Hi all,

I'd like to hook a keyboard synth up to a PC, and have the keyboard trigger polyphonic (8 or more voices) playback on the PC.

I gather I need something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/USB-MIDI-Converter-Keyboard-Window/dp/ B0047B3J4C/

And, on the PC, a "VST host" as well as a "VST instrument" -- is that about right?

Is there an "obvious" VST host and instrument to use? (I'd be happy with a "piano-like" sound for starters). For now I just want to make sure I can get that much to work (it's a somewhat old PC).

Ultimately I'm interested in Ableton Live -- but I'm hoping to start by simply getting the keyboard to play out the PC.

Thanks kindly for any tips!

Download any VST instrument, piano or whatever, then go get SaviHost by Herman Seib ... read the instructions for SaviHost and you're off.

Excellent, thanks!

Are there any obvious VSTi I should try?

Thanks again!

Try some free ones first. What sort of sounds are you looking for? There are many threads on KVR about which is the best freebie.

Do free VSTi's tend to come bundled with junkware?

I'd be happy enough with a piano-like sound, though it would be fun to have a few so I could get a feel for the differences -- if they tend to be CPU-intensive, I would need VSTi's that run ok on an old PC (it's a 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo).

Is there an obvious place to browse VSTi's, sorted by "no junkware" and "free" and "not too CPU-intensive"?

Thanks again!

Hi.

There's no "obvoius" host or DAW. It all depends on the workflow and how complex you need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and the features you are looking for.

I suggest you try out Reaper. It's a very popular host. Light on CPU, fairly priced and very easy to learn in my opinion. You get 30 days full working evaluation version which is complete and uncrippled: http://www.reaper.fm/index.php

If you are serious, then you also need an audio interface. Your computer in itself is (most likely) not geared to deliver neither pristine audio quality or take in hardware connections or let you plug in external speakers via 1/4" jack. An audio interface gives you these options. It's your pal between your computer and your equipment and then you don't need a converter as you describe above, audio interfaces comes with MIDI in/out.

I recommend Alesis IO|2 Express. 98 EUR at Thomann: http://www.thomann.de/dk/alesis_io2_express.htm

I assume you already have a keyboard with MIDI.

Not usually.
I don't have any trouble with my 1.6 dual core laptop, so you should be OK. Like I said there are many, many threads on KVR about what's the best freebies, and there's also the plugin search feature. You could also try sites like gersic.com and rekkerd.org and bedroom producers blog. BPB has links and reviews for lots of free stuff. Computer Music Magazine has a free virtual studio with every copy, and good tutorials for beginners and pros.

A couple of my favorite free synths are Oatmeal, Charlatan and Voyager, but there are plenty more. The new Zampler from Beat Magazine/Synapse Audio may suit your needs ... there's a thread about it here: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4957969
Last edited by thecontrolcentre on Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:00 am; edited 1 time in total

Hi Luftrum, thanks.

I should clarify "obvious" as: good for a beginner, modest CPU, no bundled junkware, and cheap or free.

Initially I just want to use the computer to render polyphonic sound triggered via the keyboard.

The sound-out of the PC is actually pretty good. I use the PC as a music server, and the sound out is USB to a USB-DAC.

So, the idea is to get some sort of VST software on the same PC, and the sound should be pretty good.

Any suggestions on VSTi's I should look at?

I'm looking forward to joining this club...

Thank you again controlcentre, much appreciated.

I suppose my problem is it seems a bit overwhelming to figure out where to start, and was hoping there might be a few (ahem, "obvious") VSTi's recommended for a beginner. Once I actually have something working, I'm sure everything will fall into place.

I actually only just learned about "VST hosts" and "VST instruments."

Get Ableton live it's the most ideal for performing and not just mixing and mastering. The lite version comes free with Novation midi controllers.

The Piano vst I like the most is Galaxy's The Giant.THis is sampled from the worlds tallest upright piano which is based on a massive concert grand. No demo available.

Try the demo of Pianoteq this is a sort of piano simulator synth it doesn't use any samples so it is a fast download. demo that with the Ableton Live demo.

You can buy soundcards with midi connections but I have never used one as my midi controller is USB. Try M-Audio's website and hope the drivers are still upto date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scbi0hkXjak

I think you can now get Cakewalk's Discovery Pro for very cheap now... I seem to think I saw a thread where it was $30 or something? It's got a ton of sample based instrument that come with it and they sound good. Not as good as a gigantic sample based library, but at a fraction of the price. It also comes with a little bit of everything. A great place to start off from.

Does NI do it's free Kore player any more? That was a pretty awesome freebe. Limited, but a great sampling of all their presets.

I think everyone would agree that Synth1 is one of the best free synths out there. Nothing amazing in terms of features, but a great sound. Similar to a Nord Lead. Someone else mentioned Oatmeal, that's more complicated but also very good.

Hey all, one more question...

If I were to get something like the Akai APC40 controller or Akai MPK88 keyboard -- how easy is it to use its knobs and sliders to control VSTi parameters interactively?

eg, to what extent can I use the Akai APC40 or MPK88 to approximate something like a knobby analog synth? (assuming the correct choice of VSTi)

Thanks kindly...