Midi Keyboard
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Thread: Midi Keyboard

  1. #1
    Tech Convert
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    Default Midi Keyboard

    Can anybody explain to me what a Midi keyboard is, and if it is worth buying one if im just stating out? if so could you recommend one for Ableton

  2. #2
    Tech Guru botstein's Avatar
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    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI#Standard_applications

    A midi keyboard "...generates a digital signal that can be used to trigger a note on another instrument."

    Impulse has a sweet Ableton integration: http://us.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/impulse

    I use a mkII, which is a step up from Impulse: http://us.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/sl-mkii

    If you plan on composing/producing anything, a keyboard is worth having.

  3. #3
    Tech Mentor Razzlesnaz's Avatar
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    Also consider how many keys you really need or your application. Some of these 2 octave keyboards are really useful for traveling and sketching out ideas. If its for the home studio get at least 49 keys. The difference between c1 and c4 can be dramatic depending on the syntheziser patch.

    This is a good one:
    Impulse has a sweet Ableton integration: http://us.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/impulse
    Also consider something like and AKAI MPD 26 if you are doing more percussive based stuff, this sends midi. Heck, even Launchpad on the user 1 preset maps to notes so you can play notes from launchpad into ableton.
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  4. #4
    Tech Mentor crakbot's Avatar
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    Well, it depends, do you know how to play keyboard/piano?

    If you don't then you can pretty much input notes with anything. Actually, I think imputing notes on a drum pad or midi fighter is actually easier for a non-keyboard player than playing a keyboard. Takes up less space as well.

    If you don't know how to play keyboard, your melodies are going to be simple anyway so you can input them on anything. BTW, there is nothing wrong with simple melodies, most of the biggest hits have pretty simply melodies made up of only a few notes. The production may be complicated, but the actual melody is usually simple.

    If you play keyboards, then yes, you do need one.

  5. #5
    Tech Guru botstein's Avatar
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    [QUOTE=Razzlesnaz;534760]Also consider how many keys you really need or your application. Some of these 2 octave keyboards are really useful for traveling and sketching out ideas. If its for the home studio get at least 49 keys. /QUOTE]

    I am with Razzlesnaz on this, but I like at least 61 if not the full 88 for home.

  6. #6
    Tech Guru botstein's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by crakbot View Post
    If you don't know how to play keyboard, your melodies are going to be simple anyway...
    I defy this! I wrote complex melodies long before I made an effort to improve my keyboard skills. I was a trumpeter only for a while there.

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