Making music with my laptop / digital piano advice

[8-P]

Hi All.

I have two itches I’d like to scratch in one ideally.

I’ve been meaning to buy a digital piano since lock down. I learned piano 30 years ago to grade 5 and would like to play again. A Roland FP10 was on my radar. Hoped I could plug this into a laptop for making tunes.

However, as a big dance music fan I’ve been wanting to make some of my own tunes for as long as I can remember. My daughter uses something called Logic Pro at school?

So I’d like to buy a keyboard/digital piano and some software but no idea what’s best? Needs to be relatively entry level, I’m trying to be Armin Van Buuren just yet.

Any advice welcome.

[Ryyy]

My brother used a midi keyboard and fruity loops. Does that tick your boxes? Not being funny I just dk,seems it does but again, I don't really know

[Simes205]

Logic Pro X.
Still used in school and many many studios.
You just need a midi keyboard (any with usb) and a Mac as Logic only runs on a Mac.

Alternatively try Soundtrap, you’ll still need a midi keyboard but you can run this in a PC.

Edited by Simes205 on Sunday 1st December 16:36

[languagetimothy]

I use an M-audio USB / Midi full scale keyboard and although not much of a pianist it's really, for me, mainly a tool for driving software. Macs come loaded with GarageBand which even in its basic form has lots of sounds including keyboards (piano, various organs) strings, brass, guitar plug in options. and it's FREE! you can add to it with downloads. Logic is very good too / better and more professional but depends what you want to do.

fyi im a guitarist and have been using GarageBand for years as its mainly just to mess around with at home and practice electric without annoying the street!

USB / Midi keyboards are inexpensive because they have nothing in them and are a bit like the Mouse, it's a tool to operate the computer.

be aware that the "weight" of the keys varies a lot so, as a pianist, you will want to actually feel the key weight before buying.

Edited by languagetimothy on Monday 2nd December 10:23

[8-P]

Thanks for the views

It looks like the Roland FP-10 can do midi over Bluetooth. So a relatively cheap piano which was part 1 and then suitable as a way to input into Garage Band or whatever.

I do have iPad, so that might just do it. Failing that I’ll need to buy a MacBook, something second hand would do the job I think.

[option click]

Another option would be Ableton Live - available for Mac and PC.
I use it with an Akai MPK Mini.

[MitchT]

If you're happy with a Mac then use Logic Pro. Makes sense if your daughter is using it too - you can help each other. If you're wanting to play piano then the Roland FP-10 will sort that and you could use it as a controller keyboard for producing dance music on a Mac as it has USB so will connect no problem. Alternately, any controller keyobard with piano action keys would connect to the Mac and could be used to play one of the piano sounds that's included with Logic Pro.

Edited by MitchT on Monday 2nd December 22:04

[8-P]

Step 1 complete. Roland FP10 arrived.

Decided to focus on my piano skills first and just get competent before going all DJ.