Newb question about keyboards and midi controllers

[JoshDuvall]

Ok I'm not really sure what I need but I know what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a keyboard that I can use as a standalone by itself and can also hook up to a profire 2626 and use with Pro Tools MP9. Does this exist? And if so can I get some recommendations? I'm still somewhat new to the whole digital recording sorry. Any help is greatly appreciated though.

 

[c7sus]

Keyboard MIDI controllers don't have built-in sounds. They use MIDI to trigger events in either software synths or hardware synths.

A synth will likely have samples, possibly a sequencer or arpeggiator, and MIDI I/O. There are also analog synths but you're probably more interested in samples.

Depends on your budget.

Keyboards / Synthesizers | Sweetwater.com

 

[JoshDuvall]

Keyboard MIDI controllers don't have built-in sounds. They use MIDI to trigger events in either software synths or hardware synths.

A synth will likely have samples, possibly a sequencer or arpeggiator, and MIDI I/O. There are also analog synths but you're probably more interested in samples.

Depends on your budget.

Budget is around $750. I was thinking I could have both in one (or is that what a synth technically is?). I'm wanting the best quality I can get for my budget so if a better midi is available in that price range than a synth I would rather sacrifice not being able to play without some sort of hardware or software than to sacrifice a better quality recording with midi sounds. Atleast I think I'm on the right track with that way of thinking please correct me if im wrong.

 

[c7sus]

MIDI is just a set of control commands. The samples or sounds produced by the synth itself are based around samples or algorythms or FM or whatever. Any modern synth will have pretty much the same MIDI control as another. Access to that control may be hidden in menus or assigned to knobs or buttons.

This is really a pretty big subject, hardware vs software synths. And what samples or algorythms sound "good" or "better" is really subject to the tastes of the beholder.

Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Nord, Kurzweil, those are all great brands and they make some very powerful synths.

You should check out some demos on Youtube or better yet go to someplace like a Guitar Center and play around with some of these keys and hear them for yourself. $750 might get you into a used Yammie Motif and will get you into a bunch of the Rolands in the used market.

Your best value is gonna be used but you really need to know what you are buying before you lay down the bread. Craigslist is loaded with used synths.

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/keyboards/professional-keyboards/buying-guide.php