Question about MIDI keyboard controller

I'm about to take the plunge and have read through prior posts. My basic question regarding features is - if I only plan to use the keyboard with a computer, do I need many other features? For example, if the output from the MIDI goes into something like Sampletank or other software, it seems like everything is really controlled by the PC. I'm sure that I don't understand nearly enough about what the MIDI keyboard can/should do. Any thoughts?

Kurt it really depends on how experimental you want to be with your music.

If your main objective is to use a midi keyboard just to input note data, a very simple midi keyboard with a mdi output will be all you need.

Things like aftertouch and velocity sensitive keys really only benifit experienced keyboard players or people who want to develop good keyboard skills. After touch transmits velocity sensitive data to the host. Say you are triggering a virtual piano with a midi keyboard with after touch, the harder you hit a key the louder the virtual piano, the softer you hit a key the quieter the virtual piano. If your not skilled you won't get it right and you will end up going into the piano roll editor of your host and adjusting velocities with a mouse. This is not hard to do and IMO this negates the need for after touch keys. I could see a benifit with after touch keys in triggering drums but still not worth the added costs.

Now as far as assignable rotary knobs, faders, pitch wheel etc...., it really depends on how experimental you are with music. Here's a metaphor.

You are a guitar player (the guiatr fretboard is the same as the keys of your midi controller). You have a cool stompbox with four rotary knobs (the stompbox is the same as the virtual instrument/softsynth). You get this great idea to have your girfreind sweep the stomps knobs back and forth as you play because it will make for a really interesting sonic outcome. (your girlfriend is like assignable controls- the rotary knobs/faders/pitch wheel-on a midi controller)

Now if your experimental, it's a good idea to have some (at least 4) assignable knobs on your midi keyboard.

Now if your the type that only likes your stomps ajusted between songs you probably don't need assignable controls on your midi keyboard.

A four octave midi keyboard is nice though. The two octave ones are a real pain in the rump.

Thanks, helpful metaphor. So...if I've got this right, even though much of the MIDI output gets controlled via the software I use within the DAW, the MIDI controls on the keyboard still control the message being sent. Depending on how much I want to experiment with the MIDI message, I might want more knobs, etc., on the keyboard controller. I would also think that in some cases, you probably still have some overlapping controls between the MIDI keyboard and the software, so personal preference may come in to play - do I want to muck around with the message before it's sent or after it's received.

Sorry to be so dense, but this is all new to me.

I understood you completely and you got it.

Before you jump in the midi fire there is one thing you should check up on. There are different types of midi clocking formats (the languages that devices use to describe "time" some times aren't standard). You have to make sure the controller, the audio/midi interface and your host software use common clocking formats. 99 percent of the time this won't be an issue, especially if your gear and software are relatively new (within 5 years old).

The real basic stuff like hitting a key on a controller and getting the corresponding key to trigger a virtual synth is fairly easy to come to terms with and is the most important. There's just a whole lot more that can be done with midi however it can get mind boggling at times. One step at a time.

You are entering a world that will bring alot of magic to your music. Don't give up.

Kurt, IMHO, the most important "feature" of a MIDI keyboard is the feel of the keys. They vary widely, and many of them feel too loose and flimsy to me.

It's like the gauge of your guitar strings, and your setup -- action is important!