Does anyone know if this device was invented?

[fbzg]

Hello everyone.

I have a MIDI controller keyboard and would like to hear some sound (piano, organ, or even other sample-based sounds), but without going through a computer and a daw.

I am trying to figure out if there is a device that can receive MIDI notes and turn it into audio, to be heard on headphones or transmitted over a PA.

The device I have in mind, and would purchase, is able to recognize at least the pitch and velocity of notes and turn it into audio.

Midi controller --> *DEVICE with samples and D/A converter* --> headphones or speakers.

The best would be if this *DEVICE* had a usb port through which I could load samples of my choice.

Does anyone know if such a device is on the market?

Thank you to those who will respond. I hope I have explained myself clearly.

[muki]

any regular "keyboard" with builtin sounds should do the trick
piano, organ and a lot more are MIDI standard

like yamaha PSR
https://de.yamaha.com/de/products/music ... index.html

casio casiotone etc...

[GaryG]

There certainly is. Billions of them.

Fundamentally what you're describing is a MIDI sound module which have been around since the dawn of MIDI (forty years). Or a module/rack version of a keyboard synthesizer. Not sure if they're as popular as they once were (people using laptops), going back you had things like the Korg 05R/W which had a whole host of general midi sounds, quick look on Thomanns throws up modules like this: https://www.thomann.de/gb/miditech_pian ... o_host.htm

There are hardware sample players too but I don't have any real experience of them.

[fbzg]

Fundamentally what you're describing is a MIDI sound module which have been around since the dawn of MIDI (forty years).

Thank you, I did some research based on your feedback. These sound modules are a bit too expensive for what I had in mind, for me having a 50€ KEYSTATION-MINI32 MK3. For the proposed prices, basically from €150 and up, you can directly buy keyboards with built-in sounds, speakers and MIDI output. If I understand correctly, MIDI sound modules do not have enough demand to push companies to put them on the market at affordable prices as with other more widely used gear.
But that's okay.
Thank you anyway.

[imrae]

There certainly used to be demand but it was for studios and live performance. Only at considerable scale can one even produce a decent metal case for €50 MSRP!

But there is loads of old stuff going for relatively little on the used market. Have a look on ebay for "Roland Sound Canvas", that seems fairly suitable from what you've said. (They don't sample, but real samplers cost more and the workflow is not for everyone.)

[BertKoor]

Sell your midi controller and buy a keyboard with sound and midi output

NB: you likely can pick up an acoustic piano for nothing locally. Nobody wants them anymore.

[zerocrossing]

Another option is if you have an iPhone or iPad, you can buy an inexpensive MIDI to Lightning port interface like the iRig Pro Duo I/O and there are tons of cheap instrument plugins. Some even free. Make sure you put your device into airplane mode when you're using it, though.

[egbert101]

Obviously a sampler. I'm sure there are plenty of options to choose from, such as Yamaha's MODX keyboards that can load samples as well as have a load of preset samples and full FM capability.

[fbzg]

I may have found the solution. Thanks to @zerocrossing it occurred to me to search if there were such solutions for Android as well - I have a Motorola. I found a video explaining what kind of connectors to buy, I ordered them, will let you know.
(Thanks to you too, @imrae, but these analog sound modules, even the used Roland Sound Canvas found on eBay, all cost more than 150€. If I can do the same thing but with a phone app, I've solved it, at least for the time being).

[kritikon]

I thought these kinda things go for peanuts, or even fractions of peanuts? Second hand and they must be peanut crumbs.

EDIT - just checked - 154 Euro from Thomann. I bet you can find them for under 150.

[imrae]

Getting a robust, low-noise stereo connection between a phone and a PA will eat a chunk of that budget too...

[justin3am]

You could get a MIDIPlus midiEngine for <$100: https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-miniEng ... B074WYSCF6

I've used one but it's a bit noisy and the sounds aren't great. You might be better off with something like a Chomebook or a tablet and some lightweight apps. Or simply get a keyboard that has built-in sounds.

[sin night]

I thought these kinda things go for peanuts, or even fractions of peanuts? Second hand and they must be peanut crumbs.

EDIT - just checked - 154 Euro from Thomann. I bet you can find them for under 150.

Sound quality is quite crude (it's a lo-fi sampler with very limited memory) and it's meant to be sequenced internally, I think you need the Pajen firmware (which works only with the first revision of the Volca Sampler) to play it chromatically, or maybe you can with some midi remapping... Some people squeeze out a lot from such a limited device, but I wouldn't consider it as a sampler module to play with a midi keyboard; in my view it's just a limited lo-fi drumsampler.
(By the way, I have a Volca Sampler v2 and I rarely use it... it's fun, but very limited).