Hi guys,
Just another newbie here looking to get started on the right path- if anyone have the time, I would really appreciate some clarification regarding piano & keyboard options, because quite frankly, I'm not 100% certain of all the key differences and which type might be more suitable for me need.
I have played piano in the past - though not very extensively nor for a long time. But, since I'm planning on embarking on my journey into the digital music world (ambient, synth, etc) I figured this is as good of a time as any to start learning the piano again, especially since it can be used as an instrument for a track and on top of that, serve as a tool for learning more about music theory, etc.
From my understanding, when it comes to options, there's the Synthesizers(arranger, workstations), midi controllers keyboards, and digital pianos.
But a lot of their functionalities and usage seem to overlap in areas which makes it a bit confusing for me to decipher which is the one that I should go for.
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My goal is the following:
1. be able to just use it and play like a regular piano to further my studies and skills when it comes to the piano. (jazz, neoclassical, ambient, blues)
2. be able to play through a set of studio speakers so I can listen to the sound as I play (like a real piano)
* from my understanding, midi controller connects to the computer through an USB and doesn't produce sounds on its own nor can it be connected through the audio monitors directly. is this correct?
3. be able to use it when I try to create digital music and utilize all the functionalities from the DAW. Basically set the sounds, and effects in the Daw from the computer, and applie the noise/sounds through the keyboard.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
From what I understand, midi controllers don't make sounds on its own, so it can only connect to the computer with the midi software installed ( and its sounds come from the software, or the daw.)
But how does it compare to just using a digital piano that can produce sounds on its own and be connected directly through an audio interface and into the audio interface?
Also, regardless of whether a keyboard is classified as a synthesizer workstation, a midi controller, or a digital piano, they all seems to have buttons on them... with synthesizer typically having the most amount of buttons, midi controller being the second, and digital piano being the third. Correct me if i'm wrong here, from my assumption, I'm guessing, the more buttons on the keyboard/piano simply means that the keyboard hardware itself allows you more direct control so you could just use the physical knobs or buttons to tweak the sounds, program sounds directly from the keyboard instead of making the changes on your computer through the DAW, so it's purely a matter of convenience and personal choice - while some people enjoy having lots of physical knobs/buttons on a synthesizer or midi, some might be ok with a digital piano with minimum amount of functions since he can still be able to make all the necessary changes from his computer through the daw? Especially since there's separate hardware for that purpose: things such as pad controllers where you can store effects and various sounds onto it from the DAW, so there's really no need for all the buttons on the keyboard?
so as someone who is thinking of buying a digital piano or keyboard to not only play regular piano music, but also use it to make digital musical creations... and if having physical knobs/buttons for making live changes to sounds isn't of primary concerns then all it boils down to is:
1. whether I want a piano or keyboard that can make sounds on its own (synthesizer, digital piano) or not?
and
2. have midi support so it can be hooked up to the computer and send its data to the computer, DAW and apply the changes, effects through the daw so the keyboard can get those effects?
so is a Digital Piano with Midi support what I need?
Just another newbie here looking to get started on the right path- if anyone have the time, I would really appreciate some clarification regarding piano & keyboard options, because quite frankly, I'm not 100% certain of all the key differences and which type might be more suitable for me need.
I have played piano in the past - though not very extensively nor for a long time. But, since I'm planning on embarking on my journey into the digital music world (ambient, synth, etc) I figured this is as good of a time as any to start learning the piano again, especially since it can be used as an instrument for a track and on top of that, serve as a tool for learning more about music theory, etc.
From my understanding, when it comes to options, there's the Synthesizers(arranger, workstations), midi controllers keyboards, and digital pianos.
But a lot of their functionalities and usage seem to overlap in areas which makes it a bit confusing for me to decipher which is the one that I should go for.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
My goal is the following:
1. be able to just use it and play like a regular piano to further my studies and skills when it comes to the piano. (jazz, neoclassical, ambient, blues)
2. be able to play through a set of studio speakers so I can listen to the sound as I play (like a real piano)
* from my understanding, midi controller connects to the computer through an USB and doesn't produce sounds on its own nor can it be connected through the audio monitors directly. is this correct?
3. be able to use it when I try to create digital music and utilize all the functionalities from the DAW. Basically set the sounds, and effects in the Daw from the computer, and applie the noise/sounds through the keyboard.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
From what I understand, midi controllers don't make sounds on its own, so it can only connect to the computer with the midi software installed ( and its sounds come from the software, or the daw.)
But how does it compare to just using a digital piano that can produce sounds on its own and be connected directly through an audio interface and into the audio interface?
Also, regardless of whether a keyboard is classified as a synthesizer workstation, a midi controller, or a digital piano, they all seems to have buttons on them... with synthesizer typically having the most amount of buttons, midi controller being the second, and digital piano being the third. Correct me if i'm wrong here, from my assumption, I'm guessing, the more buttons on the keyboard/piano simply means that the keyboard hardware itself allows you more direct control so you could just use the physical knobs or buttons to tweak the sounds, program sounds directly from the keyboard instead of making the changes on your computer through the DAW, so it's purely a matter of convenience and personal choice - while some people enjoy having lots of physical knobs/buttons on a synthesizer or midi, some might be ok with a digital piano with minimum amount of functions since he can still be able to make all the necessary changes from his computer through the daw? Especially since there's separate hardware for that purpose: things such as pad controllers where you can store effects and various sounds onto it from the DAW, so there's really no need for all the buttons on the keyboard?
so as someone who is thinking of buying a digital piano or keyboard to not only play regular piano music, but also use it to make digital musical creations... and if having physical knobs/buttons for making live changes to sounds isn't of primary concerns then all it boils down to is:
1. whether I want a piano or keyboard that can make sounds on its own (synthesizer, digital piano) or not?
and
2. have midi support so it can be hooked up to the computer and send its data to the computer, DAW and apply the changes, effects through the daw so the keyboard can get those effects?
so is a Digital Piano with Midi support what I need?