MIDI Keyboard + Other Queries

[Esoomspark]

God, you guys must get a ton of these DURR HOW DO I MAKE THAE MUSICS AND BE AS COOL AS EVERYONE HURRRRRR people posts, but I do have a few queries, so I apologize in advance.

I've been looking to attempt Electronic Music as a start, so I was thinking of investing in a MIDI Keyboard. I've seen some of the things done with them, and I really like the sound of it (Not operating by logic of: Get Instruments, Become Alex S. Goodk).

I was wondering, for those who do have a MIDI Keyboard or have knowledge of them, which would be the most cost effective for someone starting out?

Also, it really bites when I find a music studio program, and it's for windows only (blessed by my school was I to receive this freakin' macbook -_-''), anyone know any good programs for Mac?

[bartekko]

1st thing: A midi keyboard doesn't make sound at all. that's what synthesizers are for. A midi keyboard is just a controller, just like a mouse, or a typing keyboard

I'd recommend akai lpk25, as it's pretty cheap and from what I heard from many better people than me it's good

2nd thing: for macs, you can go with ableton live, logic, pro tools, or garageband. storm wolf will be more competent in this topic than I am. (both him and I use ableton live though)

3rd thing

[DrSorkenstein]

Also, it really bites when I find a music studio program, and it's for windows only (blessed by my school was I to receive this freakin' macbook -_-''), anyone know any good programs for Mac?

Hi! Welcome and such!
I can't help with midi controllers but I know Reason is a really good DAW that works on both mac and pc. With the latest version (Reason 6) it's pretty much a compete studio in a box.

I've heard good things about Cubase, Reaper, Ardour, Logic, Garageband and Ableton Live as well.

Cheers!

[Esoomspark]

1st thing: A midi keyboard doesn't make sound at all. that's what synthesizers are for. A midi keyboard is just a controller, just like a mouse, or a typing keyboard

Heh, What I Mean't to say was, I like the sound of what it can do, not that actual thing.

Hi! Welcome and such!
I can't help with midi controllers but I know Reason is a really good DAW that works on both mac and pc. With the latest version (Reason 6) it's pretty much a compete studio in a box.

I've heard good things about Cubase, Reaper, Ardour, Logic, Garageband and Ableton Live as well.

Cheers!

Thanks! I'll look into Reason, I've heard of it before.

[DrSorkenstein]

Thanks! I'll look into Reason, I've heard of it before.

Finally I will stop being alone!
PM me if you need help!

[bartekko]

It's not about what you heard of and what you haven't heard of. if you won't like reason, there also are other daw's


and I don't really get what you mean by "i like the sound of what it can do, not the actual thing"

a midi controller can do exactly the same what you can do with a mouse and a piano roll

[qJesse]

I use a Yamaha PSR-E213 (its more of a beginners keyboard thing; wouldn't recommend it for production, but it does have a midi input/output and a good range of keys), and a cheap little midi-to-usb cord. Not the best setup, but it works. Most electronic keyboards nowadays usually come with midi in/out, so you can probably find one really cheap if you look around. One I've experienced on-hand was the Alesis Q25; it comes with octave change buttons, pitch and modulation knobs, so I would fairly say it's worth it's money, but I've only tried it out once. As for Mac programs, I wouldn't really know of any. :c Hope you find what you're looking for!

[Esoomspark]

It's not about what you heard of and what you haven't heard of. if you won't like reason, there also are other daw's


and I don't really get what you mean by "i like the sound of what it can do, not the actual thing"

a midi controller can do exactly the same what you can do with a mouse and a piano roll

True, but then again, wouldn't that being more difficult using a mouse? (dont answer that; opinions lol)
Also, I mean't that, i've seen friends of mine use it to create music before, through programs, and it does look quite useful.

[DrSorkenstein]

It's not about what you heard of and what you haven't heard of. if you won't like reason, there also are other daw's


and I don't really get what you mean by "i like the sound of what it can do, not the actual thing"

a midi controller can do exactly the same what you can do with a mouse and a piano roll

True, but then again, wouldn't that being more difficult using a mouse? (dont answer that; opinions lol)
Also, I mean't that, i've seen friends of mine use it to create music before, through programs, and it does look quite useful.

Everything really when it comes to making music boils down to personal preferences.
What you use and how you work is something you'll find yourself. Everyone else can only give suggestions.

[the4thImpulse]

As for what progrm you should use general advice would be to download demos of every program and try them out for a few weeks and if you like it, buy it. You can already find the best programs for mac in this thread.

[Esoomspark]

>Go to school
>Go to Music Building
>Ask Head of Music about MIDI Instruments
>"Oh MIDI Keyboards? We've got a whole cupboard full in one of our practice rooms."
>"What."
>Runs to Prac Room
>Open Cupboard
>Legit, 20-something MIDI keyboards stacked upon each other

God, I love my school sometimes. At least this will let me try some of these out before purchasing one, they seem pretty basic, but then again, thats all I need.

[Magnitude Zero]

Heh, that's pretty awesome. I personally use the Behringer UMX490.



It's quite nice, and not too expensive. Does everything I need it to do and more.

[Esoomspark]

>go back to school next day
>grab midi keyboard
>no connectors in sight
>ask Head Of Music where are the connectors
>"Oh, we don't have any connectors. Sorry."
>What.

GOD I HATE MY SCHOOL SOMETIMES

Time to buy a MIDI connector.

[DJSheogowrath]

As for what progrm you should use general advice would be to download demos of every program and try them out for a few weeks and if you like it, buy it. You can already find the best programs for mac in this thread.

Yeah, what he said.
Also, in my opinion, MIDI's are only good for playing out riffs. For actually laying them down, I would just use a piano roll to limit error potential.

[North Kozar]

Well... I don't even have a midi keyboard, but for certain melodies, I just can't think through putting down the notes, it goes to slow for my brain or whatever. So using my typing keyboard, I awkwardly play out the melody I have in my head, then go in and fix up weirdness due to lag or whatever. That's just me though, it really depends on how your own creative process works. Or I'm just crazy. Maybe both.

[Steam Rig]

I have the AKAI MPK49, and I highly recommend it. It's quite inexpensive and has a lot of nice little things with plenty of programmable buttons/faders/knobs. Oh, and drum pads.

It's also great if you run Ableton, just plug it in and it's all preset to go.

[Navron]

Nobody seemed to have mentioned it yet, but the biggest advantage of having a MIDI keyboard is velocity sensitivity.

When combined with the right VSTs, having the ability to get softer and louder attacks based on velocity really adds to the emotion in an electronic track, which is typically absent.

If a piano player played a live song by hitting each note as hard as he could, the song would lack in many areas, because part of the emotional buildup in a song is how a musician plays those soft and light sections, crescendos, decrescendos, etc. A MIDI keyboard with velocity allows you to do that, where as a piano roll doesn't.

I always record live now, and may clean up some of the latency and note positions, but it's very hard to simulate live playing by manually adjusting velocity vs having it be recorded by your controller.