MIDI keyboard compatibility

• Jul 19, 2011 - 18:19

I want to purchase a basic MIDI keyboard to use with musescore program. Can you tell me where I can find out which keyboards are compatible with musescore 1.0 program, the free download online? Specifically, I am currently looking at the Akai Pro LPK25 Midi Keyboard but also am considering other options. I don't want to purchase a keyboard and it not work. Anyone had any experience with this keyboard specificially or know what MIDI keyboards are compatible? THANKS!

Comments

• Jul 20, 2011 - 00:15

Just remember that Musescore only detects Midi Note on/note off events, so you only need a basic keyboard
capable of sending MIDI note events. A basic keyboard - Casio / Yamaha should work, but you may want a
more featured keyboard to control other programs like a digital audio workstation (REAPER for example)

I use a Roland Edirol PCR-500.

Charles

Reply

• Jul 20, 2011 - 00:07

It should be a much shorter list and an easier task. I got an ancient Kawai 690 from Craig's list for $50, and a $5.95 MIDI adapter from the internet, which works fine. If that works, so should the vast majority of better gear.

-- J.S.

Reply

• Jul 20, 2011 - 05:50

I looked at the Akai Pro LPK25 and noticed it has a very small keyboard - 25 notes I believe.

I would recommend you get at least a 49 note or 61 key keyboard then you can enter a much
wider range of notes. Do you play the piano? I do and find that the 49 note keyboard is on the verge
of being too small.

There is such a range of keyboards on the market - it all depends on your needs.

Charles

Reply

• Jul 20, 2011 - 15:26

Fwiw, I don't find MIDI input to be especially faster or more convenient than computer keyboard entry. But when I've used MIDI, I've neber found small keyboards to be a problem. After all, we're not trying to transcribe real time piano performamce - MuseScore doesn't provide anything like that (and it doesn't work well even in the programs that do support it). Given you're just entering one voice on one staff at a time, few parts will exceed a two octave range often. And most small keyboards have an easy way to set what octaves they transmit, so you. Just set the proper octave at the beginning. Or don't bother and transpose the passage afterwards - takes just a couple of clicks.

So I'd say if this is something you are considering for a fixed installation (ie, a desktop computer) and you have the space, then by all means, get the larger keyboard. But assuming you really do find MIDI input faster than computer keyboard entry, and you are looking for a more portable option, I wouldn't rule out the smaller keyboards.

Reply

• Jul 20, 2011 - 20:19

MIDI can be helpful for chords in grand staff notation. Less so for single note melody lines. It'll put things in the octave you want without extra keystrokes, but for accidentals, it often guesses wrong about whether to "spell" them with a sharp or a flat. You also have to make a separate pass for each voice in each staff. So, there's a bunch of "go back and tweak" to do. Also, be very careful to get all your fingers off the keyboard, or it won't advance to the next duration. Instead, it just crams more notes into a jumbled chord.

-- J.S.

Reply

Do you still have an unanswered question? Please log in first to post your question.