Midi Keyboard Controllers

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studioviols

studioviols

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Midi Keyboard Controllers

I would like to see a thread develop here that suggests 'candidates' for purchasing, (or researching), affordable 'MIDI Keyboard Controller' solutions. I would like to see this thread rich with keywords and key phrases on 'MIDI Keyboard Controllers' so that it's readers can harvest keywords and phrases to research these issues using the internet.

While vendor links are appreciated they are not necessary, those can be obtained by the thread participant using a search engine based on harvesting the keywords participants provide.

This keyboard discussion should be directed towards outfitting a user with a PC and a $300.00 to $500.00 soundcard who is recording both MIDI and Audio tracks directly into the PC through the soundcard, (audio from a mixer or pre-amp, and MIDI using a keyboard controller with sounds available through the soundcard only). A consideration of 'synching' MIDI and Audio is of course important. Perhaps the first series of posts may serve to better define this user.

Keyboards that have onboard sounds, (and those with sounds that may be upgradeable), are certainly worthy 'candidates', but price is the issue here. All 'I' really want is a decent controller to input MIDI events realtime driving sounds off a soundcard in the PC.

Think of it as a good quality beginner's MIDI Keyboard Controller for an accomplished musician, wether a vocalist or instrumentalist, who has some keyboard skills and is already working with MIDI onscreen using the keyboard and mouse as the controller, (I write orchestrations note by note with the mouse.)

I'd like to see suggestions for 'candidates' that are ROCK BOTTOM up to a top price level of around $200.00 to $400.00. This is 'homerecording'.

Basic MIDI input is the primary objective here. Key weight and sensitivity is an issue here but takes a backseat to price and options. Producing MIDI tracks to accompany audio tracks is the goal. Issues that affect the possible criteria list follow.

01. User community, (popularity of model, available web editorial)
02. Product support and manual
03. Product durability
04. Onboard sounds vs. PC soundcard.sounds
05. Effectiveness of product with a laptop for live gigs.
05. MIDI 'Controller' Only
06. Key action
07. Portability, (case, etc...)
08. Battery and/or AC power options
 
Oxygen8

WOW, USB Midi Keyboard Controllers seem to definitely be the way to go. GREAT candidate !

For laptop composition it certainly fits the bill.

The limited number of keys may seem like a drawback at first, but for the purposes of this thread it is absolutely appropriate. Also the keyboard can be shifted up or down two octaves very quickly.

It is extremely versatile.

The OZONE is totally incredible ! The OZONE is a lot more expensive, but it's worth considering closer to the top end price tag for this thread.

You can see both the Ozone and the Oxygen8 Universal Serial Bus Midi Keyboard Controllers at http://www.midiman.com

At http://www.midiman.com/products/midiman/keystations.php , I'm seeing the prices for these two keyboards :

Oxygen8 $139.00 - A 25 key MIDI controller keyboard with 8 MIDI assignable knobs and one assignable slider. Perfect for automating software parameters.

Ozone $299.00 - The follow-up of the very popular Oxygen8 MIDI controller with a built-in 24bit/96kHz audio interface and a Mic preamp.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As an instrumentalist, a violinist and violist, and vocalist the XLR and 1/4" jacks on the Ozone and especially the mic-preamp look really cool !

• Built-in 2 x 2 24-bit/96kHz audio interface
• Stereo out ( 1/4” TRS)
• Mic input (XLR) with built-in preamp and phantom power
• Instrument in (balanced 1/4” TRS)
• Stereo aux in ( 1/4” TRS)
• Stereo headphone out
• Direct monitor switch for zero-latency monitoring
 
20 years behind

I have a technology problem. I recently started playing again after about 17 years of picking up the guitar once every 6 months. Now, I have decided to record a significant backlog of songs I have written. During that 17 years, technology has left me behind in a blueshift.
ok, all that said, I have done a little bit of trolling here and elsewhere and decided to buy the midiman oxygen-8. Bear in mind, I know very little about midi. I have a hp p-4 2.53ghz pc w/just about all the bells and whistles you can get...except the sound card...stock :(. I have ms software synth that has or seems to have a couple of programs that dont seem to be supported by the oxygen-8. #128 gunshot and #129 drumkit. If I could get someone to help me out on this, I will start a new thread (sorry for the interuption) or at least let me know where to go for the answers.

Thanks,
bd
 
Beginning again

I'm assuming you will be using the Oxygen8 to produce and record drum tracks, piano, strings, organ, etc ...

Bear in mine the Oxygen8 has NO sounds inside it. The Oxygen8 serves to 'control' the sounds that live on your 'soundcard'.

The sounds you have on your stock soundcard are fine to begin with. Use these to learn with and 'pre-produce' your songs.

I think you are going to be using your guitar and your voice as well. The Ozone provides a 1/4" female jack for your guitar cord as well as an XLR jack for your microphone cord.

There is built-in preamplification for both your guitar and vocals. It's a much better solution for the singer/instrumentalist/songwriter. Please consider it even though it is more expensive but still falls into the mid range of the price considerations for this thread.

Get yee to the cakewalk thread as fast as your bells and whistles can carry you. Cakewalk is the software you will be producing and 'notating' and recording and 'storing' the electronic or MIDI sounds with.

There is a good set of discussion threads for Soundcards also. I like the Elsa series as they are very affordable.
 
Thanks for the input,
Unfortunately I already purchased the oxygen-8. Also, I am using a Fostex mr-8 and a Behringer ub1002 which takes care of the guitar and vocals. I had planned on feeding from the soundcard to the mixer for midi. I am still a little confused about the "programs". I bought a book (equivalent to midi for morons) but it's a little dated and the oxygen-8 has all kinds of stuff that is not really covered in the book. I continue to read and the picture is getting a little clearer....

Thanks,

bd:confused:
 
ULTRA-cheap controller??

Hiyas, all. Just wondering if there's a REALLY inexpensive
controller out there that has waterfall-keyboard-like response.
I have a (vintage?) organ module (non-EMU, darnit) that
doesn't need bells and whistles, pressure-sensitive keys and
most of what a decent synth requires.
Besides which anything like an Edirol (or maybe even Casio / Yamaha) is waaay beyond my means.

I HAVE heard of a Canadian compnay called KAYSOUND....uhhh...

Opinions? Suggestions? Advice?
An old controller you no longer need? :rolleyes:

Not for pro use, just jamming with the guys on Friday nights.

And thanks!
-ChicagoJammer
 
ChicagoJammer said:
Just wondering if there's a REALLY inexpensive controller out there that has waterfall-keyboard-like response.
Click to expand...
By 'waterfall keyboard like response' do you just mean no velocity sensitivity or do the keys actually need to be like the keyboard of a Hammond organ?

And yes, Kaysound makes fairly good products and are a fairly well respected company.
 
Since it's your first post, welcome to the board!

And FYI, rather than tacking your question on to the end of a two year old thread why not start your own? It doesn't cost any more and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the quality of the results! :D
 
ssscientist said:
By 'waterfall keyboard like response' do you just mean no velocity sensitivity or do the keys actually need to be like the keyboard of a Hammond organ?

And yes, Kaysound makes fairly good products and are a fairly well respected company.
Click to expand...
Gee, yes, I should have said 'hammond keyboard-like'. Velocity sensitivity is not an issue as the module (far as I know) does not respond to it.

Hmm. Start a new thread..OK, I might try that.

And thanks very much for the welcome :)
 
Then the answer is no.

You'll have to make do with regular ol' synth action if you want something really cheap.
 
I'm bored, it's lunchtime, and I don't see the new thread on MIDI controllers, so...

Why I chose my Evolution MK-449C MIDI controller

Looking at the options for a MIDI controller, they quickly fell into a few rough categories for me:

Bare Controller
Fully Featured Controller
Controllers with onboard sound/sequencer

The bare controllers (like the oxygen 8) are probably a great start but don't have many features and feel really "plasticy" and not very sturdy. There is a solid feel to a real instrument that is hard to go back from, if you know what I mean.

I already have sequencing software, a soundcard, and a preamp, and having gone through the process of choosing those I knew that even if I had a keyboard with those features I wouldn't need or probably want to ever use them, and besides, the price of a controller with those added on was prohibitive for me.

The Radiums were strong candidates, but they too had a light plasticy feel that left me uneasy. The Edirol keyboards seemed to have a lot of features for the price, but they too shared the plastic-itis, and the feel on the keyboard was rather toyish, which I found out was because they use plastic springs for the action.

Of them all, the Evolution series stood above the rest for price, quality, and features. They are still a bit plasticky, but feel solid. The velocity sensitive keyboard is of decent quality with real steel spring action. You have the choice of 9 different velociity curves to choose from. Though I have MIDI hookups, the USB connection is trouble free and also powers the keyboard, so that it turns itself on and off with the computer. The large display lets you know what is going on in the controller, and practically everything you see is assignable. It also does RPN, NRPN, and SysEx controlling, and includes a user setup librarian application.

Though a little more expensive than it's competitors, the build quality and features more than make up for it, IMO.

Thank you and good day! :D
 
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