Midi Talk:
Knew about the midi (computer [[0/1/x]] events) vs the audio.. hence discussing the value sets of this board (Keyboard) not being general midi language. I knew that I was not discussing audio frequency, when i brought it up to the initial poster. Hence also discussing driver mapping. Thankfully, it sounds like the sequencers have the option to change the event numbers, within them. Where I'm confused, is where the conversion between midi and audio occurs...which I call the actual "interface", just because that makes sense to me to use that jargon.

Hypothetical:
"The computer CPU in the music sense - this is where the sound conversion from digital to analog will happen if you are using the computer as the sound source. The analog data DOES NOT travel with MIDI back to the keyboard."
Ok.. so.. I'm going to try to clear up the confusion here. Does the computer have to change it to audio there? Can't it continue on a *midi* path, all the way back to the keys and then change it at the sound machine interface *inside* the keyboard? Again, this is hypothetical for the sake of learning midi vs audio, etc, under the understanding that you'd be using a newer keyboard that has an actual midi to audio interface within them now. I'm under the impression that that is how keyboards are being made now. You don't need computers anymore and can run the entire digital portions of the band off the keyboard, as it is now the actual rig.

Now, back to the Privia and our church: _________________________
I believe the USB transfers both midi and audio seperately, but on the one USB line... Some of the line's bandwith (a tiny amt) is used for midi, and the rest is used for audio. This is where the USB ports make for frustrating conversations. USB is also supposed to transfer midi and audio in *both* directions. This Privia user's manual states that the keyboard sends both, but receives only midi. Totally confounding as to why that would be the case. In the end, as USB ports change (we are moving into USB 3 "age" quickly here).. and as our budget would hopefully cover expenditures today that would last over at least a 10 year period...one would think that the older drivers will become extant for this keyboard and other USB2 only keyboards. Also, a major factor in our decision to go ahead with another Keyboard. Since MIDI is standard and doesn't use drivers, this is a must for our new keys.

Your suggestions:
As to your numbers (helpful, btw):
to number 1: check.
to number 2: check, but not interested due to budget and other reasons.
to number 3: sounds far too out of my zone of knowledge


Another Option:
We were considering (for the Privia), a Roland SD-50, since it is a USB interface outbox with sounds that we like.

For Now:
"Don't toss that Privia yet. I think your fear of going from 1/8 inch to XLR is that you are worried of doing this all on the jack itself. Do this: 1/8th stereo to 2x 1/4", then plug those 1/4" into either a stereo direct box to XLR, or 2 different direct boxes. You will be fine this way."

This is our current set-up.. and we are not tossing the Privia for that reason. It's still has noise on the line, but I've read that I need to by-pass the pre-amp to get rid of it. smirk

"You could even stand to do a little 1/8" stereo splitter out of the headphone jack on the Privia - take one to some headphones, and the other with the cable combo listed immediately above - to give you ability to monitor what's coming out of the Privia. "

Exactly what we do, to get by, in the meantime. The Privia has two headphone jacks and we use the second one in my ears, for playing, during our worship time.

While the noise is on the line, we can get by with it because it's not awful, but truely.. for the future, it needs to end... sooner than later. As well, as for podcasting, which we do of the sermon, but not the music because of this.

Last edited by amynelson; 05/14/13 09:15 AM.