Re: [Rosegarden-user] Question on best soundcards for MIDI work

[Larry B. <lba...@gm...>]

On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 6:19 PM, Darcy Kahle <dar...@sy...> wrote

>  I do recognize that the increased speed will allow me to play with the
> software synths, and all the effects that come with them, but I would still
> like the option of having a hardware synth available to me.
>
> Darcy
>
>
If you're looking for HW MIDI synthesizers try
http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Sound-Modules--2697 or
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/keyboards/sound-module-samplers/ for a
start.  Be prepared to pay a minimum of $600 and up at a minimum for a
quality polyphonic synth (Unless you go for used equipment).  It also
depends on what kind of HW synth you want.  A lot of the newer generation
modules are all about "virtual analog" synthesis and may not even do
wavetable synthesis for conventional MIDI instruments, much like my Waldorf
Blofeld (unless you spring for the $125 "software upgrade" to enable 60MB of
flash for wavetable storage, which I have).  Roland has completely
discontinued all rack-mount-type synthesizers and Yamaha seems to be heading
the same direction.  They typically covered the mainstream,
traditional+extras MIDI instrument module.  There's not  a lot of
competition out there for hardware synth modules and they typically are
extremely expensive: $1300+ for say an Access Virus TI Snow, and that's the
"lower end" model (With no guarantee of support for Linux).  The only
redeeming feature of zzounds and a couple other places is that they will
break the cost of the equipment into 3-4 payments without interest and ship
you the equipment immediately.

I bought my Blofeld because it was completely supported under Linux since it
appears as a normal MIDI interface over USB, or I use the USB input it has.
The sample-loading software is Windows-only which I rarely use, especially
since samples are sent at MIDI speeds (Even over USB) which take a long
time.  They don't even produce software to control it, the interface on the
box itself is good enough to create/modify all parameters for VA sounds and
it's built like a tank as well as being fairly small.  There's a keyboard
version for about twice the price that includes the sample-flash feature
enabled, but I purchased a MIDI keyboard controller (M-Audio Axiom
25<http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOAXIOM25II>- $250) because it was
small, offered after-touch, and had drum pads on it
as well as a ton of features.  It also functions over USB or MIDI and
optionally acts as an extra MIDI ouput device (Instead of sending the
keyboard data, which is relayed over USB back to the PC), which is nice.

Unless you buy a keyboard+midi synth (Which are even more expensive) better
go for used equipment, at least for external modules.  From the sounds of
the things you wanted an internal HW midi synth but as a breed those no
longer are in existence because anything internal to a PC can be (and has
been) replaced by software + generic sound cards (Although I would avoid
integrated motherboard sound, which always seems to be noisy/poor quality),
which means Windows, Windows, and more Windows software (or maybe Mac OS X)
unless you count Timidity or Fluidsynth.  I usually recommend SoundBlaster
cards because they are at least well-supported under Linux and tend to be
higher-quality in terms of sound although don't bother with the high-end
ones unless you are buying them for a specific feature like more inputs/MIDI
interface/etc.  I paid around $35 for a white-box (Refurbished from Fry's
Electronics) SBLive 24-bit PCI card and it is both quiet and performs as
well as the SB Extigy card given to me with the external box interface with
FireWire, MIDI in/out, volume, IR, and more inputs.  Getting support for the
extra features on the external buttons/controls is somewhat more problematic
as well.  Most external MIDI modules now have USB interfaces so getting an
internal card with a MIDI interface isn't a big deal anymore, and you of
course can always buy a USB midi interface in a pinch, just make sure you
buy locally or get a reputable one.  I bought several from China off of eBay
and they are terrible; they drop notes, particularly note-off events, and
are pretty much a waste.

Regards,
Larry



>
> Al Thompson wrote:
>
> Darcy Kahle wrote:
>
>
>  I have been using Rosegarden on a Pentium II 350 for quite some time,
> and it looks like it is time to upgrade my hardware.  I do not think
> that my current system would be fast enough to run the new Rosegarden,
> and I look forward to using the latest version.
> I am interested in hearing from the community on what would be the best
> sound card for MIDI work.  I currently have a SoundBlaster Live! that
> has the embedded hardware MIDI Synth, and that has been a god-send with
> my current hardware.  I would like to get another soundcard with an
> embedded hardware MIDI Synth for the new system.  I have found that
> Creative Labs has created the SB X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty, which appears
> to me to meet the requirements.  Anyone hear anything about this, or
> know of any other soundcard that meets my requirements?  I realize that
> I could use software synths, but I would prefer hardware synths, for
> obvious reasons.
>
>
>
>  If you upgrade your hardware, the reasons won't be nearly so obvious.
> I'd strongly suggest using something like Fluidsynth or QSynth.  They
> use .SF2 files, so the soundfonts from your soundblaster will still work
> if you have compositions which depend on those sounds, but you can use
> ANY .SF2 file, and there are many, which gives you a huge choice of
> drumkits, pianos, organs, etc.
>
> You'll quickly get over your fondness of soundblaster-type engines once
> you play around with some of the DSSI and other soft-synths,
>
>
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