What should I get I just wanna be able to program and play midi things. Should I get a pad or a little keyboard or something?

What do you have for a keyboard there at school? Or do you just practice on real pianos?

Being that you already play that format with ease, i would think that using a simple MIDI connection with a keyboard would be the simplest way for you to get it done?

I play real pianos I don't have any keyboard or midi devices like that

I would say that an inexpensive midi controller would do what you want. I have even used my Microkorg for it in the past, though, the short keyboard kind of sucks for certain types of things. I had a super simple yamaha 61 key entry level dealy with midi for a couple years, that worked a lot better. Keys felt better too.

Personally, even though i can't really play a keyboard, i much prefer it as a midi device to the midi pad things.

Also, for people who CAN play keys, there are all sorts of things that are possible...

IIRC, this is a dood from hcfx/af:

You'll probably want to look for one that has at least semi-weighted keys.

How about drums. An instrument everybody love.

You're probably right. The action is wonky on stuff that doesn't.

I actually find drums easier on a keyboard vs. a pad, as weird as that is.

Eh I just want something to make programming easy, I don't care too much about weighted keys because I fucking hate all keyboards anyway compared to real piano, so I wouldn't be truly practicing or playing on it just programming drums, synths, strings, etc. I just want something cheap

Yar. I actually prefer non-weighted, well, because i don't play keyboards really. As long as they have some touch-sensitivity/velocity ability, i will always go cheapo, over weighted. The velocity sensing ability is a big deal though. MUCH easier/quicker to get stuff done if you don't have to go back in and adjust ALL of the velocities after the fact, manually.

From my perspective, semi-weighted action is a lot easier to deal with if you're used to a real piano and don't want the velocities to come out all wonky. Full weighted is its own deal and you're only gonna find that on an 88-key board anyhoo. That's just me though.