Ho Tim, How're you doin'?
On 21-Feb-98 at 02:11:36, Tim Blair wrote to Graeme Jaye about Re:
Yamaha MU-10 query
 TB> on 12 Feb 98  16:55:05 Graeme Jaye and Darryl Sloan were
 TB> talking about 
 GJ> I *keep* telling people to buy a cheap module rather than an
 GJ> expensive soundcard - falls on deaf ears mostly, sad to say.
 TB> I can see your point to some extent as most sound cards have
 TB> analog outs and so can give noise problems. But an external
 TB> module will always cost more for the same spec and I personaly
 TB> like "Big screen" editing rather than fiddling about with a 2
 TB> line LED and multi function buttons.
I was referring, in the main, to people either just getting into
midi - not the more advanced users - or those (like me ) who
just like to play around at minimal expense.
As an example of what I meant take my own (very simple) setup.  I
have a Yamaha Sound Edge GM card, but this is only used for
providing the midi in/out connections.  Hung on the end of that is a
Roland SC-7 GM module which cost me 89 quid (new).  The sounds from
this module, compared to the Yamaha (which cost about the same
amount, AIR) are like the difference between chalk and cheese - plus
the Roland also supports chorus and reverb!
AFAIK, the supplies of the Roland module have now dried up but the
Casio (GZ-50?) is still available for even less money - around 50
quid when I last heard - and it is a very similar device.
 TB> Yamaha's new AWESOME SW1000XG PCI soundcard.
 TB> How much? RRP !399UKP and !100UKP for the VL add on !!!!
A different league, I feel .  But I wouldn't mind betting that a
careful perusal of adverts for 'discontinued' models would reveal an
external module with a similar spec.
The use of external modules means a lot less mucking around with the
innards of the computer as well.  This can be a major advantage to
those more interested in music than the technology .
Keep 'em comin'
Graeme in Dover, England
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