Subject:Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Posted by: Paul_Holmes
Date:5/2/2006 6:50:27 AM
I've done a lot of "composing" with Acid loops, but having studied the piano years ago I think it would be fun to buy a keyboard and try composing using some of the Acid synths, etc. All I know how to do now is to tap in notes with the mouse and change to different synths and of course this just doesn't do it for quickly laying down a tune you've got in your head. My question is, Do I need special hardware other than a keyboard to control a synth in Acid. Do I need a midi controller? Or can I buy some kind of keyboard and hook up to the laptop using USB and then just compose into Acid? As you can see I'm completely ignorant of the process, although I've tried to do a little research on the web and perused Acid 6 help. |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: Illogical
Date:5/2/2006 8:15:51 AM
If the keyboard has a USB connection (or FireWire) that's all you need, just plug it in, select it from the MIDI devices list in preferences, and then you're good to go. You may have to click the 'enable real time midi' in the soft synth window, but it usually auto-routes. Also, you might want to look for a keyboard with a few spare knobs and/or faders to control other synth parameters (eg filter frequency, resonance, etc) as well as the notes. |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: Paul_Holmes
Date:5/2/2006 8:32:50 AM
Thanks, lllogical. I wandered into CompUSA and thought I needed a "Midi" interface. The salesman pointed out a USB midi "interface" for $329. The expense kind of turned me off. Now all I need is the right keyboard (I see Johnny Roy has some recommendations on his website) and I can get going! |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:5/2/2006 11:36:15 AM
> (I see Johnny Roy has some recommendations on his website) I also discuss this in the MIDI Recording chapter of the Instant ACID book complete with diagrams on how to hook things up and recommendations on what to look for when you buy (hint, hint). I’ve been using an M-Audio Radium49 and I love it 'cuz you just plug it in a USB port and play. No need for any other MIDI interface. I also have other MIDI keyboards that have 61 and 88 keys so I’m not limited to the 49. If this is your only MIDI keyboard and you are a keyboard player, I’d recommend at least one with 61 notes. The new Oxygen 61 looks nice with its assignable transport controls. If you are a piano player you might even want an 88 but you’re not going to sit with that on your lap and compose (as I like to). ;-) If you are not a keyboard player, you can get away with an Oxygen 8 which is only 25 keys since you’ll probably only be playing with one hand anyway. The Oxygen 8 is also good to take on the road and use in hotel rooms because it can fit in a backpack with your laptop. ~jr Message last edited on5/2/2006 11:37:31 AM byJohnnyRoy. |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: Paul_Holmes
Date:5/2/2006 6:33:59 PM
Thanks for your recommendations, Johnny. I actually was looking at the Radium 49 as a place to start since you mentioned it on your pages. I'm not a real musician like you but I had enough training that I can tap out tunes, even chords, with a little practice, so something like the 61 key Oxygen might work. I've created quite a bit of music with Acid, so this is just the next direction I want to go, giving me a little more freedom to lay down a melody of my own choosing. Nothing urgent at the moment but a goal as my budget allows. |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: feign
Date:5/3/2006 1:32:19 AM
Johnny: I'm curious about this also. I am not a musician, but I need to compose simple soundtracks for animation. I've been using Acid loops for this, but I want to get a MIDI keyboard for putting in my own melodies. I have absolutely ZERO experience in using MIDI hardware. I'm about to buy an M-Audio Delta 66 sound card, and a used Omni I/O breakout box for the Delta 66 (this is a desktop computer, not a laptop). As I understand it, a MIDI keyboard can be connected directly to the breakout box rather than using a USB input. I have had my eye on the M-Audio Oxygen series, but I don't know what the right choice really is. My question is: Is the Oxygen 8 the right keyboard compatible with this hardware AND with Acid Pro? Or is there something less expensive, since (I think) I don't need the USB connection. Message last edited on5/3/2006 1:32:55 AM byfeign. |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: FuTz
Date:5/3/2006 5:47:05 AM
feign: I'm also at the "zero stage" in Midi recording, but a friend of mine who owns a studio recommended to me buying one of these M-Audio (or Edirol) small keyboards that ALSO act as sound cards (ie : inputs on the board = inputs in your comp' ) . Usually USB. But the guy works with Soundscape so maybe it's different than working with Acid or Vegas. Just to maybe save you some bucks buying two items instead of one that'll do the same job... : ) Maybe some more feedback by the pros over there? |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:5/4/2006 5:55:03 AM
Feign, > I'm about to buy an M-Audio Delta 66 sound card, and a used Omni I/O breakout box for the Delta 66 (this is a desktop computer, not a laptop). As I understand it, a MIDI keyboard can be connected directly to the breakout box rather than using a USB input. No, the Delta66+Omni I/O doesn’t support MIDI input. If it did you could plug any MIDI keyboard into it but it doesn’t have MIDI ports so that’s a moot point. You can obviously plug the AUDIO from a MIDI device into it and record it but it does not support MIDI I/O. > I have had my eye on the M-Audio Oxygen series, but I don't know what the right choice really is. There seem to be very nice. What they have over the Radium series is the little transport buttons (play, pause, rewind, fast forward, record) to control your DAW software from the keyboard. Not all DAW’s support this (ACID does not) but it’s a nice feature. > My question is: Is the Oxygen 8 the right keyboard compatible with this hardware AND with Acid Pro? Or is there something less expensive, since (I think) I don't need the USB connection. Well, you DO need the USB for MIDI if you’re getting a Delta66 but the good news is, you’d be hard pressed to find a MIDI keyboard that doesn’t support USB these days. As for less expensive, you are paying more because the Oxygen 8 is small. The Keystation 49 is only $99. That’s the least expensive but it has no knobs or faders to control soft synths. At $139 the Oxygen 8 has less keys (25) but adds control knobs. Both are compatible with ACID so no worries. If you’re only going to use one hand, the Oxygen is perfect. If you think you might be playing two handed pieces, then you’ll need at least 49 keys (61 is even better) ~jr Message last edited on5/4/2006 5:56:05 AM byJohnnyRoy. |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:5/4/2006 6:07:04 AM
> ...a friend of mine who owns a studio recommended to me buying one of these M-Audio (or Edirol) small keyboards that ALSO act as sound cards These are great for taking a laptop on the road to do MIDI recording. They are not so great if you just want to go out and record audio live because you are dragging a keyboard along too (more than you need) and also I don’t like having too many things in one unit because if the MIDI keyboard has problems, your audio interface is now in the shop and visa versa. So as a second setup for a keyboard player I really like this all-in-one idea. As your primary setup for a non-keyboard player I’m not so sure it makes sense. > Just to maybe save you some bucks buying two items instead of one that'll do the same job... : ) Not really. Take the M-Audio Ozone for example: for $249 you get a 25 note MIDI controller and 2x2 audio. For that same $249 you could buy an M-Audio Fast Track USB ($99) and Oxygen 8 ($149). So you are not really saving any money and you are combining the lifecycle of two products into one. I would opt for the Fast Track USB and Oxygen 8. This way you can upgrade to another MIDI keyboard and not have to worry about buying one that has an audio interface. > Maybe some more feedback by the pros over there? I realize your friend was giving you advice that made things simple today, but "simple for today" doesn’t always equate to "flexible for the future". ~jr Message last edited on5/4/2006 6:08:30 AM byJohnnyRoy. |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: feign
Date:5/4/2006 8:04:05 AM
John, Thanks! That's exactly what I needed to learn. I will check out the Oxygen keyboards. On top of everything else, they look pretty cool. Just one more question, out of curiosity: is there any advantage to having a soundcard with direct MIDI input for the keyboard, instead of using USB input? Extra question: are you planning an Acid Pro 6 book? |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:5/4/2006 10:36:34 AM
> Just one more question, out of curiosity: is there any advantage to having a soundcard with direct MIDI input for the keyboard, instead of using USB input? None that I see. MIDI is such a low bandwidth protocol that it really doesn’t matter what you flow it over. Most consumer cards share the game port with the MIDI port! USB is just as good as anything else. > Extra question: are you planning an Acid Pro 6 book? Not at this time but there may be a training DVD which I actually like better because I can show you how things are done. It is incredibly challenging to show you how something sounds or even show drag-n-drop in a book. ;-) ~jr |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: kbruff
Date:5/4/2006 10:41:08 AM
www.m-audio.com -- everything you need is there for laptop/midi work! |
Subject:RE: Connecting a keyboard to my laptop
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:5/4/2006 11:31:33 AM
Adding to what JohnnyRoy said, if you don't use the USB connection and opt to go with the traditional MIDI connection with the Oxygen 8 v2, you'll have to use a DC power supply. (The Oxygen v2 gets its power from the USB usually. You cannot use both USB and a power supply at the same time.) Make sure you do your research before jumping in. Usually, vendors will have the full manuals for their products in Adobe Reader format for you to download and check out for free. (M-Audio does this.) Iacobus |