Junior novices apprentice...

[Alfonso Bedoya]

Please forgive me if I'm starting a redundant thread... I came here after many hours of searching the web to find an answer, and it seems to me that this place has the largest collection of know-it-alls, or at least, know a hell of a lot more than me, that I've found...

I could have trawled through this forum for the answer, which I have done a bit, and will continue to do anyway, education never stops right?, but my questions are fairly specific, and I thought, just ask it, and hopefully get the information I'm after...

I have an M-Audio Ketstation 61es USB keyboard, that I want to hook up to my pc, to learn and play with Sonar X3 on...

I built my own PC, it is meant to be an all purpose machine, games, music,(listening), photo editing, etc... but I gave it 2 SSDs, one dedicated just for music software... Sonar X3... it's got an Intel Core i5 4690, good graphics card, plenty of extra storage, 8 gig ram, Windows 7 64 bit, etc, it's not a monster, but it should be more than powerful enough... I also gave it a Sound Blaster Z sound card... yes, I know... I've since learned, that may not have been a good idea, but the PC was built on a tight budget for other things first, and then considered for music production second... so, there it is... now, I've learned and understand, that a dedicated audio interface would have been a better choice, and I'm considering the "Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB"... reviews suggest it's one of the best at that price range, and I've no need for much better or multiple inputs...

First question... as I understand it, the interface is ideal for vocals or guitar, which are plugged into the interface, with mic or guitar connectors, the signal is then then sent to the PC/DAW through USB, processed, and then I assume back to the interface and out to the amp/speakers... yes?...my keyboard connects with USB... does this mean I connect it to a PC usb port, which then runs it through the DAW, to the interface, and out to my amp?... or does it rout it from the PC, to the interface, then back to the PC/DAW, then back to the interface, then out to my amp? isn't this asking for latency issues, or am I not even close to understanding how this works, or can it even work at all with this keyboard/interface set up?

Second, will I run into driver clashing problems if I have both the interface, and the Sound Blaster Z connected? must I have connected only one or the other? And since I'm running two Windows set ups, on two hard drives, one just for music, can I disable the interface in device manager in the main system... and then disable the SoundBlaster Z in device manager in the music system, to have each dedicated to its own drive to overcome compatibility issues??? Have I explained myself OK??

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated...

Cheers... George

[dsan@mail.com]

Hello George, and welcome to the forum

Please forgive me if I'm starting a redundant thread... I came here after many hours of searching the web to find an answer, and it seems to me that this place has the largest collection of know-it-alls, or at least, know a hell of a lot more than me, that I've found...

I could have trawled through this forum for the answer, which I have done a bit, and will continue to do anyway, education never stops right?, but my questions are fairly specific, and I thought, just ask it, and hopefully get the information I'm after...

You may still want to search the forum for answers by page 2 of this thread

And yes, education "should" never stop

Now, let's tackle these questions one at a time.

I have an M-Audio Ketstation 61es USB keyboard, that I want to hook up to my pc, to learn and play with Sonar X3 on...

I built my own PC, it is meant to be an all purpose machine, games, music,(listening), photo editing, etc... but I gave it 2 SSDs, one dedicated just for music software... Sonar X3... it's got an Intel Core i5 4690, good graphics card, plenty of extra storage, 8 gig ram, Windows 7 64 bit, etc, it's not a monster, but it should be more than powerful enough... I also gave it a Sound Blaster Z sound card... yes, I know... I've since learned, that may not have been a good idea, but the PC was built on a tight budget for other things first, and then considered for music production second... so, there it is... now, I've learned and understand, that a dedicated audio interface would have been a better choice, and I'm considering the "Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB"... reviews suggest it's one of the best at that price range, and I've no need for much better or multiple inputs...

Your system should be able to provide you years of enjoyable music making

First question... as I understand it, the interface is ideal for vocals or guitar, which are plugged into the interface, with mic or guitar connectors, the signal is then then sent to the PC/DAW through USB, processed, and then I assume back to the interface and out to the amp/speakers... yes?

Yes, it seems you understand the principals correctly.

...my keyboard connects with USB... does this mean I connect it to a PC usb port, which then runs it through the DAW, to the interface, and out to my amp?

Yes, you plug the sound interface into a USB port and you plug the keyboard into a USB port. It has been advised using the native USB ports of the computer. Sometimes using a hub creates issues.
You use the keyboard via the DAW and the DAW sends the sound to the sound interface. The interface then should be connected to your amplification system and ultimately you hear what you played through your speakers. ( A layman's simple explanation )

... or does it rout it from the PC, to the interface, then back to the PC/DAW, then back to the interface, then out to my amp? isn't this asking for latency issues, or am I not even close to understanding how this works, or can it even work at all with this keyboard/interface set up?

If this is how it worked then yes this will create huge latency issues (not to mention additional problems). Fortunately you have over complicated it and it doesn't work this way.

Second,

which is actually more like 5 now

will I run into driver clashing problems if I have both the interface, and the Sound Blaster Z connected?

This is a possibility, but read on

must I have connected only one or the other?

You can have them both connected but you will only be able to use one or the other at a time. IMHO ditch the Soundblaster and just use the Scarlett. It is a much better interface and more suited for the music making equation of this. You will be glad you did if you take my advice here.

And since I'm running two Windows set ups, on two hard drives, one just for music, can I disable the interface in device manager in the main system... and then disable the SoundBlaster Z in device manager in the music system, to have each dedicated to its own drive to overcome compatibility issues???

This may be possible, in fact plausible, but IMHO, impractical. Why run risks for something going wrong? You know Murphey's laws right? BOTH of them?
Your Scarlett will be most suitable in both scenarios.

Have I explained myself OK??

I think so. I wear size 12 so have great understandings

HTH George

Cheers and

Happy Musiking!
dsan

[Alfonso Bedoya]

Outstanding... and thank you... and anyone who wishes to use this thread to slag off Creative and their drivers feel free... I built this PC only a month ago and picked the sound card for it's, a card for all seasons claims... my fault for not putting more research into it... still, some of the things I've since read about creative and their products, make me regret supporting them at all...

Again... cheers for the help mate...