That’s super cool!
This is making me want to start experimenting with my own weird software-hardware synth instruments, there’s quite a bit of stuff you could do just using Python scripts reading I/O and sending MIDI events to a software synth engine.
Reading and routing MIDI would be easy to mess around with yeah!
For actually writing effects and synths, KVR has a good plugin developer forum with people who are very helpful. If you want to get in to it I could recommend a couple books as well; I am messing around with some audio and DSP programming as a hobby right now myself.
I would like to get more into the DSP stuff in the context of music/synths, book recommendations would be great.
Most I’ve gone into that realm so far was writing a software DTMF (landline phone bleepy tones…) synthesizer for ESP32 that was passable enough to be decoded.
For a very applied intro, Will Pirkle has two books I like. You should more or less ignore his code but it gets the theory and math across great.
His two books have a really accessible writing style. One bummer though is he reverses a couple conventions in naming from the definitive reference on the subject:
https://www.amazon.com/Discrete-Time-Signal-Processing-3rd-Prentice-Hall/dp/0131988425
That book is super thick and dense, beware. But it’s the gold standard.
I recently got this one and it’s great too, much more accessible than Oppenheim:
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Digital-Signal-Processing-3rd/dp/0137027419
Anyway, there’s also audio plugin frameworks you can just grab for a head start and start coding as well; they have done all the DSP bits for you. JUCE is probably the most popular:
I’m looking strongly at the Yamaha PSR-Exxx line. Something like the PSR-E473 (or 383) might be just the droid I’m looking for.
I’m wondering about how well these function as MIDI controllers. They have USB out, but they seem focused on being standalone units.
Also an E-MU XBoard 61 (Longboard 61?) on FBM, might be a good option.
This looks like an arranger keyboard. This would not be my choice for many reasons but if you are after the “band in a box” aspect of the accompaniments and the built in speakers then it might be for you. It also has a built in audio interface and can run audio in through its effects (like others of this type) so that’s cool if you plan to solo any open mic nights.
I’ve always associated these things with stuff like solo lounge acts. Not entirely fair but I would go for other choices, personally.
It does have USB MIDI out, but as you note, Arranger keyboards are focused on being standalone “band in a box” things. These would never be my choice for any of a controller or synth or sampler.
@BeerBaron - if you want to ask for advice in a forum more tailored to synths, the Getting Started forum on KVR is pretty good. Be forewarned that KVR is basically the TalkBass of synths - the crowd isn’t as universally helpful as here - but it’s still good site.
https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=74
I and the others here have a lot of opinions on what synths and controllers we like and what I would recommend, but you’ll get a wider cross-section over there. If you’re considering Arranger keyboards then your desires in either a synth or controller are very very different from mine. Probably some people can help you out with those over there!
My recommendation: come to peace with the fact that computers are now integral to music production, get a good pure MIDI controller like the Arturia KeyLabs, Novation LaunchKeys, Akai MPC/MPK, or NI Kontrols, and explore the huge world of outstanding virtual instruments. This is the most flexible and long term cheapest option, and can teach you what you DO want later if it turns out to not be for you.
It’s the synth equivalent of buying a multieffects pedal instead of a bunch of pedals, but in this case, the software is actually as good as the hardware and much more flexible to use.
Except for some fuzz that couple with the guitar/instrument and octave pedals that consume a ton of processor power I’d say any of the better multi effect pedals are as good as standalone at this point. It’s just a different workflow.
Yeah, it’s just a fact that the quality of software sims, synths, and effects have now met or exceeded hardware. And they are much more flexible to use; and with the right controllers, you even get knobs to tweak them 
I think I need to nail down what my intended use is to pick the right tool.
Edit (condensed):
I’ve got two musical work spaces at home, and I want a tool that will work in both.
I also expect to use a keyboard more as a tool to help come up with ideas and record crude demos to share with the band (who will figure out their specific parts). NOT planning to do full song recording/arranging by myself.
What I want is the functionality of a simple MIDI controller like Arturia/Novation and of a basic Casio/Yamaha keyboard with a handful of voices and maybe premade rhythm tracks. I would prefer to have one tool that can fill both roles, but it might be easier and less expensive to split this into two pieces of equipment.
Cool. I’ve been in both situations myself.
So for use case #2 I would suggest a MIDI controller, no question IMO.
For #1 - well, for this I would say your best bet would probably be a standalone synth going in to an amp (really more likely a mixer that you run all the other stuff in to too, or at least that’s what we did).
So finding that synth in a price range/feature set that meets your needs is the next step - but before going there, how much time do you really think you will be doing #1 vs #2?
I’m fairly certain #1 will be the more regular use. I’ve already found myself in situations where I would like a keyboard to just plink out random ideas. I’ve not yet really wanted to do #1, but strongly suspect I’ll get there.
This is why I’m leaning towards a standalone synth that also has MIDI out for the occasional times I want to play there.
It wouldn’t be too crazy to set up laptop - connect MIDI controller to laptop, and connect laptop to my Boss multi-effects - and effectively use my effects board as a mixer to my amp. It’s not a ton of setup, but I would need to do it every single time. Frequently, I just want to grab an instrument and be all ready to go.
A mixer box that I can plug my bass and keyboard into, and output to an amp would be within the realm “grab and go”.
There’s an E-MU XBoard listed locally that might fit the bill. It doesn’t have built-in speakers, but does everything else.
There’s also stuff like the Arturia MiniFreak or Behringer DeepMind in the same price range.
I have a late 80s Roland D-20 and it pretty much satisfies that as long as you’re ok with oldschool DIN connector MIDI and no speakers. You do get a floppy drive and a bunch of synthwavey sounds in exchange though.
Probably not the best choice to go back that far, but it’s a pretty standard feature set you’re looking for and you have a good couple decades of more modern stuff to choose from.
If you have a decent local used music shop you might want to browse their synths in person and see which ones have the right vibe/feel/UX and are most enjoyable for you to use.
Yeah, the D-20 is a vibe if you’re cool with that old-school setup. No speakers, but you get some seriously retro sounds. If you’re looking for something more modern with the same core features, you’ve got tons of options from the last couple decades
I always wanted a D-20 back then but I don’t know if I would want to replicate it today as much just because it’s so very very tied to that sound. Man they were cool back in the day though.
That’s awesome you still have one. I wish I still had my ESQ-1.
Yeah the music teacher at my elementary school had one and the occasional opportunity to mess around with it was one of the things that got me interested in synths. I picked up mine in the 00s just to play around with those cheesy presets again.
Definitely a very “period” sound and not all that flexible compared to more modern stuff though, and with the hardware pushing 40 years old it’s into vintage maintenance territory. Mine needs resurrection, the internal RAM battery died a few years back and it lost all its presets. It’s not hard to reload em through the MIDI interface but it’s sensitive about MIDI dongles and none of the ones I have on hand worked last I tried. Gotta order the genuine Roland one at some point.
Super fun, iconic sound, but much more collectible than practical these days.
Nice. Full size keys, which is my preference.
These kinds of rompler Arranger/Entertainer keyboards are totally not something I would ever go for, so I am looking forward to hearing your take here.
It is a jack of all trades and master of none. Which is oftentimes better than a master of one. This suits my needs well.
Seems to fit how I expect to mostly use it: turn it on, select a voice, start plinking ideas. Got some video to send to my keyboard player of, “Hey, here’s a keyboard chord progression for the song I’m writing. Feel free to fancy it up.”
It is set up with the default assumption that I’m going to want to play backing tracks and split the keyboard, and so I’m pushing buttons to turn things off and just play an electric piano voice.
But it was $250 and is a lot of fun.
