Should I get a MIDI card or just a cheap sound card with a MIDI/Game port?

[MetalMat]

I have a V-amp 2 and would like to interface with my pc, but my pc has no MIDI port anywheres on it. I must have some weird SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS because there is no midi port on the card anywheres. I was wondering what I should do:

A. Buy a dedicated MIDI card
B. Buy a cheap soundcard (like an SB Live! Value) and just use that along with a Midi-Gameport converter cable
C. Buy a Midi -to- USB Converter.

I would also like to use my old MS Sidewinder which uses the gameport. I am probably gonna go with option C since that costs the least. Heck, I migh even have an SB Live! Value sitting around my house.

 

[MetalMat]

Anybody?

 

[minofifa]

m-audio (www.midiman.com) has a crap load of USB options for midi and audio input. I would suggest the USB route as it is the least hassle and is a good price. i think they have a midisport which would serve your needs well.

 

[Lonyo]

Odd you don't have a Midi port. My SB Audigy had an add in type thing which plugged onto a connector on the card, then you could mount a bracket with midi port in an empty slot at the back of the PC.

 

[arswihart]

option C is good, or any of midiman's cheap usb interfaces, make it your goal to keep it below $25 if possible, go ebay maybe

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: minofifa
m-audio (www.midiman.com) has a crap load of USB options for midi and audio input. I would suggest the USB route as it is the least hassle and is a good price. i think they have a midisport which would serve your needs well.

50 bucks is a little too expensive for me

 

[SeTeS]

you _could_ just throw in a crappy old sound card and disable everything except the midi interface.

Usb works for me (I have a Remote25 and an older Ensoniq kbd), but I actually found that when using a non-ASIO soundcard, I got fewer latency probs w/ midi than w/ usb.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, I've never seen a sound card that didn't have midi. I've also seen very few folks ever make use of it. I'm also sure that someone may have made a card without midi. USB sounds like a good choice. Good luck, Jim

 

[dripgoss]

My OB midi and SB card midi was crappy so I bout a $40 MAudio USB Quadro on sale at Micro Center and it works like a champ on my ddrum4 kit...

Hope that helps!