Advice needed:Best set up between Trinity and Mac Mini

rowlando · Post by **rowlando** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:53 pm

After a long gap since last recording music, I now find myself with time to begin making music again and having fun.

I have a Mac Mini and I'm unsure about how best to connect my Korg Trinity. Obviously I'll need a midi-interface, but I'm unsure of the options.

Should I be looking for something simple, like a USB to MIDI lead, or perhaps a firewire to MIDI lead? Or do I need a larger device?

I'd like to record real instruments too - I have an acoustic & electric guitar. There's an audio in on the back of the Mac Mini but I assume it'd be better to have a single device to sit interface between my mac mini and any audio sources and MIDI devices.

I have Garage Band on the Mac mini. Will this be good enough to get the most out of the Korg Trinity, e.g. recording, editing effects, velocities, controlling the mix, etc... or would I need to pay for some better software? Back in the day, I used the onboard sequencer only but I don't think I have the patience for that any more.

Thanks for any tips!

synthjoe · Post by **synthjoe** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:27 pm

I'd take eiher a simple USB/MIDI interface, or an audio interface with MIDI (older RME models spring to mind here, but I'm sure M-Audio and other manufacturers also have such things - Mbox2 is another example for that). Yoiu might want to look for features like XLR connectors, phantom power and high impedance (Hi-Z) input(s). A minimum of 2-4 audio inputs would be desireable, I think - even though the quality of the Mac Mini is really not that bad, as I was informed by some of my 'apple headed' friends.

Editing effects and such will be difficult as no decent editor exists (at least to my knowledge), but you can program controls to your liking as the Trinity has extensive controller and SYSEX mapping. For that, however, you'll need some real decent sequencer/DAW software.

I haven't ever used garage band, so can't offer any opinion on that...

Just as a side note: as opposed to the onboard sequencer, the HDR option of the Trinity is something rather nice, if you have it...