Keyboard Recommendations

[Cerrabore]

I am probably going to be getting a keyboard soon...the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 (or something) looked good, but then I heard a bunch of bad stuff about it on this board, so maybe not, eh? I also noticed an "es" version which has only two control wheels, modulation and an assignable controller, I believe? That's fine with me, I'm not too big on controls (velocity, modulation, and legato will just about do it for me). So here are the criteria:

< $600
88 keys

About the weighting of the keys. I've played piano for about five years, and I'm not exactly a concert pianist, but I certainly don't mind weighted keys, I prefer them to those light plastic ones. Anyway though, I'm not really sure what "weighted" and "semi-weighted" mean in the keyboard industry. Does "weighted" mean it's like a piano? That's what I'm aiming for. And "semi-weighted," is that just in between the piano and plastic keys?

By the way, this keyboard doesn't really need to fit every need I have - for example, if I can't manage a harp glissando, I'll just do it with a notation program. With all that in mind...what should I get? Thanks in advance and all that.

[dcoscina]

I use a Keystation 88 Pro and I really really like it. the action is perfect for all applications and isn't so heavy that it would preclude you from doing drum fills or whatever on it.

Beware though that M-Audio needs to get a bit more of a uniformity going on for this line of keyboard. The first one I bought had really noisy key action. UGHHHH. The second one is just fine though.

[Cerrabore]

OK...the general impression I'm getting is that weighted keys are better for playing keyboard instruments, but semi-weighted is better for brass, woodwinds, and strings. Is that it? If so, I'll go with the semi-weighted version, I think...

[Nathanael Iversen]

I have one of the Keystation 88's and am quite happy with it. The action is sufficiently weighted that my pianist fingers don't complain. The action isn't as piano like as the best Yamaha actions, but I'm not looking for ultra-real piano action - the Steinway across the room has that down pat.

Plenty of controllers - if you run out, let me know. :D

Price was great, and I use it in the studio and gigging out. I don't know about this "compatibility with Roland" thing. I use my out with a Roland JV-1080 module without incident. My only complaint for live use is that there is a slight delay sending program changes after you input them - I would prefer it be lighting fast for back to back songs.

If you are not going to be USB powering it, you will have to buy an AC adaptor - it is not included. Also, you will have to download the Advanced Users Guide from the WWW site. The graphical librarian for it is a nice touch. I use it.

- Nathanael

[FredProgGH]

Why the heck can't someone design a keyboard with some type of magnetic or other electrically controlled resistance to give a variable touch keyboard? Or something mechanical- heck, if my exercycle can do it my keyboard ought to be able to without making a federal case out of it :D :D

[benjamind]

If anyone wants a nice piano-style action on an 88-key keyboard then you can't go wrong with a Casio Privia X-100 digital piano. Use it for the keyboard only, I doubt the sounds would be all that great on a $500 digital piano, but if you want piano expression then this is the one to look at especially if you want to budget.

[galvedro]

We haven't made any comment on Kawai hammer action kbs. They are very good and small. The problem is they include sound module, so they are a bit higher in price, althoulgh they can be useful as stage pianos for gigs.

Anton

[hiprobotamus]

I am also interested in getting a 88-key MIDI keyboard and I've seen another one called the TMK-88 which also seems like a cheap option. I used to play the piano and would like to get back into in so I was was looking at the controller keyboard option.
Would I be right in thinking that I can connect these keyboards directly to a normal PC to generate the sound?!? Or would I need some special sound card or something to get rid of any noticable latency? Or do I acutally require other hardware like a separate "sound module" to get it to work.
Thanks,
Hip.




We haven't made any comment on Kawai hammer action kbs. They are very good and small. The problem is they include sound module, so they are a bit higher in price, althoulgh they can be useful as stage pianos for gigs.

Anton

[galvedro]

I am also interested in getting a 88-key MIDI keyboard and I've seen another one called the TMK-88 which also seems like a cheap option. I used to play the piano and would like to get back into in so I was was looking at the controller keyboard option.
Would I be right in thinking that I can connect these keyboards directly to a normal PC to generate the sound?!? Or would I need some special sound card or something to get rid of any noticable latency? Or do I acutally require other hardware like a separate "sound module" to get it to work.
Thanks,
Hip.
You will only need a sound card with MIDI interface. If you own one, you'll be able to use you keyboard as controller by connecting both with a cable.

Anton

[TennesseeVic]

The "es" version is complete crap. They put springs under the keys or something like that, but it feels awful. The other keystation is not bad, but I suggest trying one out. Personally I don't like the feel. The "hammer action" is more like "you push through a resistance point".

Like you I've been looking for a <$600 keyboard, and I've actually been pleasantly surprised by the feel of the Casio Privia. It's compact, and comes with its own sounds and (small, built-in) speakers, and is only $500. Check it out.

Victor.

[rwayland]

We haven't made any comment on Kawai hammer action kbs. They are very good and small. The problem is they include sound module, so they are a bit higher in price, althoulgh they can be useful as stage pianos for gigs.

Anton

Well, not relevant to anything, but looking at the photo of the hand and piano, I am wondering if the shadows are confusing me, or do you have a non-standard allocation of fingers?

I remember a young sailor many years ago who was missing a finger, but you would not notice it hearing him play the piano.

Richard

[Kevin B. Selby]

Just a brief note to share my experience.

In my understanding, there are three main types of keyboard action. Fully weighted (intending to be as close to a real grand piano as possible), Semi-weighted (heavy plastic keys, but certainly not as heavy and blocky as fully weighted) and, I suppose the third type would be the old synthesizer keys like the DX-7 or perhaps the organ keyboards where the keys are simply plastic with no real weight nor resistance to them.

I have a fully weighted Korg N1 and a semi-weighted Roland A-30 controller and I have the following observations:

1. For electric piano and grand piano playing, for me, nothing beats the fully weighted controller keyboards. It just feels natural and good and warm and gooey and just perfect.
HOWEVER...
2. For drum fills, timpani rolls, some types of synth-type solos, possibly flute and oboe at times, and even bass sounds, a fully weighted keyboard will drive you batty simply from the delay between hits (maybe it's my Korg and not all fully weighted keyboards are like this). For these types of playing, my Roland A-30 is perfect. I can hammer a snare flam, do dramatic timpani hits and rolls, and rip some serious flute riffs and bangin bass on this thing and I would be rather frustrated trying to get that same rapid fire performance from the fully weighted Korg.

I'm sure there are tons of varying degrees between different keyboard types, but those are the main three I've noticed throughout the years and my experiences with them.

I guess the bottom line is that if you can afford it, try to get both a fully weighted and a semi-weighted and you'll have the best of most of the world. It also is nice that my semi-weighted is only 76 keys rather than the space-hogging 88 of the Korg. It's kind of nice to pare down and work with a smaller keyboard from time to time.

Having said all that rambling above...it might interest you to know that I'm rather intrigued by the M-Audio Keystation 88 (I'm talking the fully weighted one) because it looks like the best of all worlds, HOWEVER, it looks like they make a younger brother to it that has nearly the same stuff but is a semi-weighted one. LET'S JUST BUY THEM ALL.....HOOOOIEEEE....

Seriously...to be quite serious here, if I had to choose ONE keyboard and one only, I would probably pick a semi-weighted 88-key keyboard for this reason: I can always get past the fact that it's semi-weighted when I'm playing piano and e-piano parts and the like, and just play more "careful" if you will, and try to get in the right frame of mind and all that, however, I can't go the reverse...in other words, I would be frustrated if all I had was a fully weighted keyboard and I was trying to get percussion stuff and all the rest and couldn't get it to respond fast enough.

Interestingly enough, three of my solo piano albums were produced on the Roland A-30 before I got the Korg, so if you care, go listen to them and determine for yourself whether a semi-weighted keyboard can be put to use playing grand piano sounds in a realistic manner. The three albums are Acoustic Christmas, Acoustic Hymns, and At My Father's Cabin. All three were done with the A-30 and the GP1 grand piano soundfont (this was all pre-GPO days).

Hope all this rambling helps...sorry for all the wordiness...I'm feeling talkative tonight!

[Aquarius]

Anyone seen a MIDI-keyboard with "aftertouch-sensitive" keys?

Thomas

[galvedro]

I am wondering if the shadows are confusing me, or do you have a non-standard allocation of fingers?

:D Actually, I have 4 additional fingers under the hand!!! Just for Liszt, you know. Now seriously, my thoumb is hidden in the shadow on the left, fortunately I have them all :)

Anton

[ZeroZero]

Heres a link to a list of midi controllers - but it is crucial to bear in mind that any midi controller can be assigned to any function. GPO uses only some of these functions.
Hopefully a full list of GPO specific midi assignments will be available shortly - keep an eye on the forum. All the best

[dcoscina]

Anyone seen a MIDI-keyboard with "aftertouch-sensitive" keys?

Thomas

Roland A-37 has aftertouch. I don't care for the action though. And that darn paddle bites. Mind you I'm biased. I own a Keystation 88 Pro and I love it.

[ShaneR]

Anyone seen a MIDI-keyboard with "aftertouch-sensitive" keys?

Thomas

I'm still using my trusty Yamaha DX-7 as a controller--aftertouch works fine ;) ...After all these years, still works great. Would love a new 88-key controller though...been looking at the M-Audiio offering myself.

[Cerrabore]

The "es" version is complete crap. They put springs under the keys or something like that, but it feels awful. The other keystation is not bad, but I suggest trying one out. Personally I don't like the feel. The "hammer action" is more like "you push through a resistance point".

Oh...damn...I went with the es. But I'm not sure it's shipped, maybe there's time to cancel it.

[DPDAN]

I have a fully weighted Korg N1 and a semi-weighted Roland A-30 controller and I have the following observations:

1. For electric piano and grand piano playing, for me, nothing beats the fully weighted controller keyboards. It just feels natural and good and warm and gooey and just perfect.
HOWEVER...
2. For drum fills, timpani rolls, some types of synth-type solos, possibly flute and oboe at times, and even bass sounds, a fully weighted keyboard will drive you batty simply from the delay between hits (maybe it's my Korg and not all fully weighted keyboards are like this). For these types of playing, my Roland A-30 is perfect. I can hammer a snare flam, do dramatic timpani hits and rolls, and rip some serious flute riffs and bangin bass on this thing and I would be rather frustrated trying to get that same rapid fire performance from the fully weighted Korg.

Kevin, you are absolutely right!
I love my Yamaha KX88 but I do need to get some other light weighted keyboard for the very reasons you described in your post :)
DPDAN