or external.

When you bring up your MIDI software it should tie to the port and use the Casio according to your channel assignments.

That's about all I remember on it, sorry I couldn't be more specific. Worse case, you get a bump to the top and someone with fresher experiance can jump in with better directions.

I'm pretty sure you won't need the daughter card, it would only give you more notes/patches.

The included software should be adequate but, eventually, you'll probably want to get something a little stronger once you get a feel for what-does-what.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[bluemax]

The bundled software is pretty weak, but it's good to start getting your feet wet with.

So long as you have the MIDI cable that attaches to the joystick/MIDI port of the Santa Cruz, you're set for connections.
As far as MIDI *sounds* go, you have three choices:

1) you could use the internal sounds of the keyboard if they're any good, and if the keyboard is capable of multiple insturments at once. Some oldies sucked and simply can't do this.
2) you can use the TB-SC's "software synth" which could sound a lot better than a crappy keyboard (or a lot worse than a GOOD keyboard)
3) you can snap on a MIDI daughterboard (I have one for $40 shipped!) which gives you a Roland Sound Canvas for MIDI sounds, and is generally VERY good for instrument sounds. This option is the same principle as #2-internal sound, but with the daughterboard improvement.

Any other questions, just post 'em. I'll answer. I've been a MIDI nut for yeeeeeeears.

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

Thanks Scott. For the info and the bump...looked like this thread was gonna die too.

The TB should arrive next week. I can't get playback through the integrated audio of my ECS K7S5A, but I wasn't expecting much. I found some good websites on doing this type of setup and I don't think it will be that difficult.

Thanks bluemax. At this point I can wait to see what the included software does and does not do. The MIDI of my keyboard is pretty good. Overall I'm very impressed with this $300 board. It's no Yamaha or KORG, but I'm just getting started in music and it more than meets my needs. I'm thinking about putting in an ATI card w/TV out and watching my play through my 36". That would be pretty cool! I think it would help me to learn while having some more fun with it.