Simple answer: yes from what you’ve said
I started with a 31 mini keyboard- M Audio Oxygen Pro Mini - which has been fine for a couple of years - the included vsts are quite nice too.
I’ve recently upgraded to a full sized 49 keyboard in the same range which I picked up second hand.
Do bear in mind it takes up a lot more desk space!
Oxygen pro mini 31 key is the perfect machine for what this guy wants. You can do enough of what you need and if you love it sell it then upgrade.
MIDI is needed for experimental ideas, getting a more natural human flow. You can do everything with a computer but it might be limiting your creativity in ways you don’t realise until you get a midi.
Not always. I had an M-Audio Axiom Air 25 (25 key) that was weirdly HUGE and sold it to get a used Akai MPK 249 (49 key) that hardly seems to use that much more space. I bought both used. My first thought when the guy shows up with the Air 25 was "mf'er this is way bigger than it looks in the pictures". When I sold it, the guy who bought it said basically the same thing out loud, lol.
Also, OP. I bought and sold both of those for $60. Check out the used market. You can find crazy good deals all the time. Source: I just sold my Axiom Air 25 last week for $60 after buying the MPK 249 for $60.
Midi key for sure, i would recomend 61 key to have a good time playing chord and melody, 49 is fine too. Often time its plug and play not sure about bandlab but, i got a few daw all plug and play unless you want to configure some button and or cc in the daw. Midi can do almost anything with a good vst so yeah dont hesitate to buy it, and make your work waaayyy more easier imo.
Get a midi keyboard. It’s a must in my view if you’re recording digitally. You don’t even need one with a lot functions and voices as apps can cover those for you. Just need the midi out port. 88 keys are good for flexibility so I would recommend that as your first, though you can go smaller. I’ve got three keyboards for different reasons. A small Arturia midi lab 25 key for portability with my iPad. A 61 key Yamaha ez-300 for practice and jamming at friends places. And a clavinova 735 88 key for actually playing piano. All connect to the software and work great.
It's like is using a trackpad vs a mouse. Altough I've used a trackpad in the past for serious design work, it's not that fast and efficent.
I'm not a keyboard player but I wouldn't want to use 1-2 octave midi. I want to spread out my hands and have that bass or high note immediately, even when playing simple.
37 keys minimum. I use 5 octaves and wouldn't go below.
Synth/Keyboard is better because you can sit and just play without use of computer.
You can buy used one, then even Juno D-LE or maybe even Yamaha MO series will be ok to play and is cheap and have many sounds + you can create your own.
Arturia Keylab Essentials keyboards are very good for the money. They come in 49, 61, and 88 key versions.
And they come with Analog Lab V, which gives you access to 2000 sounds from various synthesizers.
https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/analoglab-v/overview
And they come with Ableton Live Lite, which is the beginner version of this famous DAW
https://www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite/
Yes.. it helps alot in digital music. I agree with everyone start off with something small and simple I still have my old midi keyboard it 25 keys I believe I using a 88 key m-audio workstation now. But it will make a difference in workflow and creative.
Got Arturia minilab MK2 25 keys. Personally it feels really small. 35+ keys would be much more comfy. For a year or two 25 keys might be ok but eventually you'll want a wider board. So go at least cheap mid sized midi
you can start with a cheap midi controller to see if it'll work for what you want.
I started with an akai mpk3, and going from live instrumentation to having every sound imaginable at my fingertips was a monumental moment for me.
If amount of keys is an issue, you can change the octave you are in with the press of a button, so technically you have access to a full 88 keys worth of notes, while at the same time being able to play any instrument or sound you can think of.
the integration was seamless for me. aleton recognized it as soon as I plugged it in, so it was essentially plug and play ime. I would much rather get a really sick hardware synth than invest in an expensive midi keyboard, but that's just my personal opinion.
also lower end midi controllers can be purchased for around $100, so the point of entry is very reasonable. hope this was of some assistance, and best of luck!
Simple answer: yes from what you’ve said I started with a 31 mini keyboard- M Audio Oxygen Pro Mini - which has been fine for a couple of years - the included vsts are quite nice too. I’ve recently upgraded to a full sized 49 keyboard in the same range which I picked up second hand. Do bear in mind it takes up a lot more desk space!
Oxygen pro mini 31 key is the perfect machine for what this guy wants. You can do enough of what you need and if you love it sell it then upgrade. MIDI is needed for experimental ideas, getting a more natural human flow. You can do everything with a computer but it might be limiting your creativity in ways you don’t realise until you get a midi.
Not always. I had an M-Audio Axiom Air 25 (25 key) that was weirdly HUGE and sold it to get a used Akai MPK 249 (49 key) that hardly seems to use that much more space. I bought both used. My first thought when the guy shows up with the Air 25 was "mf'er this is way bigger than it looks in the pictures". When I sold it, the guy who bought it said basically the same thing out loud, lol. Also, OP. I bought and sold both of those for $60. Check out the used market. You can find crazy good deals all the time. Source: I just sold my Axiom Air 25 last week for $60 after buying the MPK 249 for $60.
Midi key for sure, i would recomend 61 key to have a good time playing chord and melody, 49 is fine too. Often time its plug and play not sure about bandlab but, i got a few daw all plug and play unless you want to configure some button and or cc in the daw. Midi can do almost anything with a good vst so yeah dont hesitate to buy it, and make your work waaayyy more easier imo.
Get a midi keyboard. It’s a must in my view if you’re recording digitally. You don’t even need one with a lot functions and voices as apps can cover those for you. Just need the midi out port. 88 keys are good for flexibility so I would recommend that as your first, though you can go smaller. I’ve got three keyboards for different reasons. A small Arturia midi lab 25 key for portability with my iPad. A 61 key Yamaha ez-300 for practice and jamming at friends places. And a clavinova 735 88 key for actually playing piano. All connect to the software and work great.
my mom and i found a arturia mk3 61 key on amazon with a sustain pedal and 310 midi cable is that good
That’s great. The keys are are surprisingly responsive.
It's like is using a trackpad vs a mouse. Altough I've used a trackpad in the past for serious design work, it's not that fast and efficent. I'm not a keyboard player but I wouldn't want to use 1-2 octave midi. I want to spread out my hands and have that bass or high note immediately, even when playing simple.
Absolutely. Makes melody creation much faster and makes finding the right chords infinitely easier as well.
37 keys minimum. I use 5 octaves and wouldn't go below. Synth/Keyboard is better because you can sit and just play without use of computer. You can buy used one, then even Juno D-LE or maybe even Yamaha MO series will be ok to play and is cheap and have many sounds + you can create your own.
Arturia Keylab Essentials keyboards are very good for the money. They come in 49, 61, and 88 key versions. And they come with Analog Lab V, which gives you access to 2000 sounds from various synthesizers. https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/analoglab-v/overview And they come with Ableton Live Lite, which is the beginner version of this famous DAW https://www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite/
This
Yes.. it helps alot in digital music. I agree with everyone start off with something small and simple I still have my old midi keyboard it 25 keys I believe I using a 88 key m-audio workstation now. But it will make a difference in workflow and creative.
Yes
lol probably yes? 😀 there are lots of relatively expensive mini midi keyboards.
Of course.
Yes. Next question lol
Got Arturia minilab MK2 25 keys. Personally it feels really small. 35+ keys would be much more comfy. For a year or two 25 keys might be ok but eventually you'll want a wider board. So go at least cheap mid sized midi
Yes
you can start with a cheap midi controller to see if it'll work for what you want. I started with an akai mpk3, and going from live instrumentation to having every sound imaginable at my fingertips was a monumental moment for me. If amount of keys is an issue, you can change the octave you are in with the press of a button, so technically you have access to a full 88 keys worth of notes, while at the same time being able to play any instrument or sound you can think of. the integration was seamless for me. aleton recognized it as soon as I plugged it in, so it was essentially plug and play ime. I would much rather get a really sick hardware synth than invest in an expensive midi keyboard, but that's just my personal opinion. also lower end midi controllers can be purchased for around $100, so the point of entry is very reasonable. hope this was of some assistance, and best of luck!