MIDI vs. Analog

[Kreator2112]

What are your thoughts? I wanna get a keyboard and I'm leaning towards a MIDI Controller now because they're cheaper and you can do more with tone.

[mutant!]

if by 'midi vs analogue' you mean 'digital sounds vs analogue modeling sounds', then it's a non-debate. the answer is both.

however, if you mean 'midi-controlled instruments vs analogue-controlled synths', then the answer is a resounding 'MIDI', unless you have millions of dollars lying around somewhere to buy a modular synth system with.

anyway so yes. midi is rad. the cheapest and easiest way to screw around is to get a small midi controller (around 4 octaves/37 keys is good) and hook it up to your pc. if you get to the point where you want to gig, then you can start looking at a dedicated gigging computer.

on a related note, i want a macbook. :upset:

[Kreator2112]

I'm pretty new to all of this, so if you want to point me in some directions as to software, etc. I've had people tell me to get M-Audio controllers, so I'll probably go with that.

[mutant!]

yeah, agreed. m-audio is great and very affordable. software you can always legally download, *hint hint*.

the m-audio oxygen is great for what you want to do.

however, you cannot store sounds on the keyboard itself. the keyboard is a midi controller. a midi controller is simply a peripheral, like a computer mouse or a tv remote. what the oxygen can do is store programs. this means that, once you've got it hooked up to a software synth (or a hardware one), you can create several different sounds on that synth and then switch between them using the keyboard. the sound information is still stored on the synth (your laptop) itself - so the moment you unplug the oxygen from the laptop, it becomes incapable of creating any sounds at all.

so no, you would have to lug your laptop around to play.

if you do not wish to legally acquire other legal synth software, you can look at the m-audio keystation 61es... it's not got the wealth of programmable sliders and buttons and knobs, which you will GAS for at some stage or other, especially if you're into more analogue-y style sounds; but it's $50 cheaper, and it comes with ableton live lite, which is what is known as a digital audio workshop (daw) package. it'll let you sequence and synthesise, and record other instruments as well.

if i were you, i'd go for the oxygen 49, rather, for two reasons: (1) i don't know if a beginning keyboardist really needs a 61-key controller; and (2) it's cheaper than both previously-mentioned options. you'll have to... acquire a daw package elsewhere, though.

if you're not looking for recording capabilities, reason 3 (or 4!) has awesome instrument sounds.

if you are, look at ableton live or steinberg nuendo.

more questions? :)

[Kreator2112]

So it looks like probably I'm getting the oxygen 49. I figured acquiring software legally...or otherwise wouldn't a problem.

I'm gonna try to find a cheap one on Ebay.


Is there any option such as the oxygen with weighted or semi weighted keys? I think it'd be awesome to have an almost close piano feel.


Thanks dude.

[mutant!]

no problem dude. shout if you need further help.

[Kreator2112]

I decided to edit that one. I'm not sure if you caught it.

[mutant!]

i didn't.

m-audio do have one or two semi-weighted controllers, and one weighted one. the axiom 49 has semi-weighted keys, but it's like double the price tag. the keystation 61es is semi-weighted as well, but it lacks the programmable buttons n shiz i mentioned earlier.

it's up to you. let me forewarn you, though: semi-weighted actions feel nothing like a piano. they're essentially more springy organ keys. given how much pianists complain about fully-weighted actions not feeling like pianos, i wouldn't even consider semi-weighted.

[Kreator2112]

I guess they would just feel better than white plastic tabs.

[mutant!]

to me, they don't.

do yourself a favour and get to a music store, if there's one near you, and just play a weighted, semi-weighted and unweighted keyboard so you know what they feel like.

[wartree]

I wouldnt get the semi weighted ones, if would get or the full ones like a piano, or no weighted, like an organ

[Akira]

Semi-weighted are, in my opinion, a lot more fun to play than totally unweighted. Hammer-action is my favorite, but costs a lot.
I personally wouldn't buy an unweighted keyboard.

[Kreator2112]

Saturday I won an M-Audio Keystation 61es. I know a guy on campus that will hook me up with Reason 3.0.

Is this one of the better programs out there?

[mutant!]

Reason 3 is absolutely fantastic for virtual instruments, which is what you need. It can't record audio, though, but that's probably a secondary concern for you. In terms of using it with your Keystation, it's brilliant.