MIDI Controllers - The good, the bad, and the ugly

FatBoy · 2008-11-19T17:22:39+00:00

I am looking to buy a MIDI controller. Mostly to add some extra instruments to my tunes, bass, drums etc. Have looked around and found quite a few options,...

MIDI Controllers - The good, the bad, and the ugly

FatBoy

Thanks guys, ok so 61 keys it is. I have no interest in classical piano, so action is fine, cheapest will do.

Control surface... I'm pretty sure I'll be sitting in front of the PC anyway. Will see what the price differences are.

Sound wise, I doubt I'd want to tinker with the sound much (I believe that's what a synth does?), I'd like to be set up in a way that I just pick an instrument and play, I take it that's what a sample library is?

I'll start looking at some possible candidates and post them here for discussion.

FatBoy

M-Audio Oxygen 61
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Oxygen61d/

M-Audio Keystation 61es
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Keystation61es/

Edirol PC-80
http://www.zzounds.com/item--EDIPC80

My sound card is an Edirol FA 66, so I shouldn't have a problem with connections methinks.

Maybe I should go troll Cash Crusaders or sumsuch for an old Keyboard with MIDI out as Manfred suggests, you never know your luck in a big city!

AlanRatcliffe

Any of those you list should work well. I have a Roland A-33, which is an older model (I don't know what the modern equivalent is or a value).

I'd be scared of an old Casio, Medelli or Technics - the backup on those is shaky when they are brand new, so I can only imagine what it's like with an older unit. The Casios in particular are known for flakey MIDI implementation, so might not be a good idea if you want to use it as a controller.

Sound wise, I doubt I'd want to tinker with the sound much (I believe that's what a synth does?), I'd like to be set up in a way that I just pick an instrument and play, I take it that's what a sample library is?

Strictly speaking, a synth generates the sound electronically from scratch. A sampler uses samples - recorded snippets of the real instrument it is copying. Consequently, a sampled sound is usually more natural, while a synthesized sound is more electronic. A sample library is just a collection of sound samples.

Most of the home keyboards and pianos use sampled sounds. Softsynths like the Roland Sound Canvas or Native Instruments Bandstand use samples too. A controller (once again, strictly speaking) has no sounds of it's own, bu rather just sends the MIDI note messages for a synth or sampler to play.

BTW. What software recorder are you using? Does it have softsynths built in?

FatBoy

Cool thanks Alan. Any recommendations for a sampler then? Don't think I have any need for a synth.

I am using Reaper as my DAW, and I think it has a synth, but ya I have no idea how to use it. I need me a sampler thingy it seems.

AlanRatcliffe

Try the built in synths first. Then take a wander over to http://www.kvraudio.com/ and search their database for freeware VSTi synths and start trying them all. You'll need a GM (General MIDI) instrument first - a sample based collection of "meat and potato" sounds. Windows has one built in, but it's a bit iffy sounding.

FatBoy

I don't think I understand, is a synth not the thing that allows you to manipulate a sound? I don't want to do that, I basically want to select and instrument like "Bass guitar 1" and then play and hear the sounds come out. Is that a sampler or a synth?

AlanRatcliffe

To shorten this discussion, I can tell you that what you are looking for is a GM Softsynth. Windows has one built in (The GS Wavetable SW Synth - which is what plays when you play a MIDI file in Windows Media Player). If you want something better, and don't mind paying, look at Edirol's Hyper Canvas or Native Instruments Bandstand.

FatBoy

Mmm seems that I missed your last post, read it now, thanks for the response. I just came back from town, picked up a Roland PC-300 MIDI controller for 300 bucks! I know its only a 49 key, but it'll do for now, I'm rather going to get sorta decent monitors, and then maybe later upgrade the controller than buying both sorta decent and end up having to upgrade both.

I will fiddle around a bit and ask more questions if necessary, thanks a lot Alan ?

Manfred-Klose

Roland PC-300 MIDI controller for 300 bucks

conratulations fritz!!!

FatBoy

Spoke too soon... Seems I been taken for a fool, one of the keys doesn't work properly. All the rest you can play gently or moer it down hard, this one key doesn't respond to soft key presses, they only way to get sound out of it is to moer it.

I opened it up and found these squishy rubber thingies underneath the keys. I took off some more keys off and compared, and they all work exactly the same when I press directly on the rubber. I then thought it may be the key itself, so I swapped it out with another one labeled G2 and the same thing happens. Thats about as far as my troubleshooting goes.

Anybody know who I can take it to for repairs? ☹ Probably not going to be worth it I know but ya one can dream.

Manfred-Klose

Then the problem must be in the processing part.

Fiddle around some more, and try to take some pics of it inside.

Did you check for any loose soldering points?

FatBoy

Mmm I don't think it's processing, because it works fine when I press the rubber thingy itself, I have a feeling the problem is with they key not pressing the rubber thingy correctly. I'll fiddle some more, take pics, and create a new topic in the Setup, Mods and Repairs section.

Manfred-Klose

I had a similar problem with one of my keayboards, but like i said i just fiddled around and the key started working again.

Heath

i had a similar problem with my controller , until i pulled the ribbon cable out and plugged it back in , hasn't given a problem since .

FatBoy

Will try that as well, thanks!

Manfred-Klose

I'm looking at upgrading my 61 key keyboard to a 88 key keyboard, which one would you recommend?
Doesn't need any fancy faders and stuff.

I looked at the maudio keystation 88:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Keystation88es.html

But dont know if would get used to the hammer action keys?

AlanRatcliffe

I think most (if not all) of the 88 key jobbies are going to have hammer action as they are aimed more at the piano playing crowd. You can get used to it though - millions of pianists have.

You should also look at the 72 and 76 key controllers - they are fine for all but some Rachmaninov. ? I've got a Roland A-33, which is 76 Keys (6 1/2 octave) and works fine for everything I can throw at it and 99.9% of what my classically trained wife can throw it it.