i hear a lot about the differences between software and hardware, and i'm looking into buying a synth keyboard, but i have no idea where to begin or what im looking for in a keyboard? any suggestions?

how much $ are you thinking of spending??

My suggestion is rather than going out and buying a keyboard synth, you buy synth modules and get 1 master controller. If you buy a midi controller, then you can use that to controll all the synth modules as well as any soft synths, and then you can save money on hardware synths by buying the modules instead of the keyboard versions.

If you're on a budget, then have a look at the evolution controllers. Something like the MK-249c, or the MK-261c. They also have 12 assignable dials to control softsynth paramaters.

If you already have a midi controller, and are just looking for a synth, well it really depends on what kind of sound you want to make and how much you have to spend. Some good brands include Waldorf, Novation, Access, Korg (not the tritons or karmas), Nord. There's quite a few out there. It also depends on what kind of synth you want, Subtractive/VA, FM, Modular, etc. Personally, I feel that the subtractive VA synths are the easiest to manipulate, like the Virus, the Q, etc.

Just make sure you spend a lot of time reseaching them. I know a lot of people who have been conned in by music stores into buying stuff that is almost useless for making dance style music. My tip is if it doesn't have lots of dials on it, it's not going to be very usefull, eg the "Casio" styled keyboards.

Give us some more info though on what style of sounds you want to try to create (some are better than others at specific styles) and how much you want to spend. This is a good case of "you get what you pay for"

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thanks Cheggy!

most producers use the kyeboard version of a synth, as master keyboard. i dont think i have seen any of them use a midi controller keyboard. what would be a good va syth with keyboard. to use as a master controller?

i asked once about the jp 8000 but told me it didnt had aftertouch or something. what im i supposed to look on a keyboard? what are those weels for? :P

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Mastercongo, once you start buying the keyboard versions, you start to take up a lot of space. There is no need to have lots of keyboards everywhere when you only need one.

When I talk about using a midi controller, that doesn't necessarily meen one of those little one. You can get some big ass master controllers, or alternatively, you could buy one with a keyboard and the rest just the modules.

Aftertouch means that after you press the key, if you press it again withouth completely releasing it, it will still send more info, eg if you press it softly a little bit, then hard the rest of the way, it will send two sets of info for the same strike (I think, someone correct me if I'm wrong) They need to be velocity sensitive, which means you can assign the velocity to a parameter, such as your LP filter, so the harder you hit the key the less the filter works and it makes the synth sound a harder as it contains more high frequencies, on a lead sound at least.

The two wheels are for pitch bend and modulation, but they can be assigned to anything.

Some examples of VA synths with a keyboard would be the Virus KC and the Waldorf Q [IMG]http://www.musictechnology.com.au/Pics/q_classic(l).JPG[/IMG] or the Microwave XTk if you got the cash, which i think is a Wavetable synth rather than a VA.

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1 out of every 4 people in this country are mentally disturbed. Look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem okay, then you're the one.

Last edited by hey cheggy on Apr-06-2003 at 06:46

yes cheggy thank you for clearing all that. what i ment is that, i want a master controller but with a synth. and only one. the rest would be modeles yes. but it's just that i see most producers have a synth keyboard as master controller, i never see any (only) midi controller.

thanks

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