I was looking at Prosolution Plus in an earlier post and I see that one connect the interface to the computer, but the digital piano directly to the interface via MIDI, or the computer. If one uses an interface, is there a more preferred setup?

The steinberg units are really good.

Sound issues in Pianoteq tend to be related to CPU/system performance.
For live playing, using your internal sound card, it’s best to use Pianoteq in exclusive mode either native Windows or via an audio wrapper like ASIO4ALL.
Please check Sound Card options in Windows Control Panel (Win key + x), check Pianoteq Options and the current configuration in ASIO4ALL’s control panel.; see what changes when you switch from Windows to ASIO; confirm that the Sample Rate does not exceeds 48kHZ and try different polyphony settings.

If you want to record your sessions as sound files or your needs are more demanding in terms of sound quality, then yes,  it is best to buy an external audio interface (the component/circuitry are usually much better than the chips from your motherboard).  Just be sure that it has good ASIO drivers (check the brand support/user forums for complains). Also, the majority of audio interfaces that have midi ports have "zero latency" midi control which will improve/minimize the overall latency.

+1 for RME

Thanks, but RME is a bit pricey for me

So I'd like to get an interface to put in between the piano and SP4, listen to what I'm playing with Pianoteq either headphones. Also, send a single to the mic input of the camcorder. So I was thinking of connecting my headphones to the headphone out of the audio interface, and then sending the headphone out of the SP4 to the camera's mic input. Is this possible? I believe I need to make sure I have an appropriate cable for this (head phone out to mic input). I do this now and the sound seems to be a bit hot (loud), so I think I need a different cable with an attenuator.

Thanks!

Arkanda wrote:

bSharpCyclist wrote:

Thanks, I'll check out the Steinberg units. What's the appropriate setup/connections to a PC? MIDI from Piano to interface I'm assuming. The "Pianoteq" output is only then heard from the PC, right?

There are two possibilites:

Piano via MIDI to USB interface
or
Piano via USB-MIDI to PC
(the latter method should be prefered as long as your Keyboard has an "USB to host" connector)

See also here:
https://www.pianoteq.com/hookup

Thanks, it's a YDP-181, no USB out. So I would have to send Midi from the keyboard to audio interface, which is what I expected. I guess my question would be does the sound produced by PIanoteq get sent back to the audio interface?

Yes,
once you will connect the keyboards midi out to the audio interace's midi in, and after selecting the right midi input and audio output inside Pianoteq, the sound will go out thru your interface outputs and headphones output

bSharpCyclist wrote:

Thanks, I'll check out the Steinberg units. What's the appropriate setup/connections to a PC? MIDI from Piano to interface I'm assuming. The "Pianoteq" output is only then heard from the PC, right?

There are two possibilites:

Piano via MIDI to USB interface
or
Piano via USB-MIDI to PC
(the latter method should be prefered as long as your Keyboard has an "USB to host" connector)

See also here:
https://www.pianoteq.com/hookup

Thanks, it's a YDP-181, no USB out. So I would have to send Midi from the keyboard to audio interface, which is what I expected. I guess my question would be does the sound produced by PIanoteq get sent back to the audio interface?

Thanks, I'll check out the Steinberg units. What's the appropriate setup/connections to a PC? MIDI from Piano to interface I'm assuming. The "Pianoteq" output is only then heard from the PC, right?

There are two possibilites:

Piano via MIDI to USB interface
or
Piano via USB-MIDI to PC
(the latter method should be prefered as long as your Keyboard has an "USB to host" connector)

See also here:
https://www.pianoteq.com/hookup

EvilDragon wrote:

I'd always use ASIO if possible (except I don't see a lot of worth with a Realtek onboard... better get a proper audio interface...)

Do you have any recommendations for an audio interface? Thanks!

The Steinberg USB Audio Interfaces are very good, have a good reputation, they do have good sound and (very important!!!), stable ASIO drivers and regular updates
I have a UR 242, but the smaller UR12 or UR 22 Mk II also should do fine. Cost around EUR 100,-