Evolution Mini MIDI Keyboard (MK-10) (Evolution Mini Midi MK-10)

Member Name: mo79

Product:	Evolution Mini Midi MK-10
Date:	29/06/00 (1770 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, basic, good intro to MIDI

Disadvantages: Not a wise invesment for the hardended MIDI guru

Evolution Audio's budget mini MIDI keyboard is basically a barebones keyboard designed for the new or poor MIDI tinkler, and for a price of about £40, it's not a bad little practising machine.
The keyboard itself is lightweight and is more of a 'controller' than a keyboard as it doesn't feature any sounds of it's own. Instead it relies on the MIDI set of sounds on your soundcard; thus you can't use the keyboard on it's own; need a computer and a soundcard (obviously), and you plug the keyboard in the joystick adapter of your soundcard, and install the drivers and software for it. After that, it's ready for use (within MIDI capable software).
Though software bundlings vary with this keyboard, they almost all come with a variation of the basic MIDI and audio sequencing software 'Evolution Audio' which allows you to compose your songs in a multritrack environment (combining MIDI instructions and .wav audio) and save them in either the own file format of Evolution Audio, or a MIDI file which can be played back on any MIDI device that can read it (with not much difference). Don't expect to belt out masterpieces with this keyboard and software though; you've got to flash some more cash than £40.
If you're not a keyboard player (like me, really; I only bought one to help me suss MIDI for A-Level Music Tech.), you won't get much out of it, but it is fun eitherway, and is an almost essential starting point for musicians who want to get into MIDI without spending much money. Instructions, and all revelant cables and software are provided, and you can choose between a PC friendly beige keyboard or a more morose black. If you fancy on having the same kit with a keyboard that's a bit more useful and larger, try the MK-50 (I think that's what the model is anyway). This keyboard however is good for the price for any new or poor MIDI tinkler.

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