Please help a noob out with keyboards!

Fred 00 · 09-08-2008, 06:58 PM

Ok, I've always really wanted to get into composing and creating electronic music, and now it's becoming quite the possibility.

I know I'm going to sound stupid, but I know next to nothing on how to poerate a keyboard. Aside from a keyboard in one of my classes, I haven't had a whole lot of experience with things like sampling, recording loops, etc.

As of right now, I'm looking into buying a keyboard. Something alittle user-friendly, but not too "MY FIRST MUSIC MOMMY", know what I mean? I want to be able to have presets and samples on the board and be able to tweak stuff with effector knobs and such. Also is it possible to download samples/presets directly onto the keyboard? I know I might be looking for a Midi or something.

Can anyone tell me on how this stuff works and what kind of keyboard I should get?

aether · 09-08-2008, 07:45 PM

Welcome to MP!

Have you had a look through this post yet?

A good keyboard for me?

Most of us spilled lots of wisdom here on keyboards, so you might just find your answer from there.

Cheers,

Jeremy

WEABOO · 09-08-2008, 07:49 PM

Get this for a keyboard to play on Evolution eKeys USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

Get this to lay your project down (sequencer) FL Studios 8.0 (Free demo version here FL Studio 8.0.2 Demo)

Get this to turn your keyboard into a 3000 dollar synthesizer reFX VANGUARD (Free demo version here reFX VANGUARD demo)

Download from here all your drums, effects, and much more Freeloops

For around 280 USD, you will have a full blown synthesizer and a full studio, which is peanuts when you realize the synthesizer alone will run you at least 400 dollars (Not even a high end one either). And, if you need any help setting all that up, feel free to PM me or post on here.

OR

If you rather have a standalone synthesizer (which I don't think is the right way to go for a beginner, but your choice), I always point people to these two:

Roland SH-201 Synthesizer

EXCELLENT synthesizer for anyone, especially beginners. It literally has a road map on it to show you how to make a sound. When it comes to leads and supersaws, you cannot beat this for that price.

Alesis Micron Synthesizer

Gorgeous synthesizer with very warm analog sounds. The pads on this are phenomenal. Unfortunately, not as beginner friendly as the SH-201 (Although the presets on this are really good).

I have personally used both, and if you do decide to buy a synthesizer, you cannot go wrong with either one of them. After I buy my Access Virus TI Module, I'm definitely going to save up to buy both of them

And welcome to the MP forums

Fred 00 · 09-10-2008, 06:28 AM

ooh, the eKeys looks nice, and it comes with its own software for sampling and stuff, right? I already was planning on purchasing FL studio because it almost seems like a necessity.

Thankx guys, I'll look into this some more

WEABOO · 09-10-2008, 12:04 PM

Fruity Loops is all you need for sampling, and basically anything else you need. It actually comes with its own synthesizer software (Sytrus to name one), and its very good, but Vanguard is more user friendly imo, and is just a sick sick synthesizer VST (VST plugins are virtual instruments, like synthesizers for example).

aether · 09-10-2008, 01:49 PM

Sadly, Sytrus isn't free and it does create a very different range of sounds from Vanguard. Check out the demos of both, but as Chemist said - 'tis sweet.

Another big question for you: what's your (primary) genre?

Fred 00 · 09-10-2008, 03:33 PM

Genre? Well, I'd like to experiment with all kinds to see what I can create best.

Also, the keyboard I mentioned in one of my classes is a Korg triton Le music-workstation
Can the eKeys be played standalone, or does it have to be plugged into the computer?
And vanguard sounds really neat, I'll have trouble deciding between that and FL

WEABOO · 09-10-2008, 03:38 PM

FL Studios is a sequencer program. Its where you lay out your tracks and put them together to make music.

Vanguard is a synth VST, a virtual synthesizer for your computer. With the USB keyboard I linked, you control that program with that keyboard.

Both are very different things

And no, you cannot use the keyboard by itself, which is why I linked to Vanguard and FL Studios. If you want to play it by itself, you have to put out at least 400 dollars or settle for a cheap casio.