To use my VST's, is it advised/recommended to get a good midi keyboard?
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Posted on Jun 29, 2010 06:23 am
crewxp
Member Since: Apr 21, 2009
I have a $100 Yamaha Piano that has a USB Midi out. I'm thinking about buying a second midi keyboard so that I can play two different instruments at once (It'd be cool if a keyboard/piano could play two at once).
Anyway, is it advised to not get a fancy keyboard if I'm using it for VST's? Are there good and bad midi keyboards? I was getting excited about getting a Roland GX series to make some music with. But then I thought about it. For VST usage, is that just overkill?
What's the point to a keyboard then if everything can be done via VST? (Stupid question, enlighten me :P)
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Jun 29, 2010 09:51 am Well, if you're just triggering VST's and doing mostly studio stuff, you don't need that great of a keyboard really. It will make a difference, especially for solo piano work. Anything that is meant to sound like its played by a person, the keyboard you're using will make a difference. Think of it as the action on a guitar. It does make a difference.
Anyway, while looking up keyboards, look for "midi controllers" especially, because most of the time you'll get the best bang for your buck out of them. There's a few things to look for.
Note range: Do you have space for a full size 88 key keyboard?
Weighted/ Semi Weighted keys: Do you want the keyboard to feel more like you're playing a real piano? I love the way weighted keys feel, i think most players do.
Aftertouch MIDI: If you use synth plug ins this could be pretty nice, it senses the pressure of your finger against a key, and you can use it to shape the sound just like a mod wheel, but more intuitively.
Pads/ Knobs/ Sliders/ Buttons: Pads are nice for drums. Knobs/ Sliders are good for synth parameters (Macro control?) Buttons can be handy, start/ stop playback, skip forward. Arm to record, transpose to a different key. If the keyboard itself doesn't have these, and you want them, companies do sell control devices that transmit midi via usb. Pretty handy IMO.
So while you're researching, just keep those things in mind. Personally? If moneys tight i'd suggest getting something like this:
www.zzounds.com...-MDOKEYSTAT88ES
$200, semi weighted keys, 88 key range, Mod & Pitch wheels. Just seems like a really great deal to me. I plan on selling my Yamaha keyboard to a buddy and buying this instead.
J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Jun 29, 2010 11:08 am The only reason the Roland would be overkill was if you were using it strictly for VST, and not for the internal sound engine. Midi Controllers generally don't have a built-in sound engine, though there are exceptions like the Novation Xiosynth and X-Station.
You have to ask yourself, things like "If I'm using this for VST primarily, do I really need it to have an internal sound engine?" "What sort of key action do I prefer? Am I a trained pianist who requires hammer-action and nothing else, or can I get by with semi-weighted keys?" "Do I need a full-range 88-key controller, or am I comfortable with 61-keys or smaller" "Do I have room for an 88-key controller in my space?" "Can I get by without aftertouch?"
When it comes to controllers and using them with various VST, I really prefer something with options for controlling automation along with a decent keybed. I'm semi-picky about my key action as a partially trained pianist, and prefer solid-feeling keys, though not necessarily hammer-graded action.
Different makes of controllers will have different feeling keys for sure. Some companies use cheaper/thinner/lighter plastics and end up feeling flimsy and/or cheap. I'm not fond of the the really light synth-action style keys (though I just recently bought a couple compact keyboard VA-Synths), and prefer something heavier feeling. Though for VST, I don't really want something that's hammer-action (unless I'm emulating an actual piano). I like a nice in-between on the key action.
I've always heard people say that the M-Audio keys feel kinda "spongey" I feel the EMU Xboard is a nice in-between feeling. The keys feel nice and solid feeling, but they're not hammer action. And there's 16 knobs that can be used for automating various VST parameters along with okay-ish aftertouch.
I've also heard good things about the later Edirol PCR-series for the key action. (the 300/500/800, not the earlier controllers) but I think they've been discontinued and repackaged into the Cakewalk A-series. But I've heard they have pretty good keyboard action.
Novation's line of keyboards I've always heard have pretty good key action, depending on the controller. And the SL Series in particular is supposed to be good.
I've not had a chance to try Akai's new line of MPK keyboards, but I've generally gotten a positive sense about them from others' comments, and they do have an 88-key controller if you need a full-range keyboard. Many midi-controllers stop at 61 keys.
Anyway, if you have a chance to hop by a local music shop to try out different keyboards to get a feel for them, that's a plus. Though I realize that's not always an option.
Jun 29, 2010 12:26 pm Just a side note after re-reading my post and J-bots (who btw, has far more experience on a keyboard than me!) I wanted to clarify that, as far as my knowledge goes, i've never played the full weighted keys. Mostly just mucking around at the local guitar center. I believe they were all semi-weighted. And each did certainly carry its own feel. But there was just something about feeling that resistance against my fingers...its nice. Even for a keyboard player who has probably spent less than 20 minutes behind an actual piano since i started playing keyboard a little over a year ago, it felt nice.
NBrunkMember
Since: Sep 30, 2008
Jun 30, 2010 10:37 am I will mention that for ~$350 I got a 61 key velocity sensitive (w/ aftertouch) PCR-800 that has 9 faders, 9 knobs, 20 semi-velocity sensitive pads, and that can very easily simulate two keyboards running a dual (playing both at same time with one keystroke or splitting the keyboard at whatever note you like where the default is middle C).
Right now I'm using it with a VST with multiple outs and my left is playing a sampled bass guitar and my right a funk synth simultaneously, each with their own parameters (A, D, S Release, etc.) assigned to the faders.
While the sensitivity of the pads for playing is a little shoddy, that's alright & It's a decent piece of equipment that I'm pretty pleased with. Few of my beefs with it would be avoidable by simply going with a different MIDI model, I think. But assuming you get a keyboard that you like and that can register the velocity levels your thinking and playing, the answero whether or not your sound quality depends upon the MIDI keyboard you have is no, not at all...only playability will be affected by varying MIDI controllers when using VSTi's.
NBrunkMember
Since: Sep 30, 2008
Jun 30, 2010 10:37 am I'm sure you could find one used for much less!
