How can I use a MIDI keyboard with Reason?
I just got Reason 4.0 on my computer, which runs Windows Vista. There is only so much I can do with Reason right now, so I want to get a MIDI keyboard to connect. What are the guidelines I need to follow? Do I need to buy software so my computer will recognize the MIDI? I’m confused as to what I need to do, or are most MIDI keyboards simply plug and play? I think I’ll buy one of the M-Audio ones.
If you buy a MIDI keyboard with a USB port then you are good to go. Simply connect and use it.
If you get a MIDI keyboard without USB then you’ll need a MIDI interface to connect between your MIDI ports on the keyboard and the USB port on your computer. You can get them starting at $30.
The third option also requires an adapter cable. A MIDI to Gameport/MIDI (if your sound card has this port). Its a 15 pin port usually painted gold or grey.
All the new MIDI keyboards these days come with an USB port. M-Audio are my favorite ones. The Axiom 61 being my favorite.
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Yamaha KX61 USB Keyboard Studio (MIDI Controller) $499.00 Yamaha KX61 is velocity sensitive sixty-four key keyboard controller that interfaces with a computer via USB, while providing advanced software integration and connectivity. The keyboard can be powered via the USB bus or us. Buy Yamaha KX61 USB Keyboard Controller now!… Buy Yamaha KX61 USB Keyboard Controller now!… |
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USB 2.0 4-CHANNEL Audio/midi $269.99 Updated with better audio specs and a fresh new look, the four-channel Tascam US-144mkII USB audio interface is the ideal companion to any desktop- or laptop-based digital recording set-up And because it operates only on USB power, you can use it with a laptop while on the go to create a very compact and portable digital audio workstation system. The four-channel Tascam US-144mkII USB audio int… |
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M-Audio Keystation 61ES 61-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller $199.99 The M Audio Keystation 61es is an affordable USB-MIDI controller keyboard. The 61es offers semi-weighted keys that give you the feel of a piano in a compact, affordable MIDI controller. Ideal for a multitude of music creation and education applications, the Keystation 61es offers you modulation and Pitch Bend Wheels, plus assignable buttons and a slider for hands on control. The Keystation 61es is… |
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M-Audio Keystudio 49-key USB MIDI Controller Keyboard $99.99 Harness the power of your Mac music software with M-Audio’s KeyStudio USB keyboard controller. KeyStudio makes it easy to command a library of virtual instruments, audition loops and compose songs in GarageBand, Logic and other Mac-compatible applications. The sleek controller features 49 synth-action keys plus pitch bend and modulation wheels, sustain pedal input and more. Simply connect it to yo… |
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M-Audio AXIOM 49 Advanced 49-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller $239.00 If you need total MIDI control and playability in a compact package, check out the Axiom 49. This advanced 49-key USB mobile MIDI controller delivers semi-weighted action plus assignable aftertouch, along with eight rubberized trigger pads that are perfect for hands-on drum programming and performance. Nine sliders complement eight endless rotary encoder knobs to control just about any software st… |
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Logic Express 9 Retail [Old Version] $199.00 Record, edit, and mix your music on a Mac using the new Logic Express 9. Open your GarageBand files and get right to work, or start from scratch with a new composition. Logic Express 9 is a guitar player’s dream, with Amp Designer and Pedalboard, two new plug-ins that re-create the sound of legendary amps and stompbox effect pedals. You can build your own amp model and try any combination … |
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Apple Logic Studio [Old Version] $475.00 With over 200 new features and enhancements, the new Logic Studio delivers everything musicians need to write, record, produce, and perform on a Mac. The center of Logic Studio is Logic Pro 9, which makes it easier than ever to create your own compositions. Produce and play nearly any sound imaginable with a huge collection of effects, instruments, and loops, including the new Amp Designer and P… |
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M-Audio Pro Tools M-Powered 8 Software $299.95 Pro Tools? M-Powered(TM) 8 software puts the industry standard in audio/MIDI production on the fast track, letting you enter the powerful world of Pro Tools on your own terms. Pro Tools M-Powered has the same user interface as Pro Tools|HD? and Pro Tools LE?, all while expanding your creative hardware options to dozens of M-Audio interfaces.* Session compatibility with all current versions of Pro … |
Tags: adapter cable, Axiom, gameport, midi interface, midi keyboard, midi keyboards, midi ports, new midi, pin port, usb port

If you buy a MIDI keyboard with a USB port then you are good to go. Simply connect and use it.
If you get a MIDI keyboard without USB then you’ll need a MIDI interface to connect between your MIDI ports on the keyboard and the USB port on your computer. You can get them starting at $30.
The third option also requires an adapter cable. A MIDI to Gameport/MIDI (if your sound card has this port). Its a 15 pin port usually painted gold or grey.
All the new MIDI keyboards these days come with an USB port. M-Audio are my favorite ones. The Axiom 61 being my favorite.
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