MIDI Keyboard
Let’s start with one of the most common devices.
you’re able to think of it as a vessel for sound.
Use it to add lush strings under a chorus or play drum beats.
It’s fantastic for mocking up a demo and experimenting with different ideas.
All of the above is of course doable using just a mouse pointer in a DAW.
But no doubt having a MIDI keyboard speeds up your workflow and lets you focus on being creative.
However, one key difference is that they don’t always come with a keyboard by default.
There are a lot more MIDI controller designs out there, purpose-built for different needs.
The fun part of MIDI controllers is that they open up new ways to make and play music.
Each pad can be loaded with an audio clip or sample and played in real-time like any other instrument.
An electronic drum kit is another example of a MIDI controller that is purpose-built for drummers.
They are sometimes used to trigger specific drum samples in a live performance.
One thing to look out for is designs that are made exclusively for a certain DAW.
Always check the compatibility of a MIDI controller before buying one.
Unlike MIDI keyboards or controllers, they don’t require a computer or DAW to produce sound.
Underneath the hood, a synthesizer has all the on-board electronics needed to create sound using basic waveforms.
It’s important to note, however, that you might’t just plug a synth in with a USB.
A Synthesizer requires a power source and a sound system to play back sound.
Synthesizers Produce a World of Sound
How a synthesizer makes sound can be quite complicated to understand.
Then, when you are happy with the results, simply play the sound using the keyboard.
A synthesizer can recreate the sound of brass, bass, and bell tones, among many other instruments.
In other words, it can “synthesize” acoustic sounds using electronics.
The original synthesizer was a physical instrument with plenty of knobs and cables.
Nowadays, however, you will find plenty of synths in digital form as a software instrument.
Digital synths are inserted on a track in your DAW and played with a MIDI keyboard.
Analog synths can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars and are incredible pieces of technology to own.
Which One Should You Get?
It opens up the option of playing different software instruments, but also samples and digital synthesizers too.
On the other hand, MIDI controllers can solve more specific problems.
Finally, you have synths, which are a category of their own.
While they also have piano-like keys, they don’t need a DAW to make sounds.
But for those more adventurous, there are plenty of other options to choose from.
