Buying a MIDI Controller
Nibble
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I'd like to get some kind of cheap keyboard to learn how to play piano. I know that I have a tendency to just play around for a bit and I probably won't get really serious about it, so I shouldn't buy anything too expensive. That said, I don't want to have something that will just break or produce terrible sound. I figure around $200 should be acceptable. Portability would also be nice (but not necessary), so I can take it somewhere away from my home in order to focus better.
From what little reading I've done, it seems like the best choice for me would be a MIDI controller hooked up to my netbook rather than a stand-alone synthesizer. They seem to be lighter, cheaper and smaller than synthesizers of similar quality, since they're really just a set of keys with no speakers or sound cards. In addition, even the cheapest controller can have its instruments upgraded at any time, because that's all handled by software. Does that seem like a fair appraisal? Also, would a controller be able to play fine on netbook with an Atom N280, or would I need a better processor or an independent sound card?
Assuming that there's no problem with the above, what's a good price range for a decent entry-level controller? What kind of features should I look for when I go to buy one? Would you recommend and particular brands?
From what little reading I've done, it seems like the best choice for me would be a MIDI controller hooked up to my netbook rather than a stand-alone synthesizer. They seem to be lighter, cheaper and smaller than synthesizers of similar quality, since they're really just a set of keys with no speakers or sound cards. In addition, even the cheapest controller can have its instruments upgraded at any time, because that's all handled by software. Does that seem like a fair appraisal? Also, would a controller be able to play fine on netbook with an Atom N280, or would I need a better processor or an independent sound card?
Assuming that there's no problem with the above, what's a good price range for a decent entry-level controller? What kind of features should I look for when I go to buy one? Would you recommend and particular brands?
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You'll at least need a proper USB audio interface, otherwise the latency really hampers your ability to play in time. I use an M-audio Fastrack Pro that I got for about $220 CDN, but you should be able to get something more basic for half that.
As for using a netbook for rmusic, I googled the topic a little bit and you should be able to get a basic softsynth running but it might take some fiddling around because of the lack of processing power.
i picked up the m-audio axiom 49 about a year ago and I really reall like it. It isn't the top end but it bridges the gap between beginners and serious users so if you do find yourself really enjoying it you will still have a full featured keyboard that can support your needs.
Also whenever you do get your midi controller look into a program called "Piano Hero" or Synesthesia. It has an excellent guitar hero style interface that teaches piano. It cost a few bucks but once you have a license you can convert just about any song to midi and it will have the appropriate keys for you to play. Great stuff and good luck.
I've seen Piano Hero before. I think it was posted on Digg or Reddit. It was actually seeing that that got me thinking that I'd like to try and re-learn piano.
What is "weighting" and why is it important? Are you referring to the resistance of the keys?
Couple things to bear in mind. Some of this was said above me too...
- you'll need an interface, but you only need a MIDI interface, 1 set of in/out.
Long & Mcquade has this.
- as for controllers, I don't know where you are, so you're selection may vary. L&M sells the M-Audio Axioms for a decent price, but you could go simpler with the Oxygen line. I found those at Canada Computers for $130 for the 61 key version. The equivalent Axiom would be $200+.
- finally, you'll need a software synth to make any nosie. A cheap one which may or may not sound good enough for you will leave you options ranging from free to a bit of cash. A good sounding piano will cost some money. So that will depend on your ears and your willingness to put up with a crap sounding piano.
I think those are the 3 big ones. You may have some latency between the hitting of the key and the playing of the note, but there's a lot of things that play a factor in that. The only thing that eliminates lag is changing your gear, either with a keyboard that has internal sounds (and you can probably find an older pro model for cheap in a buy/sell paper now that I think of it), or better hardware to drive the synth.
I'm more interested in production than using it as a piano (though I've been doing that too, and it works great), so if you aren't interested in knobs/sliders/pads for triggering samples and creating sounds, you're probably better off going with a cheaper M-Audio Keystation over an Oxygen. Oxygens have synth-action keys, which aren't ideal for playing piano. The keystation is only semi-weighted, which is still not the correct feel, but a lot closer than floaty synth keys, and probably as good as you'll get a that low a pricepoint.
Vortigern mentioned you'll need a MIDI interface, but that's dependent on the controller you buy. M-Audio's work over USB as well as standard MIDI. Some of the others may not. Check the specs before you buy it, to make sure you don't get something you can't hook up.
edit: Also, for piano playing, make sure whatever controller you buy includes a port for a sustain pedal, and buy one. You'll need it as soon as you graduate beyond playing Mary Had a Little Lamb onto anything that uses an arpeggio.
yeah, most of the low-end ones just use USB, though they all should support midi as well
though really, Nibble should keep in mind that none of this is going to result in an ideal setup for actually learning how to play the piano properly, and if he's going to be taking piano lessons, there'll be a huge disconnect between the grand piano at the instructor's studio and the crappy midi keyboard in the bedroom.
You don't need any extra interface if you get a good controller, mine has USB which is functionally equivalent to MIDI and powers the device so I don't have wall warts to worry about. If you're using it on a netbook though you may need to get a DC adapter in the end anyways since it likely won't be able to handle the juice requirements, but you can find out.
After that it's just a software synth on your computer and you're good to go. Don't need any audio interface unless you're trying to record, if you get a controller with USB to your computer and has a MIDI IN port on it then you won't even need to get a MIDI interface for your computer, just use your controller for any other devices you may get into. :^:
Because it was mentioned earlier in the thread: You should never, under any circumstance, buy something from the Long & McQuade online store. If you actually manage to get an item in your cart (you need godlike patience for this to happen), it will take a month to ship, arrive at your local store and promptly be set on a shelf for sale to the general public. It then becomes a race between you getting to the store and the item selling to The Guy Who Just Walked In. (Based on anecdotal evidence from myself and every musician I know who's had the misfortune of ordering from L&M online.)
I'm in Winnipeg too Dark Moon, the trick is to put a deposit on your order and then it won't get sold out from under you. $5 is enough to do for any size item.
A weighted board is pretty vital if you want to specifically learn piano over other keyboard instruments. The weighting gives the feel of the mechanical action of depressing the key to moving the hammer to hit the string. That's something that you'll miss from an unweighted (synth action) board.