Just in case you're pondering over becoming a desktop musician, you can actually utilize your computer with a MIDI keyboard attached to it. This is widely practiced by many musicians for years already. You've most likely seen them around in music retail stores, in advertising, or being played by fellow musicians or musician-wanna-be's in live performances. But exactly what are they? They are actually piano-style keyboard device which is used for sending (MIDI) signals over a USB or MIDI cable to other tools working on the very same MIDI protocol interface - like your desktop computer to illustrate that works a digital audio workstation (DAW) software.
Not all MIDI keyboards have the piano-style user interface. There is a wide variety of units that have pads or buttons that sense the velocity of one's fingers to lower or raise play volume including the Continuum Fingerboard, a fretless style. Let's target the piano style keyboards. When purchasing yourself one you typically factor in price range and comfort. Keep in mind if you have the budget then you can buy the best one that is comfortable for you to use. However, not everyone has almost limitless budget, especially not the new artist in the making.
For the rest of us, picking out one unit means choosing the size based on the quantity of keys available. There are a number to choose from ranging - 88, 76, 61, 49, 37 or 25. The purist will require you to definitely find the 88 or at least the 76. Usually the one that you will get depends on another factor - space. An 88 may be good but if you can't suit it inside your studio (i.e. in front of your computer) then there's no need for something that big.
The moment you've selected how many keys evaluate the key action - that is to say the manner the keys react to your playing. There are typically 3 types - synth action, semi-weighted action and full weighted action. Synth action have light spring loaded keys that take little pressure to activate and normally resume their positions rapidly. This really is healthy for those who play quite a lot of fast pieces and those that aren't really pianists by nature. Semi-weighted action MIDI keyboard has keys that include some amount of resistance and comes back slow compared to synth action ones. Finally there's the total weighted action keys which mimics the mechanical action of typical pianos. It takes more pressure to experiment with and are also normally used by individuals who play the piano and like the feel of "real" piano keys.
No doubt you can forget about the knobs, buttons and sliders that assist transmit MIDI details and provide the operator more hands-on control over everything linked to your controller like the DAW software. Using this method you'll get real-time command in the sound making process unlike utilizing your computer's mouse control.
The number of knobs and buttons relies on usage nevertheless the bare necessities requires to have the pitch and mod wheels and you could get by with a few sliders. Provided that you will be able to appropriately assign synth programming it is possible to improve usage of your MIDI keyboard.
Not all MIDI keyboards have the piano-style user interface. There is a wide variety of units that have pads or buttons that sense the velocity of one's fingers to lower or raise play volume including the Continuum Fingerboard, a fretless style. Let's target the piano style keyboards. When purchasing yourself one you typically factor in price range and comfort. Keep in mind if you have the budget then you can buy the best one that is comfortable for you to use. However, not everyone has almost limitless budget, especially not the new artist in the making.
For the rest of us, picking out one unit means choosing the size based on the quantity of keys available. There are a number to choose from ranging - 88, 76, 61, 49, 37 or 25. The purist will require you to definitely find the 88 or at least the 76. Usually the one that you will get depends on another factor - space. An 88 may be good but if you can't suit it inside your studio (i.e. in front of your computer) then there's no need for something that big.
The moment you've selected how many keys evaluate the key action - that is to say the manner the keys react to your playing. There are typically 3 types - synth action, semi-weighted action and full weighted action. Synth action have light spring loaded keys that take little pressure to activate and normally resume their positions rapidly. This really is healthy for those who play quite a lot of fast pieces and those that aren't really pianists by nature. Semi-weighted action MIDI keyboard has keys that include some amount of resistance and comes back slow compared to synth action ones. Finally there's the total weighted action keys which mimics the mechanical action of typical pianos. It takes more pressure to experiment with and are also normally used by individuals who play the piano and like the feel of "real" piano keys.
No doubt you can forget about the knobs, buttons and sliders that assist transmit MIDI details and provide the operator more hands-on control over everything linked to your controller like the DAW software. Using this method you'll get real-time command in the sound making process unlike utilizing your computer's mouse control.
The number of knobs and buttons relies on usage nevertheless the bare necessities requires to have the pitch and mod wheels and you could get by with a few sliders. Provided that you will be able to appropriately assign synth programming it is possible to improve usage of your MIDI keyboard.
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