The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

On Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 05:03 AM, nuvalerium wrote:
> so I am after some advice.

Here goes....

>  My PC is getting
> way too old now (P3 350Mhz, 384Mb ram, 40gig 7200rpm HD, with a SB
> Audigy Player Sound card)
>
> I like sound fonts which my sound card can handle. I like DXI`s in
> Sonar but my PC cannot handle as the latency is a huge issue. I want
> a simple way to record my songs which may contain sound fonts and
> DXI`s. I have a laptop which is a P4 and gets rid of the latency
> challenge on the DXi's but it cannot use soundfonts. Basically my
> setup is all over the shop and is causing me challenges.
>
> Whats my best option? I want to play my keyboards, using DXi's,
> soundfonts and patches, record what I am playing and edit the
> mistakes :-)

I thought the a Soundblaster Extigy external (that works via USB) would 
be a good solution- but I checked and it cannot use sound fonts -and is 
no good for multitrack (no ASIO low latency).

You might be able to add a different external soundcard  (Firewire or 
USB) to your PC-
coupled with a sound font compatible VSTi (or ids it DXi in your case) 
to play the sound fonts.

Other than that- it would be upgrading your PC...
new motherboard
new processor (P4)
new power supply
new ram

- either of these solutions will be expensive.

> Also looking at an Ensoniq ASR-10 which can sample and has an 
> excellent sequencer.

I've got one of these- and still use it sometimes- but it is a little 
old (10 years now).
I think you're better off with a software sequencer (where you can see 
the tracks).
- that was hard for me to say as I've been an Ensoniq sampler user from 
the Mirage & EPS to the ASR.

> My kit as it stands right now is roughly as follows. AN1x, Korg
> N364, Midiman Oxygen8, USB midisport 4x4, Boss DR770, Yamaha MU15,
> Mackie 1202VLZ Pro, Philips CD Recorder, Tannoy Active Reveals,
> Sonar XL and Cooledit Pro.

Looks like you've already chosen wisely- a compact, powerful kit  so 
far.
(That's a lot better than what I started out with).