salamichrist wrote:
Would it work with my emu 0404 sound card? becuase it does have midi ins and outs, but i wasn't sure if I had to go through a mixer becuase my behringer 502 doesn't connect midi.

I don't really understnad how midi works but it seems like you connect to computer and have programs that give you all the sounds. right? please help me out.

I am on a budget and this looks like the best buy and will have much better quality than my yamaha psr-540 little kid keyboard. Right? How would the quality of sound match up to the micron THANKS!!!

Should work with the EMU. But you'll probably just want to connect to USB, and then send the sounds out of the EMU. No MIDI patch cables needed for that application.

No mixer involved...it's a keyboard controller, which means it doesn't make sounds in itself...it just controls others.

You need a VST-capable program (Cubase, Sonar, etc) to run the sounds that come packaged with it, although, apparently those sounds may also be capable of stand-alone computer operation, independant of a MIDI DAW. (Not sure on that, just what I gathered). Alternatively, you can also control any other MIDI sound from a soundcard, or outboard MIDI sound module.

If the Micron is a controller, it also makes no sounds in itself.

What's the differences? I dunno...I don't know what Micron you speak of.

I imagine better build quality? Better keyboard action? Better sensitivity and control? Faster-acting, maybe?

Ask yourself these questions:

Is two octaves enough? You are restricted to that range at one time, although I suspect it offers an easily adjustable range-change function that allows you to go higher or lower...but still restricted to THAT range. If yes, OK.

Do you need 16 MIDI controllers for any reason? If so, OK.

Do you expect it to have internal sounds? If so, NOT OK. The sounds that come packaged are computer-sofware dependant. You can't just tuck this thing under your arm and go visit your friend, plug this into a mixer and something comes out. It probably doesn't even have audio outs. You need a computer, an outboard module, or another MIDI keyboard that DOES have sound to use it. AND, the last two are only possible if the thing is powered by batteries or a wall-wart, since the other objects won't have USB.

If that's all OK, then it's probably not bad, given it comes with a collection of software instruments. Which you may, or may not, like and find useful.
Which may, or may not, drive you nutz with latency issues that you'll have to sort out. Which you may, or may not, be glad the store you purchased it from has a generous return policy (opened software?). Which you may, or may not, be glad you researched in advance. :shock:

Depends on everything you want and expect.

Good luck,

Kapt.Krunch

Thanks alot man. Here is a link of the Micron. It is just a normal keyboard and not a midi controller http://www.guitarcenter.com/Alesis-Micron-Analog-Modeling-Synth-102810637-i1154723.gc

the main question I am concerned with though is that I would rather spend 130 than 400 dollars. How good are midi sounds in your opinion? How much better than keyboard sounds? You were talkign about latency issues, so would it be hard to work? I mainly will be using this at home so I don't need to worry about bringing it anywhere but if I do, I can jsut bring my MAC laptop. I was thinking on upgrading to the 49 key, but like you said I can just easily change the octave. I am on a dort of tight budget, and I'm not able to spend 400 dollars on a keyboard and 130 is much more in my range. If you were in my situation would you go with midi>

You'll get no discernable latency from playing a decent keyboard with onboard sounds.

You MAY get some by having a sequencer, or another keyboard or controller triggering it.

You'll PROBABLY get some by triggering a virtual instrument with an outboard keyboard...whether it is only a controller, or a synth with it's own sounds, which also can function as a controller but may be limited to fewer controller functions...such as note-on, and perhaps mod and pitch wheels, and maybe a foot-controller or two.

If you don't know what an "Analog Modeling Synth" is, I would suggest not getting it, and not using it as a comparison to anything else. You are trying to compare two COMPLETELY different things.

You keep referring to what sounds better? It's whatever sounds you are triggering, be it in a wavetable soundcard/module, a card/module that can load and use WAV-type samples, software virtual instruments, or any of the myriad of FM/Wavetable/Subtractive/Additive/Granular/Modeling/etc.,etc. synthesis that is available in software, or hardware modules/keyboards. All of which can be controlled by MIDI messages.

MIDI is NOT sound. It is instructions telling a device what to play, when and how. It can control sound, but it isn't sound.

The sounds are whatever you are triggering via MIDI. Some things react faster to an external trigger source. THAT all depends on a lot of things, like the quality of the interconnected devices, the speed and setup of a computer, and any programs associated.

Do yourself a favor, and get the Micron out of your mind. It's not for you. Your cheezoid Yamaha is most likely based on PCM-encoded samples with little, if any, tweakability.
Other keyboards may have WAV-table ROM, replaceable sounds, or a combination of those and/or just other synthesis technologies.

A controller only sends data. It does nothing else. It makes no sound.

Research more about MIDI, and decide whether you want the keyboard to have sounds, or not. If not, you'll need other sounds available. Research sound modules, soundcards, virtual instruments (VSTi), and samplers.
All of these are controlled by MIDI. You can use one, or a combination of all, with a capable MIDI sequencing program and/or the necessary interconnections.

So, decide what your wants and needs are, and then you can start comparing apples to apples, instead of apples to...nothing that resembles them.

Hope this helped. :wink:

Kapt.Krunch