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    Do You need a Keyboard In Your Studio?

    Ready to take the plunge into the world of computer music? Is it essential to buy a MID keyboard or piano straight away to benefit from the range of Music Software available. This article asks the question.

    November 17, 2020
    is a keyboard necessary for music production - pinterest image

    There is a lot of help and information on this site about which keyboard to buy, and how to connect it up to your PC – you may be wondering if it is essential to purchase some kind of keyboard or digital piano to benefit from making music using your PC: the answer is it really depends on what you want to do.

    • Record Your Keyboard or Piano On Your Computer Step-By-Step
    • Using your Computer for Music Making and Musical Education
    • Best Selling MIDI Interfaces – The Ultimate Top 10 in 2020
    • How To Record Keyboard and Vocals at the Same Time
    • What is MIDI? Our Ultimate Guide To Music Software’s Most Powerful Tool

    If you want to learn the guitar, for instance, then there is a wide selection of guitar and bass tutors, and there is absolutely no need to purchase a keyboard or MIDI device to use any of these, you simple use them straight out of the box.

    Most of the theory, ear training, composition and accompaniment software (eg Ear Training Software, BandInABox, Play Music etc) can be used either with or without a keyboard controller. Much of the functionality of the software is still available without any further equipment, though there may be some parts of the software which work with keyboard input – handy, though not essential, if you already have one.

    However, a MIDI keyboard can offer benefits to all musicians even if your main instrument is a string or woodwind or brass instrument or guitar, and you may find it beneficial acquire an inexpensive 4-octave velocity sensitive keyboard controller as a MIDI input device (this is one of the cheapest options). Even cheaper, if you just want simple data entry is to look at any of the smaller MIDI controllers. Take a look here at our full range of MIDI Keyboards

    The reason is that using a controller or MIDI keyboard is often the easiest method of recording music compositions, and some skill with this instrument can be very rewarding. The MIDI keyboard used with your PC for learning and/or composing does not need to be expensive, and if it is your second instrument, you could consider an interactive tool like Piano Suite Premier, to help acquire skill on the piano. The skills gained in this way will certainly help support you in playing your main instrument.

    Finally there is obviously little point in purchasing software specifically to learn to play the keyboard or piano if you don’t have some kind of keyboard available – either a MIDI controller keyboard, personal keyboard or digital piano. And to benefit from the interactive experience and guidance that this software offers, you really do need to connect your keyboard up to your computer – find out how to do this, and which sort of keyboard to buy if you don’t already own one, in our related articles.

    [This content may contain affiliate links. For more information, read our disclosure policy here.]

    Bestseller No. 1
    AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 | 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8...
    AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 | 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8...
    • Music Production and Beat Maker Essential – USB powered MIDI controller with 25 mini MIDI keyboard velocity-sensitive keys for studio production, virtual...
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    Alesis V49 | 49 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Pads, 4 Assignable Knobs and...
    Alesis V49 | 49 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with 8 Backlit Pads, 4 Assignable Knobs and...
    • MIDI Keyboard with 49 full-sized, velocity sensitive square-front keys, perfect for playing Virtual Instruments
    • 8 velocity- and pressure-sensitive backlit pads for beat production and clip launching
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    SaleBestseller No. 3
    midiplus, 32-Key Midi Controller, 32-Key (AKM320)
    midiplus, 32-Key Midi Controller, 32-Key (AKM320)
    • 32-note velocity sensitive mid-size key keyboard. Pitch Wheel. Modulation Wheel. Octave Buttons(Up & Down). Transpose Buttons(Up & Down).
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    • ATTACHMENT: USB cable
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    AKAI Professional LPK25 | USB-Powered MIDI Keyboard with 25 Velocity-Sensitive Synth Action Keys for...
    AKAI Professional LPK25 | USB-Powered MIDI Keyboard with 25 Velocity-Sensitive Synth Action Keys for...
    • Production in your Pocket - 13-inch, slim-line laptop performance keyboard with 25 velocity-sensitive mini-keyboard keys for playing melodies, bass lines,...
    • Full Range Performance - dedicated octave up and down buttons to increase the keyboard to the full melodic range plus a sustain button for expressive...
    • Packed with Features - On-board arpeggiator steps through chords automatically and generates inspiring melodic ideas quickly
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    Bestseller No. 5
    M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 – 88 Key Semi Weighted MIDI Keyboard Controller for Complete Command of...
    M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 – 88 Key Semi Weighted MIDI Keyboard Controller for Complete Command of...
    • Music Production Essential – MIDI keyboard controller with 88 full-size velocity-sensitive semi weighted keys for MIDI control of virtual instruments,...
    • MIDI Keyboard Must-Haves - Volume fader, transport & directional buttons; pitch & modulation wheels, octave up & down buttons and sustain pedal input for...
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    Akai Professional MPK Mini Play | Standalone Mini Keyboard & USB Controller With Built In Speaker,...
    Akai Professional MPK Mini Play | Standalone Mini Keyboard & USB Controller With Built In Speaker,...
    • Standalone Piano Style Keyboard – Portable mini keyboard and USB MIDI controller with 25 velocity-sensitive synthesizer action keys, pitch/mod joystick...
    • Play Anywhere – Built in speaker, 1/8-inch headphone output and battery powered specification (3 x AA batteries – not included) for performing and producing...
    • Beat Maker Essential – Two banks of eight ultra-responsive backlit MIDI drum pads with Note Repeat and Full Level functions for drum machine style performance...
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    Bestseller No. 7
    Novation Launchkey 37 [MK3] MIDI Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live
    Novation Launchkey 37 [MK3] MIDI Keyboard Controller for Ableton Live
    • Deep Ableton Live Integration – Immediate access to all the controls you need and never lose ideas or happy accidents with the Capture Midi function.
    • 37 Velocity-sensitive keys and 16 velocity-sensitive pads enable expressive and dynamic performance. Tweak instruments and effects to perfection using the eight...
    • Three chord modes (fixed, scale and user) let you trigger chords with one finger. The powerful arpeggiator will take you to new melodic, harmonic and rhythmic...
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    SaleBestseller No. 8
    Akai Professional MPK249 | 49 Key Semi Weighted USB MIDI Keyboard Controller Including Core Control...
    Akai Professional MPK249 | 49 Key Semi Weighted USB MIDI Keyboard Controller Including Core Control...
    • Pro Keyboard Performance - 49 semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive full-size keys and a premium piano-style keybed for unprecedented response and natural feel
    • Beat Making Essentials - 16 RGB-illuminated MPC-style pads each with 4 banks for 64 pads - the perfect solution for triggering samples, loops, one-shots,...
    • Assignable Control - 24 assignable Q-Link controllers comprising 8 control knobs, faders and switches engineered for hassle-free DAW / virtual instrument...
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    Bestseller No. 9
    Novation Launchkey MK3 61-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller Bundle with Knox Studio Headphones and...
    Novation Launchkey MK3 61-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller Bundle with Knox Studio Headphones and...
    • BUNDLE INCLUDES: Novation Launchkey MK3 61-Key USB MIDI Ableton Keyboard Controller with TX-100 Closed-Back Studio Monitor Headphones and Adjustable Double X...
    • VARIOUS MODES: Eight Scale modes guide you into new musical territory, by transposing keys played to notes in the scale selected. Simply choose your root note...
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    Bestseller No. 10
    Nektar, 61-Key Impact GX61 Controller Keyboard
    Nektar, 61-Key Impact GX61 Controller Keyboard
    • 61 Premium midi controller with 61 expressive synth-action keys, on-board pitch bend and modulation wheels for performances
    • Nektar DAW Integration for most popular DAWs
    • 14 MIDI assignable buttons
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    Last updated on 2021-01-10 / Affiliate links / Images via Amazon Product Advertising API

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    Category: Create, Keyboard and Piano, Learn, MIDI

    [This content may contain affiliate links. For more information, read our disclosure policy here.]

    Previous Post: « Recording Digital Audio in Home Studio Digital Audio: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Successful Digital Audio Recording
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