v collection

[carlgoodhines]

I want to run this "stand-alone", with no sequencer package; for LIVE performance only. Already have a pc, monitor, and controller keyboard. Getting the v collection soon, but what else do I need? ASIO driver?

[MartinHines]

All of the V-collection products can be run in Standalone mode, in addition to being run as VST plugins (in Windows).

Most virtual instruments do require you have an audio interface that supports the ASIO standard.

You don't say whether you have a desktop or laptop, but I will assume for the moment that your PC currently just has the "came with it" audio card (or the audio that is part of the motherboard these days).

If so, you will definitely need some type of pro audio interface. A pro audio interface will allow you to play virtual instruments (or record audio) with lower latency than a generic audio interface.

When dealing with computers and audio, any input audio (like a microphone or guitar) is analog audio that is converted into a digital format processed by the computer -- i.e. the audio interface converts the analog audio into 1's and 0's. Likewise, any audio that is inside the computer (or generated inside the computer like a virtual instrument) has to be converted from a digital format back into analog audio for you to hear it.

Here are a couple of lists of pro audio interfaces:
http://www.audiomidi.com/audio-interfaces-C18.aspx
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/computer ... nterfaces/

Just FYI, here is a brief description of the ASIO standard, which is really the defacto audio standard for pro audio on Windows Operating Systems:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Stream_Input/Output

Before you buy an audio interface, you might try the free "ASIO4ALL" driver (link in the Wikipedia) and see what type of latency you get with your existing audio interface.

[carlgoodhines]

Thanks Martin, ordered an Emu audio interface card.