I am in high school, and I am looking into buying a nice velocity sensitive, 49-61 note keyboard. It would also be nice if it could hook up and record on my computer. I have a reasonable price range. I don't want to spend way too much, but I want to spend enough to get a nice brand. Could anyone tell me some brand names or models to look into? If you could link me to them, that would be great. Thanks!
2007-06-24 07:12:54 · 4 answers · asked by Kevin (Bo Bevin) 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
Sorry, I didn't really make this clear before, but I don't need a really fancy keyboard. I am not in a band or anything. I got the keyboard I have right now when I was young, and it doesn't have any special features. It is just a basic beginning keyboard. I am looking for something for my casual playing and recording. No serious stuff for concerts or whatever. I looked around at stores, and I htink I have an idea of $200-$350.
2007-06-24 10:29:05 · update #1
Check out www.musicansfriend.com
They have some good prices, I personally reccomend a Roland, but that might be too pricey, casio makes pretty decent keyboards that are more affordable.
2007-06-24 07:18:56 · answer #1 · answered by kaisergirl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Musicians Friend is having HUGE sale. Do NOT bother getting a 49-note - you will run out of room real fast. At least a 61 - maybe a 76 - and if you are a REAL pianist, then go for the 88. See below.
Almost ANY keyboard can be hooked into your computer - you need the appropriate software to record via MIDI. You can either get a MIDI interface, or the most current way to go is of course USB. You kybd would have MIDI outputs, and the other end would be USB for your computer. Easy!
If this is going to stay stationary, then weight is not an issue. If you are going to be carting it around for gigs, then trust me- I move LOTS of stuff - and you want the best keyb for the least weight. Right now, I am considering the M-Audio (88 notes, piano action) electric piano - it weighs 17 pounds, and is reasonable in priace. I have always owned Roland keyboards, but my current one weighs 26 pounds - add mixers, mikes, AMPS - and all the other stuff I schlep - and I have my chiropractor on autodial.
If you are a pianist, and will be playing things with both hands in chords or arpeggios, especially if you use the pedal (think Chopin???) then you want a lot of polyphony, so notes to not *cut out* on you. The M-Audio has 128-note polyphony - sweet.
Anyway, do some comparing. You might want to look at Sweetwater, too - they have been good to me in the past (but I am a *whale*).
2007-06-24 14:30:39 · answer #2 · answered by Mamianka 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The keyboard player in our band just got a Roland Fantom X6. He tried out just about everything out there and it was the best. It's got amazing 128 mb sounds - and you can get expansion boards. It has all the computer interfaces. It is $1995 but you'll never need anything better. The pads are velocity sensitive, I'm not sure about the keys. You can get all the specs from www.americanmusical.com and even download the manual.
2007-06-24 14:32:48 · answer #3 · answered by PJH 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can't go wrong with the KORG TR Workstation or the KORG TRITON Workstation. They have pretty sophisticated computing and sequencing already built-in, but you can hook them up to a computer as well.
2007-06-24 14:22:30 · answer #4 · answered by johnnystarr12 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋