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What exactly is the point of a MIDI controller?!?!?!
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| MIKE333ACE |
I'm just wanting to know what exactly is the purpose of a MIDI controller. I'm thinking of getting a AKAI MPK49, but I'm wanting to know wether or not it does anything different to the on screen controls.
Is a MIDI controller actually usefull, (as in, does it do things that cant be done without it), or is a MIDI device just used to make tweaking sounds a bit easier, or dare i say it, is a MIDI controller just there to make you look proffesional.
I know that I havn't quite explained the question so well, but if anyone has any help on this topic, that would be great, cheers. |
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| sako487 |
| It helps when you need to filter a sound on and off a lot, you can just link it to a knob and tweak it. As far as automation goes I still manually draw in the automation rather than recording it with the knob |
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| DJ RANN |
Mike - can I make suggestion that you get a book called: Modern Recording Techniques and read it cover to cover.
It will help you no end - The type of questions you've been asking on here are literally on the first rung of the ladder in terms of producing/engineering knowledge, and can be answered just by reading that book, not to mention, stop you from getting berated/flamed like in just about every other thread or question you've posed.
I'm just trying to help - i know everyone has to start somewhere, but what you've been asking doesn't even scrape 101 or topic 86 territory.
Furthermore, don't buy any equipment until you know a little more about the subject matter in hand and what you're trying to do - I promise you it will save you a lot of wasted cash and incorrect buying decisions if you wait and figure out what you're trying to do (which at this point, I think you have no idea).
The come back here and ask some questions with a bit of direction - and you'll get useful answers. |
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| cryophonik |
| ...or at least start with the stickies at the top of the page. |
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| MIKE333ACE |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
Mike - can I make suggestion that you get a book called: Modern Recording Techniques and read it cover to cover.
It will help you no end - The type of questions you've been asking on here are literally on the first rung of the ladder in terms of producing/engineering knowledge, and can be answered just by reading that book, not to mention, stop you from getting berated/flamed like in just about every other thread or question you've posed.
I'm just trying to help - i know everyone has to start somewhere, but what you've been asking doesn't even scrape 101 or topic 86 territory.
Furthermore, don't buy any equipment until you know a little more about the subject matter in hand and what you're trying to do - I promise you it will save you a lot of wasted cash and incorrect buying decisions if you wait and figure out what you're trying to do (which at this point, I think you have no idea).
The come back here and ask some questions with a bit of direction - and you'll get useful answers. |
I appreciate your advice, I'll check out the book.
Cheers. |
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| DJRYAN� |
| I'd be lost without a midi controller.... maybe I still am... but not because of this =) |
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| djshire |
I (kind of) learned how to play keyboard when I was younger, and before I got my first setup, one of the things I liked doing was going to Guitar Center and messing around with the various synths they had set up for demos, so having a MIDI controller keyboard really helps me when trying to see how a sounds...sounds. Its much better than just drawing MIDI notes in Piano Roll.
If I get bored, I can just load up a soft synth or plug it into one of my sound modules and jam out, which can be quite inspiring.
If your MIDI controller has it, the faders and/or rotary encoders can be useful and more intuitive than using a mouse or trackpad.
Another "jamming out" thing I do is load up a drum program and use the pads and keyboard to make a song....it helps me hear all the sounds, and again, quite inspiring. |
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| Magnus |
| Midi controllers make your life a lot easier, and many including myself prefer the feel of twisting a physical knob rather than twisting a virtual knob with a mouse. With that said, they are not a requirement, and you can get started on making music without one if that is what you are worried about. Good luck. |
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| cryophonik |
I would say that the biggest reason for getting a controller like the MPK49 is for inputting notes with a real keyboard, instead of having to click with a mouse. Even a semi-skilled keyboardist can play the parts with a physical keyboard quicker and with the intended expression and dynamics much quicker than someone who is penciling notes and velocities into the piano roll one note at a time. OTOH if you are hard-quantizing rigid parts with static or linear velocities, it's usually quicker to draw them in. Usually, there is some middle ground, though, where you would play the part in as close as you can get it and edit the notes in your piano roll.
If you are not planning on ever playing the notes on a physical keyboard and only want a MIDI controller for adjusting parameters on your software, then I would suggest spending the money on a keyboard-less controller like a Novation Remote Zero SL, CME Bitstream 3X, or better yet, an iPad with some MIDI controller apps (e.g., TouchOsc).
As for "looking professional", ask yourself why having a MIDI controller would look professional - you wouldn't see them in every pro studio if they were only for show, right? |
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| ralpheeee |
I'd say it's pretty much a neccesity. Some people can do without the keys, but this really depends on what you want, or plan on doing with your music.
So ask yourself, do I plan on learning some musical theory.. chords, scales etc? If the answer is yes, then get a keyboard, it will be invaluable when it comes to learning this stuff. Playing out a basic chord progresion is going to be heaps easier on a keyboard than on a mouse.
As far as physical knobs and sliders go, I don't get why anybody would deprive themselves of the tactile nature of these tools, especialy seeing how cheap they are now.
Ask yourself this.. if you want to adjust your filter and resonance control at the same time, can you do this with a mouse? What about if you want to increase the volume of two, three or four tracks at once?
Just go buy one! |
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| Kysora |
| quote: | Originally posted by ralpheeee
I'd say it's pretty much a neccesity. |
I've gotten by fine without one for years. Could it make things easier? Hell if I know. But I do know I've never needed one to make music.
Then again this thread was started by someone who was able to decide which MIDI controller he might want, without even knowing what they do, so I don't really know what these answers are going to do for the OP either way. |
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