What the hell is a Synthesizer?

[djelectroniK]

Hey guys. Sorry I had to drag you in by the catchy title - but I do have a relevant noob question. Here's my situation:

All I would like is a synth/keyboard (..midi, right? ) that I can use in FL Studio. Is it going to have to be USB, etc. What input am I looking for? I would like to find a cheap one on Craigslist locally if I can, just need to know what I'm looking for.

[synthet1c]

cool title.. it worked

you are just looking for a midi keyboard, usb is the best as you don't need to buy a converter. midi keyboards are just midi controllers incapable of making noise, you can get synthesizers that output midi as well, but they cost a lot more as they are instruments capable of making sound.

If you have a two to three hundred to spend the akai mpk series are great, they have heaps of controls so you can control plugins, as well as drum pads and keys.

[dope]

In the same price range as the Akai, I would suggest the Novation series (SL). They have aftertouch (which Akai MPK don't have).
But tbh the pads kinda suck on the Novation.

[DJelixeR]

In the same price range as the Akai, I would suggest the Novation series (SL). They have aftertouch (which Akai MPK don't have).
But tbh the pads kinda suck on the Novation.

+1 on the pads but i would still recommend the novation SL mk2 like dope said. it has a ton of knobs and faders for controlling parameters and the keys are long and well spread out.

[djproben]

Yep I like the Novation too; totally agree on the pads - ignore them and use the rest of the keyboard only. Automapping is cool in ableton and probably same in FL Studio; it's a little less friendly if you want to map stuff yourself (I spent weeks on a traktor mapping and finally gave up). The Akais are nice too though.