KEYBOARDS!!!!

[John Vella]

I wanna get a Midi keyboard controller....

But I'm wondering, should I save up even more and get a keyboard that can generate sounds AS WELL as serve as a controller??

After buying that Mackie I'm fukkin broke.. :cry:

What do u guys suggest I do? Buy a cheaper Midi controller? or save up and get a synth...

BTW.... If I did get a synth, whats good to get???

Confused and very excited at the same time..... hehhee

Seeking your council.... :)

-jOHNNY :lol:

[Col]

ive just bought a midiman oxygen 8 recently and i love it, it has 8 assignable knobs allowing you realtime control over 8 midi parameters. but on the other hand if you can get the cash for a synth, then maybe you should by one

[John Vella]

Oxygen 8!

Ya I saw that at the store when I bought my mixer and *ALMOST* grabbed it!

Cool so you're loving it eh?

Thanks for the input! :)

-jOHNNY

[MARKEG]

yeah i bought two of the little blighters!!

[John Vella]

Do I even need a synth for sounds??

I got alot of programs that simulate them........

should I just get one of them Oxygen 8s seein as they are not too pricey?

-jOHNNY <--------COMPULSIVE IMPATIENT BUYER


:twisted:

[DJZeMig_L]

keyboard controller ... Novation Remote 25...

if u need a synth.. I would go 4 the k-station!!

Z

[John Vella]

Which Keyboards have the most range out there for a decent price?

The thing I don't like about the Oxygen 8s are how small they are. Does that not limit your range?

(when I say range I mean amount of keys)

How many are on the Novation Remote 25? :)


Thanks again.

-jOHNNY

[Col]

i suppose it depends on what you want the keyboard for, can you play the keyboard or do you intend to? if so get a fullscale midi controller.

the midiman oxygen 8 has two octaves, but you can go 3 octaves up,and 3 octaves down and i personally would highly recommended buying one. :D

its up to you mate, go with whatever suits you best 8)

[Col]

How many are on the Novation Remote 25? :)

25 as in the name(same amount as the midiman oxygen 8)

[EmotionComplex]

if ur recording in steps u can use the + and - octive keys to move up and down notes, but if u want to play a larger scale of notes in one go then a 4/5 octave would be better.

for a 2 in one combination id definetly recomend the ks4 http://www.digitalvillage.co.uk/dv/aproduct.asp?id3=4396

i bougth the k station a year and a half ago for 450 and its been excellent but this is an improved 4 octave version and apparantly at 399 quid from digivillage,which you could use as a controler too.

or if youd like to save some cash and use software instruments mainly id recomend the evolution mk249 http://www.digitalvillage.co.uk/dv/aproduct.asp?id3=1893

not a bad price and u get 12 rotary controllers u can assign to control yah soft synths etc

hope this is helpfull :)

[ampassasinbirmingham]

value for money wise its deffo the oxygen. its the most acessable wideley used. its got the keyboard plus the knobs and faders. bang on.

[John Vella]

Ya I can actually play the keyboard believe it or not. hehe...

I was forced into piano lessons by my mum from age 7 - 12.

And then more recentley (about 6 years ago) I played some keys in a Roots Reggae band for some Jamaican rasta singer dude who says he was Peter Tosh's cousin. 8)

Enough about that shit tho....

So friends, you're basically saying u can access the different octaves (higer & lower) with the simple turn of a knob then?

Is it that simple on the Oxygen 8?

Thanks loads... Im gonna check the music store soon and see what else they got....

-jOHNNY

[Xtraction]

OK.....might I make a suggestion that if you do want a synth that you go for the Virus C. It has it all, as I'm sure most people will agree w/ me. If you do get one, contact me. I am the product specialist for North America, so I hope to talk to you soon!

Tr3v0r

[koala]

Since everyone else have praised midi controllers, I'll have to give it to synths. It depends on what your style of music is like, but I'd advise you to get a used synth. I recently bought a roland xp-60 and I'm loving it. The presets are ok, but when you get to programming, it gets hot. The keys are good and there are enough of octaves for a real keyboard player too (which I'm not). Of course you'll need more things like a mixer, compared to soft synths, but it doesn't need spicing up with compressors so bad either. There are loads of other models, that would be just as good, so pawn shops and music stores are the place to head.

The oxygen is a good tool too, if that is what you want, but go and check it before buying. The after touch is a bit weak and if you actually play with two hands, the octaves just aren't there. On the plus side, it's dirt cheap for what you get and it's got more knobs on it than the parliament. uhh, wait a minute, no it doesn't :cry: .

[Jimfish]

The Novation remote 25 is THE DADDY
its got 16 knobs, transport controlls, sliders, an XY axis touchpad
whereas the oxygen has only got 8 littlw knobs..
the novation has presets for most of the main softsynths too - so no more searching for controller numbers!!
im selling my oxygen in favour of the novation...

[Jimfish]

im gonna get a virus - but i was gonna get the virus b cos its that much cheaper.. is it really that much better? (£500 better?)

[Jimfish]

doh! i mean.. is the virus C that much better than the b??

[Xtraction]

YES......I mean, we basically re-vamped our whole DSP inside the unit.......I don't even really know why it has the same name. It's such a difference, you couldn't even imagine until you try it.

Tr3v0r

[koala]

What I meant to say was, that the velocity (not the after touch) of an oxygen is bit weak. I should sleep more.

[djTequila]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that, if money is tight (and is likely to look tight for a while) you can get a MIDI controller, use S/W synths, then get desktop or rackmount versions of your H/W synths later. The advantages?

1:The non-keyboard versions of synths are much cheaper.
2:They take up less space.
3:You can get used to the feel of one controller, position it in the best place in your studio, patch it through to the synth or s/w synth of your choice with your sequecer, etc.
4:If you're a traditionalist, you can get a controller with weighted keys. (expensive) Then use it for all your synths.

If you have a big budget and oodles of space in your custom studio, then get all keyboards!

;)

By the way, the increase in productivity you'll experience from using a keyboard will be worth the time you save buying it now rather than saving up...

And the saving up issue is a non-issue anyway:

Evolution controller: £119.99

Access keyboard models:
Access Virus KC 5-Octave Virtual Analogue Synthesizer £1429.99
Access Indigo-2 3-Octave Virtual Analogue Synthesizer £1299.99
Access Virus KC 5-Octave Virtual Analogue Synthesizer £1429.99

Access keyboardless models:
Access Virus C Desktop Virtual Analogue Synthesizer £1079.99
Access Virus Classic Rack-mount Virtual Analogue Synthesizer £499.99
Access Virus Rack XL Rack-mount Virtual Analogue Synthesizer £799.99

As you can see, you'll be forking out a great deal for the built-in keyboard, which you save by getting a controller!

I use the Evolution 249C - it's got four octaves, so you can do your bass at the same time as your lead if you get a split keyboard instrument to use (like a sampler, or some synths - the Virus does this) and lots of controllers - which you can assign to any MIDI CC number. Oh and changing octave is a matter of pressing a button. (As with most controllers!)

I'd suggest getting a four octave KB, or bigger if you can play it. Make sure you have assignable knobs! Or get a GMedia Phat-Boy (£135.99) or something similar. Maybe a control surface.

(prices taken from the Turnkey website, www.turnkey.co.uk)

Tequila

[crime]

You should be able to get a nord modular for £700 new now...4 synths in 1 +processing!!!!

[Jimfish]

you love that nord... i might have to check one out...

[djTequila]

If I had the money, I'd get one! The sounds are gorgeous.

Again, you can get the keyboardless version... (In fact, I've never seen one with a keyboard!)

;)

Tequila

[DJZeMig_L]

Another cool bit is the microkorg... also usable as a midi keyboard with few knobs but still sounds terrific 4 it's price really does indeed m8.

Z

[The Divide]

I got a Roland Juno-1, it does hooooooooting hoover sounds and bass some real nice bass actually. Its an old thing but its great for triggering reasons drum machine n synths etc. No assignable knobs and no touch sensitivity. Cost me 150 quid so I wasnt bothered coz it was a bargain. But I do feel I want a controller now.

Dont rush ya compulsive impatient buyer slut!!

[crime]

you love that nord... i might have to check one out...

Check it out:

http://www.clavia.se/nordmodular/index.htm
The new version is coming out v. soon, you can get it either as a 1 u rack or keyboard, checkit, looks like it's gonna be really cool, usb as well:http://www.clavia.se/News/G2_1.htm

[davethedrummer]

casio vl tone
bontempi home organ

actually... remember the korg prophecy???

don't buy one of those. :roll:

[DJZeMig_L]

ehehe I know a couple of people who got a 2nd hand prophecy (dirt cheap :evil: bastar***) and all but good things bout 'em..

:)

Z

[go|plastic]

bontempi home organ

My cousin got one of these a couple of days ago so that he would have "that real feeling" while playing his B4 software organ... :D
Those things belong in a retirement center or something...

[go|plastic]

Oh, and on the "KEYBOARDS" issue I think these Miditech controllers are pretty good:

http://www.digitalvillage.co.uk/dv/aproduct.asp?id3=1823

http://www.innovativemusic.com.au/Products/Miditech/mtech_controller.htm

Check 'em out...

[davethedrummer]

yes!!!! a retirement home for old keyboards
brilliant idea

hammonds
bontempi's
pipe organs
casio vl tones

all sitting around having a jam

hahaha

[Xtraction]

YEAH!!!!!! And we can BeatBox it all with the classic Roland TR-77 RhythmMaster. I actually got one of those peices of s**t.

tr3v0r