With the price of computers falling everyday and the power that sits inside going up, the option to use them as musical instruments with midi keyboard controllers has never been greater. The vast array of choices can leave the beginner with information overload, especially when deciding which if a traditional route maybe be better than going with a computer setup. We will cover the costs of of both setups along with how expandable and portable each solution is. By the end hopefully you will have a better understanding of what a workstation or software solution can offer you and then make a sensible choice on your purchase.
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.
If you haven't noticed by now the computer setup is much more difficult to get going then the plug and play workstation. Should I even consider this as an option for me? The answer is yes! While it is more of a headache to get started, the quality of sounds and options can't be beat. Add to that the ability to add-on as much or as little as you want and this now becomes a strong candidate. The audio-card also enables recording on your computer as well. If you were to purchase an M-box audio-card then that would come with the Pro-Tools software that could be used to record or for live shows as well.
When decision time comes, does setup time and portability weigh heavier than the quality of sounds and limitless extensibility? You also have to consider that the software solution adds a home studio into the equation for no extra cost. To be fair, workstations do have the capability to do some simple recordings but it is not something you could really take advantage of in a band situation. I don't know about you but I like the idea of doing some full demos as well.
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.
Now to the main concern of most, what will each cost me? If portability is a must then a laptop is a must as well. If you do not have one then your overall price of a software setup will go way up. You will probably spend between 1 to 4 thousand dollars on a quality workstation so if a laptop is not needed then it is probably cheaper to go with a software setup.
If you total up the price of a keyboard controller, sound-card, and software you will probably be well under a thousand dollars on your total purchase. You do have to consider that some software can be very expensive and how many different pieces you decide to get is what will really determine what your completed price will be. Now that we have looked at both scenarios, hopefully you will be able to make a better choice as to which setup will be 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.
If you haven't noticed by now the computer setup is much more difficult to get going then the plug and play workstation. Should I even consider this as an option for me? The answer is yes! While it is more of a headache to get started, the quality of sounds and options can't be beat. Add to that the ability to add-on as much or as little as you want and this now becomes a strong candidate. The audio-card also enables recording on your computer as well. If you were to purchase an M-box audio-card then that would come with the Pro-Tools software that could be used to record or for live shows as well.
When decision time comes, does setup time and portability weigh heavier than the quality of sounds and limitless extensibility? You also have to consider that the software solution adds a home studio into the equation for no extra cost. To be fair, workstations do have the capability to do some simple recordings but it is not something you could really take advantage of in a band situation. I don't know about you but I like the idea of doing some full demos as well.
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.
Now to the main concern of most, what will each cost me? If portability is a must then a laptop is a must as well. If you do not have one then your overall price of a software setup will go way up. You will probably spend between 1 to 4 thousand dollars on a quality workstation so if a laptop is not needed then it is probably cheaper to go with a software setup.
If you total up the price of a keyboard controller, sound-card, and software you will probably be well under a thousand dollars on your total purchase. You do have to consider that some software can be very expensive and how many different pieces you decide to get is what will really determine what your completed price will be. Now that we have looked at both scenarios, hopefully you will be able to make a better choice as to which setup will be right for you.
About the Author:
For a list of my favorite software and synthesizer models 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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