Recommend a USB MIDI controller for me?
 

I've discovered that my Novation 49-key Remote SL Compact, which is about 4-5 years old, has developed a problem in one of the keys (specifically the G#/Ab key that's about at midpoint).

The velocity is too eager to go to 127 on that key, if that makes sense. You can make it hit lower velocities, but for example if you hit three keys to the left then the key in question and three keys to the right with enough force to target about half of max, in effect the velocity registered might look like:

62-61-59-127-58-60-65

I may explore repairing this particular controller, and any other suggestions to salvage it are appreciated, but since I was eyeballing 61-key controllers anyway, I thought I would put in a request for suggestions.

What are you guys using for a controllers and what would you buy right now if you wanted a new 61 key and why? 49-key solutions considered but 61 preferred.

My primary wish list can be summed up as overall QUALITY! Willing to pay more for it if necessary. I want it to last. Who makes the "best" these days?
Pots for knobs a plus.

The new launchkey from Novation looks pretty tasty...

http://us.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/launchkey

I'm sure you can easily fix it. Sounds like it's got some dirt on it. Take it to some repair service that can handle keyboards, maybe just some cleaning will do it.

The new Impulse seems good to me. It's got the same keyboard and two wheels instead of the joystick. Doesn't have the useless X/Y pad on it, and the knobs and faders seem better. They say the pads are useful now (for more then triggering clips on live or on/off dutties lol). Don't really know about others.

Just thought about it: doesn't the UltraNova work as a midi controller as well?

These are on my watch-list for now. The Remote SL MKII is currently getting my attention the most because of the mod/pitch stick, and it has both pots and endless encoders for knobs.

Definitely, it can work Automap just like the other Novation controllers if you want, but it's still only a 37-key keyboard. It could get me by for a few days if I decide to take the Remote SL Compact 49 apart, but would seriously cramp my style over the long term. I really want a 61-key, that's one reason I'm looking to just pick up a new one and maybe repair the 49 and either use it, or maybe sell it or give it to friend/family if I can get it working as new again.

I tried blowing some compressed air under the keys to see if I could dislodge anything, but no good, I'll probably need to get out the screwdriver.

The Impluse line of Novation boards is on my watch list as are the others, although supposedly they are one notch down in quality from the Remote SL MKII, and I saw an online comparison that said the Impulse has a heavier feel to the keys. The pots and the stick on the MKII are pulling me in that direction right now.

I ended up getting a Remote SL MKII. Really love the feel of the keys and especially the stick!

I think the board itself is a keeper but Automap is a filthy bitch and I mean that not in a good way. :) I'm not yet sure why it doesn't seem to want to behave. I used Automap for a while with my prior keyboard and don't remember having any problems with it.

Slight update, I no longer wish death upon Automap, because I think I've figured out my workflow now in Cubase, and therefore Automap will be irrelevant to me in the long run (which is where it landed with my prior controller and DAW). Even still, I think the fiddly nature of it was really not the software's fault anyway, as much as a lack of familiarity with the controller.

The Quick Controls feature of Cubase will be my best friend going forward it looks like.

Automap works fine for me. I just edit the templates myself and make them standard for the machines I want to use it with. I tend to edit the number of points for the knobs and encoders, so as to get a more natural feel - to much points and you can't turn the filter like you would on the virus, for example. So I always tune that to taste. After I save those settings, everything works fine. I don't really use the mixer template in logic that much, sometimes I use the transport buttons and recording and all of that. Enabling the click from the keyboard and that sort of thing! But I think Automap works fine once you lose some time with it to really dig the options there - it's just not as instant as they say it is to get best results. But I prefer that to using the midi learn on the daw or the machines themselves, honestly. It's much more streamlined and it gives some important feedback on its screen and on the screen if you choose to with the pop ups - useful for live act.

And I think it's got a lot better with the years to. But I'd really like to have some superior grade knobs, I don't like the encoders as much, I don't really care much for the lead lights showing where it's turned at - I just get a better feeling with the pots I guess. Wish they'd start making controllers more synthesizer based and less generic usage. And with better quality. Automap seems to be evolving just fine, I'd like to see ribbon and great knobs, faders would be ok in a JP8080/SH101 design I guess - not the cheap plastic ones though eheh.

I've looked around and there's simply not a lot of options when it comes to controllers. It all looks like the same S#$%! :twisted:

Do you have the same keyboard (Remote MkII)? Wasn't sure from your post.

Yep! I'm sort of happy with it! But the X/Y pad is totally useless like you know! And the pads are a sad joke also, only usable for triggering on/off buttons or clips in ableton! The rest is fine, I usually use the faders to control amp env and filter env - otherwise I wouldn't get those used either.

Yeah, I don't plan to use the X/Y pad or the drum pads at all (have Maschine for percussive things). Funny thing is I didn't think I would use the faders much, but I think I'm preferring them to knobs for many things. Not sure if it will remain that way or not. Another surprise is that I thought the endless encoders would have that firm-clicky feel like my old Remote did, but that's not the case, they feel very fluid, such that I could use them or pots without really caring which. Key action is perfect and I love the stick!

But you're right, there are surprisingly few options out there. There was a time when I was really eyeballing the Akai Max series, but I don't think they even make a 61 key, I don't need good drum pads, and now that I have a good touch fader on one of my Yahama CMC controllers as a reference point, I would absolutely not accept a touch fader as a substitute for real faders or knobs. Glad I dodged the Akai purchase.

Very happy with the controller overall, even if I don't get back around to Automap. Maybe I will, who knows.

Yep, as far as the keyboard goes it's really top notch! The joystick I really like it to, even though for some uses having the two wheels is better.

Absolutely love the MIDI interface on this thing! It's the best I've seen and that was also a big factor for me. Wish they'd get rid of the non sense features like the X/Y pad, leave the color pads for Ableton's dedicated controllers like the Launch Pad, and focus on a keyboard thought for controlling hardware and software synthesizers instead with better quality (even better) knobs and faders, and perhaps even CV input and output.

And... A full featured Arp/Sequencer of course. If you want to implement extra features, this is a good idea for any controller - specially if it's got good midi and cv connectivity!

Good build quality, a layout that resembles the best synthesizer examples and features for keyboard musicians that are serious would make my day!

Just incase you've encountered this particular issue: when I turn on Automap mode, and turn Learn mode on, it says touch the control on the keyboard (which I do and it works fine), then it says click the DAW parameter and never seems to pick up the interaction with the DAW.

Any ideas? I guess I could ask Novation support, but I just had a multi-day wait from them on an UltraNova question so I don't feel like spinning that one up right now really, and it's not a deal breaker for me because I've found I like running it in Advanced Mode and just mapping to MIDI CC via Cubase quick controls. Their how-to videos on Youtube with regard to Cubase are worthless.

It's the other way around: you need to touch the parameter on the software and only then touch the physical control. If you open Automap's window, there's a menu there for installing it for your DAW of choice, with step-by-step tuturial - worked fine for Logic. It's ideal to get it fully configured because that's how you get to browse your instruments and fx and it picks the stuff you open instantly as well - if that option is selected.

The way it works on mine is as I described above. I press Learn, and the little popup will say to touch a kbd control, which I do, then it says click in the DAW. If I did the reverse, it will never get past the popup that tells me to click a control first, because it's never going to receive the DAW click even if it did want things in reverse order. Hope that makes sense.

Yep, makes sense. But it's the other way around at least when working with logic. I need to touch the desired parameter first, then touch the control. Bet it's just a difference in the software we use.

But thinking about your problem. I know I had to configure the controller in Logic so that it would pick up stuff correctly - I followed the step-by-step thing I talked about. You probably need to check some options on the automap program itself, maybe the midi channels being used as well. Don't know, but it's something like that for sure. I'm pretty sure you'll get that sorted pretty fast. You're using Cubase on a PC, right?

Yeah, and there's one potential clue that I'm wondering about -- when you set up the MIDI port connections in Cubase, the official Novation video shows the Remote SL MKII as having an entry for Port 1 and Port 2, where as I only see an entry for the Remote SL MKII with no mention of ports. That could be simply because something has been updated since the video made, or it could be a clue to the issue.

The other thing that is different before (my old Remote 49 with FLStudio for example) is that I've got way more MIDI enabled devices now, with the UltraNova and the CMC controllers and so forth. It could be a config issue or some sort of conflict that I'm overlooking due to the sheer amount of stuff to wade through.

But if it were a conflict it seems like there would be an issue with using Advanced mode on the board. This is clearly an Automap related issue, because without that I'm able to use things fine enough. The real motivation in getting Automap working would be mostly to be able to switch between using the faders for DAW mixer track control versus plugin control, and just for the gratification of getting everything working. I could live with it fine enough the way it is -- I wasn't even using Automap before. But something about my (tenacious I guess) nature makes me not want to give up on this until I understand all the details at least.

Yep, I didn't install following those videos on their website. It's moved to the application, I think it should be allocated next to the clock on a windows environment as well. There's a menu there where it shows the digital audio workstations installed on the system, and those that are already configured for automap. Once you select one and choose "configure" or something like this, it will present you with step-by-step instructions for properly setting up the Remote on the system. I also have the tiny Nocturn and it works seamlessly with both. I use the later for fx sends, like you'd do in a real mixer and stuff like that, and usually use the Remote just for hands on control of the synthesizers with personalized templates.

Take your time to explore the options within the Automap application as there's a lot there. For example, if I use the small Nocturn controller to control Traktor, it doesn't even use Automap, it's a user bank template and another kind of configuration is needed for this. I remember I had to turn down some options in order for it to pick up the instrument as a regular midi controller and not through the automap hub - which I think replaces regular midi in some way. But once you set it up and record it, it's always there with its name for later use and works very well.

You can adjust the pressure sensitivity on the pads to, even though it never gets anywhere near as sensitive as the pads on Maschine - but it's useful even for using it with Live if you're planning to use it for gigs.

Well I tried screwing around with this a bit more, including a complete factory reset, reinstall of the OS to the MKII etc, just to be sure none of my early experimentation got in the way of progress.

I've got it such that the Automap software does now recognize both the DAW click and the HW control touch, but after trying to assign it will still say control not assigned. Everything has been set up by the book according to instructions.

Let me ask you this, when you're in Automap mode on the MKII, does your plugin indicate you're receiving MIDI data? (I assume here you have a plugin wrapper provided by the DAW that adds a few extra menu items to each plugin... Some DAWs have a MIDI recv indicator light elsewhere).

When it's in Advanced mode, the light shows recv. With Automap mode, it stays dark for me.

Another tidbit, I keep forgetting that Cubase7 was a major product overhaul of Cubase (not being a user of prior versions).

Given how recent some of these posts are, I have to assume they have not yet worked out the official Automap fixes for Cubase 7. Seems some people are successfully using it with C7, but it still seems like a relatively unexplored frontier.

http://archive-forum.novationmusic.c...?f=40&t=194865

I guess as long as everything is a known work in progress and they are indeed working toward fixes, I can certainly live with things the way they are.

To be honest, I may end up preferring Cubase Quick Controls to Automap, because it's much easier to set up assuming you don't mind being limited to 8 controls, and that's more than I would ever need during playback/realtime automation control. I don't care as much about using knobs for non-playback sound sculpting, because I use a wireless mouse that doesn't get in the way at all, and generally offers better control for my purposes. The other nice thing about Cubase QC is you have the list of what's what right there on your left pane the whole time, with Automap I need to click the view button. Yeah I know, why not just map every plug-in consistently? Sounds good but practically impossible, i.e. some plugins have cutoff for F1,F2 etc while others have a single cutoff, etc.

I may end up preferring to avoid Automap in the long term. Would love to be able to switch between faders controlling mixer versus instrument with one button on the MKII, but its no biggie if I can't.

What do you people think of Alesis QX keyboards?
http://www.alesis.com/qx61

I eyeballed them briefly during my search - probably okay for the money, but no aftertouch, non-weighted keys and I really wanted a stick for pitch & mod.

Yes, it does. Didn't thought of that myself, that's a good indicator that things are working well.

Another thing that could have gone wrong is that you need to install an "automap" version of each plug-in you want to use it with. Nowadays, that's done within the Automap application itself. Then the DAW detects them just like it would for any given plug-in, and I'm given the choice between, say, "Massive" and "Massive automap" - the former having full automap functionality.

And what about Cubase 7? Haven't tried it myself but I've used Cubase here and there. It's still the DAW of choice for a lot of producers, and sometimes I need to use it for tracks with other people - but never got to update it to the last versions, mine is v5.

Think it's very similar to Logic in depth and functions and maybe the best audio editing around - very fast and easy.

I was familiar with the Automap plugin wrapping thing from my old Remote SL 49, so yes I was loading the Automap wrapped versions.

I'm not sure if you were asking what's new in Cubase 7 or not? Apparently Novation is still working out some issues with Automap compatibility. I'm traveling for a couple of days and plan to play with it when I return.

Hard for me to comment on what's new, since I hadn't used Cubase since decades back in the Atari ST days (its changed a lot). I know they completely re-did the mixer, added things to accommodate customer requests, etc. Supposedly a major difference from 6.5 and before.

Yep, was also asking about Cubase 7. Bet it's got some new killer functions. Never got to test it myself - it would be crazy to go the extra mile and update that as well XD.

But it's one that's close to my heart. For one, Quadrafuzz is something special, I know it's old, but it gives a special timbre to the simple psychedelic bass (KBBB) sound. Makes it instantly solid and it sounds good. Even the good old VB-1 was used to oblivion for that, and that combo produces a classic sound you see on many many tracks.

Same thing could be said about Logic's ES1 and ES2, or even the ESM - which doesn't recycle the notes - resampled and used on a sampler instrument. That one also has some tasty bass tones you find nowhere else.

This can sound crazy, but for some uses it's the best sound you can get. It's like when people say the Nord Lead 1 sounds better then the later versions. It probably sounds worse, since it's got better converters now, but the old gives it some kind of digital grit that people have grown used to and lush after. And it's the same with this bundled plug-ins, specially Quadrafuzz. If we compare it to FabFilter's Saturn, for example, it's a ridiculously simple plug-in with much older algorithms - but it's just the right type of saturation for some sounds. I know that because I've processed it with it, and made sampler instruments with that one on the chain for that particular sound XD. Also love the sound of the good old Tonic filter, with its own overdrive sound that's also used to oblivion but sounds very good imo. And this and that...

Tweak, just copy the .dlls over. I copied over a bunch of Cubase plugs that got dumped from SX3 to 5 (quite possibly quadrafuzz).

Just wanted to state although I presently use all hardware synths, have been learning little by little as suggested here on my DAW of choice Reaper and am thrilled that my Novation SL 61 MK2 is a pretty nice controller, minus the crappy response of x/y pad for my taste at least.
Also, although I may not use Automap and create my own templates for my needs, Automap 4.7 totally supports Reaper **AND** in the Automap Mappings Library, there's actually a 100% mapping for my hardware Waldorf Q rack monster synth...happy happy, joy joy ("Ren and Stimpy reference)

The audio interface I had purchased well over a year or more ago, Avid Fast Track C600 has worked but when M-Audio and Avid recently went separate ways in a mass sell-off of "prosumer products", their driver is not being updated and support for it seems to be a joke so am pretty well sold on the new Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 USB Audio Interface.

With that said, I know there's some Focusrite interface users here and wondering if anyone has some experience with this particular interface that will also allow me to use the Alesis Fusion Synth's ADAT output because this sleeper of a synth actually has 8 one quarter inch inputs to a built-in mixer as well as an 80 GB SSD that could be used in future, making this 18i20 last me a long time (theoretically). Some people I have been conversing with on homerecording.com have this new interface and is rock solid on similar PC set-up and hardware synth-based.

I have the Saffire Pro 24 which I guess is similar to the Scarlett 18i20 except FireWire instead of USB and less mic preamps (and lower cost, I think the Saffire Pro 40 would be more of a Firewire equivalent in cost and features).

Overall I have nothing but good things to say about it, only thing I would do differently if buying right now is opt for the DSP version because its not much more in cost. As you know I don't have a lot of hardware to connect so the Pro 24 might not be an option for you.

I ended up with both the audio interface and monitors I have (M-Audio BX-8 ) mostly after seeing a friend's good experience with same setup. He creates some insanely clean mixes, doing some tricky stuff with vocals and acoustic instruments too, so I figured I couldn't go too wrong, plus the setup was relatively cost effective compared to other options.

You are correct as Novation/Focusrite state the new Scarlett 18i20 **is** the USB equiv. of the Pro 24 and excellent preamps and DAC. USA pricing is $499. but I can get it for about $50. less from zzsounds but kind of rather wait until it's in-stock at Sweetwater because although they are in my neighboring State, they are only an hour North of where my parents and brother's family lives and they have an excellent return/customer service/extended warranty. I also would not have to pay sales tax if I ordered from them online/phone and free ship UPS. FYI--our politicians are attempting to make it a requirement for ALL online sales to be taxed by each respective State's rate...meanwhile huge companies such as Apple and G.E. get out of BILLIONS in Fed taxes--legally! Sorry, another rant for another place! :rolleyes:
Matter-in-fact a person whom I have been writing back and forth had the Pro 24 until a fateful day playing out without a power conditioner and the club's house electrics fried both his laptop and his Pro 24. Needless to say he recommended to me what I already have been doing in using Furman power conditioners as pretty inexpensive insurance since Furman will replace fried gear you have registered with warranty...meaning they would not have such a generous warranty if they were not shy of bullet proof:twisted: .

Thanks for your input as I thought you had posted your use of Focusrite and your contentment with them!!

The Belkin power strips I use around here are only about $18 on Amazon and are insured for up to $300,000 worth of equipment, although when you consider the current cost of the Virus Ti2 it may not be enough for some folks ;)

I have one rack unit power/RMI/EMI/surge protector and three of the newer Furman SS-6B metal floor/otherwise boxes that have heavy duty 15 FOOT long grounded plug that has same protection as their 'Merit Series', and normally are around $$29. usd each but when Sweetwater had a short sale on them got all three for $60., which assures I can use a few different circuits in my townhouse. I believe I could run over it with a dump truck and not do a thing to it and 15 feet is really quite handy:twisted: .

I wish to correct myself in that it's the Focusrite Sapphire Pro 40 that the new Scarlett 18i20 is the USB equiv. rather than the 24. Sorry, just did not want to confuse another soul looking this info up perhaps on here in future.

Focusrite had quite a few problems with the actual software/driver DVD's they included in the Scarlett 18i6 specifically, in which quite a few people, including MAC users, had the dreaded blue screen of death. Now, we ALL know it's best to download newest direct from any manufacturer's website rather than the disc as a "general rule", but now the new Scarlett 18i20 does not even come with any disc and a person is directed to go to site and do all that before ever connecting interface. No idea why it was that particular interface's DVD but I really like all the helpful information and tech support Focusrite gives for their products and the new, tidier forum is quite nice as well.
I probably would not use Automap for my Waldorf Q Rack Synth, as the abundant knobs/buttons make it a breeze to go deep down it's monster rabbit hole. Just thought it was cool a sound designer submitted a total Automap for Novation and the library list of hardware and software has grown exponential in last year. What I like about the Remote SL61MKII controller is I can easily make my own assignments to all four, 8 stage loop able envelopes and each of three oscillators and two wavetable sub-oscillators, to have as much access as the much more heavily knob adorned Q keyboard. Key action is not bad at all but aforementioned, find the x/y pad pretty useless and love/hate relationship with the rather odd joystick.

Need to figure out most efficient way to utilize both midi out ports to make a few rack synths play nice with each, the interface, and PC in a midi daisy chain. Any advice here on latter point? Still reading........:cool:

I'm probably not a good person to ask about any elaborate hardware setups, since aside from the UltraNova, Maschine, the MKII and CMC-CH and CHC-AI controllers, everything else in my environment currently is software based, but maybe someone else will chime in.

Although I will add one possible consideration... the reason I went with Firewire actually was with an eye toward future Virus ownership (or UltraNova or any USB-integrated synth). Based on a past experience with a Ti2, I put a dedicated USB3.0 card in my music PC to handle things music and USB related. However, since audio streaming can be a real hog, and my Firewire port on the mobo wasn't doing anything, I thought it might be better to put all of that on Firewire and leave the USB for other things (synths). I don't know, call me superstitious. So far however it has worked out very well, both the interface and the Firewire port get along splendidly as does the Ultranova with the USB card. May be a consideration for you if you have a spare Firewire port.... up against USB 2 it is faster.

:twisted: My DAW PC build has high speed USB 2 ports that can handle I believe 4X normal powering capabilities. Have a couple USB 3 as well. I made a newbie mistake in not getting an TI Chipset Firewire 400 and it is a VIA 6308. Everything else about the build is right on and I wrongly assumed that something like Firewire would be "standardized" like the Universal Serial Bus/USB is and I did not want to take the chance and expense of FW interface if it was going to give me issues simply because it's not TI Chipset. Yes, I KNOW I can buy a separate FW card and have plenty of expansion space to do so but since USB 2.0 audio interfaces have come a long way and most probably will not get a Virus Ti anytime soon, and to be honest if and when I do, will wait to see what Access releases next and hopefully utilizing full bandwidth before I go down that road.
If anything, since I have a lot of great hardware synths, it would be something along lines of a standalone/vst such as Izotope Iris; intense sampling and mangling of field recordings coupled with the hardware currently have, not really foreseeing myself growing tired of options. Both of my 1 TB 7200rpm 64mb cache drives are internal and will use my eSATA port to back up to external third 2 TB drive. Plan on putting visual art experience in learning some non-linear video editing as well to go with sonic creations.
Perhaps an expensive hobby to another's perspective but hell, what I have done in a military career to finally be retired and disabled from it with nice pension...screw them! HA!:twisted:
(I think someone paying $600. to Apple for a cell phone is crazy:rolleyes: , let alone same person would probably buy a piece of my cat's crap if it had an Apple logo on it...:twisted: )
Love to learn, love music, creativity, fast cars, writing my book...still, and am not abusing small animals nor myself with substances...and lastly, getting back into music has been very therapeutic for military induced PTSD(for real).
I do hear you on the FW thing though and manned-up to my newbie screw-up.
JUST WHY is a TI Chipset better when that nexus is going to same place on the motherboard any other FW would? Inquiring mind would like to know.

My FW Chipset is VIA 6308...correction

One of the things I like about the PC is the fact that I can just put new cards in it all day long if needed, or tear down any part of it and replace with something faster if needed.

FWIW, the Firewire chipset on my mobo is apparently VIA and it works flawlessly. I do remember reading something about the TI chipset being preferred with Focusrite interfaces but maybe they've worked that out or I just got lucky? I had some initial speedbumps with that PC, but they all went away when I removed the Creative X-Fi card that was apparently causing conflicts.

As far as why TI is better, it's most likely just a recommendation for those buying new today maybe? Sometimes a manufacturer will make a recommendation like that if they run into a situation where, during initial testing, a device works properly 95% of the time with one chipset but only 70% of the time with another chipset.... but then the chipset in question gets a flash update or whatever such that equal compatibility in both is eventually reached, yet all of those internet posts remain and even sometimes official documentation is never updated, the chipset is just deemed incompatible and lives on. I was fully prepared to drop another card in if needed to get it off the USB bus, its probably like a $10 card but the gods were on my side on that one and I never needed to.

Thank you for that comment as I know for instance an AI was seriously considering was the PreSonus Firewire Mobile or Firestudio Project AI where PreSonus stated the VIA 6308 worked but issues *could* arise at higher track counts. The native soundcard in my build is made by VIA as well but has been simple enough to totally disable it and select outboard audio interface as my card with no conflicts and will always totally disable Norton 360 when doing audio stuff as the only time this build is on the net is to download drivers, et al and certainly want that protection whilst doing those things but my laptop is my internet use machine. The DAW build is just for that with absolutely no bloatware nor games...and have it optimized for audio/video. This AMD+ 6100FX 3.3GHz, 6 core with 12 GB RAM and NVIDIA GT430 w/2GB can be overclocked quite a bit and have ample cooling but really feel it will serve my purposes well. I made sure to not have a wireless card in DAW build just to ensure it's not randomly wanting to search for a connection.
Yes, having tons of space in tower to pop-in this or that certainly is easier than a laptop. I have WIN 7 64 bit Home Prem. and NO plans of going WIN 8.

This thread keeps going and always interesting. Well, I own a firewire (800) interface myself connected to my imac - which is my main music computer. Never had any issues with it, didn't require me to install any drivers, it was plug and play bliss.

If I was to go for the Virus - that, like namnibor said, would like to wait and see what comes next from Access before making such decision - I think I could manage to use wireless connection for both keyboard and mouse if in any way having a free usb bus would help get things going. However, if that's the case it would be a shame, since I have only three USB ports on the Imac (without counting the two extra on the keyboard, which is really like a hub), and the usb hub I bought that doesn't count even for plugging the midi keyboard, despite having it's own power supply and all of that. On the Remote SL, if I plug it to this hub, the screen is somewhat duller, seems like it doesn't get all the energy it should - so that's connected directly to the USB port as well.

Those sound cards you guys are talking about are very good from what I ear and the DSP one was highly recommended - I considered it myself back when I was going for such things. Sure you can't go wrong.

I don't know if I'd buy a sound card with connections to cover such a vast hardware setup. If this was me, I'd rather invest in some good mixer - check for noise-to-signal ratio on them, very important! At least that's what I plan to do myself: connect the hardware to the mixer instead of buying a new sound card with more connections - with the extra bonus of being able to introduce an analogue EQ on the path of course - and being able to create an audio loop for mixing the sub groups of audio from the DAW. Seems pretty convenient to me, and if I plan to get some external effects that's also covered and can even use the sends on the mixer for that as well.

" I have WIN 7 64 bit Home Prem. and NO plans of going WIN 8." Wise words :twisted:
Cheers

I actually have to disagree with this. There's been lots of evidence to support Windows 8 as better than Windows 7 with regard to music production. The whole metro interface thing does take some getting used to and still bugs me sometimes, but check out these benchmarks and keep in mind this comes to us from Cakewalk/Roland, who has absolutely no motivation to get you to upgrade to Windows 8:

http://blog.cakewalk.com/windows-8-a...-applications/

From the summary : "The results of the benchmarks were surprisingly good! Windows 8 performed better than Windows 7 across the board in all categories, and in many cases with fairly dramatic performance gains."

Also forgot to mention, as we drift farther from MIDI keyboard recommendations :)...

Supposedly they are bringing back the Start button/menu and addressing some other common complaints in Windows 8.1:

http://www.neowin.net/news/start-but...insiders-claim