Keyboard For Soundtrack / Gargageband?, Best one for novice? Options

[edge]

I've been using Soundtrack for some time, will probably add GarageBand to the mix, and I want to expand the possibilities with an inexpensive ($200 or less) keyboard. Apple recommends two keyboards on the GarageBand page, so I'm currently looking in that direction, but I don't know if these or others are best for me.

They are:

1) M-Audio Keystation 49e USB Midi Keyboard ($79)
2) Edirol PCR-30 MIDI Keyboard Controller ($169)

About them:

- One has 49 keys while the other has 32 (does that matter to me?)
- One is titled a 'controller' while the other is not (whatever that means)
- One has more nobs and buttons than the other (but maybe these are not necessary and effects can be handled via software...?)

About me:

- I don't necessarily need/want to learn to play piano, just want to be able to create new melodies and loops.
- I played drums for six years so I have rhythm.
- I'm a music nut and know what sounds good.

Any recommendations? It's more a hobby, but partially for business.

Thanks ahead of time!

[sethjacquay]

edge, Reason is somewhat complicated, but learning it has lots of rewards.

The learning curve is really no different that learning Photoshop or Final Cut
(actually it is a lot easier than Final Cut). Reason is pretty difficult to use without
a midi controller, not impossible, but it just limits your ability to create music
immediately. So get a keyboard / midi controller and then download the Reason
demo. It doesn't let you save, but you can get a feel for it and if you have any
questions you can always ask me or read the documentation (which is relatively
straight forward)

If I was only allowed to have two programs on my computer, I would choose:
1 - Reason 2.5
2 - Photoshop 7 or 8

Reason may seem a little daunting, but it really is a fun piece of software.
I don't really sequence from a logical prespective, I just record whatever comes
out and then rework it after. Reason works well for that, because it tells you all
the notes you've played (like Garageband), but I have a friend who uses Reason
all the time and he basically writes every note in with the pencil tool which take much
longer, but I guess his brain works that way and Reason allows him to create some
wonderful mixes and music. So it is a very adaptable tool to whatever style you want to
make music in. The only thing Reason doesn't do, is live audio in. But that is why
they made Rewire.

So get a midi controller and play with the Reason Demo, personally I feel that it is
worth the cost and the learning curve, but you need to make that decision on your own.

This post has been edited by sethjacquay: Tue 10 Feb 2004, 15:39