Recommend a good controller keyboard? Here's my plan

[MDesigner]

My plan is to sell my Roland XP-80 (including the Orchestral I & II and World expansion boards in it), and use the $$ to buy a couple expensive sample libraries (like LOP and DDSW), and a pretty good controller keyboard.

So I\'m looking for advice on a good controller. Requirements: 76 keys max.. 88 is just too wide for me images/icons/smile.gif I have a small living space. Non-weighted keys. Weighted keys make the board too heavy, and I get muscle fatigue during long playing periods. And a good mod wheel.. since many Giga samples are all about the mod wheel, it\'s important to have one with high precision.

So, let the recommendations begin images/icons/smile.gif

Thanks!

[passacaglia]

Hey, this is one octave less than you desire, but look at all the other features

http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2002/Radium.html (\"http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2002/Radium.html\")

sliders and knobs = yummy!!! not to mention, has a very modest price tag

muscle fatigue on weighted keys eh? maybe you need to get the Hanon exercises book :-)

passacaglia

[meeehoon]

I concur with what Lee Baske said. A fully weighted 88 keys is much better than synth-like keys simply because its so much more fun to play on and the responsiveness is just superb...

In my opinion you can\'t really go wrong with the feel and touch of Yamaha/Roland. Rolands got a lot of smaller sized keyboards to suit your needs (RS-5 and RS-9) but they don\'t come with a mod wheel which is a pain if you want to send modulation data via the stick they provide!!!

Yamaha\'s are better in my opinion simply because they give you a mod wheel and the ones I have tried are fun to use!!! For the fully weighted 88 keys, Motif8 - S90 - S08 all have the same keyboard. Only difference is that S08 doesn\'t send aftertouch message but the action is still the same... S08 is good if you don\'t need the onboard sounds and would consider buying it solely as a keyboard controller, which is great...

One thing you should also know is that with fully weighted 88 keyboard, you can adjust your touch for light, normal, heavy touch to your liking. Otherwise you can also adjust the parameters via software...

I use Logic 5 and my old Technics SX-P30 doesn\'t allow me to change the touch on the keys so I inserted a \"transformer\" to do it for me inside Logic and now works like a dandy!!! images/icons/grin.gif

Sorry got too carried away but if I were you, Yamaha S08 definitely...

meeehoon

[MDesigner]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Maybe I should announce my budget images/icons/smile.gif I\'m trying to stay within a certain amount, so when I sell my Roland XP-80, I can use most of the money to get some samples to replace the ones I would\'ve been using on my Roland.

I\'d like to spend no more than around $400 on a good controller keyboard. I noticed the Motif was a bit pricy. That little keyboard by M-Audio was kinda cool and affordable, but only 61 keys--yikes. But it looks like that baby was meant for GigaStudio, with all those knobs and sliders (and of course, the mod wheel). Too bad they don\'t make a 76-key version.

Any other suggestions, given my budget?

[passacaglia]

Of course a weighted key controller is essential to any composer .... as is a one with \'candy-keys\'.

i found it terribly frustrating playing organ parts on weighted keys ...so i got a lil\' Fartar for organs and soft synths. It\'s going on ebay as soon as the M-Audio Radium hits the shelves.

Just something to think about ... always nice to have both styles \'on hand\'. :-)

passacaglia

[caveman]

Originally posted by DanS:
On a related note, KX-88\'s can be had rather cheaply these days. Anyone ever/still using one?<font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Yes I own KX88 and love it!!! Its feel is very close to a authentic key, and I had both Fatar/Korg/Kurzwell Controllers. I love the Kx88 by far!!!

Its built like a tank, and the keys to me feel like the real deal. I think its one of the best controllers out there if you are looking for a good solid piece with authentic piano feel.(except the Kawai Mp9000). I also like the Kx88 alot because it definately has cushion. The Fatar Sl 1100 series I had was not a bad piece, but my wrists started huring after a while, kinda like a dead knock, not much cushion. The Kx 88 also has breath control. The newer controller functions are obviusly not present on my Kx88, but thats what I use Sonar for.

All in all my KX88 is in immaculate condition, and I even have the users manual for it.

If you can find a good solid one, I would highly recommend it.

Now for some Cavemusic!

Caveman

[MDesigner]

Any other suggestions? (considering my $400 limit) That M-Audio Radium looks way cool.. but 61 keys only? So much for any good piano action. then again, I hardly write piano pieces.. most of my stuff is strings/horns/winds so I imagine 61 keys wouldn\'t be too much of a pain.

[DanS]

Thanks Meehoon, I\'m looking for an 88 weighted too. I was originally looking at the P80, but it has no mod wheel. I guess I should check out the S08, providing the action is the same as the S80/90.

Dan

[DanS]

On a related note, KX-88\'s can be had rather cheaply these days. Anyone ever/still using one?

[DanS]

Thanks Cave.
Now I just have to hope I\'m not outbid!!

Passa, I have a D-70 for the \"candy\" keys!! ;o)

Dan

[thesoundsmith]

may be too late, but my $0.02:

You need BOTH weighted controller for piano articulation, and semi- or unweighted keys for good synth and other instrument articulation. i find it almost impossible to get a smooth string or pad bed with my weighted controller, but equallyt difficult to get that \'acoustic-playing\' feel on a synth keyboard.

My favorite keyboard for synth FEEL was the Rolad D70. Felt like oil-damped, kept back-pressure on the fingertip all the way down. But mim=nial controllers.

My favorite \'controller-based\' keyboard, probably out of your range, is the Kurzweil 2500/2600. TWO ribbon controllers, 8 assignable sliders, 10 assignable switches, built-in breath controller port, 2 pedal ins plus mod wheel and PB wheel. (It COULD use more foot controllers in, but still, Forking AMAZING!)

In your range, the Roland A-50 (or maybe A-33.)Lots of programmable controllers.

Dasher

[MDesigner]

The Roland D-70 looks nice but it has a stick instead of a wheel for modulation. I really do need a mod wheel.. preferably one that\'s very precise. I need really tight control over that.. it\'s used heavily in a lot of sample libraries.

You\'re all gonna kill me, but: any MORE suggestions? images/icons/smile.gif Otherwise I\'m gonna have to walk into Guitar Center or something and I don\'t fully trust salespeople...

[MDesigner]

I did some looking around and couldn\'t find a lot of affordable MIDI keyboards... but I saw one I liked a lot, the Yamaha DGX-200. It\'s 76-keys, and seems like a good buy. Problem is, no mod wheel.. just pitch bend. Since I never use pitch bend, could I just remap that wheel to modulation?

[passacaglia]

Always a good place to go :::

www.harmony-central.com (\"http://www.harmony-central.com\")

-- Tones of user reviews of various products ... a great resource indeed!

and even more good stuff :::

http://www.synthzone.com/ (\"http://www.synthzone.com/\")

passacaglia

[MDesigner]

Thanks a bunch!

I\'ve also got my eye on the M-Audio Radium.. 61 keys only.. but so tempting. Very portable, lots of sliders and a mod wheel (I hate my mod stick..damn Roland).

[ellle]

maybe consider the Kurzweil PC2x. Around $1500 new on Ebay. Good feel, complete MIDI controller.

[MDesigner]

$1500, ouch. That would eliminate most of my point of selling my Roland XP-80 (which cost me $1600): to score some cash to buy an inexpensive midi controller and a few sample libraries.

[Jake Johnson]

For any controller, check out the user reviews at HarmonyCentral.com . And see the reviews at http://www.synthsite.com/synth/index.cfm (\"http://www.synthsite.com/synth/index.cfm\")

I really like the feel of the Ensoniq ZR-76. It\'s only 76 keys, but the onboard pianos are excellent for late night playing when you don\'t want to boot up the PC. Better, to my ear, than the sample in the Motif, although I admit I\'ve never sat down and adjusted the ADRS settings in the Motif. About $800, now, including good drums, about 10 other samples that will very pleasantly surprise you, an old fashioned HD disk drive for saving\\playing midi files, and a good, logical layout. A much better keyboard than the Fatars found everywhere. (Many of its samples now seem dated, but the keyboards are still excellent.) Also lets you plug in four pedals, if I recall correctly, and has a 400 page, well-written manual. (Can be downloaded from the EMU site.)

It\'s $400 more than you want to spend, but sit down with it for thirty minutes and try the piano patches and the drums through good monitors at a good volume and I think you\'ll agree that the added features are worth the additional funds. (I\'m buying one myself, as you may have guessed

THE EARLY ONES SOMETIMES HAD PROBLEMS. DO GET A FULL WARRENTY. MOST OF THEM WERE FINE, BUT YOU\'LL SEE 1 OUT OF TEN POSTS THAT SAY THEY ARE UNRELIABLE.)

[TJ]

If you\'re ok going second-hand then a Yamaha SY99 is a fantastic controller keyboard. Its got 76 notes, semi-weighted (just!), comfortable with good aftertouch response and plenty of controllers. You might be able to pick one up for your price range. Although I use a Disklavier for my piano playing, I only use the SY99 for most of my sample stuff.

[SOD213]

I just wish that there was an 88 key controller with synth feel instead of weighted piano keys. I liked my Alesis QS8 but hated the keys. (I sold it and got a QS 6.1 to replace it.) I\'m not into playing the piano much, I like having the speed of a synth keybed. If one of these came out, I\'d certainly pick it up.

[Tobias Erichsen]

Originally posted by caveman:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by DanS:
[qb]On a related note, KX-88\'s can be had rather cheaply these days. Anyone ever/still using one?<font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">I would second the KX-88 suggestion. I bought it second hand for really little money and the feeling is very good. Must say that I also own a semi-weighted JV90 for playing synth-parts.

Tobias

[wedgehunter]

I Use the Roland A90/EX 88 Key Mother controller

it has a great responsive feel as a controller and good internal sounds if u get the EX version.

[Kevin Moreland]

Probably too late, but I agree with Dasher...

The A33 might be an option, or the new A37 or whatever they call it. Both can probably
be had very reasonably if look hard enough.

Having your hands on lots of controllers is what really brings home the bacon. There is
a little device from Kurzweil called the Expression mate which gives you 2 pedal inputs, 3
section ribbon, breath controller (you can rig this to another ped), buttons and more - all
programmable to whatever CC\'s you need. These two together would make a great team,
although both together are pushing your budget ($600 give or take). The Kurz is probably being blown out right now...my 2cans, toucans, whatever :-)

Kev