Computers are faster and more reliable than ever before and with these technology advancements it has opened up the door to use software and musical instruments in conjunction with this new found power. With new products coming out everyday it has never been harder to determine if a computer setup may work for you as a digital keyboard. We will look at how expensive a workstation setup compared to the software route will add up when trying to not break the bank account. Also, how portable is a computer setup and is it expandable? When you complete the reading of this article you should know exactly which way you want to invest your hard earned money.
All musical instruments in one way or another seem to be showing up in a digital format these days and the piano has been at the forefront of this digital age with the use of a keyboard for longer than any. The major advancements in this technology came in the 60's with the great Moog synthesizers came on the market. While these were still analog, the achievements made paved the way for digital keyboards in the decades to come. In today's market the question is not about digital versus analog but whether or not a piece of computer software can hold up against the more familiar workstations.
So that leaves us with the current set of choices that seem to be most prevalent among new keyboard purchasers. Do you buy the all in one workstation which would be considered the more traditional route or do you go the newer computer/software road. There are many things to consider before making your choice and hopefully I will be able to shed some new light on which one is right for you. First things first lets see what makes up each keyboard setup. For the workstation its simply the keyboard along with any accessories you would want to include, but for the most part everything you need is built into the synthesizer. Things are a bit more difficult for using software. Your brains of the operation will be a computer so if you want this to be portable then you will have to use a laptop.
After the computer, a sound card will be needed in order process the digital signal. You can try using what is already built in to your computer but the latency will probably to much to overcome. There are many way to go when purchasing a sound card but buying an external card will save in setup costs unless you are comfortable with installing it yourself. We will also need a midi keyboard controller and the software package that you prefer. Once you have that then you have a solid software setup ready for use.
Wow, it can be a bit overwhelming when considering a software setup. So why would anyone choose this route then? As far as Im concerned the sounds are far superior to anything you will find built into a workstation and the ability to expand your setup and add-on is limitless. Not only that, but you now have the capability to record your ideas or songs using a piece of recording software like (Pro-Tools, Nuendo, etc). As a matter of fact you kill two birds with one stone buy purchasing an M-box by Pro-Tools. Not only would that allow you to record onto your computer and come with the software to do that, you could use it for live performances as well.
So does ease of use and setup time become more important than the overall quality of sounds and add ons? Plus how can you argue against the fact that this is turning your computer into a home studio. Yes, some workstations can do some simple recordings but it will not create a demo for your band to add to myspace.
Some great soft synths to start out on would be anything by Native Instruments. Another favorite of many are the libraries made by East West. They will record in various concert halls, using the best microphones available and create small wav files from popular string or woodwind instruments. With a simple midi keyboard you can control each sound and build an entire orchestral piece that would be impossible to do with just a workstation.
Finally what are the cost benefits of going one way or another? Well if you need portability do you have a laptop? If not then its easy to say that the software route will cost more due to the fact that a laptop will need to be included in the overall price. Workstations will range from 1 to 4 grand and will probably have better playability than most midi keyboard controllers.
If you add up software, controller and sound-card, it could be under a grand depending on how much software you buy but keep in mind that some of the really good software from East West and others can add up quick, although they have dropped their prices tremendously over the last few years. Hopefully you have gained a better sense of what each product variations could benefit you best and also help demystify the world of software based keyboard solutions. - 16039
All musical instruments in one way or another seem to be showing up in a digital format these days and the piano has been at the forefront of this digital age with the use of a keyboard for longer than any. The major advancements in this technology came in the 60's with the great Moog synthesizers came on the market. While these were still analog, the achievements made paved the way for digital keyboards in the decades to come. In today's market the question is not about digital versus analog but whether or not a piece of computer software can hold up against the more familiar workstations.
So that leaves us with the current set of choices that seem to be most prevalent among new keyboard purchasers. Do you buy the all in one workstation which would be considered the more traditional route or do you go the newer computer/software road. There are many things to consider before making your choice and hopefully I will be able to shed some new light on which one is right for you. First things first lets see what makes up each keyboard setup. For the workstation its simply the keyboard along with any accessories you would want to include, but for the most part everything you need is built into the synthesizer. Things are a bit more difficult for using software. Your brains of the operation will be a computer so if you want this to be portable then you will have to use a laptop.
After the computer, a sound card will be needed in order process the digital signal. You can try using what is already built in to your computer but the latency will probably to much to overcome. There are many way to go when purchasing a sound card but buying an external card will save in setup costs unless you are comfortable with installing it yourself. We will also need a midi keyboard controller and the software package that you prefer. Once you have that then you have a solid software setup ready for use.
Wow, it can be a bit overwhelming when considering a software setup. So why would anyone choose this route then? As far as Im concerned the sounds are far superior to anything you will find built into a workstation and the ability to expand your setup and add-on is limitless. Not only that, but you now have the capability to record your ideas or songs using a piece of recording software like (Pro-Tools, Nuendo, etc). As a matter of fact you kill two birds with one stone buy purchasing an M-box by Pro-Tools. Not only would that allow you to record onto your computer and come with the software to do that, you could use it for live performances as well.
So does ease of use and setup time become more important than the overall quality of sounds and add ons? Plus how can you argue against the fact that this is turning your computer into a home studio. Yes, some workstations can do some simple recordings but it will not create a demo for your band to add to myspace.
Some great soft synths to start out on would be anything by Native Instruments. Another favorite of many are the libraries made by East West. They will record in various concert halls, using the best microphones available and create small wav files from popular string or woodwind instruments. With a simple midi keyboard you can control each sound and build an entire orchestral piece that would be impossible to do with just a workstation.
Finally what are the cost benefits of going one way or another? Well if you need portability do you have a laptop? If not then its easy to say that the software route will cost more due to the fact that a laptop will need to be included in the overall price. Workstations will range from 1 to 4 grand and will probably have better playability than most midi keyboard controllers.
If you add up software, controller and sound-card, it could be under a grand depending on how much software you buy but keep in mind that some of the really good software from East West and others can add up quick, although they have dropped their prices tremendously over the last few years. Hopefully you have gained a better sense of what each product variations could benefit you best and also help demystify the world of software based keyboard solutions. - 16039
About the Author:
For a list of my favorite computer programs and synthesizer models please head over to the link below. I also have the best list of musical instruments keyboard on the net. musical-instruments-keyboard.com