My early Xmas present Edirol/Roland PCR-50 USB MIDI Keyboard

[Christina]

I've been wanting a keyboard for quite sometime. I don't know how to play but I bought some software to string me along. I know how to play the violin a bit so reading notes and what not shouldn't be too hard for me to grasp. I purchased the Edirol/Roland PCR-50 USB MIDI Keyboard from Academicsuperstore.com (it pays to still be in school!!!).

I wanted to learn so that I'd be able to use it with Garageband for Mac. I would have purchased the GarageKey MIDI keyboard but that only works with Mac and I wanted something to work with both PC and Mac.

This is only a hobby at the moment that I want to try out. I like to mess around with beats and sounds. I have a natural instinct when it comes to all sounds and music in general. Growing up in Motown only fueled that
:twisted: And I have a lot of buddies who are DJ's. I also write poetry and some music when I have/had the time. (Obviously I haven't done anything in a loong time!) But I hope to get back on track!

SO....any thoughts to the world of MIDI instruments? I plan to learn Reason one of these days for the Mac yet I'm already familiar with Pro Tools and basic software such as Sound Forge. I think Garageband is a very interesting program which I picked up for fun when I got the Powerbook.....Soundtrack also came with Final Cut Pro too.

My favorite music is mostly Hip Hop/R&B...although I absolutely love old school, I like to listen to classical music, rock, and alternative......my other favorite is freestyle music (in my opinion the birth of dance/techno music...techno which kinda annoys the heck outta me most of the time)...so anyways..... :)

Anyways, I'd be interested in knowing if any of you have ever used an MIDI instruments before.

Product Info/Where I Purchased (http://academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=634077&qk_srch=Edirol%2FRol and+)

[Jamie]

That's odd, I got one bought for me last Xmas. It ended up been packed away in to the box though due to my lack of musical skills. ;)

[the_pm]

Actually, I started doing studio recording back when I was 14 years old. I amassed an impressive amount of equipment during the course of about eight years or so, all of which I still have and use on occasion. I used to record all kinds of music, but mostly hip-hop. I have hundreds of recordings from different artists; I cut an album and created the music for a hip-hop group in '98, and was even on stage for a few shows. The most notable recordings I have are two songs recorded in my old college dorm room with Carey Kelly, younger brother of R. Kelly, who grew up in N.E. Ohio. I'll have to dig those recordings out and mix them down one of these days. C. Kelly never made it, probably because he sounded way too much like Tupac - like his clone, really.

But it's been a while since I've messed with newer technology. The newest keyboard I have is a Korg 01W/FD workstation. I also have an Ensoniq VFX/SD, which might make it into the Smithsonian one day :) I've worked with Cakewalk, Sonic Foundry products, Cool Edit Pro and my favorite multi-track recording program of all time, Strata, which most people hate and no one can afford (I worked with it in a radio station).

Never did much with MIDI though...

[Christina]

Ah..well...if you don't have any determination it just ends up being a noise maker! :lol: But I hope I don't let it become a giant paperweight! The software I bought is Emedia Music Piano & Keyboard Method that teaches 100+ songs for keyboard or guitar. So....hopefully I can become a decent beginner ;)


Ohh..I'd be interested in hearing some of those lost tracks of R Kelly's bro!!! And I liked Tupac......so...? :lol:

[Jamie]

I remember been able to play the theme tune to 'The Rugrats' and that was about it. :lol:

[Christina]

I like the Rugrats theme song!! I'd love to play that! :)

[Jamie]

It is actually quite easy. I would tell you the notes to play it but my memory is shocking... it would probably come out as Jaw's or something as daft. :lol:

[Christina]

It's ok...I'm sure there's some sheet music floating around for it! :lol:

[rosschapman]

If you're starting out, I'd consider:

PC: Cubase SE
MAC: Logic Express or Garageband

Well if you're going pro, I'd consider:

PC: Cubase SX 2
MAC: Cubase SX 2 / Logic Pro 7


I used to use Cubase VST and Logic Silver and had a lot of fun with them at college.

Not knowing what system you're running, you may later need to look for a baadasssss sound card.

One of these days I'll get myself a £60 m-audio keyboard from the Apple store. But then the temptation away from my degree grows ever stronger....

[Christina]

Well....I'm only kinda starting out in the sense of learning the keyboard, not software really. I like using Protools for mac and Soundforge for PC....and I hope to get the hange of Garageband/Soundtrack for mac soon. I can't start to play with the new toys til' after this semester is over :x

[rosschapman]

Well I've yet to try garageband - but it does look good - also getting all those new apple loops may be useful (but I prefer making up my own drum sets etc!).

Garageband does seem to support a hell of a lot of stuff for a (free) program - microphones, keyboards, guitars - quite amazing really. I'd like to find out the limitations (even Cheryl Crow liked the program - or so the advert puts across!)

[Christina]

Hmm....Garageband isn't free...!? I haven't had much time to fiddle with anything lately for fun..so hopefully when the 18th hits I will be able to have fun and play with my toys!!! :twisted: :lol:

I have yet to fully test the apps that mac has been shelling out lately. Like iLife which has iMovie and all that in it.......I have yet to put together a small video from my little cousins Red Egg & Ginger party from August (chinese party given to the baby after they're born!) :) So....I'll probably experiment or just revert to Final Cut ;) Who knows...and then burn to DVD. I hope to cram all the fun/adventure I can before next semester especially since I'll be involved in a few large projects/contracts come mid January :shock:

[rosschapman]

What i meant was Garageband comes with iLife which comes with most new macs - oversight on my part.

:?