• From: Frankfurt am Main
  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 16

Topic: Use MIDI Port of the UC or go directly into the PC through USB?

I am using

- MIDI controller "M-AUDIO Keystation Pro 88";
- Sonar X1 x64.

Latest driver for the M-AUDIO (so not the one provided by Windows), latest updates for Sonar.

Is there any advantage in using the Fireface UC's MIDI Interface over going from the Controller's USB port directly into the computer? Like latency, etc? I mean, audibly there's nothing that I noticed.

So is there something that I miss, that would be worth the purchase of a good quality MIDI Cable? smile

- Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2,33 GHz;
- MB Asus P5B-E;
- Windows 7 Professional x64;
- Sonar X1 x64.

2 Reply by ffucOwner (edited by ffucOwner 2012-01-19 14:18:55)

  • From: Frankfurt am Main
  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 16

Re: Use MIDI Port of the UC or go directly into the PC through USB?

Ok, I saw how much a MIDI-cable costs. Not much.

Can still anyone explain me if there were any advantages using the Fireface UC as a MIDI Interface?

Sorry for my ignorance...

- Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2,33 GHz;
- MB Asus P5B-E;
- Windows 7 Professional x64;
- Sonar X1 x64.

3 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2012-01-19 14:40:47)

  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,782

Re: Use MIDI Port of the UC or go directly into the PC through USB?

Midi under windows can have timing issues. But they are unpredictable. RME gear is very good midi wise. But M-audio might work good too. So try M-audio USB, cause that is the simple solution. If you are happy with it, leave it like that. If you feel timing could be faster, or have issues, try RME. If you don´t have external midi synths, it is not that important anyway. A lot of the timing issues are with midi out.

BTW I really like the keystation....want one, but can´t justify the expense since I already have nice 76key synth as keyboard.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • From: Frankfurt am Main
  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 16

Re: Use MIDI Port of the UC or go directly into the PC through USB?

Thanks for the reply.

I'm using the USB output of the Keystation and I'm only playing softsynths. No external gear.

I think I visually notice a verrryyy slight delay of the MIDI fader on the MIDI track that I record in my sequencer. I mean when I strike a key, the MIDI fader seems to not jump right away... Can't compare cos I don't have a MIDI Cable to try through the UC. It is very slight, in fact I'm not even sure it's there. Audibly I don't hear anything suspicious (delay). That's why I looked at the fader with the volume turned down smile

- Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2,33 GHz;
- MB Asus P5B-E;
- Windows 7 Professional x64;
- Sonar X1 x64.