Midi Keyboard

ClutchIt

Hi everyone,

I'm going to get a Midi keyboard soon. Could you guys recommend something fairly inexpensive (< €150) that includes good software?

I'm using ableton live. Do I need to get something with special software to make the midi keyboard sound like a piano, organ etc?

There's an M-audio key rig midi keyboard that seems to include software does anyone know if it's any good? I'm looking to record to a good demo level but prob won't be professional. Thanks a lot for any replies!

MilanPan!c

Hmm...

OK, here's the thing:

Most hardware doesn't actually come with good software, it comes with demos, at best... unless you luck into some bundled thing.

Now, if it were me, I'd be looking to buy a decent midi keyboard (which can mean a lot of things depending on your requirements) and some good, cheap VSTi/DXi/software synths.

There's SOOOOOOO many good - AMAZING!! software synths these days, and in this economy, lots of them are dirt cheap!

I'm sure others might no some good deals on the go at the mo, but I wouldn't think most of them would be keyboards x/ good synth software. Unfortunately.

That being said, what version of Ableton do you have?? Most of them, to the best of my knowledge, has synths built in... are you just looking for something extra?

ClutchIt wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm going to get a Midi keyboard soon. Could you guys recommend something fairly inexpensive (< €150) that includes good software?

I'm using ableton live. Do I need to get something with special software to make the midi keyboard sound like a piano, organ etc?

There's an M-audio key rig midi keyboard that seems to include software does anyone know if it's any good? I'm looking to record to a good demo level but prob won't be professional. Thanks a lot for any replies!

maccored

buy a copy of reason and then get something along the lines of this. It'll be a right bit over your budget though in total

ClutchIt

Oh right.... So Ableton might already have some synth and piano, organ sounds built in then?
I didn't know that, I'm only really learning. That's great if it's true though. I suppose what I'll do is buy the keyboard and if I need to get extra plug ins I'll buy them later.

Thanks for the advice!

red_ice

ClutchIt wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm going to get a Midi keyboard soon. Could you guys recommend something fairly inexpensive (< €150) that includes good software?

software aside there are a few factors to take into. IMO, the real only one you have to worry about it is how many octaves you want, but im not that clued in on this stuff.

I have an oxygen 8 v2 and I find its a great piece of hardware. Thats 80 odd euro I think? Im sure there are newer versions these days tho. All I use it for is drum beats and background synth stuff.

MilanPan!c

ClutchIt wrote: »

Oh right.... So Ableton might already have some synth and piano, organ sounds built in then?
I didn't know that, I'm only really learning. That's great if it's true though. I suppose what I'll do is buy the keyboard and if I need to get extra plug ins I'll buy them later.

Thanks for the advice!

Well, many versions do. Can you tell us which version you have?

And, the other thing I'd say is consider getting a midi keyboard with extra midi controllers on it (eg some midi assignable knobs). You can use these to control other parameters in ableton, such as channel volume. Or synth/fx parameters.

Incredibly useful!

ClutchIt

Cheers for the replies. I'm thinking about getting a 49 key version because I'd like to record some piano stuff.

I am using Ableton 7.

Do all midi keyboards work with all different DAWs?

MilanPan!c

ClutchIt wrote: »

Cheers for the replies. I'm thinking about getting a 49 key version because I'd like to record some piano stuff.

I am using Ableton 7.

Do all midi keyboards work with all different DAWs?

MIDI is essentially universal.

This might help you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh5PwbS7dSc