Looks like we need a new "music" category :)

>I think you are definatly going to want to get a mixer. You can then route the roland, pc, mike, etc.. to the mixer, then the mixer out channel would go to the stereo. Or dump the stereo and look at getting some powered monitors (basically a speaker with a built-in amp) you could probably pick up a decent pair for about $500 new.

I have a mixer - but only so far used for my classical piano with mike...the $5000 Roland does not need a mixer, as it has built-in multi-tracking & multi-channel capability, especially when used with Cakewalk mixing features....

I only want to use the stereo (6 speakers system) because the sound quality is so good for the CD music. I can pipe it to the Roland, but that's not nearly as good.

>As far as the audio in/out on the pc I think you are on the right track. Just run a cable from the audio out to an input on the stereo (or mixer then stereo) and you shoudl be in business. So any noise the pc audio card makes just get sent to the stereo. What I'm not clear on is the amplication that the audio card does, or if it even matters.

Exacttly, that's what I'm not clear on, either. Well, it'll only cost $10 or $15 to find out, I guess :)

>The roland: Does it have an audio out port? If so you should be able to just cable it to the audio card input jack and have the sound go through the card and back out to the stereo (or the roland to the mixer, then out to the stereo).

Yes, that could work, although, it adds an extra layer...it's not like I don't have enough cables running around already < s > You should see the tangled mess I have, as I have surround-sound and multiple TV, stereo & PC components already wired. That's a good back-up idea, though.

>I haven't used Cakewalk, I have Acid Ph1 (loop based), so I'm not sure about the midi. stuff. Although midi is really just for controlling an instrument and not so much for recording. Most of the people I know buy a decent keyboard with some synth stuff built in (my friend Sage has a kurzweil, that she loves) and buy rack mount synths to get more voices (You control the synth modules via the keyboards midi interface).

Yes, the Roland has lots of stuff (256 voices, etc, disk drive) built in (can even add vocals directly, if you're someone with a decent voice :). It uses a Roland enhanced MIDI structure for the files, so contains a lot more info. You just have to define voices with the software using Control codes, and then you don't really need a mixer for most things with the Cakewalk mixing ability...

>There are somewhat good links to music stuff at
>http://www.all-electric.com/lynx.htm
>and also
>http://www.dancetech.com/
>
>Look for dj / techno / electronic musician pages. They tend to have info about settings stuff up.

Thanks, I'll take a look...