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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 52
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 52 |
I am looking for advice on choosing a midi keyboard to play the melody. My needs are very simple.
Easy to install is important along with a small footprint.
Thanks
Ron
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,114
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,114 |
HI Have a look at M Audio. They do a 32 key mini , and 49 and 61 Mk 3 keystation The Also do the Oxygen 49 and 61 MK IV. These have 6 drum pads as well as. 9 sliders and 8 rotary encoders. https://www.m-audio.com/products/browse/category/keyboards-and-controllersI have one from Novation, the Impulse 61 I believe this has a slightly bigger foot print If you are tight for foot print go for one of the first two keystations as without all the drum pads and gizmos they are smaller back to front Mike
BIAB2021 UltraPlus,AsusN55S1Tbssd, W10/64,Akai EIEpro Yamaha CVP405,SquireStrat, CoolsoftVMidSynth Novatation Impulse61 Ctr kbd, Cwalk blab Kontakt http://mikesmusic.byethost16.com/
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,622
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,622 |
Lots of choices. I use an iRig Keys 37, because I have more than two octaves in a still-small footprint.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,987
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,987 |
Actually, any midi keyboard will do that job. I have 2 synths in my studio. Both are midi capable and have been used for different projects depending on the need.
Things to consider....
number of keys. I would recommend a 61 key as a minimum. You might not think you need that many but there will come a time when you will want that many.
Touch sensitive. The harder you press the louder and more aggressive the note is played. Like a real piano and adds that human feel to the playing.
Weighted keys. Weighted keys more closely resemble the feel of a real piano vs the "nothing behind it" feel of many synths. Each has its advantages.
A few places not to overlook in your search to buy a keyboard controller. Yard sales, pawn shops, and want ads for sale. Everybody has one of these laying around that they don't play with and will often sell it in really good shape for way less than the music store. Unless you really need the brand new, with a warrantee, in the original box.... don't buy it from a music store unless that's the way you roll.
The 2 I got.... one was given to me absolutely free and the other I bought lightly used from the keyboard player in our house band when she left the band. I think she was asking half price of it new.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Ron, since you're forum name is Keyboard I assume you're a keys player as I am. Personally, I don't care if a controller is weighted or not. For gigging I'm mostly a B3 guy anyway but I have a grand piano in my living room.
Any stage keyboard can be used as a midi controller but if you're strictly talking about a home studio with a small desk then sure, pick up whatever minimum size fits your space. If all you're going to do is enter single note melody's a 25 key is probably fine. But, if you're a good player and you want to control a high end synth library you'll need more than that along with all the knobs and faders you can get. Tell us more about what kind of player you are and what you want to do.
I totally agree with Herb, buy used. Been doing that all my life, I've never bought a new keyboard ever. Used controllers are all over Craigslist, and online retail websites like Guitar Center, Reverb, Sweetwater, etc.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,514
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,514 |
Right, I agree with JazzMammal; used can be the way to go with a word of caution. Be careful of how the condition is described. My "like new" could be your worst nightmare.
Case in point, I got a new-to-me Yamaha Montage from Guitar Center. They described it as "like new". When it came in from their store in RI, one of the control knobs was missing and the unit had a long crack on the end and a lifted face plate. I rejected that one and ordered another from their store in AL. That one was also described as "like new"...and it really was! No dents, no dings, no dust, not a scratch anywhere!
Do some homework on what your interested in. Look up the owners manual on line and get familiar with how it works so you can give the once-over when it arrives. Order from a reputable dealer with a money back guarantee if you don't like it. Have it sent to their store, not your home. Be there when it arrives. Unpack it with their rep standing by. Very closely examine it. Have them hook it up. Plug it and check out all the keys, features, displays, buttons, sliders what have you.
With all this CoVid stuff going on and the near complete shutdown of all live music, this could be an ideal time to pick up a bargain.
You can save a lot of money by buying used, but be careful, don't buy someone else's problem.
Jeff
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,835
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,835 |
I have a 49 key native instruments komplete controller. I also have an Akai mini 25 found that to be a tad restrictive. I’m find the 49 key to be perfect for me. Plus I love the native instruments software sounds. I find that the keyboard integrated nicely into the systems I use Band in a Box, Logic X and Studio one.
Whi”e I agree with Herb and Bob, on getting great deals with used gear. Sometimes it works out better to buy new IF you get some nice content with the package. With the native instruments units some nice sounds come packaged. I have a good friend who has bought several licenses for NI libraries and he gave me a license. So I have almost everything they make, but if I just had what the bundle it would be some nice stuff.
Bottom line if you already have a ton of sound libraries used rocks, but if not sometimes new gets you started.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
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-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
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Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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