Long(ish) MIDI question

[Kendo Phil]

Hello there all.

I have a bit of a keyboard related conundrum, I have a Casio LK keyboard, which I bought to learn to play on. I have been using my PC to go from USB to MIDI to reverse engineer learning songs. As the thing has light up keys I could feed a MIDI file into channel 1 and learn by following it. (Cheating I know)

However, I have very limited space, currently there is a keyboard and drum kit in the bedroom and the other half is starting not to see the funny side. Fear not, as I have a plan! I am planning on buying a music desk work station, which has a slide out shelf for the keyboard. Unfortunately the old Casio seems to be too large for the ones I have been looking at.

The desk I have been looking at only seems to have a small keyboard space (depth not width), only suitable for a MIDI style keyboard. So, I was doing a bit of research into MIDI keyboards, not really having much knowledge about them I think the following sums up where I have got to:

From my basic research (please excuse my general level of ignorance here) I am looking at buying a MIDI keyboard that basically has no sound generating ability of its own and instead sends all the data to an external device that processes the signal and turns it into the appropriate sounds. From the MIDI software I have already I can use my Casio to send data to my computer, but I don't necessarily want to use a computer. Queue more research!

This is where I need a helpful nudge in the right direction! I believe that I need a sound module something like a Miditech Pianobox that will take a MIDI signal and produce a rake of actual sounds. I figure this is what I want, so I can sit and practice playing without having to boot the computer up or the sound desk and all the other malarky I have plugged in at the moment.

Any help or advice on good ones, or ones to avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Phil

 

[happyrat1]

Hi Phil.

First of all read this thread.

https://www.keyboardforums.com/threads/the-which-keyboard-should-i-get-overview-read-first.21974/

Secondly, if you want to use a MIDI controller to play a sound module without using a computer, you'll need a controller with genuine MIDI ports, not just USB. The cheaper controllers use USB only nowadays.

Thirdly, if you're handy with woodworking or have someone who works cheap consider custom building your workstation desk to fit your measurements if you can't find something off the rack.

For about $200 in plywood and hardware you could build yourself something that would serve you well for decades to come and would fit any 61 Key keyboard model you'd ever want to use with it.

Gary

EDIT: This one looks like it could handle anything you could throw at it.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/On-Stag...l-2-Tier-Metal-Workstation-451078-i1375371.gc

Or here's a selection of less extreme, more economical models.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/desks-tables-workstations#

 

[Kendo Phil]

Thanks for the reply Gary.

Living in a smallish place with two kids, a Labrador, 5 guitars, a drum kit, sound desk, equipment rack and a keyboard takes some creative solutions to just keep tidy, let alone play anything. A workstation desk is definitely going to improve things (apart from the drum kit!)

Until you said about DIY, that hadn't crossed my mind. I am still thinking of getting a MIDI keyboard with little bolt on sound module. Will report back on how I get on.

Thanks for the help to date!

Phil

 

[happyrat1]

No problem Phil. I'm in a tight location myself and have to make every square inch count.

In my case I Rube Goldberged a two tier Z stand with a piece of hardware used for moving heavy shop equipment called a Universal Mobile Base so I could move my rig out of the way when I wasn't using it.

http://www.amazon.com/Stage-Tier-Fo...659160&sr=8-1&keywords=onstage+2+tier+z+stand

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=azs_osd..._code=qs&index=aps&field-keywords=mobile+base

I also built myself all of my bookshelves and two computer desks in my younger years and let me tell you they are built to last a lifetime.

Sometimes when off the rack just won't do, there's nothing better than rolling your own

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

BTW, for an inexpensive sound module to use with the controller take a look at the Ketron SD2 and SD1000.

Decent sounds and they won't break the budget.

http://www.ketron.com/

http://www.ketronusa.net/shopdisplayproducts.asp?search=yes&bc=no

http://www.ketron.com/sounds.asp?mod=SD2

http://www.ketron.com/specs_descrit.asp?mod=SD2

http://www.amazon.com/Ketron-SD1000-Pro-Sound-Module/dp/B00EII7YFY

They seem to be more popular in Europe but if you google search you can find them in North America as well.

Gary