Tutorial Please...

Tone said:

Oh wow, I was just looking at this Nektar last night:

Nektar Panorama T6 61-key Keyboard Controller | Sweetwater


But, the description said this:


If it doesn't say FL Studio (what I use), will it still work with it?


Also, as I am just a beginner, 61 keys should be good enough right?


Your keyboard has drum pads too though right?

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I would stick with the Nektar Impact LX61 and not get too fancy with their Panorama models. When it advertises certain DAWs it means Nekatar programed into their onboard chip a setup program just for those DAWs. It's not essential for your DAW, it'll still work. Just won't have any pre-programmed presets that match your DAW. It's just window dressing, but handy if you want certain additional features designed to work with the DAWs they advertise. You may have download a specific driver from their website also.

61 keys is plenty if all you're doing is entering notes and beats. On a more pro level, composers that want more reality try to mimic the playing of the real instrument sample. How a cello is played is not how a pianist would play. Also, dynamics for an instrument sample is usually mapped to the Mod wheel, so pros will play in the notes with the right hand while manipulating the Mod wheel to control the dynamics (Mike Verta comes to mind especially with this). Each MIDI track instrument also has an automation feature where you can draw in the dynamics after the notes are put in, if that is preferred. So truly, all you actually need is enough keys to do chord progressions with the right hand. But if you play piano already, an 88 key is what I'd recommend.

The Nektar pads in the upper right corner serve as finger drum pads. They're programmable.

The reason why i want the pads is because I have years of experience drumming on things with my hands, but almost zero experience with keys, so i thought it would be easier for me to catch on with the pads.

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Probably would be then. Might later look into a specific drumpad controller with bigger pads. A producer friend of mine has an old stand-alone drumpad with 4 big squares that he uses drumsticks on.

Tone said:

Okay, I'm beginning to imprint on that^



*And it says it's FL Studio compatible!

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That all applies to the 49 and 61 key models also.

Tone said:

Just came across yet another great resource:

Open Music Theory – Open Music Theory

!

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You'll find all sorts of music theory websites on the Internet, a lot of it redundant.

Tone said:

Well, at this stage of the game...I'm a baby slurping up all that milk and honey!

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Well then, feel free to ask me any music questions you might have.

I've played guitar for over 35 years, have a Specialist Certificate from Berklee School of Music (Boston) in Composition For Film & TV. I've had two semesters of orchestration at Berklee. I also studied traditional harmony using Peter Alexander's college level texts. At present, I'm studying interval theory with Music Interval Theory Academy (M.I.T.A.) by two seasoned film and TV composers.

Tone said:

Okay update.

I've been taking music classes for about 3 months now.

I pretty much self studied music theory and then had in person instruction, adequately enough that I just need to get my hours in, which has been challenging considering everything going on with me relationally, which is all good. But, this is another story.

I'm also getting in some piano lessons, which I need to practice ever increasingly.

What I've been concentrating on the most is the production side if it, involving midi keyboards, and DAWs, and audio interfacing, and song building.

I've met some pretty talented folks who are down to mix up some genres, such as classical baroque pieces...updated with some more modern sounds...so remixing pretty much.

I've also wrote a song (with a dance to go with it), so my music instructor is guiding me in working out the instrumentals and stuff--it involves a lot of beat work... percussion, which I was pretty much made for!


So yeah, it's been really fun!

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Having fun is a key (excuse the pun). With all the Christian TV and film that's going on, there ought to still be a good market for new songwriters and producers. The more stuff gets shown on YouTube, Netflix, and Prime, the more demand for new music.