NEWBIE: Use the SB Audigy as MIDI in device?

Hi all, I am considering build a ProTools LE studio. I have not yet had the chance to play with the software yet and I have a few questions so I know exactly what will fit my needs. 1. Can the PTLE6.4 software use the MIDI port on a Sound Blaster Audigy as a MIDI IN Device to record drums (the point of this question being that I'd like to buy the less expensive MBox rather than the Digi 002 Rack but it soes not support MIDI in.) My intent would be to record the drums using the MIDI in on the Audigy card and record all the rest of the analog audio stuff using the inputs on the MBox and mix it all together. Is this possible? 2. Assuming #1 is possible, have there been any reports of MIDI/Analog tracks getting out of sync? I know Cakewalk and older SB cards had this problem... 3. Does the PTLE6.4 software have built in MIDI playback ability? In other words, once the MIDI information has been recorded into PTLE as a drum track, can I hear the drum track playback through the audio out on the SB Audigy? Or do I need some kind of external MIDI sequencer? 4. Does PTLE have some sort of software wave table built in for MIDI playback or will I have to use the SB audigy's MIDI wavetable? 5. Does the PTLE software have MIDI editing capabilites (move beats, snap to grid, stuff like that?) Thanks for any help!!

1. yes, you can use the SB for midi. just buy a gameport/midi adapter for $20 at any music store. 2. no, it will be in sync. 3. yes, PTLE has a midi sequencer built in. if you want to hear your rom sounds, just set the output of your midi track to the wavetable midi port just like any other sequencer. 4. no, but you can use the SB wavetable. preferrably, you would use soundfonts instead of the wavetable sounds. 5. yes, its a full blown midi sequencer as well as a fantastic audio recording/mixing app.

Thanks!! One final question - I know the MBox would handle all the audio in/out if no MIDI were involved (probably wouldn't even need a sound card in this case?) But what about playing MIDI out through the MBox? Does the MBox have a MIDI playback device built in? For example can I set the SB Audigy MIDI port as the MIDI In Source and the MBox as the MIDI out device so I can send the entire analog/MIDI mix out the MBox audio outs? Or would I have to send the entire analog/MIDI mix out the SB audio outs? If the MBox does handle MIDI out, what is the sound quality as comapared to say the SB Live wavetable? Hope that question makes sense - Thanks for your help :-)

mbox has no midi port at all. so that means no midi out. mbox has no wavetable either. so that means you need an external sound source or you could also use a soft synth like reason. For example can I set the SB Audigy MIDI port as the MIDI In Source and the MBox as the MIDI out device so I can send the entire analog/MIDI mix out the MBox audio outs? Or would I have to send the entire analog/MIDI mix out the SB audio outs? short answer is no - you're a little off track. since you're considering using the SB as your sound source, you need to monitor it somehow. you could either send the SB outputs to mbox inputs and monitor on aux tracks in PT, or you could get a mixer and hook up the outputs of both mbox and SB to it. if you end up using the SB as your sound source, check out for tons of free soundfonts.

Cool, thanks! :-) That's what I needed to find out.