6 Jan
2009
6 Jan
'09
11:59 a.m.
Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
Any (other) recommendations?
andy
6 Jan
6 Jan
12:10 p.m.
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 8:59 AM, andy baxter
<andy(a)earthsong.free-online.co.uk> wrote:
Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
Any (other) recommendations?
andy
I've got a Studio Logic but it's MIDI out, not USB out. That's OK for
my needs as it works fine with my little M-Audio USB interface. It's
expensive and heavy. Both are probably not to your liking.
One thing you didn't mention in your requirements list was MIDI zones.
I find them very helpful myself as traditionally Linux MIDI didn't
have good software to do this. Not sure of the recent status of that
sort of thing but it's nice on my 88 key unit to be able to send a few
octaves to a different synth.
- Mark
12:19 p.m.
Mark Knecht wrote:
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 8:59 AM, andy baxter
<andy(a)earthsong.free-online.co.uk> wrote:
I want something reasonably cheap really.
Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
Any (other) recommendations?
andy
I've got a Studio Logic but it's MIDI out, not USB out. That's OK for
my needs as it works fine with my little M-Audio USB interface. It's
expensive and heavy. Both are probably not to your liking.
One thing you didn't mention in your requirements
list was MIDI zones.
I find them very helpful myself as traditionally Linux MIDI didn't
have good software to do this. Not sure of the recent status of that
sort of thing but it's nice on my 88 key unit to be able to send a few
octaves to a different synth.
Would be nice but not necessary - I can always find a way of emulating
it in software I reckon.
andy
12:12 p.m.
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 11:59 AM, andy baxter
<andy(a)earthsong.free-online.co.uk> wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller
keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
Any usb capable midi keyboard should work, look at M-Audios line of
Oxygen controllers.
I use my daughters Yamaha keyboard as a controller, it has midi, works
for my needs heh
--
aRDy Music and Rick Dicaire present:
http://www.ardynet.com
http://www.ardynet.com:9000/ardymusic.ogg.m3u
12:23 p.m.
R Dicaire wrote:
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 11:59 AM, andy baxter
<andy(a)earthsong.free-online.co.uk> wrote:
Is there a usb standard for midi keyboards which linux knows about? The
other thing I'm looking into is a friend of mine has a Nord Electro 61
which he wants to be able to play into his linux machine. It has a usb
out - is there a reasonable chance that if I just plugged it in with a
standard usb cable I could get it working?
andy
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller
keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
Any usb capable midi keyboard should work, look at M-Audios line of
Oxygen controllers.
I use my daughters Yamaha keyboard as a controller, it has midi, works
for my needs heh
12:48 p.m.
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 12:22 PM, andy baxter
<andy(a)earthsong.free-online.co.uk> wrote:
Is there a usb standard for midi keyboards which linux
knows about? The
other thing I'm looking into is a friend of mine has a Nord Electro 61 which
he wants to be able to play into his linux machine. It has a usb out - is
there a reasonable chance that if I just plugged it in with a standard usb
cable I could get it working?
This I do not know, I have a usb midi interface, M-Audio/Midiman Uno,
I just plug the keyboards midi IO to the Uno and patch whatever I need
in qjackctl.
--
aRDy Music and Rick Dicaire present:
http://www.ardynet.com
http://www.ardynet.com:9000/ardymusic.ogg.m3u
9:52 p.m.
Tue, Jan 06, 2009 at 05:22:46PM +0000, andy baxter wrote:
Is there a usb standard for midi keyboards which linux
knows about? The
other thing I'm looking into is a friend of mine has a Nord Electro 61
which he wants to be able to play into his linux machine. It has a usb
out - is there a reasonable chance that if I just plugged it in with a
standard usb cable I could get it working?
Hi Andy,
The Nord is a great instrument, a poor man's alternative to
a B3. At a time when I was looking for an organ to play
with, I was thinking of a Nord, or figuring out how to get
the beatrix B3 emulator to work for me. (Anyone corresponded
with the developer lately?)
According to the advertising blurbs, the USB in the Nord is
for _downloading_ new sets of instrument samples. The MIDI
interface is an _input_ for connecting a second keyboard. So
it seems that the only certain way for your friend to play
into his linux machine would be via an analog out into a
decent soundcard's line in.
Regards,
Joel
--
Joel Roth
7 Jan
7 Jan
5:21 a.m.
Joel Roth wrote:
Tue, Jan 06, 2009 at 05:22:46PM +0000, andy baxter
wrote:
It's a lovely keyboard for sure. I think things aren't quite as bad as
you're saying - from memory it has both MIDI in and out connectors, so
will probably play through a MIDI cable. But you're probably right about
the usb interface - I found the manual on line and it sounds like it's
just for loading samples.
andy
Is there a usb standard for midi keyboards which
linux knows about? The
other thing I'm looking into is a friend of mine has a Nord Electro 61
which he wants to be able to play into his linux machine. It has a usb
out - is there a reasonable chance that if I just plugged it in with a
standard usb cable I could get it working?
Hi Andy,
The Nord is a great instrument, a poor man's alternative to
a B3. At a time when I was looking for an organ to play
with, I was thinking of a Nord, or figuring out how to get
the beatrix B3 emulator to work for me. (Anyone corresponded
with the developer lately?)
According to the advertising blurbs, the USB in the Nord is
for _downloading_ new sets of instrument samples. The MIDI
interface is an _input_ for connecting a second keyboard. So
it seems that the only certain way for your friend to play
into his linux machine would be via an analog out into a
decent soundcard's line in.
6:01 p.m.
On Tue, 2009-01-06 at 16:52 -1000, Joel Roth wrote:
According to the advertising blurbs, the USB in the
Nord is
for _downloading_ new sets of instrument samples. The MIDI
interface is an _input_ for connecting a second keyboard. So
it seems that the only certain way for your friend to play
into his linux machine would be via an analog out into a
decent soundcard's line in.
The Nord Electro has both MIDI out and in, so that should work to
control *any* MIDI device.
Gordon
6 p.m.
On Tue, 2009-01-06 at 17:22 +0000, andy baxter wrote:
Is there a usb standard for midi keyboards which linux
knows about? The
If a device is class-compliant it will work on Linux without any
trouble. Basically, if it doesn't need a driver to work on a Mac, it'll
work on Linux.
other thing I'm looking into is a friend of mine
has a Nord Electro 61
which he wants to be able to play into his linux machine. It has a usb
out - is there a reasonable chance that if I just plugged it in with a
standard usb cable I could get it working?
Try it and see - it should appear as another set of MIDI ports if it
does.
Gordon
6 Jan
6 Jan
12:35 p.m.
On Tue, Jan 06, 2009 at 04:59:37PM +0000, andy baxter wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller
keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
Any (other) recommendations?
Haven't tried them yet, but I've been eyeing these off lately:
<http://createdigitalmusic.com/2008/06/12/korg-nanokey-nanokontrol-nanopad-super-tiny-midi-keyboard-controller-pads/>
Hopefully they're just USB midi.
Chris.
-------------------
http://mccormick.cx
5:03 p.m.
Hallo,
Chris McCormick hat gesagt: // Chris McCormick wrote:
Haven't tried them yet, but I've been eyeing
these off lately:
<http://createdigitalmusic.com/2008/06/12/korg-nanokey-nanokontrol-nanopad-super-tiny-midi-keyboard-controller-pads/>
Hopefully they're just USB midi.
Martin Brinkmann used the Nanokontrol with Linux at the RjDj sprint in
Berlin, so that one definitely works. I'm pretty sure the others share
the same USB interface wiring, so they should be a save bet as well.
Ciao
--
Frank
12:59 p.m.
andy baxter <andy(a)earthsong.free-online.co.uk> writes:
Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
I have it and it works nicely, plug and play.
Any (other) recommendations?
andy
HTH
Ciao
--
Emiliano Grilli
Linux user #209089
http://www.emillo.net
7 Jan
7 Jan
6:18 a.m.
Emiliano Grilli wrote:
andy baxter <andy(a)earthsong.free-online.co.uk>
writes:
Thanks.
Do you know if the knobs on it are pots or rotary encoders? I'm guessing
pots but encoders would be nice.
andy
Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
I have it and it works nicely, plug and play.
1:51 a.m.
andy baxter wrote:
...
Any (other) recommendations?
I have an Edirol PCR-800 (61 keys) and it has a great playability for
it's price. The USB interface works just fine and it do also have MIDI
I/O (the output can also be assigned to act as MIDI thru if I'm not
wrong). This keyboard have everything you ask for (but with the addition
of aftertouch) and more:
http://www.edirol.net/products/en/PCR-800/
Jostein
1:55 a.m.
these devices work
http://www.indamixx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7…
plus newly confirmed...
fast track pro
korg nano key
zoom H2 and H4
Roland PC 300
MXL mic mate pro
thank you
Ronald Stewart
www.indamixx.com
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:51 PM, Jostein Chr. Andersen <jostein(a)vait.se> wrote:
andy baxter wrote:
...
Any (other) recommendations?
I have an Edirol PCR-800 (61 keys) and it has a great playability for
it's price. The USB interface works just fine and it do also have MIDI
I/O (the output can also be assigned to act as MIDI thru if I'm not
wrong). This keyboard have everything you ask for (but with the addition
of aftertouch) and more:
http://www.edirol.net/products/en/PCR-800/
Jostein
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
6:21 a.m.
Another vote for the Edirol PCR-800. It's brilliant. It also comes in in
smaller sizes if that's more suitable:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=864&Paren…
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=863&Paren…
Midi over USB is a standard, and all controller keyboards which properly
comply with the standard are supported by the 'snd-usb-audio' kernel module.
Jamie
--
Jostein Chr. Andersen wrote:
andy baxter wrote:
...
Any (other) recommendations?
I have an Edirol PCR-800 (61 keys) and it has a great playability for
it's price. The USB interface works just fine and it do also have MIDI
I/O (the output can also be assigned to act as MIDI thru if I'm not
wrong). This keyboard have everything you ask for (but with the addition
of aftertouch) and more:
http://www.edirol.net/products/en/PCR-800/
Jostein
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
7:20 a.m.
Jamie McLaughlin wrote:
Another vote for the Edirol PCR-800. It's
brilliant. It also comes in in
smaller sizes if that's more suitable:
Does the extra money get you a better key action compared to cheaper
keyboards? I'm not too worried about having loads of controls, as I can
always buy (or make) a separate control surface for that.
Also I'm thinking that what I really want from a control surface isn't a
load of pots - it's one or two rotary encoders with a load of push
button switches to assign the encoders to different midi controllers,
and a little screen so you can see what you're doing. That way you can
switch to a different synth sound and have all the controllers pre-set
to their default levels for that synth, which isn't really possible with
pots unless they are motorised.
The idea is if you had a synth sound on the computer with 4 variable
parameters, assigned to midi control messages 1-4, then to change the
value of controller 2 using encoder 1 you would:
- press select button 2 (out of maybe 16 in a matrix).
- press assign button 1 (physically placed next to encoder 1). This
would assign controller 2 to encoder 1.
- the name and current value of the synth parameter would come up on the
screen (say a 2*20 character LCD) so you can see what you're doing.
- you could then turn encoder 1 to alter the value of controller 1. As
you turned the encoder, the value on the screen would be updated, and
the appropriate CC messages sent out.
If anyone knows of any products or free hardware projects like this, it
would be good to know.
andy
8 Jan
8 Jan
1:30 a.m.
andy baxter wrote:
...
Does the extra money get you a better key action
compared to cheaper
keyboards? I'm not too worried about having loads of controls, as I can
always buy (or make) a separate control surface for that.
Yes, much better. And you can even assign diffrent velocity curves that
serves your needs and playing styles. If you will have a better
keyboard to that price, then you must (IMHO) buy an old JX8P or
something. The cheapest keyboards are usually not very good.
Also I'm thinking that what I really want from a control surface isn't a
load of pots - it's one or two rotary encoders with a load of push
Also I'm thinking that what I really want from a control surface isn't a
load of pots - it's one or two rotary encoders with a load of push
button switches to assign the encoders to different midi controllers,
You can use any control knob (several of them lights up) for IE. Ardour
(play, stop etc) and the mixing. I have not figured everything yet, bur
look forward to it. More that 16 of the control pads can also send Note
on (with velocity). I don't like them, but others do.
The bottom line: you get what you pay for.
Jostein
7 Jan
7 Jan
5:35 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: linux-audio-user-bounces(a)lists.linuxaudio.org [mailto:linux-
audio-user-bounces(a)lists.linuxaudio.org] On Behalf Of andy baxter
Sent: 06 January 2009 17:00
To: linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
Subject: [LAU] recommendations for midi controller keyboard
Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer.
Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about
aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well
in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but
not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like
the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
Any (other) recommendations?
andy
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
I have :-
M-Audio Oxygen (49 key) (bought from GAK)
Behringer UMA25S (this has a 2 channel USB audio interface as well - not
brilliant sound quality but handy for playing whilst on the move)
(bought from Digital
Village)
Korg Nanopad
All 3 work just fine with standard Linux usb midi. I just plugged them
in
and they worked.
Caveats:-
the Behringer has half-action keys which take some getting
used to. They are pressure sensitive but it's hard to get a good
velocity
curve which feels natural. Would be good for driving an organ synth with
fixed velocity.
The Korg controller software is only for available for Windows
but
runs fine under wine on my FC8 setup.
I hope this is of some use.
Simon
7:30 a.m.
andy baxter wrote:
Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a midi controller keyboard. I.e. no onboard
synth just a keyboard which sends midi messages to the computer. Should
be pressure sensitive but not worried about aftertouch. Ideally it
should work with a usb cable under Linux (but have a midi out as well in
case I ever need it). Assignable controller knobs would be nice but not
necessary.
I had a quick look on the gak.co.uk website, and this one looks like the
sort of thing I want (though I don't know if it works with Linux):
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/behringer-umx-61/70535
Any (other) recommendations?
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's replied. At the moment I'm
trying to decide between the Behringer umx-61, which would do everything
I actually need, and spending the extra money on the Edirol PCR-800,
which does sound like a nice keyboard but is a bit expensive compared to
what I was thinking of spending.
andy
10:11 a.m.
On Wednesday 07 January 2009 13:30:23 andy baxter wrote:
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's
replied. At the moment I'm
trying to decide between the Behringer umx-61, which would do everything
I actually need, and spending the extra money on the Edirol PCR-800,
which does sound like a nice keyboard but is a bit expensive compared to
what I was thinking of spending.
Rule of thumb: go for whatever it is that is not named Behringer.
Arnold
8 Jan
8 Jan
7:30 a.m.
Arnold Krille wrote:
On Wednesday 07 January 2009 13:30:23 andy baxter
wrote:
with the exception of the BCF2000 (and its all-encoder cousin) if you
are looking for a controller, to use alongside another keyboard - it has
a set of encoders, a nice set of 2-byte motorised faders, plenty of
buttons and LED's, and a fair bit of memory for presets and the like,
and flexible midi/USB connections - it is something they actually got
right, and it is quite good value.
Simon
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's
replied. At the moment I'm
trying to decide between the Behringer umx-61, which would do everything
I actually need, and spending the extra money on the Edirol PCR-800,
which does sound like a nice keyboard but is a bit expensive compared to
what I was thinking of spending.
Rule of thumb: go for whatever it is that is not named Behringer.
8:31 a.m.
Simon Wise <simonzwise(a)gmail.com> writes:
Arnold Krille wrote:
I like also the v-amp and the amp 800 headphone amplifier. Pedals for
guitar, better to avoid them. The keyboard controller umx61 is not the
same quality as a roland, but not too bad either.
Cheers
--
Emiliano Grilli
Linux user #209089
http://www.emillo.net
On Wednesday 07 January 2009 13:30:23 andy baxter
wrote:
with the exception of the BCF2000 (and its all-encoder cousin) if you
are looking for a controller, to use alongside another keyboard - it has
a set of encoders, a nice set of 2-byte motorised faders, plenty of
buttons and LED's, and a fair bit of memory for presets and the like,
and flexible midi/USB connections - it is something they actually got
right, and it is quite good value. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's
replied. At the moment I'm
trying to decide between the Behringer umx-61, which would do everything
I actually need, and spending the extra money on the Edirol PCR-800,
which does sound like a nice keyboard but is a bit expensive compared to
what I was thinking of spending.
Rule of thumb: go for whatever it is that is not named Behringer. 
2:59 p.m.
On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 5:31 AM, Emiliano Grilli <emillo(a)libero.it> wrote:
Simon Wise <simonzwise(a)gmail.com> writes:
Seconding the BCF2000, not the most durable piece of hardware, but a
huge amount of functionality for the money. The motorized faders make
multiplexing the 8 into multiple sets of 8 very convenient, if you can
handle a minimal amount of programming to make it work.
Arnold Krille wrote:
I like also the v-amp and the amp 800 headphone amplifier. Pedals for
guitar, better to avoid them. The keyboard controller umx61 is not the
same quality as a roland, but not too bad either.
Cheers
--
Emiliano Grilli
Linux user #209089
http://www.emillo.net
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
On Wednesday 07 January 2009 13:30:23 andy baxter
wrote:
with the exception of the BCF2000 (and its all-encoder cousin) if you
are looking for a controller, to use alongside another keyboard - it has
a set of encoders, a nice set of 2-byte motorised faders, plenty of
buttons and LED's, and a fair bit of memory for presets and the like,
and flexible midi/USB connections - it is something they actually got
right, and it is quite good value. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's
replied. At the moment I'm
trying to decide between the Behringer umx-61, which would do everything
I actually need, and spending the extra money on the Edirol PCR-800,
which does sound like a nice keyboard but is a bit expensive compared to
what I was thinking of spending.
Rule of thumb: go for whatever it is that is not named Behringer.
5932
days inactive
5934
days old
linux-audio-user@lists.linuxaudio.org
24 comments
15 participants
participants (15)
-
andy baxter -
Arnold Krille -
Chris McCormick -
Emiliano Grilli -
Frank Barknecht -
Gordon JC Pearce MM3YEQ -
Jamie McLaughlin -
Joel Roth -
Jostein Chr. Andersen -
Justin Smith -
Mark Knecht -
R Dicaire -
Ronald Stewart -
Simon W. Fielding -
Simon Wise