Keytar - Synthesizer - Laptop Connection HELP
 

Here we go: I don't know what a Synthesizer is or does, and I don't know what a Midi is or does. But I know how to play Keyboard well, (I play the piano accordion in a band) and I want to upgrade to something more visually modern with a variety of sounds and effects. (I'm glad I got over that bit). So I am looking at a Keytar with USB thingies, which, I understand won't make a sound even if you smash it ...... and I have been told that the Keytar is a Midi controller and Ineed a Synthesizer. ?????????? Mmmm ok ....
So, I will be buying the Alesis Vortex Keytar, I do have a laptop, Amplifier, PA cables and connections, etc, all from my squeeze box. Can someone please give me, (In plain, simple English,like, "This goes here", and "this goes there") a diagram, or Instructions, to connect my Keytar, to the Synth, to the Laptop, to the PA, etc. PLEEEESSEEE. :banghead:
PLEASE SOMEBODY, HELP METO PLUG UP AND GO ........

Oh my god.
I give up.

It's like a car crash but I don't have to look at blood and guts so I'll give it a whirl :banghead:

The basic roles of the components is the Controller determines what note will be played, but it's the synth that determines what tone and effect that note will have. Basically what I'm reading strikes me akin to - I like playing Checkers but I want one of these fancy new video games. I bought a Kinect and I still have a tv and stereo for it plus an old xbox, but it's still not working (because there's no actual game / synth in the mix).

There are two ways to handle this situation, the easy way, and the other one.

The easy way is to simply walk into your local music store where the Keytar happens to be for sale and discuss the necessary technical issues with a salesperson. They will GLADLY sell you all the extra pieces you need.

The other way is to try and do it yourself while celebrating your ignorance. First, a synthesizer is a type of instrument used to manipulate sound waves, it's like the ultimate tone manipulator / special sound effect generator. MIDI stands for Multi-Instrument-Digital-Interface, it's how the multiple elements in the chain communicate (from instrument to synth to computer etc.).

In the original description a piece is missing. There's no synth, now it's possible to use a DAW (Digital Audio Workshop) application on your pc or laptop as a replacement but that still requires you to own a specific piece of software - one that can operate as a virtual synthesizer.

Unfortunately that's about as specific as anyone can get without knowing what sort of synth you plan on buying or what specific DAW you'll use instead - as well as the specifics of your laptop soundcard in this case. It really depends on the kind of inputs and outputs are available on the other devices.

Really though, MIDI is a headache for people who know what they're doing, trying to figure it out through a message board is going to be maddening. I strongly suggest you just hit up your local shop.

OK, thanks. I'll do that