Keyboard or Synthesizer

[weston909]

I am a guitarist with some basic piano skills. I would like to invest in a starter keyboard or synthesizer. I would like to spend about $300-500. I don't need a stage quality piece of equipment, but I don't want a toy either.

I would like to lay down some basic tracks with drums. I have an Alesis drum machine with midi capabilities. Ideally, I would like to hook it up to the keyboard...but it is not an absolute must.

My question to veteran keyboard players - would I be better of with a starter keyboard or a synthesizer. I want something that doesn’t take a seasoned veteran to learn. I used to have a Roland 1100 Music Workstation (in fact, I still have it for sale). Anyway it was too complicated for me to understand and benefit it's complex sequencer.

Any suggestions or recommendations of a keyboard over a synthesizer? And, what brand and model would you suggest...one or the other.

Thanks for your input,

Weston909

[Seafroggys]

Do you even know the difference between a keyboard and a synthesizer? Its not an apples to apples, its more like apples to plants.

A keyboard, in the terms you are describing, is merely a device to operate a sound device. The keyboard tells the sound device what note is being played, and plays it.

A synthesizer is a device that generates sounds through waveform manipulation, filters, oscillators, etc. etc.

A keyboard can control a synth. Are you following me?

[Motleyguy]

Someone had to point it out... good thing you did, I may have been tempted to be a bit of a dick about it.

It's a basic MIDI signal flow...

Controller (Keyboard) --> Sound source (Synth) --> Sequencer

Your sequencer could be a hardware sequencer, but nowadays it's more common to use a software sequencer such as those contained in Logic or Cubase. You can connect keyboards/synths to a computer via a simple USB interface w/ MIDI I/O capabilities.

Most "keyboards" you buy nowadays are controllers as well as synths, some even have sequencers. I'm not even sure if you can still get stand alone rack mounted "keyboards"/synths.

[Seafroggys]

Yes you can. The DIY Paia Fatman is a relatively easy to build system, I'm sure there's some pro systems as well.

[slpntrx5]

If you want a great synthesizer, get yourself an Alesis Micron. It's only about $450 brand new off Musician's Friend, if you buy an extended warranty. I had one myself until just recently, and its versatility is amazing. You can literally create your own sounds and whatnot. It has its own drum machine and MIDI capabilities as well. It's tight as fxck.

But, if you want a keyboard or MIDI controller or digital piano of some kind, I have no idea. I'm in the market for such a thing as it is.

:chug:

[Kronzo]

Yamaha is always a good brand for instruments.

[Seafroggys]

True, you never really can go wrong with a yamaha.

[Motleyguy]

Yamaha S 90 is a great workstation. They don't make it anymore (I think it's the S 90 "random letter here" now). Pretty complex, but capable of a lot.