First Keyboard

[Nytrocide]

Hi all, looking to get back into keyboards after a long hiatus. I used to play when I was 8-14 and haven't played since. I'm now 24 and looking to start creating/mixing my own music via PC, etc.

I'm mainly looking for a keyboard that can record to PC via USB (I'm sure it's a given nowadays lol), with tons of different sounds (mainly video game music, 80s, synth, rock, etc.). Price isn't that much of a concern.

Also, I'm not sure if it's possible, but are there any keyboards where you can download sound samples and apply them to the keyboard and then play using those? Mainly with video game based soundfonts, wav files etc.

Thanks so much and sorry for the dumb newbie talk!

 

[happyrat1]

USB is used exclusively for MIDI connection to PCs these days. MP3's are still recorded using audio out and soundcard lines in, unless you want to get a USB soundcard but there's no need for one unless your PC has a truly sh*tty soundcard. The only thing you can directly record from a keyboard thru USB is MIDI sequencer files.

Now, as far as using soundfonts and samples go, you can go with a USB MIDI controller and soft synths loaded on your machine, or you can get a keyboard with a built in sampler to record and play your own samples.

From the sound of it, you're actually looking for sequencing software (A DAW) (Digital Audio Workstation) and some sort of input device.

Of course one doesn't necessarily exclude the other. You can control soft synths on a computer as easily with a dumb MIDI controller as with a $5000 Korg Kronos X.

So help us narrow this down.

1) Will the machine be moved around or gigged or fixed beside a computer?

2) How many octaves keyboard? Any preferences like weighted hammer action keys?

3) Internal or External Speakers or none using the computer speakers only?

4) Give us some kind of budget to work with. Prices run from about $150 to $5000. Give us a working range.

5) Any preferences for sounds? Realistic Pianos and Drums and Brass or weirded out Moog style synth noises?

6) One advantage to going with a USB MIDI controller (If you buy a good one with dedicated MIDI ports as well) is obsolescence proof. You can connect it to virtually any soft synth on any computer as well as hardware modules from all the major manufacturers and make it sound like anything you want.

Anyway, answer these questions and we might help you narrow down your choices.

Regards,
Gary

 

[Nytrocide]

Wow...okay, I underestimated a lot. >_<

1) Machine will be moved around.

2) No preference in number of octaves or weighted keys. What do you prefer for someone who has been "MIA" for a while?

3) Speakers would be nice, but I only care about sound getting to PC to record. As long as I can hear it through my headphones plugged into PC I'm good.

4) $150-$600. Mainly looking for a beginner type keyboard that can record to PC. My friend has the Yamaha PSR-E423 and has recommended that and the CTK-7000, but I wanted to get some other opinions as well to make sure I can do what I want with it before jumping in.

5) Some of both would be ideal.

6) So all decent keyboards nowadays come with PC connections?

I'd probably use the keyboard in a music program ala anything from Audacity (recording single tracks and reworking if need be) to FL Studio, etc. Any recommendations on a good program like those?

Thanks so much for the assistance, it really means a lot!

 

[happyrat1]

Pretty much anything that's shipped in the past 6 years or so has come with a USB MIDI port. Getting hardware MIDI ports as well is a bonus and while considered a professional feature is useful for using your keyboard as a controller for modules and other MIDI devices.

I don't have any personal experience with that particular Yamaha but I do own a Casio XW-P1 and use it pretty much as you would sequencing MIDIs and MP3s on my computer. It's Casio's latest flagship keyboard and it has pro features like no speakers and proper 1/4" line outs for studio amps and MIDI IN and OUT ports as well as USB. No sampler, but you can use it as a controller for virtual synths and samplers on your PC and you can mix down in software. Also, the XW-G1, for $100 more does have a sampler.

My only complaint is that it only has a 5 octave unweighted keyboard but that's not a dealbreaker since it's not my primary keyboard.

Anyway, if you want to see what it's all about take a look at Casio's official XW Blog and you'll get a better idea of how amazing this machine is for under $500 and how committed Casio is to supporting it.

http://xwsynth.wordpress.com/

I'd consider this over the CTK line in a heartbeat and actually bought mine few months ago.

As for software, aside from the free stuff out there like Rosegarden and Ardour and Audacity, there's also some good sharewares out there like Anvil Studio and Reaper and if you want a commercial product that's only $50 Cakewalk Music Creator 6 is out there these days with a lot of features for not too much money including the ability to run soft synths and samplers as modules.

Regards,
Gary

 

[Nytrocide]

With the G1 having a sampler, does that mean I could take a sound file (me playing a guitar note as an example) on my computer and make it playable from the keyboard? If I could take a set of sounds from my PC like that and play them on the G1 I'll no doubt drop $600 in a second and buy it tomorrow, haha. =P

 

[b3maniac]

Let me put a little different twist on this. If you have a good PC that will accept a sound card, then you could install an MAudio 2496 card (has sound input/output, and midi) and an inexpensive DAW program (such as Powertracks for about $50). IF you do that you can record audio and/or midi from any keyboard. The Casio XW-P1 is a great value keyboard which you can pick-up for under $500 if you shop around. It is not a competitor for the high end workstation keyboards by any means, but is sound very good and has all the basic sounds most of us would need to be creative. (Plus you create your own synth programs).

 

[The Y_man]

Also keep in mind VST-i - the sound need not reside in the keyboard....(unless you need to carry it around with you!)

The Y-man

 

[Nytrocide]

So could I import custom sounds into the G1 as a "voice"? Both the P1 and G1 seem fantastic. Does anyone know where I can find a full side by side comparison chart of the features? Just trying to get a clear picture and can't seem to find it in definite text. For some reason the P1 videos I've seen are more appealing, but I want to make sure I'm not missing out on any G1 features. Plus I can't get that insanely catchy song that plays at 3:36 out of my head lol

As always, thank you so much!

 

[happyrat1]

The manuals for the XW-P1 and XW-G1 are available for download here.

http://support.casio.com/manuallist.php?rgn=1&cid=008

http://support.casio.com/manualfile.php?rgn=1&cid=008013001

http://support.casio.com/manualfile.php?rgn=1&cid=008013003

http://www.casioca.com/products/Digital_Pianos_&_Keyboards/Digital_Synthesizers/

Essentially the major differences between the P1 and the G1 is that the G1 sacrifices the Drawbar Organ and the Hex Sounds for the sake of having more control over the Synth Parameters and adding the Sampler. Both still have the Solo Synth and PCM Bank of sounds.

A complete 25 page thread discussing these two synths can be found over at Harmony Central. If you have more questions about the G1 you can ask Mike Martin the official Casio rep on that thread. He's on vacation right now but should be back next week.

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2900825-Casio-XW-P1-Performance-Synthesizer

And yes you can import a guitar riff or a dubstep beat into the G1 sampler and it will play an evenly tempered scale of notes for each sample when you hit a key. Hell, you can even input Homer Simpson screaming "Doh!" and it will play it like an instrument.

At any rate I'm very happy with my P1 so far.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

BTW, neither the G1 nor the P1 has speakers built in so eventually you will want to budget for a couple of keyboard amps or studio monitors or a mixer board so you can plug it into your home stereo.

In my case my setup is something like this:

The nice thing about my setup is that I don't have to futz around with connections when I want to record. Just a few mouseclicks gets me up and ready.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

Here's a youtube clip showing the XW-G1's sample looper in action.

 

[Nytrocide]

Is there anything significant the Hex can do that the G1 can't? I don't care about the Organ that much, but just want to make sure the Hex isn't something I want to miss!

 

[happyrat1]

The Hex Layers allow you to layer 4 or 5 internal sounds on top of an input external signal to give some incredibly rich tones.

Then again, in a pinch, you could always accomplish the same thing with an external sequencer and copy the same track 5 times and assign each one to a different instrument. The difference is, with the P1 you can do this live during a performance.

Personally I went with the P1 because it's more of a performer's oriented keyboard while the G1 is more oriented to DJs and Beatboxers. I prefer to have all the sounds I can get in my arsenal and I already have a sampler in my Korg.

Anyway, it's up to you. There are literally dozens of demo videos on youtube showing off the features of both keyboards these days so watch them all, then visit a music store (Guitar Center is reputed to stock them) and hear the differences live for yourself.

Gary

 

[Nytrocide]

Yeah just noticed Guitar Center has a $100 code for anything over $499 right now too! None of them in my area of New England have them in stock at the moment, but I can ship to store in 3-5 days. I think I've decided on the P1 even though it can't import custom sounds.

I'll start with the P1 and if my musical interests are steady, maybe add the G1 later on. Thank you SO much everyone, a HUGE help! You've earned a regular here on the forum!

 

[happyrat1]

I'm happy to hear that you've made up your mind and you won't be disappointed with the P1. There's over 600 sounds to choose from in that beast and an infinite number of tonal effects and permutations that can be created with the sliders and knobs.

Anyway, I highly recommend reading the entire 25 page thread I linked from Harmony Central and you'll learn more about how to properly exploit it than you ever would from reading the manuals alone.

It's a long read, but definitely worthwhile.

Gary

 

[Nytrocide]

Does the XW-P1 come with an AC adapter? If not, can you help direct me to what I should be getting for it? (Amazon link is preferred) A case/bag for the XW-P1 and any other accessories recommended would be appreciated as well!

 

[happyrat1]

Adapter is included. Headphone jack is standard 1/4" stereo. If you're hooking it up to an amp or studio monitors you'll need a couple of 1/4" shielded mono instrument cables. 10 ft or longer recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-GT...d=1345929557&sr=8-3&keywords=instrument+cable

A 1/4" mono to 3.5 mm stereo Y splitter cable if you plan to plug it directly to your soundcard.

http://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Y-C...r0&keywords=1/4"+mono+to+1/16"+stereo+adapter

A proper stand for it. I swear by one of these though mine is a two tier model.

http://www.amazon.com/Stage-KS7350-...9842&sr=1-1&keywords=Onstage+z+keyboard+stand

A good set of studio monitors. These are what i use.

http://www.amazon.com/Avid-9900-651...5929899&sr=1-1&keywords=m-audio+bx5a+monitors

Sustain pedal. I use two of these. One for each keyboard. They're built like a brick sh*thouse.

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-US650...8&qid=1345930091&sr=1-1&keywords=m-audio+sp-2

I don't have a case, but these guys will custom build a hardshelled case for about $275

http://www.keyboardcases.com/

But just in case you're not ready for your first world wide tour I just use a dust cover custom made from these guys, for about $20

https://lecover.com/

Mixer is optional but nice to have.

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-XEN...8&qid=1345930387&sr=8-1&keywords=xenyx+1002fx

And to top things off, if you feel like singing thru the effects input on the keyboard, a cheap dynamic mic.

http://www.amazon.com/Nady-SP-4C-NA...F8&qid=1345930486&sr=1-8&keywords=dynamic+mic

And of course you'll need some kind of sequencing software for your computer. I recommend the Cakewalk Music Creator 6 because the INS file for this software for the XW-P1 has already been created.

http://www.amazon.com/Cakewalk-10-C...930654&sr=8-1&keywords=cakewalk+music+creator

I don't want to add up the total damage cause it's brutal But, pick things up a piece or two at a time as you need them and you'll do alright.

I enjoyed the question. It's FUN spending other peoples' money

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

Oh yeah, and of course you'll need at least a 10 foot A to B USB Printer Cable

Gary