[millerrigoli]

I'm thinking of buying either a used portable hammond or a new electronic keyboard for playing old school/skinhead reggae. Does anyone have any suggestions if I go for the synthesized method? What kind of keys do you use?

[Don P]

Depends on whether yoiu went to use it as a stand alone thing or with a computer.

For stand-alone you need to be sure it has the sounds you want. A lot of reggae was done on cheap CASIO keyboards, so a higher price doesn't mean a better sound. Just don't get one that so cheap it doesn't even have an audio out. You can find samples of most standard keyboards sounds on the web.

In combination with computer, the sounds are irrelevant and all that matters is that it's at least touch sensitive and has a midi out.

[Manudub]

it depends mate , if you use vst instruments or if you want to use your keyboards as an external synthe , if you use it as a vsti (they are lot of excellent emulation of all kind of keyboards,hammond ,clavinet...) , just have a try and choose the one where you feel cool about sensitivity ect ....
if you want an autonum external synthe just read the credit from the cover lp of your favorites artist , you will see the kind of synthe they use , mostly casio & yamaha but beware some of this synthe don't have the velocity active in midi , that's mean that when you play and record it in your sequencer , you will not have the expression of your " game"...a major problem...!! for exemple i have a juno 106 who's an excellent synthe but i'can't use it as a midi synthe because he don't record velocity in this application....

[millerrigoli]

I'm thinking that for the sounds sake on my budget the sampled method using midi will be better, but what is the minimum of equipment I would need for that? I'm used to using keyboards owned by my brother and dad so have been to lazy to actually spend much effort in the actual sound of my keyboards, but am moving off to university and will need to get my own.

Since I'm used to basically just plugging in the keys to an amp and going, could you describe the process needed to run an organ synth with midi.

Thanks

[blaminack]

You need a VST Host. Then a VST synth plug in... both of which are found on the internet for free. If you are using Windows you need an ASIO driver. Also available free. Then find a used MIDI keyboard such as an Oxygen 8 or similar on EBay and you are out about $100. Done.