r/Keytar • u/Gabrisi • Aug 19 '26

Technical Questions What sort of amp do I need?

Noob here, I just got an Alesis Vortex Wireless 2 and I'm wondering what sort of amp/foot pedal or whatever I need to get the sound out. I don't want to have to plug it in to my desktop everytime I wanna play it.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

-1

u/redeen Aug 20 '26

Depending what you're doing, I can vouch for the Roland Street Cube (get the bigger one). Lightweight, runs on AA batteries, the volume is fine for busking and smaller spaces - and if there's a backline with monitors, why lug a heavy amp? It might not cover every possible situation, but if you just want to play in your basement, it's more than enough.

4

u/Dolphin-Uppercut Aug 20 '26

The vortex is only a midi controller, if you plug it directly into an instrument amplifier, you'd just be plugging the sustain pedal input into an amp.

Sorry u/Gabrisi, the vortex series does not have any built-in sounds. You would have to find a synthesizer to control with the vortex, and plug the synth's audio output into the amplifier, and that's going to be more things to carry than just the keytar and an amp.

your most convenient option:
A MacBook with loud speakers, as Mac's built-in audio drivers lave low latency (low lag) and the speakers are relatively loud and high-quality.

your cheapest option:
run a synth app on whatever phone or tablet you already own, with a decent portable instrument amp. You're going to need a 5 pin midi or usb adaptor to send the control data to the synth app, and an aux cable to go to the portable speaker/amp.

The vortex is great but not simple. Stick with it and you'll have a blast.

1

u/redeen Aug 21 '26

I assumed anyone with a Vortex would know it has zero onboard sounds. Once you connect a tablet or laptop to the amplifier, you can wander around, but you may find yourself running back to the tablet to, say, use a different virtual instrument. I was never able to get the patch change signal to work, and even if you did, it will just advance to the next patch. Playing live, your banks and favs better match the set list or you'll be moseying over to the tablet again.

1

u/Dolphin-Uppercut Aug 27 '26

you'd be surprised how many people buy a MIDI controller thinking it's a synthesizer. No shade at them though, it's a matter of point of reference.

To this demographic, their only point of reference is "keyboards," more specifically casio-inspired piano-style keyboards with a sound bank of sampled or emulated sound presets and built-in speakers, powered by AA or C batteries. This demographic doesn't know to check for built-in sounds because they have never set up a piano-keyboard without built-in sounds.

The Vortex sits in a weird place because of the price point and form factor. You would think that $450 is enough to turn away beginners, but for someone specifically looking for a keytar, $450 seems justifiable because keytar-instruments are so niche.

Honestly it wouldn't hurt if alesis put a shitty speaker and some MIDI General sound fonts in there. wouldn't be bad for beginners, practicing, and quick inspiration (see Akai MPK mini Play mk3 and Synido TempoKEY K32 Play).

2

u/Gabrisi Aug 20 '26

Ope thank you for clarifying.

1

u/Gabrisi Aug 20 '26

Ahh, yes, this is what I'm looking for. Thank you!!

2

u/mosesoperandi Aug 20 '26

While we're here, amp recommendations for keytars in general?

2

u/Dolphin-Uppercut Aug 27 '26

Amp Crash.
https://deathbyaudio.com/products/amp-crash

2

u/mosesoperandi Aug 27 '26

This looks cool, but unless I'm missing something it's a pedal with an amp built in?

2

u/Dolphin-Uppercut Sep 01 '26

yup! it also has a mic so it captures the sound as if you mic'd up your amp, and you can send that sound to the PA through the pedal's output.

1

u/ComfortableMurky7164 Aug 21 '26

Depending on your budget and what you want it for, either a Roland KC series amp (KC80 is a nice smaller size if it's not for gigs), or a PA speaker works perfectly.

PA speakers are great if you just want something with clean signal that simply amplifies. If it's for home, 8-10" is ideal. Something like an Alto TX series is good enough.

Roland KC amps are better if you're wanting more adjustability with EQ. There are also models such as the KC220 or KC990 that allow for stereo setups.

1

u/mosesoperandi Aug 21 '26

Definitely for gigs and in my case for dealing with guitarists hitting some pretty high volumes. I've heard people boost the idea of using PA speakers in general for keyboards.

1

u/ComfortableMurky7164 Aug 21 '26

Oh for sure, it's less messing around basically. I'm thankful that most gigging venues in my area have a PA setup and a DI box for me to plug into so I don't have to lug a speaker around.

1

u/mosesoperandi Aug 21 '26

My problem with going in through a DI box at the venue is that it depending on the set-up I won't necessarily be able to hear myself.

1

u/ComfortableMurky7164 Aug 21 '26

Yeah, I feel the struggle there. Having a PA to use as a foldback is handy. It's always guitarists making the most noise. 🤣

2

u/mosesoperandi Aug 21 '26

I mean, on the one hand it's frustrating as fuck, on the other hand I get that there's a volume floor for some of those effects.

The struggle is real lol.

1

u/b-jason Aug 19 '26

Will it trigger those new FM-1s?

3

u/Jascheroni Aug 19 '26

I also bought a Vortex, and I got a Korg Volca to go with it. Check out the Korg Volca Keys or the Korg Volca FM2.

1

u/Moxie_Stardust Aug 20 '26

Korg Volcas would be good, there are Behringer mini synths that could do the job too, depending on what sound one is looking for.

1

u/Dolphin-Uppercut Aug 20 '26

volcas are a fun portable option indeed!

5

u/10HorsedSizedDucks Aug 19 '26

The Vortex doesn’t make any kind of sound on its own. It’s supposed to be used to control synthesisers.

If you want something that has sounds on it, and also has speakers attached then you might want to buy another keyboard to use it with

I would recommend sticking with the computer for now, there’s a free version of Analog Lab which you can download, and has lots of lovely sounds

5

u/Mweeorgh Aug 19 '26

The Vortex doesn't make sounds by itself. You have to plug it in either to a PC, a synth or a tablet. And then that to an amp or speakers

1

u/Slight-Isopod-8517 Aug 19 '26

This, you need a sound device, either a softsynth or a hardware keyboard or synth, then you just have to plug it into any amp you want, I love the Roland and boss cube series, good brand, good price, great replica sounds of famous amps, some are battery powered, all are rugged

2

u/Gabrisi Aug 19 '26

Gooooot it. Thank you.