Do I need an Audio Interface?

Hey ppl,

I recently just started building my home studio. At the moment I've got an MPC 1000.
I'm going to buy a 61-Key MIDI Controller for my birthday coming up, I'm leaning towards an M-Audio Keystation.

Anyway, once I get the MIDI Controller I'll be wanting to sync it to Reason to play synths, strings, all that sort of stuff. I will lay down the beat on the MPC which I will also want to sync with Reason (or another DAW).

What I don't really understand is how the audio interface works. So I connect the MIDI Controller/MPC to it and the interface transfers over all the sequencing & MIDI Data? I don't understand how the quality of them can vary when aren't they just carrying across MIDI information from the MIDI Controller or MPC?

By the way I'll just be playing simple melodies and riffs on the keyboard (through Reason). Nothing extraordinary. That's why I'm not sure if I need a really good Audio Interface or not? Or if a cheap one would do the job just aswell?

By the way for your info I have been researching this for quite some time so don't say "Research on Audio Interfaces then come back" haha..

Peace

Yes you definitely need a audio interface for that!

For example i have and MPC & Reason synced so i can play some synths and multi-sampled instruments.

If this is what you want you don't need a very expensive audio interface, with about 250/300$ you should be Ok.
If you buy one that is too cheap you will have latency issues. (when you play a note it will take a while to actually hear it)
Also try to buy one that has "Direct monitor" so you can connect the stereo out of your MPC into your interface and hear whats going on the MPC with no processing (= no latency at all). Plus you only need a 2 Audio INs, 2 Audio Outs, 1 MIDI IN, 1 MIDI out interface.

jC__23 wrote:So I connect the MIDI Controller/MPC to it and the interface transfers over all the sequencing & MIDI Data?

that depends on how you connect it:
1
You connect you MPC via Midi to your interface to SYNC; and then you MIDI keyboard to PC via USB to play stuff in Reason. In this way Midi data of what you play on the midi keyboard is stored in a reason file, and the mpc data on the MPC.
The advantage of this is you can edit what you play in reason with a big piano roll and sequencer in a large TFT screen with many options, editing chords and more complex melodies is alot easy this way.
2
Or you can connect the MIDI Keyboard into you MPC, and the MPC to the interface via MIDI (+ the stereo out for the sounds that are on your mpc). in this way what you record with the midi keyboard is stored on the MPC in the form of midi notes and then transmitted to Reason. the advantage of this is that you can for example use "Track Mute" to turn reason sounds on and off among other things..

jC__23 wrote:I don't understand how the quality of them can vary when aren't they just carrying across MIDI information from the MIDI Controller or MPC?

Low latency.
number of midi ports
number of audio Ins and Outs
Size and portability
Audio Quality: (Better converters, Preamps, Clear Sound, etc)
there are alot more features affect the quality of an audio interface...

First off thanks so much for putting the time in to send a response

I'm leaning toward the M-Audio Fast Track Pro Audio Interface:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html

This may sound silly but at the moment I don't use studio moniters. I just use our computer speakers (which are good quality with a good sub woofer). Do I really need to invest in studio moniters? At the moment they seem so unnecessary (especially for the cost/benefit).

I'll only buy them if they are absolutely essential as I'd much rather put my money to better use (save it) or spend it on some sort of Instrument, Keyboard/Synth, Software, etc.

What do studio moniters provide me which computer speakers don't (apart from superior sound quality/frequencies) ?
Is there anything I can't do without moniters?

At the moment all I have hooked up to my mpc is:

Speakers going through the headphone jack on MPC
Vinyl going through a pre-amp and through the Mixer-In on MPC (when I use it)

Also, is there much I need to know on MIDI Cables? Generally the more expensive the better I suppose?

First and foremost, yes you need an interface. A soundcard can only take you so far. As for monitors, I would strongly recommend them. You should also grab a little mixer to run all this through. Eight or twelve ins should work wonders but with a 1000 you will probably have trouble running everything through into your speakers or monitors. Monitors are made to give you a nice (relatively) flat frequency response as well as extremely accurate sound. By no means do you need the best monitors, mixer, or interface but you you have to think a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Also, a reasonable option is to get nice headphones. They encourage fatigue and lack the traits of a room to perfect your sound but are also cheaper and portable. Best of luck

Studio monitors give you the "real" sound and are important for a good mix and are as essential as an audio interface.. BUT that does NOT mean that people who have the best monitors and any other gear make the best music.. from my experience i can tell you thats ussually people with less try harder and make it work and sound better.. Some of the hottest sh*t i did was when i didnt have almost nothing...
If your a beginner i dont advise you to spend to much money gear, get the essential tools you need to do what you wanna do,
But if you been making music for a while and you feel serious about your music, then invest cause there is no other way...
In your case i think minimum gear you gotta have in yr home studio is your MPC, Audio interface, Pc, Midi keyboard, small mixer, studio monitors and yr ready to go!