Piano Keyboard or Midi keyboard

Hi Ian,
welcome
 
that question has a lot of variables that you need to answer. 
 
a MIDI controller doesn't have any sounds itself, you have to use softsynths in MC to get it to make sounds.
a keyboard has sounds that you can record EITHER the MIDI output or the AUDIO output to record the actual sounds.  usually you don't want to do that unless you're recording a keyboard which sounds really good (one of the higher end keyboards such as Nord, Yamaha Motif, Roland Fantom, Hammond, etc)
All modern keyboards will do BOTH sounds AND MIDI.
All controllers will only do MIDI.
 
most modern MIDI from keyboards are done through USB.  If your soundcard doesn't have MIDI ports then you definitely want to check to make sure the keyboard/controller you buy uses USB for MIDI I/O.
 
prices range from $50 to thousands (i.e. Yamaha Motif XF8 = ~$3700 street price).
 
the feel of the keyboard is another thing you need to consider.  if you're a pianist, you really want a controller/keyboard which has 88 weighted keys.  And none of the brands feel the same.  Personally I've tried a lot of weighted keyboards and my favorite feel is the CASIO Privia line.  Good value for the money, too. ($500 to $1000 new).
 
if you are an organ player, you want a keyboard with "waterfall" keys.  if you're not an organ player, you won't know what that is.  .  a budget organ with really good sounds and is very lightweight is the Hammond SK1 ($1900 new). 
 
If you want the synth feel, there are a lot of options.  My preference is the Yamaha line for this.  they put out some stuff which is geared more toward people who like to build up songs on the keyboard itself (ES series which are $250 and up), the PSR systems which are "personal keyboards" and geared toward beginners (starting around $99 and up) and the MX series which are low cost but higher end sounds than the ES systems ($500-$700) and the MOX series (or the MO series for used, older models) which are really powerful and great sounding synths without as much sequencer functionality ($1200 to $1700 for new) and the Motif series which are $2500 to $3700 and they are full blown sequencers.
 
I have not gone over MIDI controllers themselves.  I currently own 1 MIDI controller I use for "quick inputs" and that's an M-Audio Oxygen.  It's also good for taking on trips since it will fit in a suitcase and connect to my ipad.  but the keys are not full size keys, they're actually even smaller than synth keys and they're slick and sometimes my fingers slip off of them. 
 
what kind of soundcard are you using with MC?  are you trying to use the onboard soundcard?  If so, I recommend getting a recording soundcard instead.  we can help you with selection of that as well.  But it's more important than the keyboard itself, IMO.

Got the midi to play back 

Thanks Scook for the info. Having a little difficulty doing what you said but I will persevere. 
Cheers
Ian

Ian1957
I was looking at this Yamaha PSRE243 61-Key Portable Keyboard as a starting keyboard. This does not have pressure sensative keys. Will that be a problem?

Yes, that is a problem.
In that price range have a look at MIDI keyboards (without sound). All synth with 49+ keys under $500 are toys.
 
For any kind of piano music you need piano like action. Yamaha P-45/ Korg SP-170 are cheapest. But (already mentioned) Casio, Kawai, Yamaha, Roland $1000+ are devices to look at in case you are serious. Cheapest "hi-end" (digital) piano action is Kawai VPC1 (no sound! just MIDI keyboard). Piano players can at some degree imitate piano using synth action, but most of them have learned playing on real one...
 
For other music I am not the one who can recommend something.

Beagle
As far as the PSRE-243, it's fine for a starting keyboard.  it should be able to send MIDI data to MC using USB and will play sounds on its own as well (so if you prefer you can hook up audio cables to your soundcard instead of using softsynths and MIDI).  it has synth based keys which are "springy" not weighted and not waterfall edges.

With all respect, are you serious about recommending not sensitive keyboard to someone, even as a starting one? Soundwise he can play computer keyboard with the same result... May be 343?
 
I had my fun with not sensitive mini toy (I think it was Yamaha) as well as not sensitive Casio "full size". As a toy, 25 years ago, they was not bad.

Here is the simplest setup I can think of
Start MC7,
Close the Quick Start dialog
Type CTRL+N
Insert > Soft Synth > DirectX > TTS-1
Select "simple instrument track" in the Insert Soft Synth Options dialog
Drag the MIDI clip from the browser to the TTS-1 instrument track
start the transport.
 
Alternately, if you do not have a MIDI output device specified in Preferences, you should be able to Open a .mid file and have TTS-1 automatically setup.

Ian - follow scook's instructions, they should work for you.
 

It seems like I have a lot to learn. But thanks to you guys I am taking my first small baby steps.
Cheers
Ian
 

Bought my Yamaha PSR-GX76 in 2001  for ~$330 and it's still going strong.
Sampled sounds, MIDI, touch-sensitive, 76 keys. It may be a 'toy', but I like it.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional musician, but I have been paid to play.

Of course. There are many fine keyboards out there which I would love to own. I think the PSR series is a great line of starter keyboards; inexpensive, well-constructed and mostly good sounds.
As a hobbyist, it works fine for me. If I was a professional, I would certainly seek out better gear. 

Ian,  You said you've purchased MC7, intend to learn music and asked for keyboard recommendations.  You've received some excellent suggestions but please clarify your intent behind the you "intend to learn music" statement.  Does that mean you want to learn music theory, recording and music production, how to sight read sheet music or play a keyboard?  The reason I ask is because several keyboard makers offer student or learning keyboards that have features like backlighted keys or include lessons that are useful to untutored or self taught students.

I would like to know can you play chords with the computer keyboard or just single notes? If you can play chords by holding the keys down at the same time or make a chord by another method. I am a beginner! If I cannot invest in a midi controller or a keyboard at this time, can I still create musical tracks, like playing chords on one track and single notes on a second track with the same instrument sound like a piano sound? Do you have any ideas about how I can use the computer keyboard  to make the piano instrument sound musical? Thanks!

Thanks scook, for the info and the website I will check it out!