USB interface okay for midi work?

Just wondering if a usb audio interface would be okay for working with midi orchestration. And will it allow me to use big templates as long as my computer can handle it?

The interface is only relevant if you are trying to move large amounts of audio into or out of the computer at one time--that is what it does. So if you were trying to record from dozens of microphones onto an equal number of tracks simultaneously, the interface might not have the bandwidth to accommodate it. But MIDI is all done in the box, the files are all computer files in memory and the hard drive of the computer. All you ever need to get out of the box is a stereo (or surround) mix. The computer may need more memory to process a lot of tracks simultaneously, but the interface only needs to move a few tracks at once. You could do a full orchestra in MIDI with a very primitive sound interface.

ORIGINAL: slartabartfast

...But MIDI is all done in the box, the files are all computer files in memory and the hard drive of the computer.

This is only true if you are using all soft synths and no external MIDI hardware. There are still those that are using multiple racks of hardware synths requiring multiple multi-port MIDI interfaces. (No...I didn't stutter.)

quote:

ORIGINAL: slartabartfast

...But MIDI is all done in the box, the files are all computer files in memory and the hard drive of the computer.


This is only true if you are using all soft synths and no external MIDI hardware. There are still those that are using multiple racks of hardware synths requiring multiple multi-port MIDI interfaces. (No...I didn't stutter.)

And or have a control surface and or a MIDI keyboard and or V drums or any sort of MIDI input device.

A very bare bones DAW may only have MIDI that is mouse inputed or soft synth outputed but most have a need for some MIDI I/O. Not to mention MMC and what that can do.

Above points well taken. Thank you John, dantabill,

Do any who have corrected my comments think that a USB 2 interface will not do the job?

I am a bit skeptical about the higher track counts being dependent on the audio interface, CJay.

ORIGINAL: slartabartfast

Above points well taken. Thank you John, dantabill,

Do any who have corrected my comments think that a USB 2 interface will not do the job?

I am a bit skeptical about the higher track counts being dependent on the audio interface, CJay.

The only thing USB 2.0 versus firewire would make a REAL difference on is moving ACTUAL tracks in and out of your computer (say recording multiple instruments, singers, whatever at one time or if you mix outside the box). Given well-written drivers (and there's the rub) any interface should not have an affect on the numbers of tracks you have playing in Sonar but only come out on a 2-track buss to your sound I/O. IOW, if you have 200 tracks in playing in Sonar but have your project set to output those to just a left/right pair, USB 2.0, firewire, pci/e - it don't matter. It'll all be good.