Reddit reviews midiplus AK490 MIDI Keyboard Controller

Midiplus, it's actually not that bad to be honest, it is beginning to break in and loosen up a bit

This?: https://www.amazon.com/First-Act-Discovery-Portable-Keyboard/dp/B07BLGB6VZ

It is not a midi controller, looks like you would be limited to onboard sounds.

If you are going to be sending midi to a computer, I'd say go with this:
https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-32-Key-Midi-Controller-AKM320/dp/B00VHKMK64/
or this:
https://www.amazon.com/MIDITECH-Controller-i2-32-BT/dp/B078YJ5SX8

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If 5din midi out is important to you (maybe have sound module or something), spend a little more:
https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-keyboard-controller-49-Key-AK490/dp/B01IND48OY
or

https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-AK490-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00VHKM72Q

I highly suggest you grab a full size keyboard

Like something cheap

or something expensive

that you can use both hands on. Trust me, I started on piano, and it helped me a whole lot when I was starting out to just write stuff and record it in and fix it later.

I got a MIDIplus AK490 off of amazon. There might be better options, but this one works good enough for me. You might have different preferences, so you should probably check other options before you buy.

get a cheap midi controller:

one example

you can go cheaper, or more expensive.

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get a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

mac: Logic Pro

PC or mac: Abelton Live, FL Studio, Pro Tools, etc

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all of this is fairly cheap, assuming you already have a computer.

now you have a functional keyboard.

you can learn as much music as you want on your own, if you have the drive. everything you need you can find online. you can get great harmony, counterpoint, voice leading, and musical form books.

for ear training, start by just singing along with melodies you play on the midi controller. start with simply slow melodies. away from the pressure of a teacher testing you in front of a class, i bet you'll start finding the pitches easily pretty quickly. i bet you will improve much faster than you expect.

to repeat, because it's the most important thing: you can learn as much as you want on your own. you don't need teachers, you don't need university, only the internal drive, and access to a keyboard and music theory books. good luck.

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edit:

you can even get started today

http://virtualpiano.net/

hit some pitches, and sing them.

My recommendation would be to jump back in. start out with a basic 49 key midi keyboard that you can plug right into a laptop or an ipad. A basic hand strengthener is great to have in the car to improve dexterity.

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Or- if you have an ipad, get garageband and use the on-screen keyboard to start practicing . Youtube is great for lessons and you can adjust the playback to slower speeds.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MIDIExpand--keith-mcmillen-instruments-midi-expander?adpos=1o2&creative=55226083081&device=t&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CNTV74myscwCFQqKaQodtooO7A

I wonder if that would work for any controller with a standard USB output?

I bet this would work:

http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/utilities/usb-host.shtml

but honestly, just go buy one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-AK490-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00VHKM72Q/ref=sr_1_23?s=musical-instruments&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1525116771&sr=1-23&keywords=midi+controller&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

Thanks for the quick reply!


I was actually looking at the Alesis Q49 because someone suggested the no-longer-made SteelSeries Merc keyboard for Perform and the Alesis looked like a cheaper alternative.

Edit: looking at others, the midiplus AK490 MIDI looks a cheaper alternative to Alesis Q49.