computers and midi and equipment.

[scorpionldr]

so, basically i got the computer, I got software, I got SOME midi. I'm thinking of getting a midi keyboard for my computer so when I play out live my solo project, it'll bring a new horizon into my performance. Are there any latency issues I should be weary of in using an actual midi keyboard? i hear there might be some latency between a keyboard and my computer, but that was with old generation midi. I'm thinking of USB keyboard.

[JonathanD]

Its a ratio.
Computer Ram/processor Speed + Quality of keyboard+Quality of program VS. number of plug ins+ how much CPU your operating system takes up.


I play real time with an M-Audio Keystation 88es with some effect plug ins, whil plying back up to 31 tracking(midi and audio) via Logic Pro on an IMAC (ore Duo 1.83 Ghz, 2GB 677 Mhz DDR2) and have no audable latency.

Also factor in your sound card, and how you are combining sources. Are you running a bass and the computer into a mixer?

[Lalabadie]

I have pretty much the same setup as JonathanD (USB Keystation through a similarly spec'd iMac)

I run my keyboard MIDI Through into my I/O device, then in a synthetiser module. The synth and the computer both have a channel in my mixer. My bass is into a Zoom B2.1U pedal, which has a DI into the mixer and an Out in my amp.

When my iMac is in DAW "mode", I can get pretty much everything in real time. The comp sometimes lags on certain software instruments but they have to be pretty complex simulations.