Hi,
 
Been looking at getting a Synthesizer. And for now, not an expensive one, unless it has a for dummies function in it so a blind man can navigate all the buttons and a read-out he can not see properly!
 
Been looking at those Korg's and Rolands, and even those Casio newbies ... and not sure what it is and isn't worth springing for ... here are the issues for this member of the how sweet to be an idiot club ...
 
1. Not interested in music. Call me Eno fake copy!
 
2. Don't know squat about a sequencer and can not figure it out and make the note repeat, let alone use it ... and two efforts to have someone come over and help me do this on the Jupiter 8 software with the midi board ... have been wasted ... money was offered, too! 
  
3. Midi board, at this point is useless ... but I have gotten all the slides and knobs marked up so half of the controls on the Jupiter can be done manually ... fun, too!
 
4. Expense is an issue in that I don't see that it is worth purchasing something for $1500 dollars, that I can not learn or figure out.
 
5. Literature on the subject is as bad as the folks that supposedly know how to navigate many of these instruments and midi! 
 
Thanks for the assist ... any comment is acceptable including "You're an Idiot" ... but then, I'm a Charter Member of the "How Sweet To Be An Idiot" club, so I consider that an honor ... not an insult!
 
Have a wonderful day and thanks in advance for all the comments ...

Hi Pedro, 

If you're not interested in music, what is the purpose of it?  

Good luck on your quest, 
Jan

Have you considered a visit to a big box music store? 

They have people there who might take the time to actually show you something useful and I'm sure they sell keyboards of all sorts, sizes, prices and features. 

They are usually pretty good about answering questions too if you explain you are new and what you are seeking. There are plenty of keyboards in the lower price rage (under $500) with a ton of features and some may be pretty easy to understand. 

If you are using them to input midi..... you really don't need to know much beyond how to turn it on. And the cheapest keyboard will suffice to do that. 

I have to echo Jan's question - you listed what you do not want to use it for, but you didn't list what you DO want to use it for?

Beagle


I have to echo Jan's question - you listed what you do not want to use it for, but you didn't list what you DO want to use it for?

setting pictures on it and a lava lamp too? 

Guitarhacker

Beagle


I have to echo Jan's question - you listed what you do not want to use it for, but you didn't list what you DO want to use it for?

setting pictures on it and a lava lamp too? 

then I've got the perfect one to sell to him for $500!!!! 
 

I'm not sure craigb is looking to sell his lava lamp.  

Unless you need something to take to live performance engagements that's totally plug-in-turn-on-and-play, you can save serious money by buying a simple MIDI controller and a soft synth.  If you're running a DAW, you've probably already got one or more of those on hand to begin with.  If not, fifty bucks can get you a decent quality soft synth and several amazing options exist at the ~$120 price point.  I'm assuming you've already got some kind of musical computer setup going with at least a basic sound card.

Old55


Hi Pedro, 

If you're not interested in music, what is the purpose of it?  

Good luck on your quest, 
Jan

No sense asking you ... meaning "theory" ... and such!

guitarhackerThey have people there who might take the time to actually show you something useful and I'm sure they sell keyboards of all sorts, sizes, prices and features.

 
Actually yes .. Apple Music and Portland Music in Portland ... the folks at Portland Music pretty much decided that they were not interested in selling, and the Apple Music folks ... were too busy talking about the guitars!
 
I'm actually hoping to learn more about all this via the Jupiter 8 (Arturia) software and go from there ... it has a massive sequencer section and such, but it is really difficult to use as you play.