Do I need 88 keys to produce film soundtracks?

Question

This question is motivated by the following reality:

The Brazillian real is a very depreciated currency compared with US dollar; 1 US dollar = 5 Reals.

I want to compose orchestrated soundtracks and ambient/atmospheric music like the references [1], [2] and [3]. Totally with digital instruments. I'm working with a 2 octaves in a midi keyboard app in a samsung tablet, three digital faders from another app called "DawIt" to control the expression/dynamics/vibratos and the HD201 Sennheiser headphone.

Idealy, I would require a 88 midi keyboard controller, a midi faderbox with 4 long faders (or more) and audio monitors. But, I don't know if this ideal set is mandatory to produce something professional or close to it. I'm feeling that with this controller here [4] and their faders, I would do the job. So, please, I would aprreciate if you share your experience.

Therefore, my question is:

With the 61 keys midi controller [4], and its "small" faders, will I be able to produce something professional? Or, in other words, what sorts of problems a 61 keys and small faders would bring to me when I sit to work with it aiming to produce for films and video games?

$[1]$

$[2]$

$[3]$

$[4]$ https://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-1122837872-amw-p61x-teclado-controlador-midi-61-teclas-pads-knobs-loja-_JM?attributes=COLOR_SECONDARY_COLOR%3AUHJldG8%3D&quantity=1

Answer 1

No, you do not need 88 keys.

You could produce film soundtracks with 0 keys- everything can be programmed nowadays. Of course, many prefer to record MIDI, and 61 keys will be sufficient at that. How many instruments in the orchestra have greater than a 5 octave range? If you need access to lower or higher notes, just transpose by an octave (or two). Some people get by with 25 keys and transposing, though I wouldn't recommend it.

In the rare event that you need access to lower and higher notes at the same time, there are a few options- you could play the lower notes an octave higher and correct then manually after recording. You could play the wrong notes entirely and correct them after recording. You could first record the lower part and then record the higher, transposing the keyboard as necessary. You could just skip the notes you can't reach and program them in afterwards.

Answer 2

88 keys are very useful if you intend to PLAY the keyboard in a pianistic style. Otherwise your 61 keys will be fine. I wouldn't be surprised to learn of a modern soundtrack composer who didn't use a keyboard at all!

Answer 3

No, you don't need 88 keys. You do need continuous controllers mapped to MIDI CC 1 and MIDI CC 11.

The controller you linked to should be fine as long as you can map MIDI CC 11 to something comfortable for you to use (like one of those 8 faders).

In general, for people creating orchestral music via virtual instruments, the most important features for a controller are the mod wheel (MIDI CC 1) and at least one expression controller (that can be mapped to MIDI CC 11) for the kind of music you want to create with virtual instruments. The expression controller can be a touch strip, knob, fader, or even a foot pedal, as long it works for you. You could also made one of the faders to MIDI CC 1 and use that instead of the Mod Wheel if that feels better.

Unless you're playing the keyboard as a piano, you probably don't need 88 keys. 49 or 61 key controllers are both great options. It looks like the controller you linked to has easy octave adjustment keys if you need them. That controller has the features you need, and depending on how deeply you interact with virtual synths, those extra controllers may come in handy for ambient/atmospheric music too.

Cheers!