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I need help, I want a synth/keyboard that I can use as a midi keyboard as well as a synth, I've never owned a synth before so I need it explained to me like a 10 year old.
I have been looking through some of the Yamaha models, here are basically the things I want:

-Minimum of 61 key
-Preferably some preset standalone sounds (I think this is an option?)
-Ability to be plugged into my computer and for Ableton to let it be used as a midi controller as well as record in the sounds built into the keyboard/synth itself

So, is this possible?

Go easy on my here, first timer, thanks for the help!

Yeah this is easily possible. Most synths and keyboards have at least a midi out or even midi over usb.

Do you want to be able to really create sounds from scratch without the computer as well?

ya almost any midi keyboard should work tbh

AxeD wrote:Yeah this is easily possible. Most synths and keyboards have at least a midi out or even midi over usb.

Do you want to be able to really create sounds from scratch without the computer as well?

Yeah for sure, my only problem is I've been told that when you load the presets or onboard sounds onto the keyboard/synth, it will not work with Live. My friend has an AKAI LPK49, and he has to use an on board 'Live' preset to make it work with live, in which case he may aswell just have a plain 49 key midi controller with an Arp because he almost never takes it from his computer.

I would be using it standalone as well as a midi controller if thats possible, but it would spend more time in ableton than out

Not completely 100% sure, but I think either the LPK or MPK are no synths, just controllers.

korg do some things, expensive though

think nord have midi, but ya thats seriooooous coin

I've decided the Novation Impulse 61 looks pretty good, seems to cover everything I'm hoping for, anyone know if it works standalone too?

OP you are very uninformed about this topic.

Both the Akai and Novation product you mentioned are not synths or standalone keyboards they are MIDI controllers.

To paint a picture its like if you said you were interested in a soft synth like Massive or Sylenth1 and then asked us if some arpeggiator plugin would provide the features you're looking for.

I think you have a lot more research to do before you make a purchase. In fact, I would recommend you purchase a very cheap digital keyboard to help you learn exactly what you want out of such a product. Oftentimes things like this do not enter your workflow the way you thought they would, and your keyboard may end up just being a midi controller or not used at all. I think a synth is completely out of the question for you.

Please look up what a "synthesizer" "Midi controller" and "digital keyboard" are because even though they may look similar they are VERY different devices and this is reflected in the price and features.

A forum like Gearslutz is probably the best place to research the topic more.

An actual proper synth is going to cost you a fair bit of cash.

One of those keyboards with like "100 included sounds!" are most likely going to suck because you're gonna have a bunch of cheesy french horn presets that you can't tweak.

A midi keyboard is probably your best bet since it separates controller from a sound module. Get an MPK or something, fuck around with software for a while. If you decide you need a standalone synth, then you can buy a hardware box and plug your midi keys into it. Then if you want to upgrade to a better/different hardware synth, you can without having to chuck your controller.

and btw don't think anyone mentioned, mostly any MIDI keyboard will work with any daw, including ableton.

i've got an m-audio 49-key that i use with ableton. if you're looking for something about that size i would highly recommend it. don't go for microkeys unless you know that won't be a problem for you.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/K ... n49es.html