There is also the option of a dedicated control unit like Novation Remote Zero.
As a beginner whose interest is not settled yet nor constraint by "parents", one may eventual want to go be a pianist or just a keyboardist. Buy a moderately priced midi controller, say 1000-1200 locally say like a Novation Remote 61, maybe less 200 if you "import", then shortly after, the need for expression as developed from playing the guitar, one might prefer a piano's interactivity. Then there will be a need for a digital piano or something.
And if still remain on keyboard playing path, one may or may not want to get involve with sound design or just work with preset libraries and do simple modification where a mouse is all that is needed.
More useful for fresh keyboard padawans to be aware of various combos or outcomes
1. Pure synth player/keyboardists + Sound designer.
2. Pure synth player/keyboardists + preset user + sampler
2a. #1+#2
3. Piano player + #1
4. Piano player + #2/2a
5. Piano player
So where will one end up... exciting isn't it? :mrgreen:
Synth player
Low end/starter combo
Casio CTK 3000 -$200 (current sale price) - No controls on board, have to use mouse to adjust parameters.
+ add control unit - Novation Remote Zero, $500-600.
Also, another weak point of non midi controllers, have to rely on the sequencer/synth software for velocity curve mapping.
Low end midi with little or no controls,
M-Audio keystation 61 - $300
Piano player with some synth interest
Digital piano - >$1100
+ control unit
Or
Kurzweil PC3X, not cheap, 88 hammer keys with onboard and programmable sounds plus midi controller features.
Synth Player mid price
Depends on number of keys/octaves you think you will need, $600-1300.
Synth Player high end examples
Kurwzeil PC3 , not cheap, 76 velocity keys, aftertouch, etc.
Or for <$2000, the new Kurzweil PC3LE6, 61 keys with the PC3 rom, etc.
Piano player
Digital piano >$1000
Software? A short story version:
Pure rom like Rhino2, etc
http://synthprograms.com/10573.html
Hybrid - Wusik, Dimensions Pro, Nexus, etc
http://www.wusik.com/w/2010gb.html
or Sampler - Kontakt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontakt_%28software%29
Also for the sequencer/DAW, this topic like the soft synth topic, is another long story...
Short story,
Mixcraft 5 beta USD50-70, no midi out but now has notation, etc, etc
Reaper USD60 for non commercial and with built in script language.
FL Studio USD180 (with discount) and forever free upgrades
Sonar, lots of VSTs
Ableton, piano roll so small... ewww
Logic, only on Mac
etc, etc, etc, etc, etc (dun think story story version possible, anyway, if you go to other forums, there are plenty of XYZ vs ABC vs KLM threads to study)
PS. do test various keybeds for feel. Don't just look at the paper specs. Go Swee Lee and try the Roland DGX for instance... Also read reviews for durability of the control knobs, pads, etc.
