Finding a MIDI? Keyboard

[JonT]

I'm a complete noob at these kind of things and was hoping someone could chime in with some knowledge so I don't start throwing cash at the wrong things.

As a new years resolution (which I know wont happen) I want to learn to play the keyboard/piano. Now rather then buy a full featured keyboard with all the shiznit built into it (like all those different instrument sounds and things) I would like one which was basically a dumb keyboard (if such a thing exists) which you can plug into your computer.

I kind of remember back at high school we had something like this, and because the computer did all the work in software (for 'channels' of instruments and things) and played the sound out through its speakers the actual keyboard was quite cheap.

The reason I want to do it this way is because I have an interest in computers allready and it would be nice to combine the two, might keep me at it a bit longer.

Any help is highly appreciated (karma awaits!)

[Nb]

Take your pick.... https://www.soundslive.co.uk/categories~name~Midi-Master-Keyboards~ID~5.asp
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[JonT]

So with these do I simply plug one into my computer and the sound plays through that? Do I select which instrument it is meant to sound like through the computer also?

[carvell]

You'll find that a normal keyboard is much, much cheaper by the way.

Remember to buy a USB MIDI adapter thingy, they got rid of MIDI ports on computers years ago. You'll also need some MIDI software.

Unfortunately, MIDI is best explored with a fair knowledge of the piano.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[JonT]

Normal keyboards are cheaper? I would of thought the midi ones where kind of cheap since they aren't actually doing much themselves other then sending a signal down a wire.

[carvell]

The MIDI interface is fairly complex and pretty specialised.

Normal keyboards are two a penny and therefore much cheaper.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[JonT]

I really liked the idea of hooking it up to my computer though, I have no idea how many keys i'd need too.

I really only wanted to spend £50-£60

[Nb]

This might help. https://www.etcetera.co.uk/Support/howto/howtoConnectMIDI.shtml
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Cbr1100xx blackbird gone, mk4 golf gt tdi chav now
Colin1 wrote 'Im grateful for what i can get, which isnt all that much.'
Columbus travel insurance are crap!! Do not use!

[JonT]

How does this rate?

https://www.dv247.com/invt/24171/

[Trip]

M - audio arn't bad, thats probably a good deal.

If its just for getting started then it should be fine.

What software you planning on running it with?

Is it for Mac or PC.

Carvell is right however i bet you could pick up a 'proper' keyboard of ebay for peanuts...
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[iCraig]

I used to have one of those MAudio keyboard, infact the same one you linked to.

There fairly good, and well made too, they're USB though but they do have a MIDI port on them they can run off.

I used to use mine with GarageBand, and it rocked, pity I couldn't play properly though!

[JonT]

I'll be using it with Rosegarden under linux, using a software synth. The majority of the "studio" is going to be software based, i've not received the keyboard yet but I have my software setup with a virtual keyboard and it seems to work.

Only problem is I need to tweak the latencies and buffers because I keep getting whats called an xrun, which is when the computer can't keep up and you lose a couple of milliseconds of audio or get a popping sound.

First time i've seen my 2 year old AMD 64 3500+, 1GB ram start to run out of breath!