Beginner Setup Advice (<$1000)

[Duff]

Good day all. I'm new in this scene, and need some advice.

Some background: I'm into film and video editing, and have been using copyrighted music for a long time, since my videos are freely available and I always give credit where it's due. However; I would like to at some point be able to sell DVDs or participate in film festivals, and thus to avoid a lawsuit, I need to start producing all my own music.

What I'm looking for in a keyboard: I want to be able to produce a wide range of styles of music, from classical scores to rock to industrial to new age/techno to jazz/fusion. I can't afford one of these powerhouse keyboards, so I'm looking for something that's under $1000 (the less the better, but I'll put a cap at 1000). I've read really good things about the Roland XP-30 (with it's wide array of patches for its price), which I could get used off of ebay, but I'm wondering if there are newer models in the same price range that surpass it. My main concern is having a large number of instruments of different styles (realistic sounding as well as electronic), and high quality of the sounds. I'm a percussionist myself, so I'm also going to want a lot of high quality drums and percussion sounds. I understand I might need a drum machine in addition, specifically for this purpose. I'm sorry for such an open ended question, but I really don't know where to start looking... Could anyone give me tips as to what I should be looking for, or redirect me to some informative pages to get started?

If it helps any, some artists whose sounds I would very much enjoy to replicate include Nine Inch Nails, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Dust Brothers, and Nobuo Uematsu. I'd like to be able to harness the quality of electronic sound that they can produce with their equipment.

I don't know very much at all about music production (I know my music theory, but I'm uneducated in the technical aspect), so I advice on what other equipment I might need would be much appreciated. I'm assuming I'll be sequencing my music on my computer; do I need a quality sound card if the keyboard is what's producing my sound? Are there any accessories that are going to be necessary for me to create and record music besides a keyboard?

I thank anyone for their time and advice in replying to this.

 

[starber]

Hey duff: Very new at this myself.

Just in the past month was looking all over for just what the right keyboard would be. Came across the m-audio Keystation 61ES and wow, really liked its look, checked around and received favorable opinions, and went for it!

Really love it. Very easily interfaces to my PC's USB and I went and purchased the extra power supply. Although it can run off my PC, I really prefered not to put any extra drain on my computers power supply.

I'm very happy with this keyboard and I'm now considering staying with the m-audio line with the M-Audio Delta 1010 soundcard.

If you look at the m-audio line at www.m-audio.com I'm sure you will like what you see. Their entire line is very professional, even for a rank amateur like myself.

 

[kkos]

where to start

what up duff and starber, im new to the whole professional keyboard thing myself. I want mostly the same things u guys want, a good sound range, not to cheesy, at about 1000< for the board and what ever else i need with it. I have a friend that has a trition(korg), dont know what type exactly but i works pretty good, so i was leaning toward trition because thats what ive seen before.

The reason i feel i need a dope board is to up my production on my hip-hop beats. i figure i might as well get a board instead of paying producers and never have some equipment of my own. i dont know what any of that technical stuff means, i just need somethin i can track my different melodies on and save. the have tritions on guitarcenter.com, do yall know if the trition boards priced at a 1000 are worth it, or comparable to what u guy are using?

besides sound quaility(my old beats just dont have the pro sound), probably usablity and how it can be interfaced with your comp, what are the things a begginner should look for in a board????

yall have a good labor day

 

[LAZI]

I just recently purchased a TRITON and can tell you it is worth it. It's gonna have everything you need all inside one unit. I honestly got the triton to resale it but after playing with it for a while it's going to be hard to let it go. And I already have enough equipment... But yeah if you gotta spend that much money you should try to get the best or at least as close as you can.

anybody interested in a triton can pm me though....