Hi all,

I had search abit in the musician thread but couldn't really find what I need.
If anyone knows a thread like this kindly post the URL here, really appreciate it.

I'm looking for a digital keyboard that able to connect with my laptop to compose music.
I saw one in Machine shop long time ago and if I'm not mistaken, the price is around RM400, now I dont see them selling anymore.
The software allow user to choose the type of instrument like piano, guitar, violin, bass, etc type of sound to compose music.
So can anyone recommend me a brand along with the cost for such keyboard?
I'm using Window platform btw, but would be interested to know Mac platform as well.

Another silly question, can I practice piano using the digital keyboard?

I think any keyboard which can pass MIDI over USB will do. Last time, they have MIDI ports, now i think most just USB if i am not wrong.
I have never tried to hookup my Digital piano with a PC...too lazy...

Sure you can play on the keyboard, if there is enough keys and enough sound channels. But it won't be RM400. And the feel of piano cannot be duplicate with low end keyboards.

This post has been edited by Matrix: May 9 2014, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the reply. I hope the price won't be too high now although its quite hard to find and not too complicated in order to connect the keyboard to the PC.
Really need to know the price.

Despite the sound and feel will be different, i wish can practice abit with the finger playing with its sound since I can't afford a real piano yet

If you want real pratice (studying for exams?) I suggest you forget about it. Playing for fun ok lah. Maybe you can find some music shops/school where they rent out piano by the hour and you can have real pratice.

If you can afford around RM 1.5k, maybe you can find some good 2nd hand digital piano.

This post has been edited by Matrix: May 9 2014, 10:45 AM

Keyword: Midi controllers/keyboards

Or any digital pianos/keyboards that has Midi In/Out or USB Midi, type in keyword in mudah.my, can find aplenty.

Port looks something like that.



Software u mentioned is called Garageband for Mac, tons other for windows as well, but I need to know your uses.

Hi,

I'm using it for composing music pieces and directly output as midi or any other extension in the PC. I currently have only Windows but I dun mind to know about Mac as well.

may i know the software name for Window and the digital piano/keyboard price range?

http://www.ckmusic.com.my/webshaper/store/...at.asp?catID=52

Hi there,
We are Julliad Music Located in Aman Suria Damansara, Petaling Jaya. We are the authorize dealer of Casio keyboard and digital piano. We have various kinds of digital keyboard, depends on the features you need and your budget. We recommend CTK-3200. It includes 515 tones GM, 150 rhythms, 110 songs, LCD, USB port, pitch bend. If you only need a keyboard just for keying in the notes to the laptop, the cheapest we have is CTK-240 model but without USB port, which cost only RM399. We also have digital pianos with USB port. Pm/mail us if you have any enquiries!

Mail: enquiry@julliadmusic.com
H/P: 019-384 6682 / 019-289 6682

Hope to hear from you soon!


Regards,
Julliad Music

Well, notable ones are FL studio, Ableton, Reason and Cubase for Windows.

Mac I only know of Logic Pro X.

Well midi controllers (acceptable ones) range from rm 800-3000. So what's your budget? The link liquidsny gave is a good start.

Hi,

Thanks for the recommendation.

My current budget is below RM1k, but if there is any suitable keyboard for my needs which is above my budget, i can think about it.

CTK-3200 sounds great, may I know the price?

As for CTK-240, how do I key in the notes into the laptop without USB port?

Thanks for recommending the software name. Will look into the details later when I'm free.

Well, my current budget is below RM1k.

For me, I would buy a 88 midi controllers like this

http://www.mudah.my/M+AUDIO+Keystation+88e...er-26100345.htm

connect to a laptop/pc and load up software vst.

boom, a cheap but awesome sounding digital piano.

+1 on m-audio midi controllers.

http://www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/Synthes...-SYN0003545-000

i dont own that, but a friend mine has it and he's quite satisfied, and that's the cheapest keyboard to my knowledge.

Hi there,
CTK-3200 is RM880. Well for all the things you want, CTK-3200 has it, plus it has pitch bend wheel, where you could play around with the sounds.

what you are looking for are usb midi keyboards.
i'll recommend m-audio as they are affordable and are pretty good for their price.

you can drop by SMX at level 7, times square to try some out and find out about the different models and price. to me one of the best places for these kinda things. https://www.facebook.com/smxkl?fref=ts
I've been buying from them since I was in college.

Besides price you should ask yourself what features you want and also how many keys.

FL, ableton, reason and cubase are available for both windows and Mac. Logic is specially for Mac.
if you are on a mac you can always start with garage band which comes with it. I've had friends who sold their jingles all coming out from garage band.
For me quick compositions I'll work alot in Reason. Then mixing or more complicated stuff like foley, sound design, etc all in Logic.

I do handle ProTools and Cubase if I'm in commercial studios.

cheap USB/MIDI keyboard very easy to find... but i don't like the plastiky keyboard, better go for Semi-weighted or Hammer action Keyboard...Korg or Yamaha is the best but expensive, so you can consider Casio CDP 130 88 Keys Digital Piano or Casio CDP 120 88 Keys Digital Piano RM1800++ . With USB2.0 interface, so can connect to iPad , MAC and PC/LAPTOP.

This post has been edited by calvenkkm: May 30 2014, 01:31 PM