Midi keyboards

[Tuomas]

Hiya

I've got the boom to buy an instrument again, and I was thinking, this time I could go to a cheap, decent midi-keyboard. But, I really don't know where to begin.

1. A midi keyboard... is that a thing that only plays chip-tunes, or can I get a nice sound from one with some samples?

2. It should be easy to plug into my computer.

Well, that's about it. I don't suppose anyone would have any suggestions?

[Evil]

I bought an M-Audio Axiom a few years ago, but returned it because I couldn't figure out how to use the damn thing. Now I'm more experienced with samples, and I kind of regret not keeping it. Feels comfy, got a nice smooth key movement. USB interface, but if you had a midi interface you can plug it into that too.

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Axiom-25-25Key-USB-MIDI-Controller?sku=706313

I'm not sure I would recommend it because I've only used this one, but it's a place to start from.

[Adamski]

1. A midi keyboard... is that a thing that only plays chip-tunes, or can I get a nice sound from one with some samples?

MIDI keyboards send out and recieve MIDI messages only. MIDI is a commonly misunderstood beast with computer users, but basically it is a data format developed in the 80s to create some sort of standard so different synthersisers manufactured by different companies could communicate with each other. It has no sound, it's just a way of organising 0s and 1s.

In real terms this means that a MIDI keyboard has no way of generating sound itself, it is mearly an interface for controlling software or hardware that can interpret MIDI data. With a few thousand pounds spent on some nice sample libraries you'll have a convincing orchestra under your fingertips, or if you load up a SID emulation VST you'll be able to play chip tunes. It's all up to what you plug it in to.

2. It should be easy to plug into my computer.

Yes, if it has a USB interface, which most do these days.

[Tuomas]

Well, I guess all I really need is a way to play nice McdGyver synth-sounds 

[nihilyst]

I've got a 3â,¬ MIDI keyboard off eBay and a 5â,¬ MIDI2USB adapter. The keyboard itself is quite old (some old FATAR I think), and it hasn't sounds by itself (although there are many keyboard with built-in speakers and library; in fact, in the old days, people were not only using it to get MIDI data into the PC, but vica versa, because the PC libraries sounded like shit), so you'll need a program that interprets it. But it does it's job well; the only one who is incapable of making music is me ^^