Production Difference Between a Regular MIDI controller and Synthesizer??

[AbrahamG82]

Im new to production....

Whats the difference between buying a MIDI Controller like the Novation Remote SL 61and a Synthesizer like the Access Virus TI Keyboard Integrated Modeling Synth??? For Pro - Tools... is the price difference worth it??

[ShawnD64]

Re: Difference Between a Regular MIDI controller and Synthesizer??

The novation you mentioned will contoll software. for example if you buy software synths such as NI's reaktor or any spectrasonics synths... you can play and control the instrument with a piece of hardware. the virus synth is a a synth you can generate sounds from, not a sotware synth. but still midi in the sense you can hook it to your computer and automate the settings .... hope that made sense....

[Kinetic]

Re: Difference Between a Regular MIDI controller and Synthesizer??

The basic difference is that a controller only emits note (MIDI) data, and the sound has to be generated by your computer, usually through whatever virtual synth you control with it.

A synthesizer will have it´s own DSP and as such will be able to generate sound on it´s own. The Virus TI is kind of a glorified MIDI controller, in that it has it´s own virtual synth, which you can use inside the your host (Pro Tools in this case) but instead of the sound processing relying on your computer, it will be done inside the TI, thus releasing some CPU load.

Is the price difference worth it? Personally I don´t think so, as long as you´re able to get your hands on some cool virtual synths. There are many nowadays which equal the TI´s sound quality and features.

[AbrahamG82]

Re: Difference Between a Regular MIDI controller and Synthesizer??

Awesome!! Thanks a lot to both of you. NOW i understand! Great facts!! Thanks for the help guys, i appreciate it!!