Members slunk0132 Posted November 5, 2007 Members Share Posted November 5, 2007 So I have given up trying to find any synth in the $500 or so range that has decent tones and features. Seems like the best thing I can do to satisfy my needs right now (ie: good piano, EP, hammond, synth) tones is to get a softsynth for my laptop and get a decent 88-key MIDI controller. Right now, I'm thinking: M Audio Key Rig 49 (the one with the "free" 49 key controller)(plus the various freeware softsynths I already have)M Audio Keystation Pro 88 However, I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to MIDI and softsynths, and I have a few questions: 1) The Key Rig website says you can configure different MIDI channels for each synth module (the piano module, the organ module, the synth module, etc.). Does this mean I could have one MIDI controller controlling just the organ, and another controller controlling the piano, for example? I also have an old 61 key Yamaha YPR-9 (learner keyboard) I've been thinking of using as a MIDI controller. It just has no sliders/modwheel/etc. and has a broken E key right now. 2) Is the polyphony of a softsynth determined by the CPU speed of the computer? I can't seem to find polyphony info for many softsynths. I'm guessing it varies. 3) How are the Wurlitzer and Rhodes sounds on Key Rig? I haven't been able to find audio samples of those online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Superace25 Posted November 5, 2007 Members Share Posted November 5, 2007 3) How are the Wurlitzer and Rhodes sounds on Key Rig? I haven't been able to find audio samples of those online. Dunno, haven't worked with it. Consensus seems to say "decent." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slunk0132 Posted November 5, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 5, 2007 thanks for your thorough response. Yeah, I can't even begin to understand the Keystation Pro's capabilities, but I ask about the MIDI channel thing becuase I'm going to try and make do with the 49 key controller that comes with Key Rig and my 61 key controller both driving Key Rig for the time being, before I shell out for the Keystation Pro. If it doesn't work so well, then Keystation Pro it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Superace25 Posted November 5, 2007 Members Share Posted November 5, 2007 Sounds good. Make sure you get an audio inteface too -- that will make a big difference in sound quality and latency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slunk0132 Posted November 5, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 5, 2007 I currently have an M Audio Uno MIDI to USB interface. Will that do the trick, for one board, at least? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lozada Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 1) The Key Rig website says you can configure different MIDI channels for each synth module (the piano module, the organ module, the synth module, etc.). Does this mean I could have one MIDI controller controlling just the organ, and another controller controlling the piano, for example? No. A single instance of KeyRig opened as stand alone won't work like that. BUT if you open it inside another program as a plug-in, you can either: - open one instance for each MIDI controller, or - open only one instance of Key Rig, open a MIDI Track for each controller and assign a MIDI channel from each controller to different input channels into Key Rig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.