Hello there, I wanna know is how much is the cheapest midi keyboard playable on a laptop ? also with a midi keyboard can I assign a wave file to each key press ?

check out m-audio. forgot the model name, its even thinner than the oxygen8 v2. i used to have an oxygen and even that one fits into laptop backpack. assign a wave file to each key press? that doesnt depend on the midi keyboard, but the software u use.

how many keys you need? typically there's 61, 76 and full 88 keys. normally 88 keys are of hammer action (there's also non weighted 88 keys but they're rare). there're also keyboard with less than 61 keys, ideal for travelling.

m-audio are probably the cheapest you can buy, and study the list below so you can decide which one suits you.

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=produc...oardcontrollers

there's also the latest line of yamaha kx series, which is quite good for the price asked but they're of course more expensive than m-audio. i'm also looking at the kx8 which has their famous weighted keys, for under rm3000, saving money now.

keep in mind that a midi controller means there's no sound to mess with, just plain triggering midi datas. so in order to assign wave file to each key, you need software samplers like kontakt (most popular), gigastudio, vsampler, halion and stuffs like that. they're not free though, and you need DAW (reaper, sonar, cubase, ableton live, adobe audition, pro tools) to start with, cause you'll also need a midi sequencer to record your midi stuffs.

keystation? I have the 49e. It's really simple with no weighted keys or fancy fancy dials or LCD colour displays. But it does the job and costs about RM200 brand new. USB 2.0 interface with no noticable latency at all. No need for MIDI cables and converters. A decent buy if you'd ask me.

Is there a software that can emulate midi keyboard ? also I am using Ableton so how do I assign a wave file to each key press ? I just realized, with a midi keyboard making music is super fast & easy.

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Added on April 24, 2008, 8:11 amAlso if any 1 is not using or have an extra midi keyboard please PM me, I rather get 1 from you guys. also if more possible can I have 1 for free ? any type is acceptable for the free, because actually I wanna try out first before buying a brand new midi keyboard.

This post has been edited by JC: Apr 24 2008, 08:11 AM

the model i was talking about is the keyrig 25. simple and cheap.
if ure gona just trigger wav files, 25 keys should be enough.

sorry im not lending my axiom and finger trigger to someone i dont know.

this is really a weird one.

1. you want to use your computer keyboard/mouse to play on emulated midi keyboard?
2. answer already given on how to assign wave file to each key press, read my post again?
3. you want 2nd hand midi keyboard, that's fine. but free?



This post has been edited by little ice: Apr 24 2008, 05:48 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by key press, perhaps you're referring to a sampler like Kontakt and Halion?
I use VST instruments for my soft synths. I'm running a demo version of True Pianos for piano sounds, amazing software for so little space.

Look for Virtual MIDI Keyboard and see if it works? Try this:
http://naturalstudio.co.uk/bb/viewtopic.ph...l+midi+keyboard

Bolded, wishful thinking man... Try to look for videos on Youtube. Based my judgment on those.

Btw echo, got the 61 lolx. Haven't properly configure it to take full advantage of the additional buttons and knobs though, but I like it. Keys are a bit rubbery, feels a little weird at first but definitely better than the plastic-feel of the Oxygen keys.

which 61? axiom61?
im finishing my exams soon then i'll go look for you to play with it. lol

Yeah Axiom.

lol, i want 1 too XD

So all arrangement and notes will appear on screen when i press the keyboard!

that would be so nice!!

except....

laptop+keyboard+software+soundcard..

........

....


..

i can still wish XD

get a part time job then.

thats how me and led zep got our gears (at least as far as i know for his beautiful strat).

jc..what ableton do u use?how much u buy?

cough cough ableton live v7.0.3, haha.

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Added on April 25, 2008, 9:10 amthank you little ice, now I can use midi emulator more cheap !

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Added on April 25, 2008, 9:36 amAnyone know how to set-up the midi keyboard emulator for Ableton ?

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Added on April 25, 2008, 10:14 amI am using Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 x64

This post has been edited by JC: Apr 25 2008, 10:15 AM

mine using M-audio keyrig 49
USB powered
velocity sensitive...that a minus for it..but its cheap

with a DAW n VSTi..no problem at all
just using it with OPCODE SONICport..but still no midi i/o

with VSTi, u can have any sound u wish with a MIDI controller

more like you can buy any sound you wish to have

why would u need a midi for your laptop when u can do it all using a software..

so you use mouse to click?

mouse can, qwert keyboard also can..

the difference is just the 'feel'...

oh i didn't know mouse and qwerty keyboard now also have touch sensitive keys, press hard it'll come out hard, press soft it'll come out soft. bravo to technology...

ever heard of something called "velocity"?

This post has been edited by little ice: May 20 2008, 02:31 PM