Which Keyboard ?

[Menon_sudhir]

Hi all experts. I want some recommendation about keyboard. Here is what I want to do.
Load a vocal track in Keyboard, then play it , while paying also play first instrument (say piano) and record, then replay second
instrument (Say guitar) and record, then replay again and record third instrument. Continue like this
till all instruments are over. Then output this in a MP3 format.

Which cheapest keyboard can do this for me ? I am a hobbyist so not so choosy about sound quality
though I will expect large number of voices available. Also want to keep minmum inteface to computer.

I have Yamaha E-213 but it cant achieve this.

Regards,

Sudhir

 

[alshit]

First, I dun quite understand by what you mean by "load a vocal in keyboard", are you refering to sampling? While for the rest, when you mentioned about laying down different instruments, you can do it with a free software that you can download, its called audacity, its pretty simple and neat. Lastly, you mentioned about keeping it to a computer. So what you can do is to get yourself a digital audio workstation like ableton live, fl studio, and go for free vst. While you can use your yamaha keyboard as a midi controller, you just have to get a midi interface.

 

[Cheez]

Hi Sudhir, you really want 2 things here. One is sequencing - what you meant by "recording" track by track using the sounds from a keyboard. There are 2 ways to do that - one is to get a workstation (ie Roland Fantom series, Yamaha Motif series, or Korg Triton series). Workstation lets you do that. The other way to go about it is to use software (ie Cubase, Sonar etc). Using software (ie PC) makes things faster and easier as you have a mouse and a large screen. Workflow is more efficient. You just have to make sure the keyboard you are using is multitimbral (the ability to play more than one sound at the same time).

The other thing you want to do is to record audio tracks (ie vocals). Most workstations let you load in audio files but limited size. So an entire vocal track will be difficult. However, most workstations has audio input that lets you play an audio file at the same time. That means you play the audio file from an mp3 player and connect it to your keyboard. The limitation is that you have limited control over that audio file. The latest Roland workstation (you'll have to wait a while before it hits the market) do let you manipulate audio file using a function call audio-key. You connect a USB drive to the workstation, and the mp3 loads, and then you can manipulate the audio file live (time stretch, change pitch, splice it up and play the chorus, intro, ending at whatever sequence you want it to).

Or, the easier way to do everything - is to do software. It lets you do everything you wanted.

 

[Menon_sudhir]

HI Cheez,

Thanks for your reply. So you are suggesting to do it on a PC. I think I can connect Yamaha -213 to PC using MIDI interface. However it is not multitimbral. But how will that matter. As I understand I can play different instruments to different tracks on the PC ?

After a close scruitiny (as am hobbyist budget it tight) , I found Roland JUNO G capable of doing some of these things and looks to be cheapest. is there any other model cheaper but capable of doing this.

Thanks.

Sudhir

 

[Cheez]

Sudhir, it makes a lot of difference whether your instrument is multitimbral or not. You can record audio track by audio track, but one mistake means recording the entire track again. And after you finish your end product and you decide to change some of the arrangements, you need to redo that track all over again! Unless, of course, each time you record, you record to a different track. Then you'll end up with a hundred audio tracks. It's always easier to record in midi since you can edit that easily.

And yes, it does appear Juno G serve your purpose. But you need to know that the audio track cannot be edited or manipulated. There is "tempo" button on the song recording panel - not sure if that does timing manipulation without changing pitch.

 

[Menon_sudhir]

Hi Guys,

I have more or less decided to go for Roland Juno G. I need now one more advice. Which will be good speakers for roland juno G. This is for home use only as I play only as a hobby. So I need good quality sound but not the loudest one.(and maybe small size speakers)

Thanks in advance,

Sudhir

 

[digihub00]

Juno G seems to be a choice for starters with a budget !

another option is to buy an audio/midi interface where you can

record your vocals and instr tracks into your computer HDD.


Welcome to the digital age. You can't live w/o a computer ?

 

[Menon_sudhir]

Hi Digihub Thanks.

But any recommendation on speakers for Juno G ? Need small size but good quality.

 

[digihub00]

check out
Sinamex - Home
KRK, alesis and m-audio speakers
Welcome To Luthermusic
yamaha and tapco speakers

 

[Menon_sudhir]

Actually I checked with Swee Lee. They suggested Peavey KB-1 to play with Juno G. However I am not sure if that is right companion for Juno G. How will be the quality of output ? Also the speaker looks kind of odd. It looks more to be designed for a club or a pub. I dont know if it is stero also. Basically I am looking for a budget of upto 500 SGD for speaker.

So is there anything which I can consider - better than above , in terms of sound quality and design for home. I checked websites which digitalhub gave above. But not sure about which one to select.

 

[digihub00]

Peavey KB-1 is a keyboard amplifer, meant for performance and practice.

If you are playing at home, a pair of nearfield monitors maybe be preferred.

All other experts, tell me if I'm wrong ... ???

 

[Menon_sudhir]

Hi Digihub not sure exactly what you mean by jamming.

Do you mean that peavey KB1 is more for club performances and I should really look for something smaller than it.