With the price of computers falling everyday and the power that sits inside going up, the option to use them as musical instruments with midi keyboard controllers has never been greater. The vast array of choices can leave the beginner with information overload, especially when deciding which if a traditional route maybe be better than going with a computer setup. We will cover the costs of of both setups along with how expandable and portable each solution is. By the end hopefully you will have a better understanding of what a workstation or software solution can offer you and then make a sensible choice on your purchase.
Musical instruments over the years have slowly been adapted to the digital format but none so prominently as the piano which became the keyboard. The first major innovation came in the 60's when Bob Moog unveiled his Moog series of keyboards. While still analog, these advancements set the stage for the digital revolution to begin. Today the choice to setup a keyboard workstation using a computer and software is much debated just as the analog versus digital audiophiles have squabbled about for decades now.
So when you when you decide to make your purchase you have two main options to select from. Do you go the software route or stay with the more conventional all in one keyboard workstation. It is my hope that I will be able to guide you on your journey, helping you make the choice which is best for you. First, lets see what each setup is made of. The digital workstation is pretty much what you see is what you get. It's all built into the unit and unless you want to add some accessories then you need nothing else. Now the first drawback to some wanting to use software is that this is a bit more of a setup. The heart and soul is your computer and if you want to use this for gigging then you have to have a laptop.
Secondly you will need an audio sound card to handle the processing of the digital signal. Its possible the one built into your computer may be ok for just one signal with a half to quarter inch jack converter running into the microphone input, but chances are the latency (the time it takes for you to hit a key and have it converted and output through your speakers) will be too high to deal with. So along with a computer you will need a simple external sound card to process the signal. Add to that a midi controller and the software and you now have a solid software setup.
Wow, it can be a bit overwhelming when considering a software setup. So why would anyone choose this route then? As far as Im concerned the sounds are far superior to anything you will find built into a workstation and the ability to expand your setup and add-on is limitless. Not only that, but you now have the capability to record your ideas or songs using a piece of recording software like (Pro-Tools, Nuendo, etc). As a matter of fact you kill two birds with one stone buy purchasing an M-box by Pro-Tools. Not only would that allow you to record onto your computer and come with the software to do that, you could use it for live performances as well.
In the end you have to decide whether or not ease of setup and portability is more important than quality of sounds and endless extensibility. Not to mention that going this route sets you up with a mini home recording studio as well. A lot of workstations may allow some basic recording functionality but this will allow for recording any instruments you want and make for a very conducive writing environment for band situations.
Some good examples of software would be anything by Native Instruments. Also my absolute favorite libraries are made by East West. They record all of their sounds using the highest quality of mics, recorded by professionals and convert them to individual wav files. With a midi controller you can be John Williams and score your own soundtrack with just one piece of software.
Now to the main concern of most, what will each cost me? If portability is a must then a laptop is a must as well. If you do not have one then your overall price of a software setup will go way up. You will probably spend between 1 to 4 thousand dollars on a quality workstation so if a laptop is not needed then it is probably cheaper to go with a software setup.
When you add up your main components (controller, sound-card, and software) you should be able to stay under one thousand dollars. You do have to be aware that some software, including the above mentioned East West, can be just as pricey as a new laptop. In the end, the amount of software you decide to buy is what will really determine how much you spend on this setup. Hopefully I have been able to guide you through the mysterious world of software setups for the keyboard (or even other musical instruments) and you should now be able to make better choice as to which is right for you. - 15615
Musical instruments over the years have slowly been adapted to the digital format but none so prominently as the piano which became the keyboard. The first major innovation came in the 60's when Bob Moog unveiled his Moog series of keyboards. While still analog, these advancements set the stage for the digital revolution to begin. Today the choice to setup a keyboard workstation using a computer and software is much debated just as the analog versus digital audiophiles have squabbled about for decades now.
So when you when you decide to make your purchase you have two main options to select from. Do you go the software route or stay with the more conventional all in one keyboard workstation. It is my hope that I will be able to guide you on your journey, helping you make the choice which is best for you. First, lets see what each setup is made of. The digital workstation is pretty much what you see is what you get. It's all built into the unit and unless you want to add some accessories then you need nothing else. Now the first drawback to some wanting to use software is that this is a bit more of a setup. The heart and soul is your computer and if you want to use this for gigging then you have to have a laptop.
Secondly you will need an audio sound card to handle the processing of the digital signal. Its possible the one built into your computer may be ok for just one signal with a half to quarter inch jack converter running into the microphone input, but chances are the latency (the time it takes for you to hit a key and have it converted and output through your speakers) will be too high to deal with. So along with a computer you will need a simple external sound card to process the signal. Add to that a midi controller and the software and you now have a solid software setup.
Wow, it can be a bit overwhelming when considering a software setup. So why would anyone choose this route then? As far as Im concerned the sounds are far superior to anything you will find built into a workstation and the ability to expand your setup and add-on is limitless. Not only that, but you now have the capability to record your ideas or songs using a piece of recording software like (Pro-Tools, Nuendo, etc). As a matter of fact you kill two birds with one stone buy purchasing an M-box by Pro-Tools. Not only would that allow you to record onto your computer and come with the software to do that, you could use it for live performances as well.
In the end you have to decide whether or not ease of setup and portability is more important than quality of sounds and endless extensibility. Not to mention that going this route sets you up with a mini home recording studio as well. A lot of workstations may allow some basic recording functionality but this will allow for recording any instruments you want and make for a very conducive writing environment for band situations.
Some good examples of software would be anything by Native Instruments. Also my absolute favorite libraries are made by East West. They record all of their sounds using the highest quality of mics, recorded by professionals and convert them to individual wav files. With a midi controller you can be John Williams and score your own soundtrack with just one piece of software.
Now to the main concern of most, what will each cost me? If portability is a must then a laptop is a must as well. If you do not have one then your overall price of a software setup will go way up. You will probably spend between 1 to 4 thousand dollars on a quality workstation so if a laptop is not needed then it is probably cheaper to go with a software setup.
When you add up your main components (controller, sound-card, and software) you should be able to stay under one thousand dollars. You do have to be aware that some software, including the above mentioned East West, can be just as pricey as a new laptop. In the end, the amount of software you decide to buy is what will really determine how much you spend on this setup. Hopefully I have been able to guide you through the mysterious world of software setups for the keyboard (or even other musical instruments) and you should now be able to make better choice as to which is right for you. - 15615
About the Author:
For a directory of my favorite software and workstation models please make sure to drop by my site and say hello. I also have the top directoryof musical instruments keyboard on the net. musical-instruments-keyboard.com
