How to buy a synthesiser, synthesiser keyboard or synthesiser controller for video and film making

This article explains how to research buying a synthesizer, keyboard synthesizer or synthesizer controller for creating background music and sound tracks for short films in video and film making.

In my experience there are a couple of main routes to take when doing your research.

Buying a synthesizer, synthesizer keyboard or synthesizer controller from a musical instrument store

One route is to call or visit a musical instuments supplier and ask for their advice. Some of them have customer telephone helplines where you can get free advice.
Tell the supplier or sales person exactly what you want the keyboard, synthesiser keyboard or synthesiser controller for.
Explain that you want it to compose background music for film making.
I did this and discovered that the synthesiser that I was considering buying would have been the completely wrong choice.
Also, if you have a budget in mind, mention this to the sales person. Otherwise, you could waste your time and their time discussing synthesisers that you have no intention of buying.

Buying a synthesizer, synthesizer keyboard or synthesizer controller from Amazon

Another route is Amazon.
The reviews on Amazon are really good. They’re apparently written by customers and are really impartial. In fact, while some are positive, some are completely negative. In my view Amazon deserves some credit for this democratic, freedom of speech attitude.
Some of the reviews that I’ve seen on Amazon take a pretty negative view of the keyboards on the synthesisers that they are reviewing.
They sometimes criticise the feel of the keyboard, the way that it feels when the reviewer is playing the synthesiser.
It seems to me that this is irrelevant for video and film making. Film makers aren’t likely to play their synthesisers for long periods, where the feel of the keyboard is important.
Also, some reviewers criticise the size of the keys on the keyboard. Again, this seems to be irrelevant for video and film making, because, again, film makers aren’t likely to spend long periods playing the keyboard.
In part 2 of How to buy a synthesier, keyboard synthesiser, or synthesiser part 2, I include a practical example of how a short film could be improved with background music or sound effects provided by a synthesiser of some kind.