Looking for a midi controller....I think.

[Executivos]

I've read a few post similar to this topic about people just getting into "keyboards" but they were all looking for synths and weird sounds.

I have a digi001 and am looking for something just for recording. I don't have the ability to record live drums, so I've been using fruity loops and it works fine, it's just very time consuming because I have to click the notes and rythyms I want, rather then playing them.

I'm a guitarist and my piano knowledge comes from 3 months of lessons when I was 10 years old and a keyboarding class in college a few years ago. I would like to be able to add some piano/organ and maybe some decent strings here and there in my songs as well as the recordings I'm doing for other people.

Is a midi controller what I need? I have a few older PCs laying around (266 mhz) and an SBlive that I could throw in there. Would that work as a "module"? I'm kinda new on the terms. I just **found** native instruments "b4" and that sounds great for the organs.

So here's a summary of my questions:
With a midi controller can I play some drum beats, record them into protools, and then possibly some pianos or organs as well and then run the midi cable out to my other pc and have it work?

If so is the evolution mk149 suitable?

[bongolation]

# If so is the evolution mk149 suitable?

As far as I can tell, it should work for most basic stuff. I just got one (boxed as a KaySound MK-4902 - same unit), but haven't tried it out as I'm still building the computer.

[Executivos]

I got it two days ago. It seems to work well. Now I just have to learn how to use all the software.

[bongolation]

Originally posted by Executivos
I got it two days ago. It seems to work well. Now I just have to learn how to use all the software.

Yeah, the MK-4902 version comes with absolutely nothing but the controller, so I didn't get the software or th MIDI-to-gameport cable that the MK-149 has, but I did get a good price at $82.

The plastic was a little dry and grotty-looking, so I hit it with a dose of ArmorAll and that seemed to make it look like it was worth at least $200. 8-)

The Guitar Center ninnies managed to lose the instructions, but I got a .PDF file of the docs from Evolution-UK by e-mail and checked everything out. Seems to work, though I don't have any MIDI interface until I get a computer built for my SeaSound.

At the price, I don't see how you can beat these for no-frills, functional MIDI controllers for home use. They've sold zillions of these around the world.

[Executivos]

Right on. I got mine for 105. I got it from samash and it's on older version. they now come with a power adapter too....so im returning it and getting it from zzounds...(same price)

[bongolation]

Originally posted by Executivos
Right on. I got mine for 105. I got it from samash and it's on older version. they now come with a power adapter too....so im returning it and getting it from zzounds...(same price)

You better check - I was under the impression that the AC adapter was NOT included with the Zzounds one, plus Zzounds has a long wait for them, 2-3 weeks to ship.

They all go back and forth on including the adaptor. I don't know _what_ that's all about.

The $2.99 "universal AC adaptor" from the corner drugstore I have around here (that I think I only paid $1.99 for on sale, actually) works perfectly fine, so my take is that it wouldn't be worth the hassle and shipping expense just to get another cheap wall-wart for your efforts. (shrug)

[Executivos]

ahhhhhhhhhhh. I thought it was one of the 15.99 ones. When I got mine from samash it was opened, so they will return it for free. For 2 or 3 dollars, I'll stick with the samash one though. THanks!

Now I just need to find some good software. I posted something that nobody has answered as of yet, so let me put it on here too.

I use the controller with native insturments B4 and it's exactly what I want for organ. Now I just need similar stand alone software to get great piano sounds and mabe some strings or something. Any Ideas? Price for Software is not an issue.

[bongolation]

# I use the controller with native insturments B4 and it's exactly
# what I want for organ. Now I just need similar stand alone
# software to get great piano sounds and mabe some strings or
# something. Any Ideas? Price for Software is not an issue.

No idea. I have some odds and ends, but in that I don't have any kind of MIDI interface at the moment, I don't know how well any of these work.

I hope to get my new computer built in the next 7-10 days and will have it hooked up to a new closeout SeaSoundEX and will know a little more about it then.