Topic: laptop midi hardware setup?
Hi all,
I did a search and didn't find a topic on this question -- please excuse (and post links :) if one exists. I hope this thread will provide answers to others who are just beginning to explore midi on their laptops and don't know how the hardware setup works.
I have a Dell XPS m1330 laptop and will be acquiring a Yamaha cp33 keyboard shortly. I would like to use the piano as a midi controller, but am unsure how the hardware connects together.
Another big component here is that I am running Ubuntu Linux. I am looking for general midi controller (spec. yamaha cp33) and laptop interface advice, and also for Linux-specific hardware advice if you have any.
My laptop has an integrated sound card with headphone/line out, mic in, and also 2 usb ports, and 1 four-pin firewire port.
Here's what I am envisioning:
cp33 > laptop w/ pianoteq and/or sequencer/notation > powered stereo speakers?
Does an external audio interface need to fit in here? If so, USB vs firewire?
cp33 > external interface > laptop > external interface > powered stereo speakers
is it possible both ways? would one or the other provide lower latency and/or higher sound quality?
tia,
ethanay