Ok, so I need some help. I'm looking for a midi-usb interface to use with my privia 120 so that I can use software such as pianoteq, ivory, galaxy, etc. (and then perhaps with something like pro tools or whatever DAW software) I don't think I've ever been so clueless like this in searching for tech-related stuff. I really have no idea how to go about this. I've looked in the forums here for ideas, and I've seen that latency is an important issue, but have no idea how to judge that based on specifications of a product. I more than likely will buy something used and off ebay or amazon, just to give you an idea.

I figured that buying one of those simple midi-usb cables (like this http://cgi.ebay.com/M-Audio-Uno-USB-MIDI...=item255f118158) could produce latency issues, so I just want to grab an interface.

Here's a few I'm looking at. Other than the number of MIDI sockets, I don't really understand what 1x1 or 2x2 etc. mean for these interfaces. Any help or advice?

http://cgi.ebay.com/M-Audio-Fast-Track-P...=item2eb1823bbf

http://cgi.ebay.com/MIDIMAN-USB-MIDISPOR...=item3f051ea13d

http://cgi.ebay.com/Midisport-2x2-usb-mi...=item43a34f9039

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cakewalk-UM-2G-2x2-U...=item3f04ec3c22

Hmmm... well, Sweetwater carries a lot of these devices and their sales associates should be able to discuss them with you. It could help you make up your mind about which one will do what you want.

If you're looking for explanations of some of the technical terms, some of the Wiki articles are pretty good.

I own the second one in your list, although I haven't used it for years due to having alternatives. If you were in the Uk, i'd sell it to you cheap..

When I did use it, it was very reliable. I had no issues with latency and such like although latency isn't just down to the interface itself. It can be a culmination of things including your computer, your operating system and your DAW software.

The reality is that midi latency is never really much of a problem and only generally becomes evident when you are having a technical issue. That's my experience anyways.

1x1 or 2x2 is simple. 1 in, 1 out ... or 2 in, 2 outs. If you have one keyboard with midi in and out then you would be fine with a 1x1. You'd be better off, for the same price or similar, going for a 2x2 just so you have the extras if you need it...

have you looked at tascam? ive got the US-144, keyboard hooked up with both midi and audio out, running pianoteq and cubase le4(comes with the interface), usb into the laptop.

also its relatively inexpensive, i paid 130 in canada and it came with cubase le4.

hope this helps.

One major question you should ask yourself is whether you want to have audio in/out connections as well. You can get just the MIDI in/out interface, which of course is cheaper, but one day you may decide you also want professional audio in/out too or that you don't like your built in sound card that much.

If you think it's likely you will need both sometime in the near future then I would recommend stepping up to the combo MIDI/Audio in/out audio interfaces as it will be cheaper probably in the long run than getting 2 separate interfaces, and more tidy too.

I have the presonus audiobox, which I find to be very good.

On a side note, i bought one of the $5 MIDI dongle cables on ebay from Hong Kong and although I haven't used it a lot, i haven't had any problems with it. Even if I did, it's $5, so who cares. If I needed it for live i would have a second one or something made local.

Here's one from Amazon, $5.70:
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Converter-Music-Keyboard-Window/dp/B0017H4EBG

Here's one from Maudio:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Uno.html

Thanks all for the help. All has helped me. Blueston, I think I might take your advice. I mainly thought of getting the interface because I thought latency issues would vastly improved, but maybe I should just get one of those cheap cables and then save later for an interface that has audio in/out.

What is the benefit then of having the full interface (without audio in/out) vs. just the MIDI-USB cable? Is there extra software or knobs on the interface to manipulate the input or something? Maybe if I find a used one cheap, I'll just buy the interface (w/o audio in/out ports) anyway.

I have a PX330 which has a usb port to usb on the computer. It's a simple cheap cable and I run PianoTeq (Play) with it and have no latency issues at all. I run the sound out to a set of 2.1 speakers and it sounds great. I'm not technically savvy enough to know what all those other cables do but my set up works beautifully.

Thelonious One, upon further consideration after reading your other post, I think you should go ahead and get the cheapest cable type of one for now (<$10 if you can find one). I don't personally see the need for "a box" unless you need more than 1 MIDI in or out port.

The cable/dongle one I have, has an LED for when it's plugged in so you know USB is powering it, and another LED to signal traffic being sent. I don't think you will have any latency issues with it.

Then if you want to step up to something more elaborate later on you can, and you will have only lost $5-10.

I was a little overwhelmed at first when I looked at all the audio interfaces but quickly realize, many had connections I did not want like 1/8" or RCA, or mono only. Then some were real ugly or layed out in a confusing or undesirable manner or had too many special function switches. Then some had no MIDI but charged you about the same as another that had both MIDI and Audio.

So I bought the $5 dongle to have as a simple back up, then eventually got the Presonus audio box because it had Stereo in jacks (a combination 1/4" phone and XLR, I had no idea these dual purpose jacks existed), and stereo out 1/4", a headphone 1/4" jack, MIDI in/out, and just a couple dial switches to control input volume, output volume, headphone volume. It did cost me about $150 but that's the one I really wanted.

The main point I was trying to make before is you want to try to avoid having a MIDI only box, and then later an Audio only box, as they each eat up a USB port, and if you have an ilok then that's 3 USB ports used up right there. Also, its not always easy to find a good stable place for more than one of these little boxes.

You are making this MUCH harder then it needs to be. Just about any MIDI interface will do what you need. There is no performance difference. THe simplest is the kind the looks like a cable with a "bump" in the middle. Buy one with LEDs and you can see them flash as data moves over the cable. helps to show if the cable is plugged in correctly.


The other option is if you intend to buy an external USB or Firewire audio interface box, and you likely will want one, soe of these boxes made MIDI interfaces built-in. THis is the way to go as it saves some cables and makes a neater setup and means there is one less thing to buy.

The guys at Synthesia warn people not to buy the M-Audio Uno cable (the first link in the original post.) See here. It's a possibillity that the problem could be in their program, but at least they say this one works badly.

I have Midiface 2x2 from Miditech and it works fine. I can connect two keyboards or digital pianos to it. I have only connected one at a time, but will connect both my keyboards to it, when I'm better at playing. That's why I bought 2x2 MIDI - USB adapter.

No, they are not stereo jacks. The box has two single channel inputs. Each is a combo XLR/TRS jack and allows you to plug in either a mic with an XLR cable or a 1/4 phone plug that has an "instrument level" signal, typically an electric guitar. On the back of the box is what you need for a piano, these are line level inputs.

It may just be a mater of terminology. In this industry, "stereo jack" means a single jack that can accept two channels of audio. This is common in portable consumer electronics but no so common with pro-audio gear. Here when we say "stereo" we mostly means two mono jacks that can optionally be treated as a stereo pair

I've had problems with the M-audio Uno where events would randomly drop, especially as the pace of playing picked up. I have a Fast Track Pro and aside from the low headphone amplification (for which I must compensate in software), I'm happy with it.