Noob question 001: Difference between a midi controller and a synthetiser ?

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-- Noob question 001: Difference between a midi controller and a synthetiser ?

Posted by Cyberflow on Feb-07-2007 10:13:

Noob question 001: Difference between a midi controller and a synthetiser ?

What's the difference between a midi controller keyboard, and a synthetiser, keystation, etc ?

I'm so lost in those terms !

And what can you do with those different instruments ?

Posted by BOOsTER on Feb-07-2007 10:32:

keystation is just a model name ... I think M-Audio

generally
controller lets you control only like send data...but it doesn't generate any audio

synthesizer synthesizes it's own sounds, therefore has an audio output also can act as a controller (because it's mostly able to send data too)

hope I was clear enough

Posted by Cyberflow on Feb-07-2007 19:40:

So then a keystation, or midi controller you can only use it with a software on the computer right ?

EDIT :

I have a friend that has a m-audio Axiom 61 to sell ...
I was always interested into keyboards but i don't know where to start.

I was thinking that his deal is maybe a good opportunity then !
He only used it for a day. It's new in the box with the purchase invoice. And he is selling it cheaper.

Posted by TwistedDUO on Feb-07-2007 20:02:

quote:
Originally posted by Cyberflow
So then a keystation, or midi controller you can only use it with a software on the computer right ?

Generally speaking, yes.
A synthesizer does just as the name implies. It synthsizes analog noise that is programed into the unit itself. It can be played on it's own and is only able to generate the sound in which it is designed to make.

A midi (musical instrument digital interface)controller (or keystation as reffered), sends a signal to the computer to make a sound. That sound is then programed by the user with the software being used.

Posted by BOOsTER on Feb-07-2007 20:10:

try to avoid the term keystation...it's just a model name from M-Audio...so please let's not start calling midi controllers keystations? kthx

cyberflow: yes, controller doesn't make a sound on it's own so you need PC or another device to generate the sound.
And BTW, before you get flamed for it, please try to post in a proper forum next time...this belongs to the production studio board

Posted by Cyberflow on Feb-07-2007 20:17:

quote:
Originally posted by BOOsTER
try to avoid the term keystation...it's just a model name from M-Audio...so please let's not start calling midi controllers keystations? kthx

cyberflow: yes, controller doesn't make a sound on it's own so you need PC or another device to generate the sound.
And BTW, before you get flamed for it, please try to post in a proper forum next time...this belongs to the production studio board

Oh, ok.

You right. When came the time to start my thread i stoped 2 seconds and wasn't really sure into where i could've put it !

My bad.