[jerryzurek]

We just bought a Korg Triton LE Keyboard. The Triton has a steep learning curve,
whereas Mac software tends to be intuitive.

Does anyone have opinions on these questions:

1) Are the Triton LE and GarageBand equally capable? Does one do one thing
and the other another? Do they duplicate or complement?

2) Would you prefer to use a Triton LE or a laptop, Garageband and an
inexpensive keyboard:

-for composing

-for recording

-for performance

3) Would connecting the Triton LE to a Macintosh with Garageband using
something like this midi interface work?
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=22160

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Jerry

[chabig]

Not a pro musician, but here goes...

The Triton is a Midi controller/sequencer with a built-in sound generator. Garageband is not a sequencer or controller, but it too, has built in sound generators. The main use for GarageBand seems to be recording.

Since the Triton has midi out, you can play the GarageBand insturments using the Triton. Or you can plug the Triton's audio out into your Mac and let Garageband record the audio. Garageband cannot control the Triton since Garageband doesn't have midi out.

So you can take advantage of Garageband's loop capabilities and the Triton's live performance and sequencer capabilities at the same time, I think.

For composing, I think they complement each other. For performing, I think they complement each other too. And for recording, I think Garageband is the only alternative, since the Triton doesn't record.

And the midi interface you asked about should work fine.

Chris

[druber]

Just backing up what Chris said, really. I don't think having one would mean not needing the other. They both have different strengths and different tools. So which one you choose to use more will depend on which best meets your needs

For instance, if you already have a laptop that you're willing to take to gigs and so forth, and time is an issue, it might be easier to record tracks to GarageBand (as Chris said, via MIDI and GB's software instruments or by recording the audio signal from your Korg and thus using the Korg's instruments) and then add the other live instruments.

If you do get GB, definitely don't give up on your Korg. The learning curve may be steeper, but there are probably some nice surprises hidden along the way. For more specific questions, you might try the forums at macmusic.org.