can I play midi through layla?

[tyler jones]

I've got a layla sound card (not the newest one, but the previous version) and I was wondering how to do midi. I'm new to midi, so I'm not quite sure if the layla will be able to play midi music or not. I get a feeling that it can't, so in case it can't, would I use my soundblaster as the playback for midi data? If so, do I have to run the outputs of my layla and soundblaster into a mixer in order to hear all the audio and midi tracks coming from cakewalk? I've tried running my soundblaster as the playback card for all midi and audio, but then it doesn't output the current signal going in through the layla, so it's impossible to do overdubs. So, right now, I have my layla set up as the playback card. But if it can't play midi, then I'm not exactly sure what to do to get a full set up? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

[Ohsoflow]

i am not really a midi expert either, but i can't imagine Layla cards not being able to send and receive midi...

if you would like to learn more about midi, may i suggest this book:
"How midi works" by Peter Lawrence Alexander. it is supposed to explain midi and computers in an understandable way. it should cost around $30...
i am waiting for my copy as we speak!

[tyler jones]

Actually, it does have the midi in,out,thru so I know it can work with midi data, but I don't think it has an onboard synth to actually output any midi audio. So, that's why I'm stuck having to use 2 cards and not sure how to hear it all.

[Ohsoflow]

it doesn't need an onboard synth to output midi data...
what exactly is the problem here? do you want to use the Soundblaster's onboard soft synth in your Cakewalk sequencer(which is Sonar i pressume?), which is running on the layla card ?
i think you should be able to open the soft synth in Sonar. otherwise you could also buy or download some free soft synths to use...
the output from Sonar (Cakewalk) would then go to the mixer which would be attached to your monitors...

a good free soft synth:
http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/

for sale: FM7, Absynth etc.

hope this helps...

[Ohsoflow]

just make sure you are running Sonar/Cakewalk on the Layla card...