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Chainek213 · Location: USA Posts: 92

Im taking my motu 2408 mk2 back to the store tomarrow(emailed them about 20 times in the last month and still no response) Im looking for a sound card that has 2-8 inputs, I plan on laying down one track at a time in CEP, (i might need multiple inputs in the future)
I also would like the sound card to be able to play *.mid and *.wav files(unlike the MK2)
And have good recording and playback. I was concidering the Delta 44.... Is that a good choice? has anybody experienced problems with it? Is their anything better?
Ill be greatfull for any help anybody can give me. thanks
Bryan M.

jonrose · Location: USA Posts: 2901

I can't vouch for anything other than the Echo cards, since I haven't done any recent trials.
There seems to be a fair amount of good product available out there, though. I'm sure you'll get some other responses.
I personally use 2 Laylas in my system.
Theses cards aren't set up to play back MIDI, however...they are strictly for high quality recording and playback, with a MIDI in/out/thru. However, I do use external modules for MIDI playback when I need them, currently Korg Triton and Trinity rackmounts, as well as Kurzweil stuff and some older modules like Emu's Proteus series.
I also use two outboard Behringer digital EQ's controlled via MIDI - all this stuff works very well together.
Good luck in seeking a new card!
All the best... -Jon :-)

Chainek213 · Location: USA Posts: 92

Ive been researching some sound cards and its starting to look like I have to get an external MIDI modules..... I dont know how they work or what they even looklike..

could someone give me a web address to a reccemended external midi module?

Can someone tell me how one is hooked up and exactly what it can do?

Are their any accesories I need for it?

I will appreciate the help :)

Craig Jackman · Location: Canada Posts: 909

I've done a bunch of studio installs, and everybody's been really happy with the original Echo Gina and now the new Gina 24 (both 2i/8o). Personally, I've had zero problems with my frontier Designs Wavecenter card and Tango external convertor (8x8).

jonrose · Location: USA Posts: 2901

Hey there, Chainek213!

External MIDI devices are varied and diverse. Don't let this scare you off.
There are external boxes for many purposes. I will give a couple of examples of what I have and use currently - though I doubt you will opt for anything this expensive, the basic premises remain the same.
The simplest device I use is a sample playback module made by Emu systems - it's an old Proteus. It has many samples on board ROM chips, and it plays back these sounds via MIDI control, whether from a software sequencing program running on the computer, from MIDI generated by a hardware-based sequencer, or by simply controlling it from (playing notes on) a MIDI controller keyboard.
More elaborate modules which I use are not only capable of playing back sampled instruments, but can, themselves, sample sounds - like the Korg units I mentioned in my previous post. These also are very high quality digital synthesizers; just without a keyboard, and housed in a rack-mountable chassis.
I also mentioned that I use some outboard equalizers, controlled from the computer via MIDI data - but don't let this confuse you - it was only a different kind of example to expand your view of what's possible. MIDI is just a way of talking to other devices, much as we are typing messages in English.
These are relatively expensive units and not too useful to the average hobbyist, so forget about them for the moment.
There are many manufacturers who make very good external, MIDI-controllable sound-modules that will blow away the performance of the low quality synthesizers/sample playback/wavetables that reside on most consumer-grade soundcards, anyway.
Try looking for products made by Korg, Roland, and Yamaha. Korg and Roland make crushin' little modules that are great for multimedia work - Korg's X5DR is great, as is the Sound Canvas series from Roland. They also follow a standard that is becoming more prevalent in other manufacturers' units, that of "General MIDI," which just means that the instruments in certain sound sets are set at the same "patch" numbers, and your MIDI files can be exchanged with a friend or co-worker who can then play back your creation on *their* General-MIDI compliant system.
There are many cheaper modules out there, though, so before you buy, I would suggest you audition some at a large music store that can actually demo some for you. Don't let the salespeople sell you the first thing on their shelves - listen and compare, even if you must visit a couple stores. Only then can you decide if a "cheapie" module is for you or if you want to spend a few hundred dollars for something you can be happy with for quite awhile, and actually get a lot of use from.
Remember, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is just a communications protocol which is used to communicate between devices, much like IP is used on the internet. A soundcard with a synth chip on it responds to MIDI the same way an external module or keyboard instrument does - it's just housed in a different package.
Now that I've wasted a bunch of bandwidth, and the Syntrillium Forum Police will be chasing me out of the forum, I will crawl back in my studio and hide...I hope some of this information was helpful.

All the best... -Jon :-)

Chainek213 · Location: USA Posts: 92

Thanks alot Jon Smile

You cleared up a lot of stuff for me, now i have an idea what im looking for Smile

rogier · Posts: 90

you could try the echo layla aswel 6i\4o
it has a pretty good sound aswel although I
have no idea on the midi section

johnschultheiss · Posts: 140

Delta cards rock, and so do the Echo products. I've used both (older Echo Gina and Delta 66). I found both to be easy to setup and run, they both worked straight out of the box, no tweaking needed. Both sound great for my purposes and I'm very satisfied with both products. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either one.

-- John Schultheiss

Jim Records · Posts: 32

John D · Posts: 88

I LOVE my Delta 1010 device