If you're using a keyboard it still has audio outs. When you mentioned recording some bass lines or whatever that can all be audio if you wanted. The question about midi is interesting. I thought I would need it but I've haven't recorded in midi in the last eight years at least. I just plug in my Kurzweil using the audio out to my Sonic Cell audio in and that's it. No midi.

The thing about midi is editing. Much easier to edit midi than it is to edit audio. The majority of interfaces have both anyway so might as get one but this is an example of really paying attention to the specs. That Akai you're looking at only says four audio inputs, no mention of midi.

This from EMU is very good:

http://www.creative.com/emu/products/product.aspx?pid=19007

Audio and midi but it uses a PCIe card that has to be installed in your computer. People will say that gives you a cleaner signal and doesn't clog up your USB bus but I don't know if that really matters or not.

Here's their USB one:

http://www.creative.com/emu/products/product.aspx?category=610&pid=15185

I think the deal is USB is more convienient, no opening up your PC and then of course you have to have a PCI slot in the first place, but overall a PCI interface is better otherwise why would so many companies make them?

Bob

Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.