Quote from Cronos

So you can basically just replace the default sounds with new ones?

If so that's pretty awesome.

kind of, MIDI keyboards don't usually come with the built-in speakers, sound drivers or synth libraries that drive up the cost of digital pianos. it's just a MIDI output that you route into a VSTi on your computer and the audio goes through your PC's audio output.

since you're on a budget it'd make more sense to pay for a $300 MIDI keyboard and download a grand piano VSTi. the sound quality and keyboard construction will be way higher than what you'll get for a comparable digital piano, especially in that price range. you can definitely get a nice digital piano for under $500 but I'd suggest the MIDI option, especially since you can get any sound you'd like out of virtual synths.

Quote from Cronos

And wouldn't velocity samples be somewhat restricted by the particular keyboard?

yep. the number of samples isn't really important for your intentions, though, as long as it's velocity-sensitive it should be fine.

My dear friend, all these lessons from the users + your love for what you are doing. You must really love that you're gonna play piano, or you won't get in the rhythm of things.
And keep your hands very firm on the keys. But when you try to place your finger on another key, keep it flattened but reach out as best as you can + practice often.
That is all

I just use a MIDI piano with synthesia and treat it as a rhythm game. Without trying to toot my own horn, I've gotten pretty excellent at it.

I'm sure my fundamentals are absolute garbage though.

Like Guitar hero, but Keyboard Hero.

there is only one keyboard hero, and that is rick wakeman

Let me ask you guys. If I am using a keyboard that already has built in sounds, will it still work with computer synthesizers like the one you mentioned right? (so long as it has MIDI ports) And what's the difference between connecting to a computer via MIDI and USB.

Quote from Cronos

Let me ask you guys. If I am using a keyboard that already has built in sounds, will it still work with computer synthesizers like the one you mentioned right? (so long as it has MIDI ports)

i dunno lol

Quote from Cronos

And what's the difference between connecting to a computer via MIDI and USB.

i dunno lol

as far as i know MIDI is a direct input of some kind

Ah wait I checked the site.

Seems USB is simpler than MIDI, if the keyboard has a USB port. And it should work fine if it's not solely a MIDI dedicated keyboard controller (don't know if that's the right term, but if it doesn't produce sound, it seems like a controller to me)

im glad i could be of no help

Quote from Cronos

Ah wait I checked the site.

Seems USB is simpler than MIDI, if the keyboard has a USB port. And it should work fine if it's not solely a MIDI dedicated keyboard controller (don't know if that's the right term, but if it doesn't produce sound, it seems like a controller to me)

With my guitar, I plug into a multi-FX pedal with a USB port that goes straight into the computer. I can turn off all of the effects and put a raw guitar signal through Amplitube to get pretty much any tone I want. MIDI doesn't work because my guitar can't send that signal in the first place, so I put it through an effects channel rather than a VSTi and that works great.

With a digital piano it's a different story, the output is going to be a specific sound rather than a raw MIDI output that can drive a VSTi. You can modulate it with effects but only with stuff like delay, reverb, equalization, etc. since the original sound is what you have to work with, you won't be able to turn a piano sound patch into a string patch or anything like that. There's always lag with a USB connection as well, you can minimize it with the proper audio drivers but I can't get it below 3-4 ms on my setup, which is more noticeable than you'd think with a live instrument.

A lot of digital pianos have MIDI out, though, so that might be the best of both worlds for you.

The one I was looking at has both USB and MIDI out. So you're saying if it already has a synth built in, it isn't exporting raw MIDI info?

the MIDI output would send that signal, USB would send the audio from the built-in sound drivers.

Oh I see. Awesome.

Piano is for gays, you should learn to play the Fagot