Software keyboard?

[singlecoil]

I’ve got a midi keyboard with usb output and what I want is to run an app on my computer (I have Mac and PC) and play lots of sounds but without using a DAW.

I’m not sure if a synth is what I need, I’d like to keep it simple and choose the sound from an existing list
TIA

[JoshSm]

You mean a sampler of some sort? Like Gigastudio I used in the distant past, or the Akai boxes before that.

Not a synth, it's MIDI controlled instrument samples.

There'll be something out there equivalent.

[singlecoil]

I don’t know if I need a sampler, I don’t want to sample anything but I don’t know what the name is taken to mean these days, would it already have all the sounds pre-installed?

[Nico Adie]

Are you on Mac or PC?

The range of keyboard sounds on Garageband are ridiculous for such a cheap bit of software, but it's Mac only afaik.

Pianoteq is incredible sounding but not cheap, available for both PC & Mac.

https://virtual-midi-piano-keyboard.en.softonic.co... - that looks to be free, never used it but worth a try

https://pianoapp.net/ - that's a barebones one with only 4 sounds but it works fine!

[singlecoil]

Thanks for the answers so far. I should have said that although I will want piano sounds I will also want all the other sounds such as bass guitar, guitar and other plucked instruments, organs, strings, etc etc.

I have a newish Macbook and a decent desktop PC.

[Mr Pointy]

singlecoil said:

Thanks for the answers so far. I should have said that although I will want piano sounds I will also want all the other sounds such as bass guitar, guitar and other plucked instruments, organs, strings, etc etc.

I have a newish Macbook and a decent desktop PC.

Thee are lots of videos on Youtube showing how to use use a MIDI keyboard with Garageband. You aren't just limited to sounding like a piano.

[thebraketester]

Mainstage should get you most of the way there.

[Arrivalist]

Just use GarageBand as its already on your Mac and totally free.

[thebraketester]

Arrivalist said:

Just use GarageBand as its already on your Mac and totally free.

"Without using a DAW"

[Arrivalist]

thebraketester said:

Arrivalist said:

Just use GarageBand as its already on your Mac and totally free.

"Without using a DAW"

Oh I now…. But I’m questioning if the OP realises what he has or needs.

[Chimune]

https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instrume...

Arturia Analogue Lab Pro has what you need. It isnt a daw and will work with any usb midi kb.

Edited by Chimune on Friday 24th April 07:52

[Mr Pointy]

Arrivalist said:

thebraketester said:

Arrivalist said:

Just use GarageBand as its already on your Mac and totally free.

"Without using a DAW"

Oh I now . But I m questioning if the OP realises what he has or needs.

Agreed. It looks like he probably already has the items he needs.

[singlecoil]

I have a stripped down version of Cubase but I find it hard work partly because I haven’t made the effort to learn it properly, because I don’t need what it does.

[Arrivalist]

GarageBand is designed to be simple to use, especially if all you want it for are software instruments.

[Composeriser]

Many virtual instruments have a standalone mode, so you can use them without a DAW.

I’d recommend something like Native Instruments Kontakt - massive array of sample libraries, synths etc are built on that platform. Or if you’re more interested in synth stuff, then Spectasonics Omnisphere 3 is absolutely superb.

Depends what you want to do.