Quantum leap!

Hi there,
 
   A good place to start is the tutorials (http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/product.aspx/Music-Creator-LE) and go from there. They help a lot by walking you through the menus and buttons so you can understand the mechanics of the GUI.
 
   As far as I/O, if you are not having latency issues, you should be fine. Are you using MC6 with an on-board audio card (Realtek)? If not having issues with that, you should be fine, but can get better processing through a dedicated I/O that goes to either FireWire or USB.
 
   Before jumping on that comment, could you help us out but giving us more insight into your system (similar to my signature)?
 
   Best regards,
   Michael

Thanks mettelus and Guitarhacker.
 
This is my kit :
Asus P5N-E SLI
Intel Quad Core Q 6600 CPU @ 2.4GHz
On board audio? HD audio device
4 GB DDR RAM 667
nVidia GeForce GT9800
Just upgraded from Vista to Windows 7
MC6
 
Roland UM-1
Yamaha CBX-K3 midi keyboard
 
Behringer MX1604A mixer
Yamaha TG100 GM sounds
TC Electronic M300 multi efx
Alesis 3630 compressor
Rode NT1-A
 
Ibanez JS1000
Boss GT6
Morley wah
 
 

Thanks for the advice. It really is only a couple of days since I downloaded MC6. I will read through the suggested tutorials, try to do a bit of recording and see if I have any real latency issues.

Thanks Guitarhacker. Excuse my ignorance but does the interface effectively act as a sound card then as well as allowing you to connect various audio/midi inputs to the pc? I would guess that keeping the Behringer mixer is still a good idea with the output going to the interface? Would I send the output of the interface back to the mixer too (as I do from the onboard sound card). If that is the case is a small 2 in 2 out interface all that I need? Any models you would suggest?
Thanks

Thanks for the info Greg. The mixer (like most of my kit) is quite old, its a MX1604A so no usb or firewire.  My set up is listed earlier in the thread.

Now days, I would recommend a USB connection. Fire wire can be a bit problematic if the FW chips are not 100% compatible. I've not had this issue but I hear that some folks have had problems.
 
Yes, the interface becomes the sound card for input and output.  With the right interface, no mixer is needed.  However, should you opt to use the mixer,   that is totally fine. Yes, send it's output to the interface. Set levels accordingly.  You can use the mixer for monitoring but I think you need to be careful because that could be a potential feedback loop. I recall this issue being discussed at length many years back by several here who were using the very setup you are describing.
 
My setup, as I mentioned, is a bit simpler. The interface is the common point and no mixer is used for anything going in.
I send the output of the interface directly to my studio monitors. The interface keeps the inputs totally separated from the outputs so no feedback can occur. I only have to be aware to turn the monitors off when the mics are hot.
 
My outputs echo my inputs and the playback so I have full duplex available at all times for sync recording. What I hear in the outputs is exactly what's happening in the tracks and the mix.
 
Have a listen to some of the music on my webpage that I have recorded using this simple setup. You might wish to consider using it as well.
 
When I first was getting started, I wanted to have a really "cool looking" studio..... you know, with the mixing desk full of faders and knobs and flashing lights. I was planning to use my D-1600 in that way. I had very little available desk space, and after setting it up, I was having a slightly distorted sound. That's when I decided to try the mic straight in and it was crystal. The D-1600 went on E-Bay the very next day.
 
I don't care what the studio looks like... to me, the important part is what sound quality I can get with the music. I've had a few singers come over to record some stuff, and I see a bit of disappointment in their eyes when they don't see what they are expecting to see..... but that changes when they hear what my humble studio can do.

The UM-1 should work OK as in input device for the midi keyboard and with the Scarlett using ASIO and handling the audio signals in and out..... you should be OK.  Lots of keyboards these days don't have the 5 pin din connector anymore and come with a USB port built in so that would effectively work the same way....
 
Let us know how it goes.

While many FireWire device manufacturers recommend TI FW cards, I have a VIA in my music computer and never had any problems with it and my Saffire.
I think if the VIA is on Focusrite's 'good' list, you'll be safe and will (probably) get support if there are any issues.
 

Thanks guys. I will go for it!