Topic by CC

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Topic: PTQ hardware hookup

Maybe I am blind, but I couldn't find the simplest hardware hookup diagram anywhere in the PTQ manuals or tutorials.  Isn't this crazy?  How's a newbie to hook it up?

My understanding is that the simplest hookup is a midi-usb from keyboard to computer and an audio hookup from your computer to your audio system.  Why isn't this simple instruction anywhere in the manuals?

I have a question about the midi-usb cable; they range in price (new) from  a low of $15(? not sure) to over $50.  Is there really such a difference in performance, or practically any cable will do regardless of price?

The cheapest I found were E-MU Xmidi from Musician's Friend and eMedia Keyboard USB interface kit from SameDayMusic.com, both for $30 -- anyone had experience with these -- do they work?

Reply by azrael4

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

CC wrote:

I have a question about the midi-usb cable; they range in price (new) from  a low of $15(? not sure) to over $50.  Is there really such a difference in performance, or practically any cable will do regardless of price?

The cheapest I found were E-MU Xmidi from Musician's Friend and eMedia Keyboard USB interface kit from SameDayMusic.com, both for $30 -- anyone had experience with these -- do they work?

Hi!
Maybe you mean  "monstercable" with a lifetime warranty for 50$.
But any MIDI-cable will do the job when you don't go on stage every night. The cheaper ones will not be "slower" than the others.
The USB interfaces work as long the driver works well with your computer setup. (PC/MAC and which  OS you use)
So nobody with an PC different from yours can tell you for sure.
You need a store where you can give it back and change to another one if it wouldn't work on your computer.

heinke

http://www.heinke-aussenegg.com/

azrael4's Website

Reply by CC

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

Thanks.  Just a simple diagram in the manual with a few words like you wrote would really help a newbie, especially if there are examples of actual hookups that work well, using common hardware.

Otherwise, it's like telling you how to use all the modern appliances in a brand new house without giving you the key to get into the house.

It's amazing how some manuals will give lots of info, but miss the simplest, but necessary, info.

About speed, I found some that were rated 60 MB/s and others at 480Mb/s; I'm getting the 480s because the prices are about the same.

Reply by doobya

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

CC wrote:

Maybe I am blind, but I couldn't find the simplest hardware hookup diagram anywhere in the PTQ manuals or tutorials.  Isn't this crazy?  How's a newbie to hook it up?

My understanding is that the simplest hookup is a midi-usb from keyboard to computer and an audio hookup from your computer to your audio system.  Why isn't this simple instruction anywhere in the manuals?

I don't exactly what is or isn't in the official documentation, but perhaps this little tutorial will be helpful to you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf1t1qs0yTs 

It however does describe a slightly different setup than the one you suggest (using a midi-to-usb audio interface).  If you already have a satisfactory audio hookup from your computer to your speaker/headphone system, then yes, all you should need is a midi-to-usb hookup from the keyboard.

Reply by CC

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

I've viewed that video; quite helpful, but what was lacking was an explanation of who would need an audio interface box and who could do without it.  I am leaning towards not using one.

I have one more question:  how does one check that the sound card supports ASIO drivers?  Has anyone listed laptops (that's what I intend to get) that has that feature? or is there a simple criterion (M-audio, Terratec, have been mentioned in the manual) that can be used?  Also, do I have to download the ASIO driver, or does it come with most sound cards?

Thanks for all this help -- the PTQ manuals certainly leave a lot to be desired.  They should at least describe 3 types of systems:
(1) the casual home user -- simplest system.
(2) the serious user -- best sound possible.
(3) the professional musician -- reliability, versatility, performance.
I'm sure all these setups have been worked out a zillion times, so why leave it to every buyer to experiment all over again?

I realize that practically everyone is going to end up with a different hardware setup.  However, a specific example, even if somewhat out of date (hardware is evolving too rapidly!), can save the buyer tremendous amounts of time and effort. Lots of pianists are not computer/audio geeks and a good manual can make a huge difference in acceptance (sales) of this terrific technology.  I recommend it in my book, Fundamentals of Piano Practice.

Reply by etalmor

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

CC wrote:

...
I have one more question:  how does one check that the sound card supports ASIO drivers?  Has anyone listed laptops (that's what I intend to get) that has that feature? or is there a simple criterion (M-audio, Terratec, have been mentioned in the manual) that can be used?  Also, do I have to download the ASIO driver, or does it come with most sound cards?
...

Most laptop embedded soundcards do not have native ASIO drivers. However, ASIO4ALL is a "generic" ASIO driver that does the job pretty well and I haven't seen a laptop where it doesn't work...
Goto http://www.asio4all.com/

If you are not going to record anything, and just play right out the box, i'd recommend saving the money and not getting an external sound card. Go for the midi->usb cable, as you are. I'm using the Edirol UMX-2.
Also, to hook the Laptop to speakers, without having to rely on the laptops volume keys, I like hooking the laptop's headphone output to a small mixer, and then from the mixer to the speaker system. In my case, the mixer is an Alto AMX-80. It has a large volume knob so it's really convenient when I'm on stage. I don't like to rely on the laptops volume buttons ...
At home I use an external sound-card to record stuff.

Good luck
-  Eran.

M-Audio Profire 610 / Roland Fp-3 / Reaper / PianoTeq!
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Reply by MerlinKeys

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

This is probably the cheapest USB-Midi cable you can get: 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017H...ss_product

Works for me, using a Korg SP-250 as the controller.  Getting good results with ASIO4All on my Lenovo T-61 laptop running Win7/64-bit.

Last edited by MerlinKeys (09-07-2010 17:13)

Reply by feeble

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

In my opinion, which should in no way reflect on Modartt or Pianoteq, I would prefer that Pianoteq's user documentation focus on Pianoteq's software features.  They should provide minimum and recommended hardware specs to run the software and nothing else regarding the hardware. 

Midi is a universal standard. Attaching a midi controller and loading an ASIO driver onto a computer is very well documented in the largest "user" manual ever written, the Internet.

A user's lack of basic research in the "user" manual prior to a purchase is not a reason to find fault with the user manual of Pianoteq.

In this day and age, there is almost no excuse for ignorance except for laziness, for which there is no excuse.


CC:  I have read your book and you provide some excellent suggestions and helpful information, thank you for taking the time to write it.  I do wish you would tone down the "Best Book on Piano Practice ever written" rhetoric though. If the book is that good, it will rise to the top on its own merits.

Good luck with Pianoteq!

Reply by CC

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Re: PTQ hardware hookup

Thx for all the help -- you fellows are great.

My complaints on lack of hardware info in the PTQ manuals concerns the general pianist user population.  There are still piano teachers that don't routinely access the internet, many older teachers don't even have a computer. Even many piano students aren't up to speed on computer hardware.  I feel that these weaknesses can significantly influence the decision to try PTQ.  Until the general piano population accepts the modeling approach and demand that all new digital instruments come with a modeling option, PTQ will remain a niche player;  I think it should be much bigger.  I am thinking about this technology,  not about my own convenience. I think it will eventually happen, but in the technologically lagging population of pianists, it will be slow unless pushed.