Reccomend A Good Keyboard to Record with

SpaceYourBass · #1 10-09-2007, 02:57 PM

Instead of splurging on a new bass, I have decided to defret my ABG (my only bass) and get a keyboard. At minimum, I need something I can record drum beats with, then record some keyboards over that to make a track. I would like to be able to record my bass into a track somehow, and my friend's guitar.

Well, I don't have much experience in this field, so any pointers would be great. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I can do research. I'm looking for a keyboard in the $500 range.

Thanks TB.

Infernal Affair · #2 10-09-2007, 05:16 PM

Do you want to play the keyboard live as well? I think pretty much anything that use can use as an interface (ie a MIDI controller) with a DAW would suit you fine.

I have a Novation Xiosynth and it's neat little tool. It's both a standalone keyboard and a MIDI controller, plus it has a recording interface built in so I can plug my bass and/or a mic into it and use it to record onto the computer. It has one 1/4 input and 1 XLR, so if you want to record both you guys at once you'd need to convert one of the cables to XLR. It doesn't have drum pads, but you can still program drums with keys.

SpaceYourBass · #3 10-09-2007, 06:16 PM

Thanks IA. What does DAW stand for? And I don't need to play the keyboard live, just want to use that to make a "beat" (drums and keys), and then want to record the bass over that...I like the sound of a real bass, but the drums can come from teh keyboard...I wish I just had a good drummer.

So I will need a keyboard and a computer program to record my bass or a guitar (not necc. at the same time) over a keyboard-produced "beat?"

Sorry if my questions are too broad, if you can tell me what DAW stands for that will be great.

DocBop · #4 10-09-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceYourBass

Sorry if my questions are too broad, if you can tell me what DAW stands for that will be great.

DAW = Digital Audio Workstatation. In general computer based recording.

Infernal Affair · #5 10-10-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceYourBass

Thanks IA. What does DAW stand for? And I don't need to play the keyboard live, just want to use that to make a "beat" (drums and keys), and then want to record the bass over that...I like the sound of a real bass, but the drums can come from teh keyboard...I wish I just had a good drummer.

So I will need a keyboard and a computer program to record my bass or a guitar (not necc. at the same time) over a keyboard-produced "beat?"

Sorry if my questions are too broad, if you can tell me what DAW stands for that will be great.

It's not too broad at all. As DocBop said, a DAW is a digital audio workstation. I'm going to simplify the term a little bit, but it means using a computer and software to do your recording. From what you're describing, it looks like you don't really need a keyboard at all if you're just gonna be programming drums. There's many computer programs that you can use to program drums. I think that there's a free version of ACID that would be nice to start with.

Another option is to get a portable recorder like the BOSS Micro-BR and use its many pre-programmed drum patterns to jam with or the BOSS BR-600 that has programmable drums. Either of these things would be good for the type of recording you want to do, and that would be my recommendation rather than going with a DAW.

need4mospd · #6 10-10-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

From what you're describing, it looks like you don't really need a keyboard at all if you're just gonna be programming drums.

He said he was doing keys too.

I picked up a used Yamaha Motif 6 for $550, and it'll do everything but write the song for you. The drum kits are pretty good, my drummer was impressed and he's got a top of the line electronic kit. You might want to budget a little for a decent sound card unless you already have one. Maybe some kind of recording interface too. Of course that would blow your keyboard budget, but you can piece together that stuff as you go.

Infernal Affair · #7 10-10-2007, 01:52 PM

Ah yes. My mistake. He said so in his original post, but when I read the follow up it sounded like he wasn't using keys anymore. In that case I'd go with need4mospd's suggestion of picking up a solid keyboard then running it into the computer soundcard to record with at first. Then later on actually getting an audio interface for the computer. As for software, it really depends on your budget. If you want something cheap then REAPER is definitely solid.