


Related: Why You Should Use Your Keyboard as a MIDI Controller

Note that if your MIDI controller has built-in synths, you don't necessarily need an external synth for monitoring and playback - you can just monitor with headphones plugged directly into the controller. Software requirements for these examples are: the DAW, the audio connection kit Jack (with QJackCtl front end), a synth such as FluidSynth (with Qsynth front end) for monitoring and playback, plus a very useful little bridging utility called a2jmidid.
