Basic: Can cheap synth be used as controller?

[jverb]

I just got Acid 3.0 and wanted to be able to add in
some of my own tracks via MIDI. I'm considering
picking up a cheap toy synthesizer from Sam's Club, the Casio CTK-571. It supports MIDI In/out, and costs $140 or so.

Can these basic toy synthesizers be used to input
tracks into Acid? I think I could also buy a
"MIDI controller" which looks a lot like a
synthesizer, except it doesn't produce any
of its own tones, and from what I can tell
it's more expensive than the toy Casio. Would
I be making a mistake by buying the Casio?

I'm brand new to electronic music, so forgive
my juvenile questions.

[twitch]

If the casio has midi in and out then it will do the job. There are quality less expensive dedicated MIDI controllers available at Sweetwater.
Don't hesitate to call and pick my brain.

Eric (twitch)
1-800-222-4700 ext. 1278
eric_rodrigue@sweetwater.com

[xxFT13xx]

well...the problem with Acid Pro 3 is that you can record Midi, but its crappy Midi. just your basic keyboard sound.

Get N-Track...you can use DX/VST/VSTi and its only $60.

once you get that, get FM7 from Steinberg. Use that with your controller keyboard and man...youll be in heaven...i know i am!!

-Sin
http://zwap.to/ft13

[MuZiKUnHeRd]

yo, if you like loops and need midi, try Sonar. It's as easy to use as Acid. Okay well, not as easy. Has all the features of Acid with the ability to mix well and Midi is pretty good. I don't have the program but i have used it before and it's pretty good. I have both nuendo and cubase and am considering Sonar for looping. Right now i'm messing with Acid 2.0. Not bad but not the best.