Hi,

I need some help understanding MIDI. So I have a midi keyboard but would like to output sound to an amplifier, without using my computer. What's the easiest/least expensive way to do this. I have a small understanding of sound modulators, but they can get up into the $1000's, which is a bit too serious for me.

I'm looking for some advice. Thanks.

You need some kind of sound module to convert the MIDI data into sound. If your keyboard doesn't have any built-in sounds, you'll need to use some external device. This can be a sound module, computer, sythesizer, or other MIDI-compatible keyboard.

The least expensive way -- if you don't want to use your computer -- is to find the cheapest keyboard you can find that has MIDI-In and Audio-Out. That's also the least attractive way because cheap keyboards tend to sound like crap.

My advice: go to your local music store and try out some MIDI sound modules. Then pick the one you think sounds best for the money.

There is no sound coming from the midi ouput of your keyboard, only data.

You need to look for something like audio out or aux out if you want to plug it to an amp.

But first what is the model of your keyboard ?

Serge

Hi, thanks for the replies.

It's a Yamaha CP-60M, it has it's own audio out from it's pickups, but I want to play with the MIDI to get some different sounds.

What price range do snyth modulators go for? The ones I've seen are a bit out of my price range. I like the idea of getting a smaller keyboard to go through, I like the look of some of these smaller 25-37key ones, but I can't seem to find one that isn't just a MIDI controller, any suggestions?

Thanks again, I'm getting less confused.

It's a sound *module* not a *modulator*, although it will probably use modulation of some kind.

There are plenty of options. You can use a sampler to play back custom samples, a synth to synthesize sounds, or a sound module with a huge bank of built-in instruments. All of this stuff is very pricey, though.

The cheapest solution is to get a cheap computer with a reasonable sound card and CPU, a MIDI-to-USB interface, and free software to give you the sounds.