Midi Input, Which one? Options

[Noodelz]

I'm thinking of getting Finale Printmusic to help me compose. I'm also thinking of buying a keyboard so I don't have to spend time writing the score (Finale Printmusic can notate music as you're playing it or MIDI files). The problem is, I don't have much money nor do I have much space. I'm looking for a decent MIDI input which isn't too expensive and is compact. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

EDIT: Would one of those learner keyboards (the ones with the keys that light up) be ok?

[kenm]

I'm thinking of getting Finale Printmusic to help me compose. I'm also thinking of buying a keyboard so I don't have to spend time writing the score (Finale Printmusic can notate music as you're playing it or MIDI files). The problem is, I don't have much money nor do I have much space. I'm looking for a decent MIDI input which isn't too expensive and is compact. Any suggestions?

You need only a controller keyboard for Finale input; that's something that generates MIDI codes but has no sound generator. I have occasionally borrowed my son's Midiman Keystation 49. I don't know what it costs nowadays, but it has the rather convenient ability to shift up or down two octaves, so that its basic four octaves expand to eight. However, if you want to play piano music in real time, you will need at least the six octave size. It was supposed to plug straight into a USB2 socket for both power and signal, but in that mode, Finale never found it, so I used it with an Edirol MIDI to USB converter and a separate power supply box to take AC mains down to the appropriate low DC voltage. Its reference is UM-1SX if I read it aright. That cost about £30.

[petrat]

There are loads of keyboards for sale second hand these days. A hunt through your local small ads paper will find several as will Ebay. Look for something in working order with a decent length keyboard and full sized keys. Then bargain over the price. Our local boot sale usually has them and they sell for around twenty to thirty pounds only. Yamaha is a reliable make to look for.