[wellylug] Soundcards with hardware midi syth?

[Jason aladellocchio]

Hi,

I've been trying to find a good way to play the collection of midis I
have even since I've started using Linux.  I've tried timidity but
wasn't happy with the amount of cpu time it took up and besides which
programs like kmidi and some games don't support it.  (I know you can
use timidity via alsa as a software midi syth system wide, but I could
never work out how to make it go).

So I'm left hunting for a soundcard that actually has a hardware midi
syth chip on it.  Could anybody recommend a model to get?  I've been
trying to google the information but I can't work out how to tell what
does and doesn't have a midi chip.   Also I would prefer not to get a
$500 dollar card, I don't need every bell and whistle.  Just a
hardware midi chip so I get better midi playback support.

Any help and suggestion would be appreciated.  My system only has pci
slots so I can't use an isa card.  I'd also prefer a card that 'just
works' when you load the module if possible.  I've in my googling
found that some cards need the midi tables loaded via extra commands
first which I'd consider extra annoying work.  I'm very much a fan of
hardware which just needs a module loaded and nothing else.

Thanks
Jason