A good keyboard for me?

[patrickphan2]

Well I've been planning on purchasing a midi keyboard but I'm not sure what is good and what is not. I've been looking at the Axiom or w.e its called but I'm looking for something that has like preloaded presets and the ability to use it as a midi keyboard in FL. Anyone have any suggestions?

[WEABOO]

Really, if its just a midi controller youre looking for, any keyboard with midi will do you good. I've heard of many people just using a regular casio keyboard. For the most part, there is no need to spend 150+ on those specialty midi keyboards that have all the knobs and drum pads, since any tweaks will most likely be done through automation or your mouse, and obviously your drum tracks will most likely be put down the same way.

[patrickphan2]

Originally Posted by The Chemist

Really, if its just a midi controller youre looking for, any keyboard with midi will do you good. I've heard of many people just using a regular casio keyboard. For the most part, there is no need to spend 150+ on those specialty midi keyboards that have all the knobs and drum pads, since any tweaks will most likely be done through automation or your mouse, and obviously your drum tracks will most likely be put down the same way.

Ah, thanks. I'll do some research! Not sure of what most of those knobs do on those fancy keyboards so :/

M-Audio Keystation 61es USB MIDI Controller and more MIDI Controllers at GuitarCenter.com.
M-Audio Oxygen 49 49-key Mobile USB Controller and more MIDI Controllers at GuitarCenter.com.

These 2 look interesting but I'm not too sure if they would work on my 64-bit vista pc

[WEABOO]

The reason they have knobs and pads is so you can macro them to a program. Its nice, but I don't think its necessary.

If you insist though, I've used both those controllers, and they're both pretty top notch

[aether]

Quick note: if you're used to playing a piano, make sure to get a weighted or a hammer-based keyboard.

Semi-weighted and velocity feel too fake in many cases. But then again, it depends on what you'll be playing. Electronic leads are good with quick taps which work best with no resistance.

[patrickphan2]

Originally Posted by The Chemist

The reason they have knobs and pads is so you can macro them to a program. Its nice, but I don't think its necessary.

If you insist though, I've used both those controllers, and they're both pretty top notch

I'm assuming macro means program or something. But I'll take a look at them at my local guitar center. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Jeremy Lim

Quick note: if you're used to playing a piano, make sure to get a weighted or a hammer-based keyboard.

Semi-weighted and velocity feel too fake in many cases. But then again, it depends on what you'll be playing. Electronic leads are good with quick taps which work best with no resistance.

I never played piano but want to, so I'll have to think about what kind of keyboard I'd like. But mostly I'll probably use the keyboard for electronic leads and pads.

Thank you both

[Ryi]

I purchased a microkorg which I use for both midi and makin soundzzz. It works decently for my slender fingers, but I know a lot of people who complain about the small keys (seriously something to take into consideration, especially if you'll be using midi a lot).

Its soundbanks are pretty nice, but very redundant. You hear a lot of songs with microkorg presets slathered over them. The good part is you can alter them digitally with a midi connection, although it's only worked temporarily for me.

[ronji]

of those two keyboards you mentioned i'd go for the one with the sliders and knobs. when he said macro to the software he meant map the input - like right click a knob in FL and click link to controller, make sure auto detect is checked and then turn the knob on your controller. now that controller knob will control that software knob. cool stuff!

however, if you're like me, and you just want some keys that make it more intuitive to lay down a lead, you might want to look at a smaller keyboard. i have a korg k25 (the tiny one pictured). you get two octaves at a time, and you just press the up and down octave buttons to get to higher or lower octaves. i picked mine up on craigslist for only $60. i love it. here's one on ebay for cheap right now

my friend is a serious business pianist, so the piano/keyboard he recently bought absolutely HAD to meet some requirements - be small/compact, be full sized, weighted keys, midi (maybe some others) so he bought this - roland hp201 digital piano. so if you're not going to be all hardcore pianist and shit, get a simple midi controller - at least to start.

edit: forgot to mention, to add some knobs and sliders to the mix i got an m-audio x-session pro

[patrickphan2]

Originally Posted by Ryi

I purchased a microkorg which I use for both midi and makin soundzzz. It works decently for my slender fingers, but I know a lot of people who complain about the small keys (seriously something to take into consideration, especially if you'll be using midi a lot).

Its soundbanks are pretty nice, but very redundant. You hear a lot of songs with microkorg presets slathered over them. The good part is you can alter them digitally with a midi connection, although it's only worked temporarily for me.

Just guitar center'd the microkorg and it has a vocoder!??!?!?! Insane! It looks nice but is a bit pricy(since i don't work).

Originally Posted by ronji

of those two keyboards you mentioned i'd go for the one with the sliders and knobs. when he said macro to the software he meant map the input - like right click a knob in FL and click link to controller, make sure auto detect is checked and then turn the knob on your controller. now that controller knob will control that software knob. cool stuff!

however, if you're like me, and you just want some keys that make it more intuitive to lay down a lead, you might want to look at a smaller keyboard. i have a korg k25 (the tiny one pictured). you get two octaves at a time, and you just press the up and down octave buttons to get to higher or lower octaves. i picked mine up on craigslist for only $60. i love it. here's one on ebay for cheap right now

my friend is a serious business pianist, so the piano/keyboard he recently bought absolutely HAD to meet some requirements - be small/compact, be full sized, weighted keys, midi (maybe some others) so he bought this - roland hp201 digital piano. so if you're not going to be all hardcore pianist and shit, get a simple midi controller - at least to start.

edit: forgot to mention, to add some knobs and sliders to the mix i got an m-audio x-session pro

Thank you for the clarification, pretty neat!

The k25 looks interesting so I'll keep it on watch.

I think i'll stick with a simple midi controller since I don't plan on being hardcore.

So that X session pro basically just gives you the ability to use EQ's and other things with FL or a midi keyboard? I'm not really understanding what it actually does :/

[ronji]

Originally Posted by patrickphan2

So that X session pro basically just gives you the ability to use EQ's and other things with FL or a midi keyboard? I'm not really understanding what it actually does :/

the x-session pro is marketed as a digital mixer, meaning you plug it in and you use the knobs and sliders to control different things in the software, namely the software it comes with which is a basic two track mixer, like if you were mixing one song with another or just transitioning between the two. you could conceivably actually DJ a party with it, load a song on the left, play with the highs, lows, other effects with knobs and sliders, and load a song on the right and mix to it or whatever. but i just bought it because it's more knobs and sliders to map to different things in my software - FLStudio and Live, whatever. my padkontrol has no sliders and 2 knobs, and my k25 only has one slider and 2 knobs. i can map the x-session pro to anything i want, like the level of a filter or something, volume levels, anything and everything pretty much.

example video of some guy screwing around with the x-session pro. if you're interested to see how stuff works youtube is often a great place to go and check it out. i looked at tons of videos of the padkontrol before i decided i could not live without one.

[patrickphan2]

Originally Posted by ronji

the x-session pro is marketed as a digital mixer, meaning you plug it in and you use the knobs and sliders to control different things in the software, namely the software it comes with which is a basic two track mixer, like if you were mixing one song with another or just transitioning between the two. you could conceivably actually DJ a party with it, load a song on the left, play with the highs, lows, other effects with knobs and sliders, and load a song on the right and mix to it or whatever. but i just bought it because it's more knobs and sliders to map to different things in my software - FLStudio and Live, whatever. my padkontrol has no sliders and 2 knobs, and my k25 only has one slider and 2 knobs. i can map the x-session pro to anything i want, like the level of a filter or something, volume levels, anything and everything pretty much.

example video of some guy screwing around with the x-session pro. if you're interested to see how stuff works youtube is often a great place to go and check it out. i looked at tons of videos of the padkontrol before i decided i could not live without one.

Oh that's pretty neat! I'll take what you said into consideration and decide if i really need something like the X session pro.

How come i didn't think of youtubing?!?!?!?!

Thank you all again, I might go and check out waht they have at my local guitar center today.

edit: the X session pro looks really awesome for live play! But if i were to map it to a cutoff filter on a lead(Fl studio), I'd have to record an automation clip so that it cuts off the hi pass/lo pass right?

[Ryi]

Originally Posted by patrickphan2

Just guitar center'd the microkorg and it has a vocoder!??!?!?! Insane! It looks nice but is a bit pricy(since i don't work).

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that it has a vocoder. A damn good one, too... better than anything software-based.

As far as cost, for what it does, it's very well priced. I'm sure you could get one second-hand easily.

[patrickphan2]

Originally Posted by Ryi

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that it has a vocoder. A damn good one, too... better than anything software-based.

As far as cost, for what it does, it's very well priced. I'm sure you could get one second-hand easily.

The microkorg looks REALLY good and tempting and i might actually buy it but the only problem i have is the compatibility with 64-bit vista since 64-bit sucks.

[MUSCLES]

Just FYI, any synth can be made into a "vocoder" with a talkbox and an amp. Which sounds ten times cooler than a normal vocoder.

I agree with the Chemist on the whole Casio keyboard thing. If you're using software based synths, that's all you need in a Casio with MIDI out that costs like, uh, $50.00? At the most?

[DjMeas]

I'm currently using an Edirol PCR-M30 and I found that the key quality is just not good for me at all.

Like the others said ~ Weighted keys rock (only if you're used to it).