studiologic vmk-188

[calvis]

My daughter (who is 9) wanted an electronic keyboard and I heard good reviews about Studiologic vmk-188 so I got her one. This morning it was waiting for her but I was kind of surprised to see that it has no speakers outputs or head phone jacks. Is there a simple way to get this working without connecting it to a computer with a special card?

I got the Studiologic vmk-188 because it was a full size keyboard and weighted keys. (She has been playing piano for 3 years). Can anyone offer any advice to how to get this unit going so she can hear music?

Thanks,

Charles in Redmond, WA

[cubic13]

FYI, the VMK-188 is a MIDI keyboard controller only (I have the VMK-188 plus, and it's nearly the same) : it doesn't have any 'sounds' in it, hence the lack of speakers/headphone jacks. The only ways to get sounds from it is connecting it via the 'MIDI out' socket :

- to a computer with a MIDI/audio interface, a sequencer installed and instrument (VSTi/AU...) plug-ins or external MIDI sounding gear,
or
- directly to external MIDI sounding gear (expander/synthesizer...) which has a 'MIDI in' socket.

You won't ever get what it can't deliver and isn't designed for, I'm afraid : MIDI is only a set of digitallly codified massages to make MIDI gear and plug-ins react and 'play'...

[Jamie Mac]

There is indeed no way you will get sound out of that "keyboard" alone..

So if you don't want to go into a computer, the only option is to get a cheap sound module (like a miditech pianobox or edirol SD-20) and plug the keyboard into that using a midi cable. Then you can access speaker and headphone outs from the sound module..


But for a 9 year old, I would send it back and get a keyboard or digital piano with integrated sounds and speakers..

[nigel_g]

It's a sick board though, bud! Why not get some software and get her into making music too.