I wish now I had chosen a keyboard with some built in instruments for my 18th birthday. And a larger one.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/KeyRig49.html

I currently have that. I never thought the smaller size would be such a hindrance, when I want to play certain pieces.

Second problem, which only affects my new PC, not even my laptop is affected by this is one that I have found most perplexing.

My keyboard comes with software, 'keyrig' software. Aside from the fact it was never meant to work with Vista (meaning if often crashes when I try to use it), the keyrig software appears to conflict with all other sounds.

Basically, if I want to use it, I have to make sure no other applications are using the sound card otherwise it says 'not connected' and I don't get any sound from my keyboard. If I stop other sounds and run my keyboard software, it works, but no other sounds do. And it does not work with teamspeak (it used to intermittently, but now it has stopped completely).

An even bigger issue is latency (the sound card is the problem here, maybe it is the problem with all of it). Because my keyboard has no built in instruments, I have to rely on the PC, and there is lag between me pressing a key and hearing a sound. If you have ever played an instrument you will probably understand how frustrating this is.

However, even more confusingly, this latency does not appear to affect the keyrig software (it did for my laptop and the XP PC), however the keyrig software is unstable.

I feel I am going in circles here, and am now seriously contemplating selling my keyboard and waiting until I have the money to buy myself another one (by that I mean a stable income).

However what I'd buy I have no idea, it took me ages of looking at different keyboards to settle on this one.


Basically I do not want to shell out lots of money on a new sound card, all I want is a keyboard that works. Even better would be one that can work on its own and/or with a computer (as in needs a computer to run or not, I want to be able to connect it to my PC regardless), but with built in sounds that are not off the fail train express (we have an older (read quite old) keyboard with built in sounds, but they are not very good at all. Why did I not go for a keyboard with built in instruments at the beginning? I did not think I would need them. I did not see a use for them. I have learned the hard way about sound card latency, and low latency sound cards are ridiculously expensive. I'd rather spend my money on a good keyboard rather than a good sound card if I must.

The school keyboards worked with PCs, but their built in sounds were fail also.


I am going in circles. Any advice from anyone, even if you don't have a keyboard or musical instrument of any kind, would be greatly appreciated.

I have tried several times to sit down and play on my keyboard only to be frustrated by crashing software, lag with other programs, or it to just not work because some hidden process is apparently using the sound card.

This actually really quite upsets me as I got my keyboard for my 18th birthday, but there was never a convenient place to have it until the room got redecorated, and now, after that, nothing works properly.

You've probably already tried this, but compatibility mode?

Every single one. Because I could and because I am out of options.

ProTip: Different Audio Stack!!!

Explain please.

EDIT: Apparently the way Windows handles audio.

Vista apparently handles it completely differently to XP.


I do know that keyrig is apparently not compatible with Vista. This is even more irritating. I am not downgrading to XP.

EDIT2: First post updated slightly.

Anyone?

What do you mean Anyone?

I would say "Check the forums and get new drivers" but I will assume that's one of the first things you did

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=sup ... fd0faf796d

Basically says "Get new sound card, decrease buffer"

I have the latest drivers.

I have been recommended a keyboard called the 'Yamaha DGX 500'. However it appears this model has been discontinued, however being an older model it might have a reasonable price tag.

Anyone got any recommendations, or, can anyone find me a place I can actually buy this thing? Or think about buying it, if I have the money.

Mets, you just figured out what I'm best at. I can find anything on then net.

[] Nannal, the keyboard hunter dur nah nur nah na[/]

I spent some of my evening doing that.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Including shipping... this DGX-500 is around £350-£400
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... ition=used

Otherwise... you'll be really stretched to find any really good keyboard for cheap. Most are other £300 as standard and that is not even for a full ranged portable piano.
Best to save up about £500 and make you're choice then.
I highly recommend all Yamaha keyboards as they are always high quality... albeit expensive.

I am still in the dark on keyboards. I only have vague ideas of what to look for and nothing to go on other than the one you have which is really good. I know they are expensive.

casio super cool lots of buttens and neons... our school is winrar

I will definitely be going for something more expensive this time.

Get a mac.

Not helpful.

i lolled

It will help when you get one.

It will increase the size of my keyboard? Impressive.

You are obviously anti-Mac and a PC-fag. I hate you.

I have virtually no knowledge of Mac's at all. I see no benefits of having one. It is not about being 'anti-Mac' for the sake of it.

You could have recommended 'get a new PC' and I would have given the exact same 'It will increase the size of my keyboard?' answer.

That's fair enough. I'm just being silly.

I am unsure if this is still an issue... but I'm sure i mst have said this before, but it appears I didn't, so I'll say it again:

EMULATE XP.