Computer As A Midi Controller For A Synth?

Synyster · 03-04-2012, 10:04 PM

So I've been searching around for this a lot, But All I've found was ways to use your computer keyboard as a midi for DAW's. What I need to do is use it as a midi out to a keytar. The vocalist In our band got a couple keytars and A midi controller, but I don't think the midi controller is very good. It was like fifty bucks.

So I'm wondering If I get some sort of usb to Midi Adapter and I hook it up to my computer, then use some sort of virtual midi software that turns my keyboard into a midi controller, if I could use it for the keytar? And if its possible what sort of synths I would need? Could I use vst plugins like nexus in a daw like FL studio, or Mixcraft? Or would I need A stand alone synth? Any Suggestions for a good synth? I came to this forum cause everyone sounded pretty nice and cool, so any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Freebase Dali · 03-04-2012, 10:51 PM

I don't get what you're trying to achieve here. Unless I'm missing something, a Keytar has all the keys and controls on it, so what do you need a separate midi controller for?

Synyster · 03-05-2012, 12:06 PM

Hey man! I'm glad you replied cause you were actually the cool person I was talking about hahah.

Well If you don't understand, maybe I'm going at it the wrong way.
What I'm really trying to do is load better sounds on to it.
The keytar doesn't really have a lot of options, just a few presets and a pitch wheel thing.
But I dont really know a lot about Midi cause I play guitar and dont have to do this kinda stuff.
So I couldn't load sounds on it from a synth in my computer?

**Janszoon** · 03-05-2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synyster

Hey man! I'm glad you replied cause you were actually the cool person I was talking about hahah.

Well If you don't understand, maybe I'm going at it the wrong way.
What I'm really trying to do is load better sounds on to it.
The keytar doesn't really have a lot of options, just a few presets and a pitch wheel thing.
But I dont really know a lot about Midi cause I play guitar and dont have to do this kinda stuff.
So I couldn't load sounds on it from a synth in my computer?

Probably not, but you can go the other way and have the MIDI coming out of the keytar and into a laptop which could give you a wide array of sounds to use.

Freebase Dali · 03-05-2012, 01:31 PM

What Jans said. But, depending on what model you have, there may or may not be some sort of memory unit on it that allows you to import new sounds and patches from a computer. If not, you can't do that with midi. midi is just for transmitting triggering data, velocity data, time code, etc.

Anyway, Like Jans said, you could use the Keytar as a midi controller to control a software synthesizer on your laptop, and you'd just need a midi interface for the laptop and a midi cable between the interface and the Keytar, assuming it has a midi out port.

Synyster · 03-05-2012, 10:05 PM

Yeah you're right.
I figured I could do that for recording, But I was mostly concerned about doing it live. Until I realized that I could use the keytar as a midi controller through my laptop Live too. I don't know if that's normal though, What do people usually do live? Thanks for the help by the way!

Dr_Rez · 03-08-2012, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synyster

Hey man! I'm glad you replied cause you were actually the cool person I was talking about hahah.

He is not cool. He is actually a internet loanshark. Just last week he loaned me some advice and now is demanding I pay him triple or I will not be bale able to walk again. Realize taking the advise is like jumping down a deep rabit hole in which you may never return.

Freebase Dali · 03-08-2012, 05:10 PM

haha what?

03-04-2012, 10:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Synyster Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3	Computer As A Midi Controller For A Synth? So I've been searching around for this a lot, But All I've found was ways to use your computer keyboard as a midi for DAW's. What I need to do is use it as a midi out to a keytar. The vocalist In our band got a couple keytars and A midi controller, but I don't think the midi controller is very good. It was like fifty bucks. So I'm wondering If I get some sort of usb to Midi Adapter and I hook it up to my computer, then use some sort of virtual midi software that turns my keyboard into a midi controller, if I could use it for the keytar? And if its possible what sort of synths I would need? Could I use vst plugins like nexus in a daw like FL studio, or Mixcraft? Or would I need A stand alone synth? Any Suggestions for a good synth? I came to this forum cause everyone sounded pretty nice and cool, so any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

03-04-2012, 10:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I don't get what you're trying to achieve here. Unless I'm missing something, a Keytar has all the keys and controls on it, so what do you need a separate midi controller for?

03-05-2012, 12:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Synyster Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3	Hey man! I'm glad you replied cause you were actually the cool person I was talking about hahah. Well If you don't understand, maybe I'm going at it the wrong way. What I'm really trying to do is load better sounds on to it. The keytar doesn't really have a lot of options, just a few presets and a pitch wheel thing. But I dont really know a lot about Midi cause I play guitar and dont have to do this kinda stuff. So I couldn't load sounds on it from a synth in my computer?

03-05-2012, 01:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	What Jans said. But, depending on what model you have, there may or may not be some sort of memory unit on it that allows you to import new sounds and patches from a computer. If not, you can't do that with midi. midi is just for transmitting triggering data, velocity data, time code, etc. Anyway, Like Jans said, you could use the Keytar as a midi controller to control a software synthesizer on your laptop, and you'd just need a midi interface for the laptop and a midi cable between the interface and the Keytar, assuming it has a midi out port.

03-05-2012, 10:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Synyster Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3	Yeah you're right. I figured I could do that for recording, But I was mostly concerned about doing it live. Until I realized that I could use the keytar as a midi controller through my laptop Live too. I don't know if that's normal though, What do people usually do live? Thanks for the help by the way!

03-08-2012, 05:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	haha what?