Total noob here

[BlueTalon]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time bass player hoping to dabble in some keys/synth on the cheap. I acquired a keyboard that's actually a midi controller for something else. My first basic question is, what is that something else? I don't even know how to really frame the question, so I don't think asking music store employees would be very helpful at this point.

Ultimately, I want to be able to record on my (non-Apple) computer, and I wouldn't object to using a synth program as opposed to a physical synth. But I don't know how the midi keyboard would interface with the computer. I'm pretty sure there's no midi-USB adapter cord, so there has to be some kind of interface device. What kind of device would that be? I guess that's a good place to start.

 

[SeaGtGruff]

Welcome to the forums!

What is the brand and model of the MIDI controller?

What operating system does your computer run on?

Some controllers have MIDI ports, in which case you could use a simple USB-MIDI interface cable, such as the mio from iConnectivity, to send MIDI from the controller to a USB port on your computer. Or you could use a USB audio interface that includes MIDI ports on it.

Other controllers have a USB TO HOST port, either instead of or in addition to MIDI ports. Those controllers can be connected to a computer using a common USB cable, such as you would use to connect a non-WiFi-enabled USB printer to a computer.

Once you have the controller connected to your computer, you can use "virtual instruments"-- often referred to as "VST instrument plugins," although VST is just one of several standards for virtual instruments and effects. There are many types of virtual instruments, ranging from sound samples recorded from actual instruments, to software synthesizers (or "soft synths") which are like hardware synthesizers except their sounds are generated and shaped using software instead of hardware.

 

[BlueTalon]

Thanks for the response. When I say "controller," I'm referring to the keyboard pictured below. It does have a USB connection, so I'm assuming it can connect directly to my computer. (My previous post was written without me having looked at it recently, and I forgot it had a USB connection.)

The computer systems are all Windows. You're starting to lose me with "plugins" because as I understand it, a plugin is something that is added to an existing computer program. I understand the concept of virtual instruments as you described them, but don't they have to be part of a larger existing program?

Software synthesizer is something I can wrap my head around, and it's something I'd definitely be interested in, but I need a direction in which to look, and hopefully a recommendation of something that is both decent and inexpensive.

 

[Biggles]

The Windows version is important as Windows 10 will have the drivers available for the Alesis.

Other Windows versions will need a Driver installing, then if you are lucky Windows will see the keyboard when you plug it in.

You will need a DAW software, Cakewalk, Ableton, Cubasis etc into which the plug in VST’s will be installed.

Some VST producers also have their own software that interfaces with the VST’s.

If you have an iPhone you can get the system up and running far easier than the steep learning curve that there will be with a Computer setup. Let us know if you do and we can tell you how.

 

[BlueTalon]

The Windows version is important as Windows 10 will have the drivers available for the Alesis.

Other Windows versions will need a Driver installing, then if you are lucky Windows will see the keyboard when you plug it in.

You will need a DAW software, Cakewalk, Ableton, Cubasis etc into which the plug in VST’s will be installed.

Windows 10 has drivers? Fantastic! So the computer will see the keyboard...

And then what? The DAW software is one of those areas where I'm so ignorant, I don't even know how to ask the questions.

No I-phone, sadly.

 

[anotherscott]

Some software instruments do have to run inside a host program, though many can also run stand-alone.

If you're just running software instruments, there's no need to get involved with the complications of a DAW, which are primarily geared toward production. There are programs designed just to let you easily play software instruments. If that's all you want to do, look at Camelot Pro, Cantabile, and Gig Performer. Each has a free version or at least a free demo.

 

[SeaGtGruff]

As @anotherscott said, you don't need to use a DAW to run a virtual instrument plugin, although if you think you might want to record your playing then a DAW would be a good program to look into. In addition to the more sophisticated programs like Cantabile and so on, you can use a simple "VST host" program to run any plugins that require a host program and don't have one of their own.

There are a large number of free virtual instruments and soft synths available; just search for "free vsts," "best free vst instruments," "free soft synths," and so forth. Of course, the best virtual instruments aren't going to be free-- and as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for"-- so the quality of free virtual instruments can vary a great deal; plus, many of them were programmed by individuals who haven't kept them maintained for one reason or another. But it's worth searching around to see what's out there.

 

[BlueTalon]

I do hope to do some recording, and I don't mind paying for quality. My problem is that I'm simply not equipped to know what is quality and what is utter schlock. (That, and my budget isn't huge.) But you guys have given me a direction in which to start looking, and for that I am thankful.

 

[Biggles]

Native Instruments have a free VST programme called Start and there are some 2000 free samples to get started with.

Komplete Start | Free music production software

Download a bundle of free, high-quality plugins, including popular Kontakt instruments, samples, textures, effects, and loads more.

www.native-instruments.com

You may also like to download Audacity which is a free audio recording App and it can output a host of different file formats, the two I suggest you look at using is an MP3 recorded at 256 Mbps or greater and a WAV.

You should then be able to use the App’s that Scott suggests or NI Start and record yourself using Audacity.

Meanwhile you can register at BandLab, and download Cakewalk which is a free DAW and as there are plenty of video tutorials available.