Do I need knobs and sliders on my keyboard?

[ironfistx]

So I'm in the market for a MIDI controller and I see there are some that are basically just the keyboard with a volume slider, pitch and modulation wheels, and then there are other versions with a bunch of sliders and knobs and sometimes pads.

How necessary are those? Assume I'm going to be recording rock/metal/orchestral music rather than electronic music. From my limited understanding it seems those controls are used more for altering sounds on the fly for dance music and stuff. Is that true?

I don't want to buy one without the controls and then in a month wish I had gotten the keyboard with the added functionality.

[AlaskaBat]

Again--Tweaks guide still answers your questions:

http://tweakheadz.com/midi_synth_modules.htm

[ironfistx]

This link is even better:

http://tweakheadz.com/tips_on_buying_a_keyboard.html

But it basically just confirmed that you can control the sound with the knobs, not how, or why, or if all MIDI instruments respond to such adjustment of the controls.

I'll probably just go with one with some knobs so I have them in case I need them in the future.