Garageband Guitarist needs Keyboard (Midi) Help getting started

Many manufacturers now make MIDI controller keyboards with USB out, so you can plug straight into your Mac via a USB cable and not worry about MIDI interfaces. I'm using one such by Roland, borrowed from a friend who bought it a few years back when such things first became available, but there are doubtless many more now.

If you get a MIDI controller keyboard that has MIDI out, but not USB out, then you will need to get MIDI>USB interface. (Though for all I know no one bothers to make these anymore!)

Cheers,
Carl

If you want to use only GB's instruments (and why not? there great) then the cheapest (at most, $99) way to go would be along the lines of an M-Audio Keystation 49e. 90% of the musicians on this forum use it and love it, myself included.

I too am a guitar player, but since I picked up that keyboard and GB, I have come to love playing this combo as much (dare I say "if not more") than playing just guitar.

Hope that helps.

X

Teh M-Audio Keystation 49e is a great keyboard controller (count me as another satisfied owner), however if your wife expects a "Piano Feel" she will be disappointed, the 49e does not have weighted keys or hammer action.

OTOH, it's going for $89

There's a Chinese (I think) company called CME which is producing relatively inexpensive weighted or semi-weighted keyboards, including MIDI controller keyboards, for fairly reasonable prices. You can get their full-on 88-key MIDI controller in the UK for about GBP 340 or so; presumably they are also distributed in the US.

Here's a page with some info: <http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-uf.html>
(though the page seems to load rather slowly!)

I've not got one of these (still using the dinky borrowed 49-key plasti-feel wonder 😉 but I've considered the CMEs for the day when I can afford an upgrade.

Cheers,
Carl