04-15-2009, 07:12 PM
There are two main types of keyboards:
The lower-priced keyboards ($100 on up) do not feel like pianos but will connect just fine - just make sure it has MIDI - which most of them do. They are also unlikely to be full-sized keyboards at that price point.
For $1000, you can get a really nice controller keyboard (we have a Yamaha Clavinova), which feels like a regular piano and has all the octaves. Maybe they've fallen in price. Since you are using the soundset from within garageband, the feature set on the keyboard is not as important.
Maybe things have changed, but the way I've always connected keyboards is via a MIDI connector (I have the Midisport 2x2 which was $50 or so). I'm not away of a way to connect the keyboard directly through the USB without the MIDI box - but maybe there is.
We love it - my kids play on the keyboard, save it in Garageband, compose, etc. It is a lot of fun.
For what its worth, I just got an email from Woodwind & Brasswind - they have 20% off all instruments through Friday and free shipping over $99.
The lower-priced keyboards ($100 on up) do not feel like pianos but will connect just fine - just make sure it has MIDI - which most of them do. They are also unlikely to be full-sized keyboards at that price point.
For $1000, you can get a really nice controller keyboard (we have a Yamaha Clavinova), which feels like a regular piano and has all the octaves. Maybe they've fallen in price. Since you are using the soundset from within garageband, the feature set on the keyboard is not as important.
Maybe things have changed, but the way I've always connected keyboards is via a MIDI connector (I have the Midisport 2x2 which was $50 or so). I'm not away of a way to connect the keyboard directly through the USB without the MIDI box - but maybe there is.
We love it - my kids play on the keyboard, save it in Garageband, compose, etc. It is a lot of fun.
For what its worth, I just got an email from Woodwind & Brasswind - they have 20% off all instruments through Friday and free shipping over $99.