USB or MIDI?

[nagal]

My M-Audio Keystation 61 arrived yesterday! What a lovely hunk of cheap plastic :D All joking aside, it will do the trick as MIDI controller.

Now my question is, does it matter if I use it as a USB device to control MIDI input or just connect the MIDI out to the MIDI in of my Sound card?

I would believe the best way would be to use it as a MIDI device as that would reduce the computer load a little by not having to operate it as a USB device. Of course, how much load is it produces has to be fairly small and probably indifferent.

Comments?

[TimOBrien]

The USB connection is just another way of getting MIDI in and out of your computer.

It makes no difference. It's still just MIDI.

(I have a Kestation49 and it works just fine on USB while using another separate MIDI connector...)

[jKell]

running it in USB will require an extra driver to be running, as well as a sperate sourse of data stream. The MIDI on your card will be better for CPU power, but unless you are pushing your machine, you wont notice a difference. However sometimes the USB connection is a little more... stable. Running a yamaha S90 off USB gives more port options, and is just simpler to deal with. Possible advantages of USB, cable distance. MIDI is limited to 50 feet. From experience, you REALLY dont want to go over 50 feet. Did it once, got a ton of issues that were just plain random. USB is neater and easier.

[LDEE]

I have A problem with my MIDI Im runing fruity loops and Im using EmagicMT4 and my DR5 drum machine for midi the Emagic box is reading it but not Fruity LOOPS whats the problem.

[nagal]

Thanks. I will go with USB for know and if CPU use becomes an issue where I need to tweak and prune then I will go MIDI as it will be way under 50 ft.

[MrM]

Besides that; USB is just one cable with (full duplex) data, for full duplex MIDI you'll need 2 cables :)