I need a midi controller/synth

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lp51122

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I posted awhile ago about recommendations for a nice midi controller that I'd be using to play xpand, massive, and other pro tools plug ins with. It looks like the m audio stuff is cool, but if I got an actual synth like an alesis micron, could I use to control the plugins AND get the sounds out of the micron? I'd like to get a synth with sounds of its own as well but still be able to use it for the pro tools stuff. Please let me know if this works! Thanks!
 
I have a feeling that this is one those topics that will get a different perception of a good synth and controller for every different poster.

I use and love my M-Audio Keystation 61ES and I accompanied it with a M-Audio 49E for my chords. I control a Roland SH-201 synth through either keyboard and use a "J L Cooper FM3 midi mixer" with its sixteen sliders to control my onscreen track controls in Sonar 8.5

The Roland can be used as a controller also, but I don't need to use it that way.
 
You can absolutely use any synth with a MIDI OUT jack (or MIDI-over-USB) as a controller. All but one of my MIDI keyboards are real synthesizers and/or samplers. The art of synthesis is all about creating new instrument sounds, not just using the presets.
 
diggy_dude said:
You can absolutely use any synth with a MIDI OUT jack (or MIDI-over-USB) as a controller. All but one of my MIDI keyboards are real synthesizers and/or samplers. The art of synthesis is all about creating new instrument sounds, not just using the presets.
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So would any keyboard with a midi out work for midi software like Abelton, Reason, PT etc or does it need the usb out?
 
Gaetano Capuano said:
So would any keyboard with a midi out work for midi software like Abelton, Reason, PT etc or does it need the usb out?
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As long as you have a place to plug the midi out on your keyboard into it would work fine. The issue is usually computers don't have a midi interface built in, so you have to use a interface that lets you make that connection. a USB connection solves that problem.
 
If you have a sound card or interface that you can use with Reason or Ableton, it most likely has a MIDI IN jack. My sound card has a dongle or breakout cable with MIDI IN and OUT jacks on it.
 
I have a M-Audio 49, which is just a UBS midi controller, and was a bit of a pain to set up but is a good keyboard nonetheless. When searching for drivers, I came across the M-Audio 49i, which judging by the picture is both USB midi and synth.
 
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