Which midi keyboard for music software beginner?

[chevkoch]

I've started playing around with Reason and installed the Bome virtual keyboard, but I think I'll make more out of it by using a real midi keyboard.

Can you sound software adept ones recommend a cheap one that's sufficient for decent use to begin with, please? It would be great if you could list some must-have features, like velocity control (I guess), number of keys (is 25 enough or do I have to switch octaves all the time with that!?) and whatever else seems crucial.

While you're at it, gosh, I'd appreciate it if you could post sites with tutorials and samples for Reason. Thanks much, you guys!

[koenshaku]

What's your budget mate?

Have a look at the keyboard section over at dolphinmusic.co.uk for a general gist of price and feature count.

If your using Reason I'd recommend something with extra controllers, slides and pots etc. Makes life a whole lot easier, one example being the Edirol PCR30.
Touch and velocity sensitive keys are pretty much standard. If you can find/ afford one, go for something with semi weighted keys as well. Gives your playing that 'genuine' feel. Like a Novation Remote 25 (my keyboard) or suchlike. This one is only two octaves though, but I've never had a problem with changing octaves.

Oh, and a USB connection is a must, surprisingly efficient and saves your midi ports for other kit.

Can't help you with the samples for the mo, get all my stuff off mates and magazines etc. Try googling for what you need, should sort you out.

Good luck.

[Magnakai]

I don't know exactly what you want to do, but for a basic midi keyboard, you can't go too wrong with the M-Audio Radium 49 (http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...roduct_id/3014) or preferably, the Radium 61 (http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...roduct_id/1724)
The larger keyboard is obviously going to be bigger, and a bit more expensive, but you'll be so much more expressive with more keys. Not having to switch octaves so much is definitely preferable.
Also, as Koenshaku mentioned, Edirol make some pretty decent comparable gear, which I think has more faders and buttons on than the M-Audio stuff.

You could just get something like the Keystation 49 (http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...roduct_id/3943), but I'd highly recommend getting something with some knobs and sliders and whatnot, especially if you're using software like Reason or Live.

The other thing you could do is get a seperate keyboard, like that Keystation 49, and a buttony, knobby thing, like the Behringer BCF2000 (http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...roduct_id/3701)
It's ridiculously cheap for something with motorised faders. I'm looking into getting one myself, actually.

Hope this helps!

[chevkoch]

Thanks a lot for the help. Some of the mentioned equipment looks fantastic, but money... Due to a tight budget, I am considering the Keystation 49 or the M-Audio Oxygen 8 (but more octave switching with that in exchange for knob action, ah, compromises):

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/1149

[Scythe]

Magnakai: Be wary of Behringher stuff! I'm not saying don't get it but make sure you test it fully first their stuff is cheap for a reason! I had a Behringher mixing desk and bought it as it had all the bells & whistles for a cheap price...I took it back within a week for being obscenly 'noisy'!
As for Midi keyboards, the evolution stuff is pretty good and quite competitively priced, I have one myself but thats mainly for hardware!

[Magnakai]

Well, the review in SOS said that the build quality was a bit shoddy, but apart from that it seemed to work really well.
Ahh, I don't know.
I need more disposable income before I spent this money all over the place!

And to think, I was thinking of getting a Korg MS2000B or Alesis Ion just two months ago!

[watusi]

I've got a Edirol PCR-30 that is pretty good, got lots of extra nobs and the like. Not that I ever use it....

[Paleface]

I know several people with those Behringer fader units and they swear by them. Yes, Behringer build quality isn't up there with, say, Mackie stuff, but just because it's not made of pressed metal and built like a tank doesn't mean it won't last if you're relatively careful with it.

As for keys: the cheapest one you can get with the minimum number of keys you're happy with. I find 25 just managable, but I'd much rather have 61 - but there and again, I'm a keys player, so I like being able to fit two hands on the darn thing. Really, to say how large a keyboard you need without some input of, well, your musical ability, is a bit difficult.

[Scythe]

Well, the review in SOS said that the build quality was a bit shoddy, but apart from that it seemed to work really well.
Ahh, I don't know.
I need more disposable income before I spent this money all over the place!

And to think, I was thinking of getting a Korg MS2000B or Alesis Ion just two months ago!

Those Korgs are nice! Like I say i wasn't saying don't get it just try before you buy, i was dissapointed by my first experience of Behringher!

I've just bought a Roland SH32, a little fiddly but a lot of 'bang for your buck' as they say!

[Magnakai]

Those Korgs are nice!

They are so nice! When I was in New York earlier this year, I spent quite literally several hours playing with one in a Guitar Center.
It's only got 4 voice poly, though, which is putting me off a little.

TBH, I need a laptop loaded with Ableton Live, a decent array of I/Os, a MIDI footswitch and a decent keyboard with some twiddly bits. I can feed my guitar and my band's instruments through that and process them in real time, as well as having an array of software synths. Only thing is that I can't even remotely afford any of it. And this is before I factor in several pedals that I need too! Ah well! Maybe I should just go back to an acoustic guitar :P
Man, if my band ever takes off and plays live properly, we're going to be doing some awesome stuff...

[Scythe]

They are so nice! When I was in New York earlier this year, I spent quite literally several hours playing with one in a Guitar Center.
It's only got 4 voice poly, though, which is putting me off a little.

TBH, I need a laptop loaded with Ableton Live, a decent array of I/Os, a MIDI footswitch and a decent keyboard with some twiddly bits. I can feed my guitar and my band's instruments through that and process them in real time, as well as having an array of software synths. Only thing is that I can't even remotely afford any of it. And this is before I factor in several pedals that I need too! Ah well! Maybe I should just go back to an acoustic guitar :P
Man, if my band ever takes off and plays live properly, we're going to be doing some awesome stuff...

The SH32 has upto 32 voice poly, you should look into it if you can still get one they aren't in production anymore and got overlooked due to being targeted at DJ's and the like, it basically is a digital interpretation of old analogue roland synths, i'm currently waiting for a sequencer as my playing is poor to say the least!

review: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/May0...rolandsh32.asp

Yep Ableton is pretty cool sounds like you need to rob a bank or summat!

[Magnakai]

:-O
That sounds awesome!
If it sounds remotely as good as it says it does, I'm really interested!

[Nijo]

Thread resurrection:
I recently happened across a Roland/Edirol PC 300 (one of these) and am interested in hooking it up to my laptop. I'm no composer so I'd just like to have a little tinkle - it just needs to make piano sounds.
Now I've tried Reason (demo version) and Renoise and they're waaaaaay too complicated.... can anybody advise me on what I should get?

It's connected to my laptop via USB; my soundcard is an unexiting Realtek AC97. I managed to 'make noise' using both packages mentioned above, but it wasn't exactly piano-like - simply whatever samples the demo tracks included. Do I need to find a piano sample?
How does it all work???

[Nijo]

Anybody clues?

[Magnakai]

I was having a poke around online for this yesterday and it seems to be ridiculously difficult to do without spending money.
I'm sure I've got the wrong end of the stick. I was trying to find some program that would just use your soundcard/the Windows MIDI mapper for audio and plug through the midi signals that the Edirol keyboard translates but I couldn't find anything, short of using DAW software. This is absolutely ridiculous!
Anyone know any freeware that lets you do this? I'm stumped.