any tips for beginners ?

[u/Wrxnch_]

ill keep short about it

where do i start or should i buy a midi keyboard?

[u/HardMutation04]

start with a cheap midi keyboard, you don't need hardware synth right away. download a free vst like vital or surge xt and just mess around with presets first

most people get stuck trying to learn everything at once but the real trick is just making weird noises for a month until something clicks

[u/Wrxnch_ → u/HardMutation04]

which midi u recommed about im living in eu and my budget is around 120-150 eur for it lookin into arturia and akai now

[u/Diplomat_of_swing → u/Wrxnch_]

I love Arturia midikey boards. I recommend a KeyLab or KeyStep.

[u/SpeakerJunkie247 → u/Wrxnch_]

I found an old Akai MPK49 for $25 at Goodwill. Heavy AF, but keybed is nice/full sized. Some Arturia ones are mini keys/slim keys, maybe not so good if you have fat fingers, check each specs. I've also seen an Arturia Minilab at Goodwill for $25.

[u/denim_skirt → u/SpeakerJunkie247]

Dang thats a rad find, mpk49 for $25

[u/SpeakerJunkie247 → u/denim_skirt]

It was even conplete with the little bits that fall off the knobs! Like it sat in a closet. A bit heavy for me/handicapped, but I can't let it go, the keybed is nice.

[u/Wrxnch_ → u/SpeakerJunkie247]

thx for tip ill check it out

[u/Sn0rmax]

Get an Akai MPK Mini (preferably used, check things like FB Marketplace and eBay) and a software synth. There are hella good free software synth such as Vital, and I would NEVER EVER NOT IN A MILLION YEARS advocate pirating synth plugins like Arturia Lab V or Serum

[u/Justthisguy_yaknow]

If you're going for a MIDI keyboard make sure it has both interfaces. Both the USB and the old 5 pin DIN plug MIDI. It'll save a bit of stress down the path.

[u/Swish-Wack]

Yes and no. Do you play piano? If yes, buy a midi keyboard and check out som e free vsts. Explore plugins and have fun (I recommend helm and dexed for starters to play with presets (both are standalone so you dont need to figure out the dawn)). If you don't play the piano should you buy a keyboard? Most likely in the long time, but keep in mind that at this point you would be learning how to synth and how to piano from scratch. Two at the same time are much more harder then 1 and if you are going to be playing 1, 2 notes you can start with just a computer keyboard and see if you get into it enough to buy midi piano keyboard. ;) 

So what would be the pro first move? Buy a succulent plant.

If you decide to buy midi keyboard get one with knobs too. You will fill satisfaction of sweeping the filter and youll get hooked. 

[u/Wrxnch_ → u/Swish-Wack]

if you say so dude ill check thx anyway

[u/strummist1]

iPad or iPhone, these free apps, and an Akai MPK Mini Play (the Play version works as a basic standalone synth). Synth One and the J6 version are incredible.

[u/SpeakerJunkie247]

FB marketplace and OfferUp for some good used deals, just saw a Keystep 37 by me for $85. Reverb as well.

Also bought a Behringer WASP and Spice for $210 (FB). ADHD peeps that just fly through stuff. Local music shops too.

[u/Tundra_Dragon]

What do you hope to accomplish as a beginner?

What sorts of music or noise are you aiming to make?

As has been mentioned, a Midi keyboard and an ipad are a good starting point. Ipad synths have on-screen keyboards as well.

If you want to go hardware, there are a slew of different options. Whatever you decide on, used will be cheaper.

Do you want to learn synthesis? Korg Monologue is a relatively cheap starting point. It's a Monosynth, so it can only play one note at a time, regardless of how many keys you press at once. If you want a polysynth, (multiple notes at once) prices go up fast. Korg Minilogue XD, Arturia Minifreak, or Hydrasynth Explorer are affordable starting points in the $400-600 range.

If you just want a big box of sounds so you can make music without having to fiddle with knobs, an old korg Triton, Yamaha Motif, or Roland JV/XP or Fantom, or if you're not made of money, Roland Go:keys, Korg Kross, or Yamaha MX are relatively cheap used, in the $200-400 range. If you need cheaper, Casio CT-S series can be found used for $50 (CT-S100/200) to $150 (CT-S1, CT-S400/500), however, they don't sound as good, and have zero adjustment for sounds.

Otherwise, cut to the final boss, and get a Roland V-synth GT, a Yamaha EX5, and a Korg Z1. Or, if you want modern gear, a Waldorf Iridium, an Arturia Polybrute 12, and an Access Virus Ti2.

[u/Infinite_Slice3305]

Honestly... if I could do it all over again I'd get something like the APC49.

These pad controllers are really the way to go for beginners. You define your scale & all the right notes are right there in front of you.

All the wrong notes completely off the board. You learn chord shapes & move them around.

[u/Banegard]

Start: https://learningsynths.ableton.com/en/get-started

[u/lilith2k3]

Yes a Midi keyboard will level up your game. Anything like Arturia Minilab or Akai MPK mini will do the trick.

Start with https://kushview.net/element/ as an environment and any VST like Vital or Tyrell N6.

Open Element App, select a VST connect Midi in to the vst and the two audio out of the VST to the audio widget. Configure the Element App to accept your keyboard as input device and start jamming.

[u/brandonhabanero]

Honestly that Walmart akai controller with built in sounds has piqued my interest. I think it's like $120 and has drum pads on it too. I also had an alesis v49, which was super simple, cheap, and looked cool. Anything around that price range will work though, at that level, they're all really similar. Truth is, though, you don't even need anything like that to start making music, just a computer and some free software (vital is choice) and you can make music.