The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "Aaron" <aaronrash@e...> wrote:
> --- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" <jondl_2000@y...> wrote:
> > Are you able to dump your Voice and upload it to the Files 
> Section. Perhpas then one 
> > of us can determine if this behavior is specific to the Voice or 
> your AN1x?
> > 
> > Jon
> 
> I got so many patches ide love to post but i need to get a midi 
> interface. And while i got the subject up about midi interfaces , 
> what kind of midi interface would you recommend me getting?

I would always recommend you stick with the same brand as whatever Audio/MIDI 
sequencer application you either use today or plan to use becasue there are often 
advantages to such a combination, i.e., proprietrary time stamping mechanisms 
which reduce MIDI slop in large MIDI set-ups (more than four hardware synths/
modules), enhanced patch management/filtering options, and tighter intergration 
with synchrnozation features used to slave software with a variety of hardware 
specifications.

That said, here are some generalizations to keep in mind:

Emagic is now an Appe subsidiary and while I don't doubt their AMT and Unitor MIDI 
Interfaces still work with various flavors of Windows I wouldn't anticipate ongoing 
support. I'm using a MT4 with no problems under OS X (also works under OS 9.)

Steinberg is well known for decent Win supprt but their word of mouth on Mac 
support right now is dodgy - no doubt the truth lies somewhere between the two 
extremes. I don't know the details of their MIDIEX line but no doubt the features are 
comparable to Emagic - for obvious reasons.

MOTU has alsways been solid on the Mac platform - less so on the Win side of the 
fence. That said, I know more than one Win users happily using a MIDIExpress with 
*many* hardware synths.

MIDIMAN - their USB support under Win was always better than their Mac support but 
this really seems to have approved under OS X. Heck, it's even improved under OS 9. 
Theire stuff seems to work with just about everything and they have a wide variety of 
models - none of which are priced out of the ballpark. Just keep in mind a MIDIMAN 
MIDI Interface will NOT exploit any of the vendor specific features which make hw/sw 
combo's so attractive (see above comments.)

I would strongly encourage you to chose a multiport MIDI Inteface, i.e., 2x2, 4x4, 
4x6, etc. so you have some room to grow as you add more hardware to your set-up.


 I am now 
> starting to really get into soft synths and im thinkin about using 
> the AN1x as a controller with native instruments absynth and also 
> with nuendo and im looking for 0 latency with the midi hookup. So 
> what kind of midi interface out there will offer 0 latency between 
> my AN1x and my computer?

There will *always* be some latency between your MIDI Hardware and Software - it's 
inherent in the nature of a serial protocol such as MIDI. That said, their are 
proprietary time stamping technologies used by each of the major vendors which 
minimize the ill affects of MIDI slop in large MIDI set-ups. It will be of little to no 
value in a set-up with a single hardware synth/controller. If you've already invested 
heavily in Nuendo than I would suggest you spend more on a Steinberg MIDI 
Interface.

The *real* culprit of latency which affects softsynths such as Absynth is restricted to 
the Audio driver in use - I suspect you're using either ASIO or CoreAudio? - in 
combination with the System Bus speed of your Computer. Example, my 'G4' 
PowerMac is actually a RevA G3 that's been upgraded with a ZIF processor but the 
System Bus still  runs at a pokey 66 MHz - using CoreAudio with a MOTU 828 the 
best response I can get _without adverse audio artifacts_ uses the 512 buffer size. I 
*can* drop the Buffer Size lower and notice a slight imporvement in reponse but the 
sound will distort and break up after tracking for awhile hence the larger buffer size.

I would advise you to search out the Cubase.net forums and determine what 
configurations other users with similar set-ups are using. Nuendo is a serious 
investment of time and money, why would you NOT spend more money on the 
necessary peripherals to get the most out of it?

Jon