Hey all, i'm hoping someone with a little expertise can help me with some general setup questions! I am about to purchase an Xponent to play around with...

I notice most controllers supply a "Midi Out" along with a USB out... I have been using a M-Audio Ozone as a controller for a while and I see the Xponent has one too now. Some people claim that using the Midi Out on controllers is lower latency and more reliable than using the USB out. So my question is this: Does anyone have an opinion on whether it's a better idea to get something such as a Midisport 4x4, hook my controllers to that via midi cable, and the Midisport to my laptop using 1x USB port, **OR** if its better to get a USB Hub and hook all my controllers to it via USB Cable?

I am currently using a Macbook Pro and I do not have enough USB ports to accomodate all my devices, so i'll either need a USB hub to go the USB route, or something like the Midisport to go the Midi route. I am wary of using a USB hub though and stacking it with Xponent and a couple other controllers!

As for what i'm trying to accomplish... I want to rewire the Xponent into Live, and use my Ozone as a controller in Live and add one more small controller (possibly a Trigger Finger.) Then run that to an output interface (such as the Firewire 410.) Can anyone let me know if this setup sounds feasible and if it is a good/bad idea to pursue:

Xponent, Ozone, TrgrFngr --(Midi)--> Midisport 4x4 --(USB)--> Macbook Pro (Torq rewired into Live) --(Firewire)--> FW410 --> Mixer

**OR**

Xponent, Ozone, TrgrFngr --(USB)--> USB Hub --(USB)--> Macbook Pro (Torq rewired into Live) --(Firewire)--> FW410 --> Mixer

Thanks in advance guys... any knowledge or suggestions on the subject would be very much appreciated!!

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