MIDI Keyboards
Whether you are a keyboard player or not, one of the most valuable Cubase accessories you can own is a MIDI keyboard. I started out a keyboard player (piano) as a child, so my opinion may be a little biased, but what I’ve discovered over years of using Cubase is that I use my MIDI keyboard for a lot more than just programming MIDI keyboard/instrument parts. For instance, a MIDI keyboard can be the perfect tool for non-drummers to program drum parts (the only reason I say “non-drummers” is because there are even better tools available for those who actually know how to play a drum kit or play with drum sticks). Also, because of the popularity of virtual synths and DAWs, most keyboards contain a wide variety of controllers that enable you to get the most out of performing tasks in Cubase, such as programming pitch bend, volumes changes, or synth parameter changes; mixing, changing, or automating EQ settings—the list goes on. Having all of these features in one place definitely makes the MIDI keyboard one of the most practical accessories a Cubase user can own.
If you’ve been doing your sound-card homework, you may have already realized that some manufacturers understand the importance of owning a MIDI keyboard so much that they have combined MIDI keyboards with sound cards. There are several of these types of MIDI controller/sound cards on the market, and they may seem like the perfect solution for those using Cubase with a laptop on the road (see Figure 2.1).
Being a keyboard player and a fan of the “keep it simple” principle, I find the idea of owning a MIDI keyboard that can do it all pretty exciting. However, there is a good reason I don’t own an M-Audio Ozonic, and it has to do with another principle I usually stick to: When someone tries to cram too much into one box, they usually have to take shortcuts, so be very cautious. Even though the idea is incredible, think about it: If something with so many features retails for $600 and there are other sound cards that have the simple purpose of capturing and playing back audio from a computer for the same list price, shouldn’t the stand-alone sound card sound better than the all-in-one keyboard? The bottom line is that if sound quality is important to you, try to avoid any sort of all-in-one unit. All-in-one keyboards are designed to make things convenient for live performers and aren’t meant to be used in a studio. M-Audio makes some other fantastic MIDI keyboard controllers that aren’t sound related, and I’ll go over some of those shortly.
Note
Simple MIDI keyboard controllers do not contain any sort of internal sounds (such as an organ or drum kit). A MIDI keyboard controller is designed to be the trigger (or MIDI input) device into Cubase. Once the MIDI info has been programmed into Cubase, Cubase will output that MIDI information to external synths or internal VST synths (or controls). There is no need to own a MIDI keyboard that includes sounds unless you are a keyboard player who also plays live (without a computer) or you just happen to like the way a particular keyboard’s internal sounds function, or the way the keyboard feels. For the most part, if you’re not a keyboard player or synth programmer, a simple MIDI keyboard controller will suit your needs fine.
If you consider yourself to be a virtuoso pianist, do yourself a favor and buy a keyboard controller with 76 to 88 keys. Weighted keys are optional. As a keyboard/piano player, I don’t find any similarity between the feel of weighted keyboard keys and piano keys, and I opt for the unweighted keys for a cheaper, lighter, and easier-to-play keyboard. Keep in mind that if the MIDI keyboard you buy has internal sounds that you would like to use, you will need to hook up the audio outputs to your sound card’s audio inputs. This is explained in more detail in Chapter 4, “Recording MIDI.” If you’re not a keyboard player or you rarely play with both hands on the keyboard at once, save some valuable studio space by getting a keyboard with fewer than 49 keys. Just because a keyboard has only 49 keys doesn’t mean that you can’t cover the range of a keyboard with 88 keys. All keyboard controllers are capable of adjusting the octave range in which you wish to work.
Note
What if you have a MIDIfied piano? Can you use that as a MIDI controller? The simple answer is, anything that has a MIDI output can be used as a MIDI controller. The question you should ask yourself is: Does the MIDI controller actually perform the functions you require? A MIDIfied piano won’t really help you mix a track in Cubase, but you would be able to lay down some killer MIDI piano parts. Sometimes it’s necessary to use multiple MIDI controllers. It all depends on your personal studio needs.
If you consider yourself to be a tweaker who likes to manipulate sound in almost unimaginable ways, you may want a MIDI keyboard controller with a lot of knobs or sliders. That said, even though using the knobs and sliders is fun, you can perform the same tweaking as with a knob or slider on your MIDI keyboard using your mouse. The other thing to note is that if you want to make the most out of knobs and sliders on a MIDI keyboard, spend some time doing some setups with Cubase. If you like to do a lot of tweaking, you’ll save precious studio time by using knobs and sliders instead of a mouse. Don’t worry about cramming too many knobs or sliders on a MIDI keyboard. It will not degrade the sound quality in any way. The worst problem excess knobs or faders could cause would be a system crash or MIDI delay, and you’d have to be using a lot of knobs and sliders simultaneously to make that happen.