They are both sending the same signal (MIDI Messages). A MIDI Keyboard is the same thing as a MIDI Controller, but a MIDI Keyboard makes it easy to play piano pieces because of the keys. A controller is more geared towards doing cool automation effects, or it could even be something like a drum pad. If you hear the term MIDI Keyboard, and MIDI Controller, these are in fact the exact same thing. (USB also makes the home studio set up quick, affordable, and organized looking). The reason companies create the older MIDI connections is because people still use this analog gear within their productions, so it doesn’t look like the older MIDI connection is going away anytime soon. Remember this, USB is MIDI! So if you see an option to plug in USB or MIDI, USB is probably the best way to go, since it’s the most up to date. Like Nexus 2.īest Premium MIDI Keyboard I’d recommend is the Akai Professional MPK249: MIDI Keyboard vs. In my opinion, I’d rather the faster, and easier workflow, with VSTs that still sound amazing. However, you will always hear a debate on how analog (hardware) gear always sounds warmer and richer.
This allows for quick and easy sound design, editing of the loop itself, and very fast beatmaking! This is the main reason why MIDI Keyboards using VSTs have a big advantage over hardware. Computer programmers create synthesizers, other known as VSTs, which allow you to have a sound module within your computer! However, now with computers, sounds and programs are amazingly affordable in compared to what it used to be. Music back in the day was not affordable because of having to purchase this kind of gear.
(This is where VSTs save so much time and effort while making music, you can edit your loop instantly instead of recording it). If you feel you’ve made a mistake, it looks like you’ll have to edit your MIDI notes, then record once again. Sure, you can edit your notes at first, but when you go to record, that’s your audio loop you’re working with. You would then switch between sounds on the sound module, and then record the audio from the sound module into your computer. You would connect a MIDI cable from your keyboard to one of these analog sound modules. If you had a MIDI controller back in the day, the connections would of looked like this picture.
These would be on those expensive-looking studio racks where it would be loaded with tons of other analog gear like hardware compressors, hardware effects like delays and reverbs, EQ’s, pre-amps and so on!
Alright, so back in the day sounds were stored on analog/hardware gear, called sound modules.