To start with, electronic keyboards come with the latest state-of-the-art technology. You can produce the sounds of the conventional pipe, reed and tone-wheel organs, and acoustic piano without having to purchase all the instruments.
Electronic keyboards have been so successful in the music industry because of the synthesizers and various features that come with it. There are several types of synthesizers that come attached with facilities for playback, recordings, and creating exotic sounds. All these with simply the controls set on the face of the keyboard. There are music libraries of pre-programmed sounds on its menu. The synthesizers and samplers are multiimbral, which means that you can play back and combine of many sounds simultaneously.
One of its best features is the MIDI or the Musical Instrument Digital Interface. This is a standard language in music. The MIDI Controls allow electronic keyboards to be inter-connected and linked to the computer.
The portable 25 note electronic keyboards are compact and light. They are therefore easy to carry and store. You practically have an entire orchestra at your service with its ability to combine and create various sounds. The speakers are built in, and playing back what you just did makes it possible for you to review your music. For aspiring musicians out there, you can now send a demo without having to shell out cash just to rent a studio.
If you are worried about bringing your keyboard to various sets and locations, you need to know that your UMA25S can draw power from your computer, three AA batteries, or an external power supply. Aside from that, your purchase comes with a variety of accessories.
MIDI controllers don’t usually come with a lot of extras. Most of the time, you have to make a new purchase of software that you may need. The UMA25S, however, is designed to do so many tasks. The makers have recognized this, and to meet your needs, you get gadgets along with your new keyboard. First and foremost, you get a headset of great quality because it comes with a built-in mic for podcasting and recording. You also get a soft carry bag with pockets for cables, power supply, CDs, and other accessories. But that’s not all! Your purchase also comes with a guitar-style strap.
When you say that all keyboards were created with unique features, the UMA25S MIDI Controller is truly a class of its own. You get a control section for a wide range of applications that you may need as you go through the entire musical experience. Just hook it up to a computer to gain control over the rack synthesizers and general MIDI sound modules and effects. This ultra slim USB MIDI Controller keyboard can be purchased for an amazingly low price, as low as $130.00. You can’t get a better bargain than this. It is truly a great buy for an equally great find!
Synthesizing and audio/MIDI interfacing is possible with the Novation Xio. This 25 note keyboard has a wide-ranging control surface with 11 knobs and buttons that can doubled with the help of the Group A/B switch. Plus, you can freely assign the Xpression pad and stick to your liking.
What makes all these possible? It’s the 16 onboard templates programmed within the box so that you can control the many software applications. You can also download more templates online and get a free template editor software application. The fusion of modes gives room for simultaneous synthesizing and MIDI controlling. Versatility in a box all for a reasonable price!
How are all these possible? To start with, you simply have to connect the keyboard over the USB to start recording and synthesizing with the MIDI control. You can easily work the device with your Windows XP or Mac OSX. If you want to improve latency and stability, you also have software available to service your needs. Want to work on the music elsewhere? You can unplug the USB cable and switch to batteries. It can be a standalone synth, so let go of your computer when you need to.
The whole package also comes with Ableton Live Lite 6, Novation Bass Station, Waldorf PPG Wave Lite classic synth, Arturia Analog Factory SE plug-in, Waldorf’s D-Pole Lite FX classic filter plug-in, FXpansion’s powerful demo versions of the BFD acoustic drum plug-in
and ‘Guru’ sample player with library, Waldorf’s ‘Attack Lite’ analogue drum module plug-in, ‘Mike the Drummer’ A collection of 572 inspiring and original live drum loops, and free 3 months membership for ‘i-dance’- Global XS Artist. Log on to find out just how great a bargain this is!
The UMA25S comes with a remote control so that you get real-time options. You get a total of 21 controllers: 8 knobs, 8 buttons, 2 wheels for pitch bend and modulation, 2 pedal ports for expression and sustain, and 1 fader. You are given total control of your music. All you need to do is assign parameters and store it in one of the 16 available preset locations. That easy!
Here are a few more reasons why you should get the UMA25S:
* You can play external sound modules, rack synthesizers, and virtual instruments
* You can edit sound parameters of synthesizers, sound samplers, and GM/GS/XG sound generators
* You can control other devices and software plug-ins
* You can remotely control software mixers and transport functions on sequencers, hard-disk recorders, drum machines, and the like.
Besides providing 25 velocity-sensitive keys for the variety of tones and tunes, the UMA25S can be your partner in USB audio interfacing for recording and podcasting. This powerful interface has a built-in mic preamp. The mic comes with gain control, phones output with its own volume control, and stereo jacks that allow you to link with an external device. Aside from that, the makers gave room for versatility in its interface because allows simultaneous recording of the mic and line inputs. Included in your purchase, should you decide to get this, will be software packages that include Audacity, Podifier, Juice, Podnova and Golden Ear. You’re ready to go live because you get numerous virtual instruments and effects plug-ins to choose from.
In the world of music, one of the most recent breakthroughs is the electronic keyboard with MIDI controllers. Manufacturers such as Novation, UMA25S, and M-Audio have incorporated software to digitalize your sound. The makers were able to put in upgraded technology in synthesizers, portable keyboards, digital pianos, organs, sound modules, sequencers, drum machines, and the like. There are buttons that allow you to switch from classical to theatre organs by means of communications and links.
You can now create studio-like music with the help of electronic keyboards, and the best part is, you can do all these from your home. All you need to do is connect it to your computer to get the feel of the real multimedia in its best form.
This digital piano can combine the various instruments with just a touch of the button. This is made possible by playing reverse digital recordings and letting out a variety of sounds when you press the keys of the piano. The ordinary piano has pedals so that you can increase and sustain the notes that you press. The electronic model does this as well, even without the actual pedal attached to it.
Some electronic keyboards are weighted so that you get the sound of an actual acoustic piano. The difference is, the newer tool is a lot cheaper and smaller. The tones are set so that you no longer need to tune and tighten the strings. Should you want privacy, you just need to attach headphones to its jack so that you don’t bother others with the noise you’ll create. The more sophisticated models have disk drives so that you can have accompaniments recordings while you play.
Everything is possible with the computer. Gone are the days when we simply relied on this piece of technology to write documents. Now, you can even create music in collaboration with your computer. How? There is this device called a MIDI Controller. For those who are not familiar with this term, a MIDI controller gives you the power to take command of any type hardware device or software program that understands MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). This means that MIDI-addressable effects processors (such as delays, reverbs, etc.) and audio recording and editing software can be controlled with a single piece of hardware, this so-called MIDI controller.
A MIDI controller comes in handy especially when you have a variety of device spread out all over your studio floor or workstation space. The MIDI controller enables you to send a control message to the device or program you’re using that turns notes on and off, adjusts the volume, or changes any one of many addressable parameters. Simply put, you are able to make music with this wonderful technological breakthrough.
There are lots of brands available out in the market. Companies like Novation, Behringer, and M-Audio boast of their innovative 25-note keyboards. To make things even better for you, the makers have come out with accessories that help you make your job better. All you need to do is log on to the website of these companies to see which one suits you the most. Computers and music, who would have thought these two things actually work very well together?
All keyboards were created with unique features of their own, each one boasting of their own strength. The UMA25S MIDI Controller is an extremely flexible master keyboard. It comes with a control section for a wide range of applications. You can use this for on-stage performance and even podcasting. You can have control over the computer rack synthesizers, general MIDI sound modules, and sound effects. You can also operate sequencing software or computer plug-ins from a convenient remote location with the UMA25S.
To start with, this 25 note keyboard is a stage performer that offers 25 velocity-sensitive full-sized and half-action keys. It has a USB audio interface for your other instruments and computer. If you are concerned with sound quality, this has a powerful multi-platform digital audio workstation software energyXT2. the Compact Behringer Edition is included in the package. It has an audacity audio editor that allows comprehensive podcasting software of over 100 virtual instruments and 50 sound effects.
With the UMA25S, you will have a total of 21 assignable controllers. The advanced control features such as a drawbar mode for control inversion, drum triggering, and incremental value step and octave adjustment will only enhance your experience even more. Work it with your computer because it is programmed to work with both Mac OS X and Windows (XP and Vista) programs. Its separate MIDI output allows you to have full control of external samplers, synths, and other equipment.
It’s very simple and easy to use. It runs either via USB Bus, batteries, or power adapter. The high quality built within the system ensures durability. You really get your money’s worth!
* Runs via USB bus, batteries or power adapter (not included)
* High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life
All keyboard controllers are not created equal. This is the one with more features, more accessories and more useful software than its competition.
Xio is the only one of Novation’s synthesizer to feature the X-Gator patch programmer. What is this? This programmed can be used to gate each patch so that you are able to create a unique 16-32 step rhythmic pattern for every sound pressed on the keyboard. All the notes will be automatically synchronized to the MIDI clock with the help of a sequencer. To do this, you simply press and hold one key to groove along. A screen serves as your guide to show the position and volume of each step.
Along with the X-Gator Patch is this amazing synthesizer that comes with the following specifications: 10-voice polyphonic, 3 Oscillators, 17 Waveforms, 2 LFOs, 32 Waveforms, Multimode resonant filter section, filter options, wide-ranging modulation capabilities, arpeggiator and X-Gator with latch, direct streaming of synth into computer, and USB port.
The keyboard is semi-weighted, which basically means that you can digitalize your sound and control the tone with the use of pressure. The velocity curves total to 7, and playing it feels like you are playing on the actual acoustic piano. You will also see a number of control buttons to help you achieve the music that you want. With the technology comes the following buttons that enable you to design your very own tune:
* 11 rotary potentiometers that go from 0-270° rotation
* 1 360° continuous data wheel
* 11 function switches
* Group B switch
* 4 Mode and Menu select buttons
* Octave adjusters
* Synth Menus
* Audio mode select
* Effect select
* Template buttons
* Volume and line buttons
This ultra slim keyboard comes with a MB-3 Tone Wheel Organ so that you can emulate the classic Hammond sound. Among its standard features are the nine drawbars that are pre-mapped to M-Audio brand USB MIDI controllers, percussion and variable key click, and three chorus and three vibrato settings. You can also control the tone of your music so that you get a variety of effects from glassy jazz chords to amazing rock leads.
What is great about the UMA25S is that it makes you feel that you have an entire band to back you up as you create your very own music. The GM-4 General MIDI Module gives you a total of 128 GM instruments that comes with a GM drum kit. It is able to play GM-compatible standard MIDI files from host applications. It also gives you an easy solution should you want to sequence additional tracks in the background.
Its award winning KeyRig modules feature their own dual effects processors for delay, chorus, phaser, and more. You are also given a section for master effects if you want to further process the combined output of all modules. 
Plus, the internal mixer and assignment controls allow you configure independent MIDI channels. Creating splits and layers is easy because of the design of the programs.
So why get the UMA25S? Because you can take your keyboard and laptop anywhere you want. It is compatible with AU, VST, and RTAS, which means that you can use it as sound sources for your tracks in Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton Live, and, any other popular music software.
The latest 25 note keyboard Midi Controller Novation Xio comes with the following key features:
1. The synthesizer that comes with a 10-voice mono-timbral engine. It also comes with a multi-effects processor and a menu of 200 different sounds.
2. The high profile user patches gives you 60 great sounds from famous artists and producers of different musical genres.
3. With the 24-bit audio interface, you get to record and play your sound with the best quality. It has ultra-low latency 1 In/1 Out audio interface and 1 XLR input for great sound production.
4. With the MIDI Controller, you can synthesize and digitalize the music that your create with the assignable controls, 16 onboard templates, and hybrid modes.
5. The 2-D controls such as the ‘Xpression’ pad and pitch/mod joystick helps you manipulate the MIDI controls. You can even adjust the 6 parameters once.
6. It comes with a USB or battery power so that you are able to bring the cable anywhere you want without having to worry about the extra weight.
Moreover, your own Novation will come with a mono-timbral synth engine with 10-voice polyphony, with 3 oscillators of 17 waveforms each, 1 Filter of varying forms, 2 LFOs with 32 waveforms each, an arpeggiator, and a multi-effects board. For as low as $350.00, synthesizing is available at the touch of your fingertips. Sound production is very much possible with this very compact tool. Buy one now and be your own musical conductor. For the low price, you’ll be surprised at just how much you can do.