Midi controller recommendations

Not much of a midi guy and a guitar player to boot. With all these new Garritan toys, I want to get a basic midi controller for input of string parts etc. so I don't have to write them in note by note

Do I need much more than something like the M-Audio Keystation 61es ? What features are 'must have' ? Do I need something with aftertouch ? etc.

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-61-Key-Semi-Weighted-Controller/dp/B0002H0GF0

Win 7 64, Dell XPS 17 laptop, M-Audio Fast Track Pro / Tascam US144mkII

That would be a very good choice with lots of room to grow into. Been using M-Audio keyboard controllers here for several years, a little 49'er and the big 88 Keystation Pro, love 'em.

A guitarist might also consider a Roland GK MIDI pickup plus one of the early and thus inexpensive Roland Guitar Synths to provide MIDI output to the computer and be able to record those string parts in realtime on a familiar instrument.

--Mac

Strong Ditto to what Mac said re: GK and MIDI guitar
(but can't speak to M-Audio keyboards since I have/use other full up keyboard controllers/workstations)

Good luck
Larry

I was going to get the Keystation 61 ES as well BUT for just a few more $$ I got the Keystation 88 ES. Very happy I did.

Thanks guys! Think I'll go for the 88es. It'll be in the closet most of the time anyway and I'll have the entire keyboard for my player friends.

Will also check more into the guitar synth idea. Totally forgot about that option.

I have a GK midi pickup mounted to a Squire Strat and use a Roland GR-series synth that converts everything to midi. I use this almost exclusively to enter chords into BIAB and as a midi controller.

But it's not inexpensive. $ 200 for the GK pickup, $700-800 for the Roland GR unit, unless you find something used. Plus the cost of a steel string guitar on which to mount the GK midi pickup.

Something that has caught my attention lately is this $199 midi guitar controller: "You Rock Guitar"
http://www.audiomidi.com/Products/yrg_yrg1000_kit/
http://www.yourockguitar.com/products/you-rock-guitar

-- which, despite it's toy-like appearance, has had some pretty good reviews.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug11/articles/you-rock-guitar.htm

I haven't tried this unit yet, but it might be worth exploring.
It has midi out and USB out, 50 open tuning presets and 14 capo setting presets.

John

Dang... ready to pull the trigger and Amazon had 1 left when I posted, now it's gone ! and BH Photo on-line is closed until Saturday.

Any place else have them for $187 ?

Musician's Friend has three "gently used" units for $187.

Thanks. BHPhoto is back on-line, so got it there. $200 88es and sustain pedal. Cool !

...now on to the Godin Kingpin II quest...

Quote:

Thanks. BHPhoto is back on-line, so got it there. $200 88es and sustain pedal. Cool !

...now on to the Godin Kingpin II quest...

or you could have killed 2 birds with one stone and gotten a Godin Midi guitar