Gain A Basic Understanding of MIDI Keyboards

April 28, 2012 7:00 amLeave a Comment

MIDI stands for Music Instrument Device Interface. It’s not the instrument itself but rather the protocol that makes connecting with and controlling other systems (electronic instrument and computers) possible. When people say they will get a midi this is what it means. Nowadays a lot of digital instruments have midi capability – one of them is your midi keyboard.

There are different types out there. One of them you typically see at WalMart and the like. They’re consumer portable keyboards. They have built in speakers and come with a preset number of sounds and instrument variations – along with the accompanying beats. They will even teach you which keys to press when you’re playing music.

Bigger than the consumer portables are the digital pianos. As the name suggests they have piano sized keyboards and play like regular pianos in terms of feel. They come with their own speakers and you typically have a selection of music and accompaniments built-in to the system.

But as an amateur or professional musician what you need to have is a midi keyboard controller. With them you are able to create, mix and edit your music creations all from one unit. The smaller versions typically won’t have speakers built in which means you would need to connect it to a system that does – typically your computer with a sound card.

The size that you get will depend on how you use it and other limiting factors. If you’re always on the road then perhaps lugging a big unit may not be the best thing for you. This is also true if you have limited space. Even if you want the big one if you don’t really have the space to put it in then there’s no point – this is especially true of those home based musicians whose only space is the gap between their computer and computer keyboard.

Putting usage and other limitations aside the size of the midi keyboard is dependent upon the number of keys it has. Obviously the more keys there are the bigger the size. Numbers start as high as 88 keys, all the way down to 25 keys. You can even get them smaller than a 25 but that’s pretty small.

88 and 76 keys are your typical piano size keyboard and there are those that would say you get to play best if you get either of these two sizes. 61 and 49 keys is the stop gap units and they tend to satisfy a lot of people who like the bigger number of keys but without the bulkiness.

For those who simply want small and portable then there are the 37 and 25 keys. These are typically full blown controllers and have no sound system of their own. They’re lightweight and if used by a good musician can give its bigger cousins a run for their money.

Then there are other things to look at like the weight of the keys and the knobs and buttons and widgets you get with the midi keyboard. But, what is important to remember is the use you’re going to get out of it. If you can use 100% of a small unit versus only 50% of the bigger one then choose the smaller one. You are able to max out its potential and not waste anything when making good music.

Check out useful tips in buying Midi Keyboards. Know what other users say in the Midi Keyboard Reviews section.

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How To Pick Your MIDI Keyboard

April 27, 2012 7:00 amLeave a Comment

If you’re into making music using your computer then you know how important it is to have a good MIDI keyboard at your disposal. There are a number of products to choose from and depending on your wallet you can get them new or used with varying quality and results.

What’s In A Number? Perhaps one of the most important decisions you need to make before getting your own MIDI keyboard is how big do you need it to be? That is to say just how many keys should you want to have? There’s a wide range of keys available which also determines the size – 88, 76, 61, 49, 37, or 25. Most users would recommend the 49 – it’s an intermediate size which can give you the range you need with the ease of use. It’s also small enough so that space and storage need not be a problem.

Of course there are those who would say that you should get the 88 if you can afford it and can find a space for it. Then there are those who prefer the smaller number ones as something worth getting. It can get confusing but you don’t really need to make a mountain out of a mole hill. In order to decide the size that suits your needs you need to figure out a few things.

What are you going to be using it for? If you’re simply doing it for fun or doing small range compositions then maybe a smaller size unit is the one for you. This is also true if you use it on the road a lot. If you’re going to do full-blown composition then perhaps a full 88 is for you.

Being big doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best choice for you. Even if you do full composition and development you may still wind up using a MIDI keyboard with a smaller number of keys simply because you wind up creating short sections or instrument specific music instead of a full music concerto – for that you don’t really need to use a full 88 keyboard.

Also, as long as you have a number of knobs and sliders to give you a wider range of “effects” and make full use of your software the number of keyboards may not necessarily matter at all. Of course it’s all moot and academic if you can’t get pass the next factor.

Space is also a consideration. Consider the size of your “studio” and whether you will have space to fit a full 88 between your computer and your keyboard. Just to be sure measure the exact space you have available and make your decision using that.

You may want a full 88 but let’s face it – if it can’t fit then it’s all but useless. This is especially true if you have other “instruments” competing for the same space. Price is also a consideration but the good thing is MIDI keyboards are a whole lot cheaper than say a digital piano or electronic piano. Whatever you decide on as long as you’re able to maximize its use and your enjoyment then it is the best one for you.

Read real users Midi Keyboard Reviews and be able to make the right decision in buying your own Midi Keyboard.

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The Basics of Having a Home Music Studio

January 3, 2012 8:00 amLeave a Comment

Any musician’s dream is to have their number one hit. But how does one go about getting that hit to the masses? Having a home music studio can get you on the right track to bringing this dream to reality!

Not everyone has the deep pockets required to hire a professional recording studio, and that’s ok. You can have your own home music studio and it doesn’t have to cost a lot (in some cases, nothing). Even if you do have the cash to go and hire the help of the pros, it is a very smart idea to have your arrangements down before hand so that you don’t waste time and money in the pro studio.

A home music studio can come in many different flavours, so to speak. To really narrow it down, you have the stand alone hardware recording units, and then you have software programs used with your computer. We’re going to talk about recording with software and your computer, since most everyone has a computer these days, and in my opinion, it has much more power and flexibility than a stand alone unit.

Computer owners have a great home music studio opportunity! There are many software programs out there to suit any budget. If you’re new to recording, why not grab and play around with Audacity (free download) to get a feel for recording on your computer. It wouldn’t multi-track well on my machine, but even if you just use it to record a single audio track which you can edit, add effects to, etc. it will give you a starting point for free. If you’re going to purchase any software, be sure to check system requirements so that you know your computer will be able to perform well with the software program.

Getting the sound into the computer is pretty straight forward. Beginners can use any microphone (you don’t need a proper music one to start, although if you want to produce any decent quality it is recommended. Just plug into your mic input (or other input if your mic is USB or something like that). Laptop users can even use the built in mic for learning purposes. For more intermediate home music studio setups, a mixer going into an internal or external sound card that is specifically for recording music will take you to the next level.

The key is to start playing around with multiple tracks. Drums, bass, keyboards, singing. You can build as you go. The more you experiment, the more you will learn. I started recording in my home music studio at 15 and over 26 years later, you could say I have a lot of techniques under my belt. But you have to start somewhere, so just dive in and see what you can come up with!

Brian Couture is a musician, internet marketer, entrepreneur, and real estate agent. His passions include helping people, technology, good food & good wine, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Home Music Studio

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From the Streets to Keyboards – The Evolution of Music Promotion

January 2, 2012 8:00 amLeave a Comment

During the Middle Ages, minstrels and jesters-those poets of ascerbic tongue and quick wit-live on the whim and beckon of the King or rich sponsors. They were really the first entertainers who started music promotion, their arts not only a means to assert their freedom but also served, especially if they were really good, to nail them to their masters for as long as they lived.

Music may have started to wean away from the domain of established institutions like the Church, coliseums, or palaces and into the streets during the Renaissance period, a magical epoch of experimentation and exploration.

Street performers and musicians, however, can trace their modern roots as early as the 18th century, when the word “busking” was first recorded to have appeared in Western civilization. They travel from city to city, performing live and basking on extensive music promotion in the hope that the audience will give money as a token appreciation of their talents.

To this day, street performers are still called “buskers” in honor of their predecessors.

While this can be very fulfilling because they interact directly with their audience, it can also be a deadly trap. Unless you are one of those artists who don’t really care whether or not they earn money as long as they can share their music, there’s another better way to do music promotion.

Gone are the days when music promotion and selling CDs entail endless travels from city to city. When in times you get invited to perform at a local bar and you do it even for a plate of food and a bottle of beer in the hope that a record producer happens to be sitting on the crowd on the night you are performing. Now what are the chances of that?

The essence of technology is to make it easier for human beings to evolve. With the right tools, you can multiply the chance of doing music promotion to a larger audience. You can follow the route of other recording artists who uploaded their videos on social sharing sights like YouTube or MySpace Music, but there are websites that can really help you from conceptualizing the music, recording, designing the label, and marketing your music.

The main concept is to register and upload as many compositions that you are willing to sell. Ownership rights in these cases are clearly defined. This is important on questions of royalty percentage or if indeed a record producer notices you.

Aside from earning direct revenues from CD sales, you can also earn royalties every time your tracks are downloaded. There are also other ways to fatten up your pockets through merchandise sales (t-shirts, caps, apparel, toys… you get the drift), mall tours or live performances.

The problem is wannabe musicians still believe that record producers gamble all their resources for some unknown and unproven talent, instead of looking for somebody with a proven sales or interest record that can be gauged by the total number of hits on YouTube or pre-ordered CDs through promotional music websites.

Sure, Mariah Carey’s character was discovered on Glitter by a record producer even when the odds were against her. But we all know how that movie turned out in the box-office, right? Just nail a solid music promotion and you’re ready to stardom.

Eugene Sturdivant is the CEO of www.StreetDreamerZ.com, an online project oriented entrepreneurship program that gives everyone a chance in training and real-world experience in the music industry. This site offers a project-based curriculum that teaches you on starting up your own music business, helps you on your music promotion and making it big in the long run.

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What Is a MIDI Keyboard?

January 1, 2012 8:00 amLeave a Comment

If you’re thinking of becoming a desktop musician or thinking about making music using your computer then having a MIDI keyboard is highly recommended. You’ve probably seen them around in music shops, in advertising, or being played by fellow musicians or musician-wanna-be’s in live performances. But what exactly are they?

Simply put, it’s a piano-style keyboard device that is used for sending (MIDI) signals over a USB or MIDI cable to other devices operating on the same MIDI protocol interface – like your desktop computer for example that runs a digital audio workstation (DAW) software. That being said, not all the MIDI keyboard that you can get out there is actually the piano-style user interfaces. Many alternative designs have pads or buttons that sense the velocity of your fingers to lower or increase play volume such as the Continuum Fingerboard, a fretless design.

Let’s focus on the piano style keyboards. When buying yourself one you typically factor in budget and comfort. Of course if you have the budget then you can buy the best one that is comfortable for you to use. However, not everyone has unlimited budget, especially not the new musician in the making.

For the rest of us selecting one means selecting the size which typically means the number of keys available. There are a number to choose from ranging – 88, 76, 61, 49, 37 or 25. The purist will want you to get the 88 or at least the 76. The one you get will depend on another factor – space. An 88 may be good but if you can’t fit it in your studio (i.e. in front of your computer) then there’s no need for something that big.

Once you’ve selected the number of keys think about the key action – that is to say the manner the keys respond to your playing. There are typically 3 types – synth action, semi-weighted action and full weighted action.

1) Synth action have light spring loaded keys that take little pressure to activate and tend to return to their positions very quickly. This is good for those who play a lot of fast pieces and those who aren’t really pianists by nature.

2) Semi-weighted action MIDI keyboard has keys that offer some resistance and springs back slower than the synth action ones.

3) Finally there’s the full weighted action keys which mimics the mechanical action of conventional pianos. It requires more pressure to play and are typically used by people who play the piano and like the feel of “real” piano keys.

Of course you can forget the knobs, buttons and sliders that help transmit MIDI information and give the user more hands-on control over everything connected to your controller including the DAW software. This way you get real-time control in the sound making process unlike using your computer’s mouse control.

The number of knobs and buttons will depend on usage but the bare necessities should have the pitch and mod wheels and you can make do with a small number of sliders. As long as you are able to effectively assign synth programming you can easily maximize use of your MIDI keyboard.

Check out useful tips in buying Midi Keyboards. Know what other users say in the Midi Keyboard Reviews section.

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Consider These Factors Before Buying a MIDI Keyboard

December 31, 2011 8:00 amLeave a Comment

If you’re an avid musician, whether professional or an amateur, having a MIDI keyboard is the way to go. With it you are able to create music that in the old days would require a good number of musicians, time and money in order to achieve the same results.

Nowadays most, if not all, digital or electronic keyboards are MIDI capable. You will know it because it should say so on their body and they should have the MIDI interface input and outputs in the back or side. That being the case you need to consider these before choosing your unit.

Budget: Before making any purchases ask yourself how much you’re willing to spend. As with anything else the price will vary depending on the type, features and keys of the one you’re planning to get. Obviously the more features and keys you get the higher the price.

Space: Another consideration before buying anything. If you’re simply working from home then you may want to consider the size of MIDI keyboard you’re getting – if you have a small space then smaller is better. Conversely, if you enough available space then get a bigger one of course dependent upon whether you can afford it or not.

Use: If you’re a musician that’s always on the road then perhaps lugging a 60-pound behemoth may not be the best thing for you. You may want to consider a smaller unit that’s much more compact and portable – just what you need when you’re running from one gig to another. If you’re a stay at home kind of musician then bigger may be ok (if you have the budget and the space for it).

Keys: The number of keys determines the size of the MIDI keyboard. It comes in 88, 76, 61, 49, 37 and 25. You can even get them smaller than a 25. Piano enthusiast and hardcore composers would tell you that you should get the 88. While it may be a good idea the number of keys you get will depend on your budget, space and the intended use. As mentioned above you won’t buy an 88 if you can’t even fit it in your home studio. That will be like parking a tank in a space for a motorcycle – it ain’t gonna happen.

Type: Do you want a controller type or a piano type. Controller types are typically smaller because they don’t have speakers. That means in order to hear any sound you would need to have it attached to something else, like a computer with a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) program. If you want to hear something as you play then get a piano type as it comes with internal sound system but this makes them bigger. (See budget, space and use constraints)

There are other things to consider before you get your MIDI keyboard – key feel, controllers, knobs, and brand – but these 5 are the basics before you purchase anything.

Check out useful tips in buying Midi Keyboards. Know what other users say in the Midi Keyboard Reviews section.

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Yamaha YPT-300AD Full-Size 61-Key Touch-Sensitive

December 30, 2011 8:00 amLeave a Comment

Yamaha YPT-300AD Full-Size 61-Key Touch-Sensitive

Description: A truly affordable portable keyboard that also doubles as your own personal music teacher, the YPT200 offers it all 134 voices, 100 accompaniment styles, Yamaha Education Suite, Portable Grand, and General MIDI are just some of the features that this little wonder offers.
  • Binding: Electronics
  • Brand: Yamaha
  • Color: gray
  • EAN: 0086792285542
  • Feature: Touch-sensitive 61-key portable digital keyboard with 482 instrument voices and 106 accompaniment styles
  • Feature: Yamaha Education Suite 5 offers 102 built-in songs separated into left- and right-hand parts for easy learning
  • Feature: Grand Piano voice simulates warm, rich tones of a genuine piano; General MIDI and XGlite compatible
  • Feature: Sound effects kit with nearly 50 effects; 32-note polyphony; pair of ported 4.72-inch stereo speakers
  • Feature: MIDI in/out connections and sustain pedal jack; measures 37.25 x 5.06 x 14.62 inches (W x H x D); 1-year parts warranty
  • IsAutographed: 0
  • IsMemorabilia: 0
  • Label: Yamaha Corporation of America
  • ListPrice:
  • Manufacturer: Yamaha Corporation of America
  • Model: YPT300AD
  • PackageDimensions:
  • PackageQuantity: 5
  • ProductGroup: Musical Instruments
  • ProductTypeName: KEYBOARD_INSTRUMENTS
  • Publisher: Yamaha Corporation of America
  • Studio: Yamaha Corporation of America
  • Title: Yamaha YPT-300AD Full-Size 61-Key Touch-Sensitive Keyboard
  • UPC: 086792285542

Price: 225.00

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Features To Check Out in Buying a Midi Keyboard

December 30, 2011 8:00 amLeave a Comment

How To Choose A Midi Keyboard

If you’re into making music using your computer then you know how important it is to have a good MIDI keyboard at your disposal. There are a number of products to choose from and depending on your wallet you can get them new or used with varying quality and results.

Keyboard Size

Perhaps the biggest concern you may have, other than the technical aspects is that of size – or rather the number of keys your keyboard will have. Typically they come in 88, 76, 61, 49, 37, and 25.

Many would argue for getting the big one even if it is somewhat pricey while still others like the portability and compactness of the 25. Most would say that for multipurpose action the 49 Midi keyboard is worth it.

It really depends on what you’re going to use it for and the space available. If you usually do live performances on stage then space is not an issue and an 88 may be the best, even if it is quite bulky. On the other hand if you work at home where space can be a premium then a smaller one might be in order.

How Heavy?

We’re not necessarily talking about the weight of the unit itself but rather of its keys. Depending on your preference you can get keys that are touch sensitive, un-weighted, semi-weighted, or full weighted.

1) Touch sensitive keys will play depending on how hard you play. The harder you press the louder the sound that comes out.

2) Un-weighted keys offer little or no resistance. You won’t feel any springiness unlike say the keys on a real piano. If you’re the type who plays fast or a beginner who doesn’t really have an idea about playing then this may be the best option for your Midi keyboard.

3) The semi-weighted keys are a compromise between the un-weighted and the full-weighted versions. It offers some resistance or “feel” to the user while keeping it light at the same time. Most will find this a better fit for them.

4) For those who are used to playing the piano then the weighted keys are the ones for you. These will offer the resistance and springiness one would find and associate with regular pianos. Those that choose this prefer the feedback playing gives them versus the above selections.

Again the choice will depend on your action and what you’re used to. If you played the piano before then you may feel more comfortable with the weighted keys. On the other hand if you like playing faster or don’t like the resistance then an un-weighted key is for you. But for the majority the semi-weighed keys will do as it’s the best compromise between the two extremes.

When it comes to the price the bigger they are (i.e. the more keys they have) the higher the price. At the same time the more weighted the keys the higher the price. Of course that’s not to say that price should be your limiting factor when choosing your Midi keyboard. What’s important is the use you will be getting out of it and if you “feel” it – that is worth the price you will pay and then some.

Check out useful tips in buying Midi Keyboards. Know what other users say in the Midi Keyboard Reviews section.

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Yamaha – Portable Keyboard 61 Full-Size Keys

December 29, 2011 8:00 amLeave a Comment

Yamaha – Portable Keyboard 61 Full-Size Keys

Description: This Yamaha YPT220 Portable Keyboard has 375 natural sounding voices, including Stereo Grand Piano, 361 XGlite voices, 12 drum kits and a sound effect kit. Use the Portable Grand button to instantly call up an authentic stereo grand piano sound. The Yamaha Education Suite feature makes learning and practicing easy and fun.
  • Binding: Personal Computers
  • Brand: Yamaha
  • EAN: 0086792311234
  • Feature: You’re never more than a button push away from the most realistic piano sound in portable keyboards today. One press of the Portable Grand button resets the entire keyboard to a stereo-sampled piano – perfect for when it’s time to practice.
  • Feature: Yamaha is known around the world for the quality of our acoustic pianos and this attention to detail is evident as you enjoy the warmth and clarity of the YPT-220 Portable Grand piano.
  • Feature: The keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.
  • ItemDimensions:
  • Label: Yamaha
  • ListPrice:
  • Manufacturer: Yamaha
  • Model: YPT220MS
  • MPN: YPT220MS
  • PackageDimensions:
  • PackageQuantity: 1
  • ProductGroup: CE
  • ProductTypeName: COMPUTER_COMPONENT
  • Publisher: Yamaha
  • SKU: 00CBXC-000
  • Studio: Yamaha
  • Title: Yamaha – Portable Keyboard with 61 Full-Size Keys
  • UPC: 086792311234

Price: 115.45

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Gain A Basic Understanding of MIDI Keyboards

December 29, 2011 8:00 amLeave a Comment

MIDI stands for Music Instrument Device Interface. It’s not the instrument itself but rather the protocol that makes connecting with and controlling other systems (electronic instrument and computers) possible. When people say they will get a midi this is what it means. Nowadays a lot of digital instruments have midi capability – one of them is your midi keyboard.

There are different types out there. One of them you typically see at WalMart and the like. They’re consumer portable keyboards. They have built in speakers and come with a preset number of sounds and instrument variations – along with the accompanying beats. They will even teach you which keys to press when you’re playing music.

Bigger than the consumer portables are the digital pianos. As the name suggests they have piano sized keyboards and play like regular pianos in terms of feel. They come with their own speakers and you typically have a selection of music and accompaniments built-in to the system.

But as an amateur or professional musician what you need to have is a midi keyboard controller. With them you are able to create, mix and edit your music creations all from one unit. The smaller versions typically won’t have speakers built in which means you would need to connect it to a system that does – typically your computer with a sound card.

The size that you get will depend on how you use it and other limiting factors. If you’re always on the road then perhaps lugging a big unit may not be the best thing for you. This is also true if you have limited space. Even if you want the big one if you don’t really have the space to put it in then there’s no point – this is especially true of those home based musicians whose only space is the gap between their computer and computer keyboard.

Putting usage and other limitations aside the size of the midi keyboard is dependent upon the number of keys it has. Obviously the more keys there are the bigger the size. Numbers start as high as 88 keys, all the way down to 25 keys. You can even get them smaller than a 25 but that’s pretty small.

88 and 76 keys are your typical piano size keyboard and there are those that would say you get to play best if you get either of these two sizes. 61 and 49 keys is the stop gap units and they tend to satisfy a lot of people who like the bigger number of keys but without the bulkiness.

For those who simply want small and portable then there are the 37 and 25 keys. These are typically full blown controllers and have no sound system of their own. They’re lightweight and if used by a good musician can give its bigger cousins a run for their money.

Then there are other things to look at like the weight of the keys and the knobs and buttons and widgets you get with the midi keyboard. But, what is important to remember is the use you’re going to get out of it. If you can use 100% of a small unit versus only 50% of the bigger one then choose the smaller one. You are able to max out its potential and not waste anything when making good music.

Check out useful tips in buying Midi Keyboards. Know what other users say in the Midi Keyboard Reviews section.

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