Newbie

[jcharney]

Hey everyone. I'm a longtime piano player (I compose for solo piano), guitarist, and trumpet player. I've been playing guitar in my band since we started, but now a shift in direction and members we are toying with the idea of me switching to keyboard from guitar.
I've always wanted to do this and find myself much more competent at keys...problem is, I know nothing about them. It looks so complicated and gear-focused...from what I see you have to know alot about electronics and have bazillions of dollars on gear/patches/equipment/who knows what. It doesn't seem to be like guitar, for example, where you can just play. I don't have alot of money to spend all at one time here, and my knowledge is extremely limited. Is there some website that includes stuff like, definitions and beginner tips for all these terms? And am I gonna need computer synchability?

Thanks...by the way, Dream Theater and Jordan Rudess are gods...oh my god.

Sorry if this has been posted countless times.

[Kakaroto]

Hi!
Just playing a keyboard won't be so hard. Turn it on, select the sound you want, and you're ready:)

The problem starts with Synthesizers and sound editing, and many more things you can do with synthesizers.
The question is if you need/want one. I guess you know what it is.
You said you don't have a lot of money, and you don't know a lot about it.
So...What kind of music do you play? Do you think preset sounds on a regular keyboard will work for you, or you want a synthesizer?

Will be glad to help (as much as I can) :!:

[jcharney]

Well, I would say, as close as I could, we're doing a prog/Primus style fusion here. As far as I can tell, I'll probably call for rock organ/piano/other whimsical basic sounds. For the time being, pre-programmed sounds could work, but eventually I know I'm going to want to expand my sounds as I know the terrain a little better. My real passion, however, is prog metal and I always want to have the option of doing what I want...I was looking at an AlesisQ8.2 keyboard, and if I'm correct it's a good starter board but also expandable (I've even seen those "q-cards"?

How WOULD I go about my own synthesis? Would it be programming through the board or a computer/patching it through MIDI? I'm not sure I understand a lot of basics.

Also, what are rack modules such as JR uses? I know his Kurzweil is only a controller for all those modules, but...okay I ramble...

Thanks for the help.

[MatrixGrowl]

To answer your last question, JR's rack modules are basically sounds from different keyboards, such as a korg triton, that he can call up to his main controller, the kurzweil. Now, the racks have most of the same synthesis features of teh actual keyboard, i.e. combining sounds to make your own unique blend. I think that is what you are going to want to do if you are just starting to expand your keyboard playing. Just start off by putting a bunch of preloaded sounds together. Once you start becoming more acquainted with the vast knowledge of keyboard wizardry, start tweaking it and messing around with it, like changing timbres and delays and pitch modulations.
Hope this helps.

[Lurion]

@MatrixGrowl: :D :lol: :) Ha ha!! You wrote "teh"!!!

@jcharney: try going for a second hand machine such as some fo korg's older workstations. Examples might be korg 01/W, korg M1, Korg Trinity.
They were all top notch in their days. The presets will all be good as hell to get started on with and you'll also have powerfull machines for when you learn more about them. You'll find that it's not halfway as hard as it seems if you really get into it with structure. I started of on an M1 (15 year old bastard) and I'm still using it. Despite it's limitations, I sound much better than many noobs on Triton le's I've met. They always come over asking me about my leads and pads and saying "do you think my triton can do that?". I just smile and plan on stealing it from them. The world just isn't fair.

I would never go cheap. My filosophy is if you go cheap to start with you'll end up spending more money in the long run. Get something good from the beguining and you'll find it will last you a life time.