MIDI Controller Query?

wenquan

New member
Hello,

About MIDI controllers... I'm thinking of getting one. I'm a stage performer, and I'm finding a MIDI controller that is fully programmable with my laptop software synths (which I have tons!) for performance purposes.

I've been looking at M Audio Keystation Pro 88, and it seems to be very versatile, but I'm unsure whether hammer-action 'weighted' keys might affect the velocity of the VSTs that I play through my laptop. Will it affect? I spoke to some people, and they said that it is exactly the same, and it all depends on the feel and touch that I am looking for. But I'm still wondering, supposing I were to create drum loops, because of the 'weighted keys', it does affect the accuracy and velocity right? I'm not sure. Also, will it affect the recording into my own software sequencers? Will there be some sort of 'lag' between hitting the keys on the keyboard, and the note being registered into the sequencer, due to the 'weighted keys'? Coz I did try once using my friends 'weighted key' very OLD digital piano, connecting it to my laptop via a USB-MIDI cable, and gosh... when i hit a single note, it took about like 5-6 seconds just to register that 1 note into my sequencer! I don't know what's the problem... probably the digital piano had a problem (because it was old), or the cable had a problem (maybe poor quality?), or my computer is too slow (don't think so, though I don't use a Core 2 Duo!), or the problem lies with the weighted keys. I'm quite worried that the problem was due to the weighted keys, because I did try this with my creative prodikeys and there were no problems (though not using the same USB-MIDI cable).


So I then proceeded to look at the Keystation 88es, but it has no customisable programmable features at all compared to the Keystation Pro. I'm one who works with a lot of VSTs through my software sequencers, and would need advice on this. Are there any other keyboards that you could recommend that might help? Or do you think that there are absolutely no problems with Keystation Pro 88, and that my friend's old digital piano was actually spoiled somewhat?
 
1. The delay you felt in your friend's keyboard is not due to the keyboard. We call that latency and it's most probably due to software/drivers/midi interface problem. The signal is triggered from the keyboard - but a delay happens when between that and when the software in the PC actually recognise it. You do not need a Core Duo to have low latency. You only need a good midi interface (almost every midi interface nowadays have low latencies) and proper software.

2. Weighted keys or not - this is only a matter of getting used to. Of course, some people may find weighted keys difficult to sequence certain instruments like strings. But once getting used it, it should be no problem. What you SHOULDN'T get is GRADED hammer action. Graded hammer action means that the lower keys are heavier than the upper keys. In sequencing, this will create uneven velocities. You don't want that when doing drum sequencing etc. You want the weight of the keys to be even throughout the entire keyboard.

Do you do sequencing a lot? If not, and you mainly use it to trigger drum loops, then you don't even have to worry whether the keys are graded or not. Keystation Pro is OK as an 88 key controller with good price. The keys are actually not as heavy as the standard ones you get from Yamaha, Roland and Fatar.
 
Thanks for the informative information... I feel a bit more 'educated' now.

Also, I'd like to ask what other keyboards you would recommend other than the Keystation 88?

And another thing, though I have tons of VSTs on my computer, how do MIDI controllers work? Can I load them into the MIDI controller itself and customize it from there, or do I customise it according to the laptop sequencer, and the sound will be projected from my computer speakers, or can I attach speakers to the MIDI controller?

Thanks!
 
Midi controllers are external controllers and they do what their name suggest: control. You don't load sounds into, they don't produce sounds etc. They trigger midi signals to a tone generator. It's the tone generator that produces the sound. Tone generators come in various forms - hardware (sound modules, synths, etc) and software (your VST plug-ins or software standalone synths). If the tone generator is your software, then obviously the sound will come from the PC's sound output. And you should be getting a decent soundcard for that.

As for "customization" (ie programming), it is all done within the software environment. The controller can trigger signals to help you do that if you turn knobs, push faders etc.

As for which controllers, it all depends on a few factors:

1. How many keys do you need?
2. What kind of controls do you need? (ie faders, knobs, wheels, ribbons, rhythm pads etc)
3. Budget
4. What genre of music are you making (eg: loop based sequencing only require very few keys - 25, 49 etc).
5. What kind of VST are you using? (eg: some orchestral samples use key-swtich - which means you may need 88 keys since the trigger keys are mapped in the lower keys, sometimes beyond the 76 key range; and some may require certain controls to make them more usable).

And lowjk is right. You probably don't have ASIO driver installed, thereby causing the latency.
 
Yes, and it cost more than a bomb. There's also muse receptor, although it is not exactly a keyboard.
 
Hahaha that's very very cool! Never seen such a high tech keyboard before... and yeah it costs a BOMB! Yah, I'm starting a symphonic rock band and need as much customisation as I can get from my keyboard... otherwise I'll just have to use 2 keyboards at the same time (which I predict is necessary anyway).

Thanks for the answers... I think I'll go ahead and buy the keystation 88! I was also thinking of buying the Yamaha P-250 for piano performance purposes... I figured Yamaha in Singapore does't seem to be selling the CP-300? Hmmm... Any other recommendations for digital pianos with graded hammer keys?
 
Last time I was in Yamaha, they have the CP300. And it has superceded the P250. You get more controls (assignable faders) in the CP300.

If you're planning to use the digital piano live, then I would suggest the Roland RD700SX. For live playing, you don't need the build-in speakers. Furthermore, the RD700SX is 100X more user-friendly for live playing (Roland thought of everything in this keyboard aimed at the gigging keyboardist) and more realistic sounds (particularly acoustic and piano).
 
Thank you dude. Your answers are really a gem to my queries. =) Okay, I'll consider the Roland instead of the Yamaha. Do you know where I can buy it in Singapore?
 
Might also want to consider the M-Audio Prokeys line... Sinamex is selling. However, only the larger model has the hammer-action keys.
 
Besides the M-Audio Keystation 88, are there any other recommended MIDI controllers (or synthesizers) that are fully programmable and customisable? I don't actually need it to be in 88 keys... so far, I'm considering the Keystation 88 ONLY because it is fully programmable and customisable, so that I can work it efficiently with my laptop. How about those with 61-80 keys?
 
try edirol, CME, and other m-audio series.

there are many non-88key controllers out there which are also fully programmable like the keystation pro88.

i cant say that there are one or two particularly recommended model or brand of controller. most controllers these days sport similar features, and almost all connect by USB. so to define efficient, you should define your own specific playing needs, and your budget. budget always makes the search easier, then we won't spend too much time talking about all the things that you almost definitely won't buy.

playing needs - u'll almost never find one keyboard to do it all for you. if it does, it'll come at a hefty price. if not, such a keyboard prob doesn't exist. so u have to be prepared to compromise on your end. maybe what we can do to help you in this aspect, is to give u suggestions on how to work the capabilities and limitations of a particular product around your playing needs, instead of the mundane gear porn/banter and repeating the same topics over and over again.
 
Anybody know what's so special about an 'arranger' keyboard? I saw that KORG has a variety of these keyboards, and they are quite expensive. Can they be used for stage performance too?
 
Check out the FAQ section for keyboards and you get the definition. Anyway, arranger keyboards are keyboards that give you auto accompaniment with rhythms and chords.

They come in various forms - from the low end Casio and Yamaha portasounds to the super-high end Yamaha Tyros and Roland G70 (which cost about the same as a workstation and more expensive than most synths).

Yamaha produces the best arranger keyboards. Period.
 
Back
Top