how do i pick a keyboard, & should i use midi

[mc_mayhem]

hey all,
i am debating my options for input of keyboard music into my mac audio system (g4, 2048, random instruments) and i have been debating the benefits of

midi controller interface (with some software to make the noises)
vs.
(relatively) cheap keyboard run directly into my comp.

i am not a pianist but i know how to play, so my input will not be necessarily complex (or linear) but i want to make the most of my lack of talent and funds.
any help would be appreciated...


oh yeah... software = DP 2.7, Reason, & maybe phrazer if i find $ on the street...

[ODARELLMC]

FOLLOW THIS PLAN IT WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST FLEXABILITY. GET A USB KEYBOARD CONTROLLER WHICH WILL BE GOOD TO CONTROL YOUR SOFTSYNTHS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED MIDI RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOUR READY TO GET A MIDI KEYBOARD GET ONE THAT WILL ADD SOMETHING TO THE SOUND OF YOUR CURRENT SETUP, NOT COMPRIMIZE IT. ALSO GET AN AFFORDABLE USB MIDI INTERFACE BY MOTU ONE THAT WILL GIVE YOU ACCESS TO DP'S MTS MIDI TIMING. YOU'LL THEN STILL HAVE USE FOR YOUR USB CONTROLLER FOR YOUR SOFT SYNTH. I UPGRADED MY STUDIO MANY TIMES, FAILING TO BY GEAR (EVERY BIT OF IT) THAT WOULD ALLOW MY STUDIO TO GROW AND NOT PUCHASE THE SAME TYPES OF GEAR OVER AND OVER. SUPPLY YOUR STUDIO WITH THINGS THAT WILL COMPLIMENT AND GROW WITH EACH OTHER. MY STUDIO?-G4 400MZ, DP 2.72, EMU E6400 ULTRA, AKAI S5000, ROLAND XP-80, MACKIE HR824'S, AND VARIOUS OUTBOARD GEAR.:)

[Eclipse]

You should look into the Edirol PC300 (www.edirol.com) if you are looking for an intro Midi keyboard. It is inexpensive but very good as a midi controler. It does not have any sounds built in, but I have decided that I can add as many modules as I want to make sure that I only had to buy one keyboard that can sound like anything that comes out down the road.

As for the Interface please go and check out the Midex 3 by Steinburg. I have one for my small studio and there is NO better timing than this unit if you are using Cubase or Nuendo. I owned a MOTU MTP AV 8/8 and was quite happy but I can truly notice a enhanced midi in timing between the MOTU and the MIDEX. MIDEX wins hands down.

Good luck with it man!

[atma]

even most inexpensive synths have midi i/o, so if you get some kind of keyboard to use as a sound module, it's likely it will have midi capabilities.
the only benefit of having a straight up midi controller type keyboard is if you like to have a lot of knobs in front of you to record real time changes, instead of doing it with your mouse virtually (tweaking softsynth knobs, etc.). i'm pretty sure you can 'automate' things in reason without a hardware midi controller, so it's a matter of personal taste. if it were me, i'd consider what kind of music i'd be making, and then get a keyboard with adequate style of sounds. hook it up via midi, and then you'd have the best of both worlds, midi control of your software synths as well as some hardware sounds.

[Attila]

Your situation is very similar to mine, so I'll tell you my approach to it. 1) Make sure you buy gear that will continue to complement what you have/will later have. Because it's pointless buying the same thing twice. And 2) buy equipment/software that complements yourself (your strengths and weaknesses). Cuz what works for me won't necessarily work for you.

I break it down like this: Controller, sounds, sequencer, audio interface. You already have the sequencer and the audio interface, so you only need the sounds and controller. What I did is get a cheap keyboard controller and a Proteus 2000 for sounds. I do all my editing in DP3 anyway, so I had no need for an 88-key super controller. I got the Proteus cuz of personal preferences and expandability. So really, you can start by getting a decent (or cheap keyboard controller) and you can get your sounds via a soft synth or soft sampler, which are cheaper than outboard gear and usually allow for way more options that hardware (reason's pretty good on it's own), and you're really set. Then when you're looking to upgrade, you can get gear to complement and upgrade what you already have.

Oh yeah, midi is definitely the way to go. I do all my sequencing in midi. Next I record, edit, and mix vocals as audio. Then I go back and tailor my midi sequences to fit the vocals (cuz it's way easier to edit midi than audio-and it doesn't waste hard drive space either). Then I make sure my midi tracks are exactly as I want them. And only after that is done will I conver t my midi into audio (for the final mix). That way, i have the perfect takes and complete editing power for my music (i do rap/hip hop). But it's perfectly fine to do it audio only.i