Best keyboard hands down?

[darkecho]

Ok, I am using a lame little toy plastic keyboard (as i call it) and Im the keys for a little band project right now, everyone in the band including me agree that the ltitle 100 dollar keyboard isnt going to cut it for long. its one of those yamaha ones with all of the built in songs and junk (obviously no professional heh)

It needs to be portable-ish, maybe a 76 key board. I have to have the note bending ability and some good outputs for recording. lightly weighted keys is nice too, i dont want to have super heavy keys that will slow me down...

money isnt too big of an issue, Im thinking around 1k. How is the Triton?

[noisewreck]

The best keyboard hands down, for me is the Kurzweil K2600XS (which I own). However, since it's 88 key 97lbs beast, I'd recommend the K2661 to you. When it comes to synthesis capabilities, no other hardware can touch it, period. And it's a sampler. I did an in-depth review of the K2600 at http://industrial.org/gear.php?t=26072 so check it out if you're interested. What I've said for the K2600 in there applies for the K2661 too, as far as synthesis architecture is concerned. There are some minor differences, mainly concerning I/O between the two, but you can get the skinny on that at http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com

[darkecho]

hmm the K2661 looks cool. like I said, portability is my biggest concern, the little things like key weight I can get over. the pitch bend and mod is necesary as well, and obviously the architecture is very important. any other feature doesnt mean much to me, as long as it meets the above criterion. Thanks for the post! It is definately on my list to research.

[fldrummer]

Depends on what you need it for.. synth.. key..organ..

The motif es is a really nice overall keyboard. Triton seems pretty good but I still like the motif.

[fraserhutch]

I second the Kurzweil.

[Dags]

Check out the Korg Triton LE76 if you're on a budget and looking for a 76 noter.
It still has the lighter synth keys as well.
Nothing else that I can think of around the price with all the features offered by the KorgLE range.
....just my 0.02c, though.

Dags

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by Dags

Check out the Korg Triton LE76 if you're on a budget and looking for a 76 noter.
It still has the lighter synth keys as well.
Nothing else that I can think of around the price with all the features offered by the KorgLE range.
....just my 0.02c, though.

Dags

I have both a triton and Kurzweils. IMHO Tritons are NOT in the same class.
However, if you only have a grand I would suggest a used Kurzweil K2500 rack (you can probably get for $750) and a controller.

[darkecho]

wouldnt be interested in selling one wouldya? heheheh

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by fldrummer

The motif es is a really nice overall keyboard.

That is until you hit the "Edit" button. The Motif is probably the only keyboard that has had me scratch my head when I hit the "Edit" button. To this day I don't know what the heck it is I'm looking at.

[kahuna]

Originally Posted by noisewreck

That is until you hit the "Edit" button. The Motif is probably the only keyboard that has had me scratch my head when I hit the "Edit" button. To this day I don't know what the heck it is I'm looking at.

I just got an ES8 and I have been playing around with the edit a lot when using the drums. I have found that I can change the tempo and I have found many arp settings, voice controls, setting for drum triggers on certain keys, waveform presets....and I have only scratched the surface.

This thing is going to keep my little brain busy for a long time!

[noisewreck]

OK, then how do you select a filter, adjust its cutoff and assign it to some controller? How about the waveform? I am sure there are some interesting things there, but man that thing is cryptic as hell. I really feel that I'll need to look at the manual to figure out what's going on. The Triton is a breeze to navigate. So is the Kurzweil.

[kahuna]

Originally Posted by noisewreck

OK, then how do you select a filter, adjust its cutoff and assign it to some controller? How about the waveform? I am sure there are some interesting things there, but man that thing is cryptic as hell. I really feel that I'll need to look at the manual to figure out what's going on. The Triton is a breeze to navigate. So is the Kurzweil.

So I have heard. What I do know is that I like what it does and sounds like, even if it is complex. Maybe that is part of the draw for me? I had the same dilemma when I first bought my Aw16G. I thought I would never figure the thing out. Even after using it for over a year I am still learning what this deceptively simple little box can do. My new ES8 is a damned sight more complex so I figure I have years of playing around and learning. For me, it is part of the enjoyment, plus I only use it in my studio so I do not have the pressure of performing live and I can take my time.

[altitude909]

What I do know is that I like what it does and sounds like, even if it is complex

Thats the only criteria you should use when buying a synth. I have yet to find anything that does or sounds like my MS-20 and that thing over 20 years old. You would have to pry it from my dead hands, even though it is a very simple machine

[warble]

What kind of music will you be doing? The older Tritons (in particular the Triton LE76) are more geared towards techno/dance and hitting one key to create a sonic landscape. Maybe the newer ones (extreme) offer a better sonic pallete? I don't know. I'm not against the Tritons as I owned one of the originals, but I needed something to use for lead playing, bread & butter keys.

I have a Yamaha S80 and it's a good sounding tank and although the newer Yamaha's certainly sound better, it still does the trick for me. We're talking 88 keys here, but you can look into the Motif or Motif ES (Motifs would most likely only be available on eBay).

[seismetr0n]

i third the kurzweil

[CyanJaguar]

kurzweil.baby