MICROkorg - Best Interface to connect to a MacBook?

[menegaus]

Hi!
I'm a "novice".
I have just bought a microkorg + M-audio uno (midi > USB)
but I don't really understand how to hook up my microkorg to my mac.

I don't understand how logic or reason4 can reconize the microkorg.

could you help me?

[X-Trade]

Hi!
I'm a "novice".
I have just bought a microkorg + M-audio uno (midi > USB)
but I don't really understand how to hook up my microkorg to my mac.

I don't understand how logic or reason4 can reconize the microkorg.

could you help me?

There are two things you can use to connect up to your mac or PC:

- You can use MIDI to sequence and control softsynths and control the MicroKorg
- You can record audio tracks using the MicroKorg's sounds down an audio cable.

MIDI is a communication protocol that carries information on how and what you are playing - what notes you hit, how hard you hit them, what controls you adjust, which program (sound) you change to. It is a bit like sheet music. You can use the microKorg's keyboard to send MIDI to record (typically recording MIDI is known as 'sequencing') and then play back that MIDI to make the microKorg make the same performance again, or send the MIDI to a different synth (for example a softsynth plugin) or use a different sound to record the audio from.
Furthermore MIDI has been around since the 80s and there is no drivers or handshaking protocol - it is very simple and robust. What this means is, you may need drivers for your interface, but you don't need drivers for your actual gear. Note that some synths now have USB built in which provides a 'virtual MIDI connection' over USB - so you will need a driver for that USB connection. Your DAW will never say 'MicroKorg' as an input port (unless you specifically tell it to), it will just say 'Maudio Uno', or whatever it is that you have.

Audio is your typical recording - it is a signal which comprises a waveform over a time period. Anything that has an output generates audio - a CD player, a guitar, a microphone, a synthesizer. You have to hook up the Audio outputs (L/Mono and R connectors) - typically both of them to get the best stereo sound - to an audio interface or into your soundcard or built in inputs on your computer.
Considering you've bought a synthesizer (the MicroKorg) which is a device specifically designed to make a variety of interesting sounds, I'm thinking you'll be wanting to record the audio from the microKorg. The Uno is a MIDI interface so it will only let you use the microKorg as a controller for softsynths, and to essentially write music in a sequencer and make the microKorg play it.
You need what is called an 'Audio Interface' or some kind of Sound Card, or perhaps just an adaptor cable to go into the line-in port on your computer (NOT the microphone port!).


Also, Reason can not record audio. You'll only be able to sequence and control the microKorg with it. Propellerhead just recently bought out their audio recording package called 'Record', which can integrate with and use Reason's synths if both are installed.
Logic is a more fully featured software package in many ways which will let you record audio and sequence MIDI tracks.

[menegaus]

Thank you X-trade for the fully and exhaustive answer.
I will try to install the driver for the MIDI/USB connection.
.
After that, on Logic, should I just create a new track / external midi ?
or should I go to the preference > midi ?

cheers
stefano from Venice

[menegaus]

Everything its working right now
thankyou again for your help
cheers