Help With Live Midi

[storyline43]

Hello,
My rock cover band [bass, drums, guitar/vox] wants to play some songs live that have keyboards in it. Can you tell me which cheap keyboard I need to buy that is able to play a midi file [have yet to purchase midi files]. I've done little research but I find that the midi files have complete instruments, so I THINK I have to be able to MUTE certain midi channels [assuming they put different instruments on separate midi channels]. Can a keyboard MUTE certain midi channels and play ONLY the keyboard part? Or will I need to maniupulate the MIDI file in a computer program first? [I'D LIKE TO try and avoid that]. Or will it be easier just to pre record the keyboard part and have it play from an ipod or something similar? PLEASE ADVISE. thanks! We're leaning towards midi because it seems easier then trying to record someone playing and bringing that. Is there something I am missing?

[garww]

The iPod thing is good, but you are stuck with that - there is no improv.

For MIDI, you need a sequencer and a sound module - and the module plugs into a amp or mixer.

The sequencer can/might be a computer with a sound module, or it can emulate other modules.

Keyboards have sequencers, but maybe not very sophisticated.

Download a decent MIDI player like van Basco's, but be aware that you want better sound than the Windows software sound module.

There are some easy software methods for getting soundfonts to do the MIDI sound module.

Search the web for a favorite band with keyboard parts - like; claire lune midi, and compare how different performances effect the MIDI playback. Many MIDI players let you mute the other tracks. Synthfont is kinda neat and it let's you use sounfonts. TiMIDIty is pretty good, also.