Which small MIDI synth?

[Acsii]

Okay so I've gotten to that stage of making music where I reckon I need an actually synth (digital one) instead of plugging MIDI into my keyboard which doesn't always work. So I'm looking at either a 25 key or a 49 key. I'm looking at getting either the AKAI MPK49/25 or the Novation 25/49 any suggestions/thoughts?

[the4thImpulse]

Speaking from my own experience with hardware synths I would Never buy a cheap digital one ever again. I own one now and I never use it as a synth anymore, it does have a nice soundcard and it works well as a midi controller which is the only reason I still have it. If you want a digital synth just buy some software instead as it will have many more features and it will sound many times better than a cheap digital synth.

Now I recently bought a Korg MS2000 which is a virtual analog synth (its technically digital but it tries to be analog) and the thing has a character of its own. When they manufactured the in 2001 they were ~$900 and nowadays I would think very carefully about buying hardware synths for cheaper because of all the advancements in computing and software.

In light hardware is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it but it is something you should go big or go home on, don't go cheap.

[Rainbow_Rage]

Correct me if I'm wrong but both of those are controllers which make no sound on their own.

[Watashig]

I think what he needs is really just a controller... if by "plugging MIDI into my keyboard" he means his typing keyboard.

[Rainbow_Rage]

Well if he does just mean a controller I would highly recommend trying them out and deciding which one feels best. I've looked around and some keyboards just feel better to me than others and this doesn't strictly follow what is the most expensive or supposedly the "best". Personally I'm waiting for the Samson Graphite to come in so I can try that out because the guy at my local music store said they're supposed to be quite nice, especially considering what they are going to sell for.

[the4thImpulse]

Well if he does just mean a controller I would highly recommend trying them out and deciding which one feels best. I've looked around and some keyboards just feel better to me than others and this doesn't strictly follow what is the most expensive or supposedly the "best".

I agree with this.

I was going off the word synth he used in the title but if he needs is a keyboard then I would suggest going to the music store and trying them all out. I like the oxygen series keyboards, its all personal preference but that's what I would buy. If you are, in fact, looking at synths then do the same and o to the stores and mess around with what you can and be sure to watch many youtube videos to get more of a sense what they can achieve sonically.

[Acsii]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes it is just a controller I need. However when I said plugging midi into my keyboard I meant plugging a MIDI cake into my keyboard (Casio CTK-550) but this is very glitchy as I have a launch pad and this messes wit the settings

[Acsii]

Okay so I went to the 'local' music centre and tested out both the Akai MPK49 and the Novation Impulse 49 and I have to say I like the action on the Novation a lot more and it feels more natural for my playing style :3 so I guess that's the one I'll get... now time to save up