Help for Synthersizer Purchase and set up. Big Aid Need!

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Hi everyone,
I need some help and guidance for a next step for me. I want to purcahse an actaul piece of gear, perhaps a anolog one or so (Not that soft is bad).

I'm looking for something like Dave Smith - Mopho Desktop or something of that price range and kind. Or maybe save for the Korg - MS20Miniwhen it comes out.

The reason I haven't purchased the DSi mopho http://store.davesmithinstruments.com/p ... d=DSI-1201 is beacuase I'm not sure what requierements I need for interface and soundcard. How can I connect it to my current soundcard which is http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/85 ... bmk21.jpg/ and what cables will I need to connect in the outputs and inputs and MIDI and all.
Or maybe what audio interface should I look into that involves future synth purchase to get them all together.

It's such hard concept to understand when it's your very first time. I will like to record it and controll it on my DAW Ableton Live

Since it's a desktop unit I do have an M-audio Axiom 25 Keys, can I use this to controll some MIDI and play the actual instrument?
Well in general what should you connect any piece of hardware to and what slots in you souncard should you have? I'm very clueless.

Cope with me I want to hit the analog world!
Thanks I hope I can get as much good info on the set-up and procedures to record it.


THANKS FOR THE TIME PLEASE GIVE ME ALL YOUR FEEDBACK :)
Dan
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Your m-audio axiom has got midi in/out(this may work as a midi interface), you need two midi leads, mopho out to axiom in and mopho in to axiom out, you may only be able to send a single mono jack lead into your fast track(guitar port) as it doesn't have stereo inputs, I am assuming here the axiom works as a midi interface. if not you can buy a midi to usb interface to connect mopho to your pc.

You need to find out if the axiom works as a midi interface first!
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The 5-pin MIDI connectors transmits MIDI data to an
d from Axiom when controll
ing external hardware syn-
thesizers or sound modules. Axiom will also function
as a USB MIDI interface be
tween a host computer and
external MIDI hardware
while connected via USB

So yes it is a midi interface, plug the mopho midi in/out into midi out/in on axiom 25, send the audio out of the mopho into your fast track mono only I would say unless you buy an adapter to covert the mic input to a jack input on the fast track maybe...

I'm guessing you use your axiom over the usb to pc.
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Thanks I just checked out the back of my M-Audio and it does fit the description.

As for the cables needed above will you be able to link to all the ones i need, maybe just drop them in here. So I can have an idea of what their like. It will help me out a lot!

does this work for every analog synth? in the future I can always do the same? what if I where to get 3 or 4 more synth hardwares would I just have to take turn recordning them and using the Axiom Keyboard or is there another way of connecting them to some sort of device.

I ask this because I've seen in studios artist have tons and they just turn them on and warm them up and start using them connected to some sort of interface? perhaps with the same midi keyboard or if the synth has keys it self they use that.

thanks for all the info it's really going to help me out.

Dan
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daniohx wrote:Thanks I just checked out the back of my M-Audio and it does fit the description.

As for the cables needed above will you be able to link to all the ones i need, maybe just drop them in here. So I can have an idea of what their like. It will help me out a lot!

does this work for every analog synth? in the future I can always do the same? what if I where to get 3 or 4 more synth hardwares would I just have to take turn recordning them and using the Axiom Keyboard or is there another way of connecting them to some sort of device.

I ask this because I've seen in studios artist have tons and they just turn them on and warm them up and start using them connected to some sort of interface? perhaps with the same midi keyboard or if the synth has keys it self they use that.

thanks for all the info it's really going to help me out.

Dan
I bought a mixer to run my audio from multiple hardware into my audio/midi interface.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... Ag&dur=508

you need 2 x midi leads per hardware http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-PIN-MIDI-DI ... 53e4691c2b

if you run out of midi interfaces - you cab buy midi to usb interfaces for multiple gear.

http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/ ... ler--79119

you can also buy audio interfaces with more audio inputs http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/ ... ace--79130

i use the behringer mixer for the audio with fast track pro(acts as a midi interface), Icon CubeMi 3 USB MIDI Interface, and my remote zero sl mkii(which also has a midi interface).

I would upgrade your audio interface though to be honest to something like this http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/ ... -14--77567 this has midi interface also...

oh yeh, audio cables (actually guitar leads) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Lead-N ... 19d182a685
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can someone pro give this guy some advice, i do what i do because of budget - maybe you can give him better advice...as i'm just a hobbyist...
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breakmixer wrote:can someone pro give this guy some advice, i do what i do because of budget - maybe you can give him better advice...as i'm just a hobbyist...

Hi thanks for the little briefing but I'm still a little lost.

If I purchase this and change to this new interface.
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i- ... PRO24-LIST

what outputs from the back of it are need on the Synth?
lets use this Mopho or Tetra desktop synths from Dave Smith for example.

I want to have an interface that can handle my monitori outputs, mic pre-amp, and also the correct inputs for my analog pieces in the near future.

Is that in relation to CV/Gate and all that?

thanks
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For connecting multiple synths you'll need either multiple audio inputs on your audio interface, or a mixing desk. Maybe consider a usb mixer like allen & heath ZED 1O. I use a ZED 14 to route my hardware synths/fx into my laptop. CV/Gate is a whole other question. Here's some reading.

:)
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Midi - If you buy an audio midi interface, you will use the midi in/out(back of audio midi interface) to connect to the midi out/in(i.e. reversed) to a single synth, you will need to buy an additional midi(only) interface with more midi in/outs to connect more synthesizers to your daw(you can buy single, 2x, 3x etc midi interfaces depending on how many synthesizers you want to connect).

Audio - you can run a single synthesizers L/R audio direct into a small audio midi interface, if you want to add more synthesizers to a small audio midi interface you will need to put a mixer before the audio interface, I use this - http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/b ... xer--12636 I run all my synths audio L/R outs into different channels on this, then Main Out L/R into my audio midi interface.

Here is a cheap audio only interface http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/ ... ace--90034

You could then buy a seperate midi interface for example http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/ ... ace--96096 (This will take 2 x synthesizers)

What mixer(if any), audio/midi interface you buy will depend on you budget and what you need to cover audio and midi wise for the amount of hardware you are going to add to your set-up.

PS make sure you buy a USB audio/midi interface, firewire is not supported by modern pc's.
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