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.
Musical instruments over the years have slowly been adapted to the digital format but none so prominently as the piano which became the keyboard. The first major innovation came in the 60's when Bob Moog unveiled his Moog series of keyboards. While still analog, these advancements set the stage for the digital revolution to begin. Today the choice to setup a keyboard workstation using a computer and software is much debated just as the analog versus digital audiophiles have squabbled about for decades now.
So when you when you decide to make your purchase you have two main options to select from. Do you go the software route or stay with the more conventional all in one keyboard workstation. It is my hope that I will be able to guide you on your journey, helping you make the choice which is best for you. First, lets see what each setup is made of. The digital workstation is pretty much what you see is what you get. It's all built into the unit and unless you want to add some accessories then you need nothing else. Now the first drawback to some wanting to use software is that this is a bit more of a setup. The heart and soul is your computer and if you want to use this for gigging then you have to have 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.
As you can see deciding to use software can be mind blowing to setup correctly. Then why even consider this as a viable option? With experience using both methods I can easily say that software offers a much higher quality of sounds and can be expanded on overtime. With the purchase of the audio-card you now have the ability to turn your computer into a home studio. One way to go is to buy an M-box audio-card by Pro-Tools which would also come with Pro-Tools recording software. This would allow to record with high end software and could also be used in a live setting as well.
In the end you have to decide whether or not ease of setup and portability is more important than quality of sounds and endless extensibility. Not to mention that going this route sets you up with a mini home recording studio as well. A lot of workstations may allow some basic recording functionality but this will allow for recording any instruments you want and make for a very conducive writing environment for band situations.
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.
When you add up your main components (controller, sound-card, and software) you should be able to stay under one thousand dollars. You do have to be aware that some software, including the above mentioned East West, can be just as pricey as a new laptop. In the end, the amount of software you decide to buy is what will really determine how much you spend on this setup. Hopefully I have been able to guide you through the mysterious world of software setups for the keyboard (or even other musical instruments) and you should now be able to make better choice as to which is right for you.
Musical instruments over the years have slowly been adapted to the digital format but none so prominently as the piano which became the keyboard. The first major innovation came in the 60's when Bob Moog unveiled his Moog series of keyboards. While still analog, these advancements set the stage for the digital revolution to begin. Today the choice to setup a keyboard workstation using a computer and software is much debated just as the analog versus digital audiophiles have squabbled about for decades now.
So when you when you decide to make your purchase you have two main options to select from. Do you go the software route or stay with the more conventional all in one keyboard workstation. It is my hope that I will be able to guide you on your journey, helping you make the choice which is best for you. First, lets see what each setup is made of. The digital workstation is pretty much what you see is what you get. It's all built into the unit and unless you want to add some accessories then you need nothing else. Now the first drawback to some wanting to use software is that this is a bit more of a setup. The heart and soul is your computer and if you want to use this for gigging then you have to have 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.
As you can see deciding to use software can be mind blowing to setup correctly. Then why even consider this as a viable option? With experience using both methods I can easily say that software offers a much higher quality of sounds and can be expanded on overtime. With the purchase of the audio-card you now have the ability to turn your computer into a home studio. One way to go is to buy an M-box audio-card by Pro-Tools which would also come with Pro-Tools recording software. This would allow to record with high end software and could also be used in a live setting as well.
In the end you have to decide whether or not ease of setup and portability is more important than quality of sounds and endless extensibility. Not to mention that going this route sets you up with a mini home recording studio as well. A lot of workstations may allow some basic recording functionality but this will allow for recording any instruments you want and make for a very conducive writing environment for band situations.
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.
When you add up your main components (controller, sound-card, and software) you should be able to stay under one thousand dollars. You do have to be aware that some software, including the above mentioned East West, can be just as pricey as a new laptop. In the end, the amount of software you decide to buy is what will really determine how much you spend on this setup. Hopefully I have been able to guide you through the mysterious world of software setups for the keyboard (or even other musical instruments) and you should now be able to make better choice as to which is right for you.
About the Author:
For a list of my favorite software and workstation brands please make sure to drop by my site and say hi. I also have the top list of musical instruments keyboard on the net. musical-instruments-keyboard.com
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