Is there a means of using Cubase to turn analog tracks into MIDI?

[Bondage-Barbie]

Forgive me for what's most likely the noobiest of questions, but I'm shopping for all of the things I'll need once I start recording, and too late in the process realized that the audio interface/preamp I purchased doesn't have MIDI input/output on it. Can I turn the data I send through it into MIDI data (using Cubase 4, which I just ordered), or should I purchase a MIDI interface to cover that last little thing I need (which, actually, is a huge thing)?

[richiebee]

Although it is possible to change audio data to MIDI, it won't make a usable workflow. The error rate and timing are just a couple of things that will make life really hard for you. Just get a MIDI interface and save yourself a lot of hassle. The M-Audio Uno is pretty cheap.

[Bondage-Barbie]

Are you familiar with said device? It seems too good to be true; being exactly what I need and basically the price of a carton of cigarettes. But if it works, I'll definitely be making that purchase.

And thank you for the input, I'm getting pretty down on myself about all the financial investment I'm making without any notable progress thus far.

I'm assuming it's compatible with Cubase?

[richiebee]

It works. I don't use one now because my keyboard is USB, but I used to use one and it worked well for years. I used it with Cubase.

I'm not sure why you're surprised that it doesn't cost a lot of money. There's not a lot to it.

[Bondage-Barbie]

I think I'm surprised because I was given a five year old preamp/interface combo that <i>still</i> retails for over two hundred dollars, and I'd already purchased one that costs <i>around</i> two hundred dollars, and upon learning that I need a whole 'nother interface to deal with my electronic bits/pieces, I find that it costs a mere forty dollars.

Thank you muchly for the help!

[sparqee]

Midi interfaces are much cheaper (and technologically simpler) than audio interfaces. Just do a Google search on "M-Audio Uno review" and you'll see lots of reviews on this little device. Using it of course does require that you have an available USB port on your computer.

[drago]

Are there even any electronic components in a MIDI interface? It seems like it just rewires the digital signal form the MIDI pins into the USB pins...

[sparqee]

I certainly don't claim to understand the technology but I do have a little Midiman interface that has a transparent lid and there is a circuit board with a chip set in there. <shrug>

[uab9253]

I've got a little $40 Emu midi interface which is basically a long cable with midi in and out plugs and a capsule in the middle of the cable that does the electronics part. The other end is USB. It was nice, b/c then I didn't have to also buy midi cables.