[Sarc]

I've taken interest in playing piano, however I don't have the space or money to buy one. Now, from what I've read I can buy a MIDI interface and a keyboard and take it from there.
I was suggested to look at M-Audio's products and was pleased to see that everything is Mac compatible. Anyway, I'm not looking for anything fancy or composing complex songs in Logic or whatever, just playing piano.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what would be a good starting setup ? Basic software ? Does GarageBand cut it for starters ? Minimum hardware ?

Thanks

sarc

[BRussell]

I'd get something more than the little 1-2 octave pianos that they've got for real cheap. I'd think they would just end up being frustrating, depending on what you want to play I guess.

[peeb]

Garageband is really for recording / processing music - it will certainly do everything you want at this point.

[analogika]

GarageBand is fine, though running it on a GHz tiBook is cutting it pretty close.

It should still be usable, though, for simple doodling a bit, and for inventing your own tunes and seeing what they look like in notation (this might be good for learning to read music, as well, since it quasi goes both ways).

I have no experience with the current version on such hardware, though - the very first version of GarageBand ran "okay" (for your purposes) on a 900 MHz iBook. If you have the chance, try playing a GarageBand piano with the computer-keyboard piano (under "Windows" menu) from your computer keyboard to see how the latency is (i.e. does the note sound *immediately* when you press the key, or is there a slight delay?), before running out and buying a keyboard. High latency is maddening and makes it pretty much impossible to play an instrument unless you're very experienced and know exactly what you're doing (as a church organist knows his instrument and can press the keys just ahead of the beat, so the pipes will sound in time).

M-Audio keystation 49 is a sub-$100 keyboard that has okay action and four octaves.

If you *really* want to learn to play the piano, with full technique and such (rather than just getting a feel for how sheet music, keys, and sound correspond, and being able to play a little bit of stuff for fun - nothing wrong with that!) then you need to get a REAL piano.

[besson3c]

You could also just download yourself a software piano sample that you like, and play your keyboard using this software synth via VSamp.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by analogika 

If you *really* want to learn to play the piano, with full technique and such (rather than just getting a feel for how sheet music, keys, and sound correspond, and being able to play a little bit of stuff for fun - nothing wrong with that!) then you need to get a REAL piano.

But would a Keyboard be a good starting point or completely useless ? (given budget and spaces constraints for getting an actual piano).

[CollinG3G4]

Anything less than a full size keyboard is going to let you down pretty quick if you want to learn music. Those smaller controler keyboards are mostly for quick MIDI event entry. Atleast get something with the full 88 keys even if it is not full size. Also, actual acoustic pianos are kind of a thing of the past unless you inherit one or happen to have a ton of cash.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by CollinG3G4 

Also, actual acoustic pianos are kind of a thing of the past unless you inherit one or happen to have a ton of cash.

Up here you can pick up used pianos dirt cheap. I nearly bought one for five bucks last year, at a church auction. Decent condition too.

[turtle777]

For real piano feeling you need a weighted hammer action keyboard.

MIDI Controllers: Buying Guide

-t

[CollinG3G4]

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

Up here you can pick up used pianos dirt cheap. I nearly bought one for five bucks last year, at a church auction. Decent condition too.

That's wild. Why didn't you?

[analogika]

Originally Posted by CollinG3G4 

Anything less than a full size keyboard is going to let you down pretty quick if you want to learn music. Those smaller controler keyboards are mostly for quick MIDI event entry. Atleast get something with the full 88 keys even if it is not full size. Also, actual acoustic pianos are kind of a thing of the past unless you inherit one or happen to have a ton of cash.

73 keys should be fine.

And if you look/ask around for a while, you can almost always get a piano for cheap. Every couple of years, I hear of someone looking to get rid of one for free or next to nothing.

Question of course is the condition those pianos are in - have an expert look at it (ideally the guy who's gonna be fixing it up and tuning it for you), and figure in the costs for getting professionals to move it.

DO NOT try to move a piano yourself, unless you have the right tools/harnesses and experienced help.

Just...don't.

[ShotgunEd]

I bought one of the M-Audio 49 key semi-weighted boyos and use it with GarageBand all the time.

I play banjo, bass guitar and normal guitar as well, the M-Audio is perfect for someone like me who can't play piano but knows how to play music.

[macdude]

I've played around with the piano before on GarageBand, but that's about the extent of it. Pretty cool to mess with every now and then.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by CollinG3G4 

That's wild. Why didn't you?

I would have needed to remove it that day and I didn't have the trailer with me. No way to get it home.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by analogika 

I have no experience with the current version on such hardware, though - the very first version of GarageBand ran "okay" (for your purposes) on a 900 MHz iBook. If you have the chance, try playing a GarageBand piano with the computer-keyboard piano (under "Windows" menu) from your computer keyboard to see how the latency is (i.e. does the note sound *immediately* when you press the key, or is there a slight delay?)

Tried it, works with no delay.

And on the keyboard itself, I was looking to buy a M-Audio Keystation 88se, it's a semi-weigthed, 88 key keyboard.

Originally Posted by turtle777 

For real piano feeling you need a weighted hammer action keyboard.
MIDI Controllers: Buying Guide
-t

Thanks, reading.

[chris v]

I've got the M-Audio 61 key, and while it's certainly no piano when it comes to key action, it can sort of sound like one, with the right software. I found a pretty cool "honkeytonk" piano (slightly de-tuned, like a neglected piano) instrument on line that works with Logic's sampling keyboard EXS 24. It's fun. Wish I could remember where I turned it up, so I could post a link. Garage Band's pianos aren't just awful, though.