Using Midi With Sound Blaster External Card
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Posted on Jan 21, 2006 04:44 pm
crafty
Member Since: Jan 21, 2006
Hi everyone.
I've just picked up the SB Live External SBO490 Card and wondered, as it comes with soundfonts installed, is it possible to trigger the fonts from a midi device? In the internal SB Live 5.1, this is done by connecting a keyboard via the midi/joystick port. How is it done with the external version??
Also, will I have to uninstall my internal 5.1 before I can use the external verion or will it run ok on the same driver??
Thanks a million, in advance.
Ed
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 21, 2006 10:15 pm Dont know about the same driver, as they surely will use completely differant drivers due to the age differance in the cards.
I will assume you can run the old one to use its midi i/o without interfearing with the others audio capability. So the answer is yes, you should be able to trigger the soundfont synth via the midi from the other SB card.
craftyMember
Since: Jan 21, 2006
Jan 22, 2006 04:46 am Thanks for that Noize.
Do you know if it's possible to trigger the sounds in the external card with the internal card unplugged. If so, where would the keyboard plug in? My point being, if the external card had fonts, how do you trigger them?
Ed
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 22, 2006 03:02 pm If the external card does not have a midi interface, no you wont be able to plug the midi controller in. So you will need the other card for its midi interface to hook the controller into.
As for the external card. IF it does indeed have a soundfont synth onboard then it will show up as such in your midi preferances in whatever recording application you are using. You simply choose that as you midi output and then select the other cards midi input and your good to go.
craftyMember
Since: Jan 21, 2006
Jan 23, 2006 12:40 am Thanks very much.
Yes the external SB card def has a synth in it. The spec says "Karaoke, 10 band EQ, Bass Boost, Audio Clean-Up, Smart Volume Management (SVM), EAX ADVANCED HD, SoundFont Bank technology, Creative Multi Speaker Surround (CMSS), EAX 2.0, EAX
Have a butchers.. www.tritechcoa.com/product/330213.html#AudioOutput
So, I use the internal card for midi input and the external card for the sounds. I would have to uninstall the internal one though and install the external one for full functionality?? I guess the internal card would work with basic (midi) functionality - or is pos to have BOTH installed?
Keeping in mind the external card is intended for use with laptops, I would assume all laptops have a midi/joystick port otherwise this type of card would be useless...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 23, 2006 11:35 pm It is possible to keep both in the PC.
I dont know too many laptops that have a joystick/midi port at all. The only midi I know of used with a laptop is through the USB port. Laptops were never meant as gaming computers. Though some are quite capable.
craftyMember
Since: Jan 21, 2006
Jan 24, 2006 03:20 pm Ok. Cheers.
I've been advised that input from the keyboard would be via USB so all it remains for me to do is get a midi to USB cable.
Thanks for the advise.
Ed
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 24, 2006 11:34 pm What keyboard is it? Is it a controller only or a synth type keyboard?
