I am intrested in getting a mini midi keyboard, i dont want a big honking one, i just want a small one with basic enough feature's that i can make beats/record in Garageband. Do you have any to suggest? I am intrested in the ekeys keyboard, i am hoping to spend about $50, used is fine if you have one.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What mini MIDI keyboard do you suggest?
- Thread starter williamw
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You won't get one for under 100 really, at least a quality one.
Check out M-Audio, they're incredible. You can even get one at your local apple store. They have a 61 key and 25 key model for the same price. I went with the 25 because I travel alot and I need it for live shows. They will give you flawless performance, ask anyone at an apple store.
By far the best deal as far as price vs. quality.
Check out M-Audio, they're incredible. You can even get one at your local apple store. They have a 61 key and 25 key model for the same price. I went with the 25 because I travel alot and I need it for live shows. They will give you flawless performance, ask anyone at an apple store.
By far the best deal as far as price vs. quality.
Im intrested the eKeys board(http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/eKeys37-main.html), which is $50 on amazon(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...f=pd_bbs_2/104-2975538-1548766?_encoding=UTF8)
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I havent used the eKeys, but i have used the M Audio O2 and it works nicely. It has some knobs that you might find helpful when making beats (use one knob to control tempo, another to control the volume of your snare/bass drum/etc.)
Also the eKeys is very basic; no pitch bend, octave transposition button (at least i didnt see one on the pic i saw), etc.
Also the eKeys is very basic; no pitch bend, octave transposition button (at least i didnt see one on the pic i saw), etc.
I have an Edirol PCR-M30. I found that their keyboards have many more midi control knobs than m-audio's for the same price. And larger keyboard. Check it out.
Oxygen8 is like the standard.
i think you can pick one off of ebay for under $100.
its a tight little keyboard, and works great with GB
i think you can pick one off of ebay for under $100.
its a tight little keyboard, and works great with GB
williamw said:
Ok, MIDI 101. MIDI is not sound. MIDI is a string of 1's and 0's that allows the keyboard and computer to communicate. This allows you to control various parameters of a piece of hardware (such as a Yamaha Motif rackmount) or various parameters of a piece of software (GB, Absynth, Reaktor, etc.).
When you press the key on a MIDI keyboard you are telling the attached device to play a specific note at a specific velocity (velocity=volume). Other keys/knobs can change other parameters of the attached device, and many are able to be defined by the user. For instance if you want a knob on a MIDI keyboard to control the tempo of a drum machine in Reason, then you can assign that knob to the speed/tempo "knob" of the software drum machine and then control it via the MIDI keyboard.
What effects you can or cant add depends on the software you use and what effects you own. Beats can be done in pretty much any audio program. That said some software works better for beats, others work better for sample looping, etc.
I dont mean to sound condescending; i just want to make sure that you are clear on the def. of MIDI. It is hard for us "teckie" music people to discuss things like this without everyone using the right terms and the like.
im just trying to get it through that i am looking for the cheapest/simplest keyboard to use with garageband
And we are trying to explain what MIDI really is, and find out what you want to do with the MIDI controller.
The cheapest route isnt always the best. (Hince, you use a Macintosh, not a Windows machine)
If you want the cheapest thing, google it and buy it and good luck with the functionality.
The cheapest route isnt always the best. (Hince, you use a Macintosh, not a Windows machine)
If you want the cheapest thing, google it and buy it and good luck with the functionality.
Mmm, that Oxygen does sound nice.
The website is a little scant on details... does it have both kinds of velocity and channel aftertouch?
The website is a little scant on details... does it have both kinds of velocity and channel aftertouch?
If you already have a ok keyboard, I would get an midi interface, they are less than $50. I'm using a http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Uno-main.html and it works just fine. I bougth mine for $36 a year back or so
If you're thinking about getting an oxygen8, might aswell get the updated version for like a tenner more [The o2].
I have the original, but shall be purchasing the o2 sometime next month (Because of the reduced size from the oxygen8 its easier to lug round for gigging etc.)
Good Luck finding one that meets ur specifications anyways #]
I have the original, but shall be purchasing the o2 sometime next month (Because of the reduced size from the oxygen8 its easier to lug round for gigging etc.)
Good Luck finding one that meets ur specifications anyways #]