Quote:

I want to add some parts from my Midi keyboard. It doesn't have a USB out. I have seen cables the have a Midi connector on one end and a USB connector on the other. Has anyone tried these? Do they work well? Does it hurt anything to buy a less expensive one?

As far as analog parts, such as guitar, how are you folks connecting?

Thanks for your help.



You need a proper audio/midi interface like that M_Audio one or something similar. There's ton's of external ones available too. With one of those, no need for a midi/USB cable bacause the interface has your midi in/out's already along with full size 1/4' plugs and a lot of them will have a proper XLR input for a mic. And take it one step further, if you are doing any vocal recording at all, you should get phantom power for a condenser mic. A step up to the $2-300 range gets you a good semi-pro interface with all of that plus high quality preamps as well. If you really must go very cheap then yeah, that $6 cable could work and for audio you can plug your guitar into the 1/8" line in plug on your built in soundcard but that's very clunky plus using a 1/8" adapter on the end of a already fairly heavy 1/4" guitar plug and cord puts a lot of strain on that tiny soundcard plug.
Step up if you can afford it and get something designed for this. You won't regret it in the long run. M-Audio, Focusrite, EMU all make good high quality units. Here's an example of a nice $200 one Focusrite It has everything I described plus a headphone out.
I understand if you're new at this and are not sure how far you want to go you may not want to spend this right now but trust me, if you wind up doing even a little bit of recording, you will wind up with something like this anyway. Might as get it now and start off right. If it doesn't work out you would have no problem selling it on Craigslist or even on this forum.

Bob

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