Suggestions: Keyboard/Synth

[Creamyapples1]

At the risk of sounding noob. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a few entry level/intermediate keyboard/synths. I'm working with a local group, a keys/drum duo, and they're wanting to expand their stage dynamic. Looking for something that has the option to record a few parts that play back along with whatever is actively being played (if such a monster exsists) I'm afraid my knowledge of the keyboard/synth field is nil, and the mumbo-jumbo on MF, etc doesn't mean much to me. Thanks in advance.


Murf

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by Creamyapples1

I'm afraid my knowledge of the keyboard/synth field is nil, and the mumbo-jumbo on MF, etc doesn't mean much to me.

To ask for suggestions with the above as a foundation means you'd be operating from almost total ignorance.

The one ray of light in your tunnel is that you've decided you need to add a keyboard, but without many more specifics on your part any suggestions anyone here could make would be flawed. Flawed right away because what was suggested would be out of your price range, flawed because when you got it home you decided it just wasn't right for you, or flawed for any number of other reasons.

You need to do more research on your own and present several choices with reasons for choosing each. The 'mumbo-jumbo' will make sense only if you put some work into understanding it, and if you're not willing to help yourself no one here can help you.

[Creamyapples1]

Just the reply I was looking for (and expecting), thanks for taking the time to make me feel worthless and stupid, rather than offering any relative advice or suggestions. Without this forum, noone would even THINK to read something. I am forever indebted to you for your wonderful insight and apparently far superior knowledge.

I'm under the impression that "what you're looking for is something with a sequencer, blah blah blah blah, check out <insert suggestion here>" would have been a bit too hard to type.


P.S. I don't recall stating that I had a "price range" but I'd like to thank you for letting me know that I can't afford whatever it is you're talking about.

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Apples with Cream:

Ohio is but a few hours away from my humble digs by fast auto.

Suggest you call Sweetwater Sound and ask for Bredan Murphy. [No, I don't work there!]

Tell him, "Ben" suggested you call. Tell Brendan what you are looking for and he will most surely give you some suggestions and fill you in on the capabilities of any of the keyboards/synths he tells you about.

Of course you can shop other vendors; however, the folks at Sweetwater have always been friendly to me over the years although sometimes their prices are 20 bucks higher.

If you want to visit their NEW showroom/studios/etc., they are located in Indiana which "ain't" too far away for a ride on a nice day.

Their phone is an 800 number; thus, you have nothing to lose and information to gain.

Happy Halloween
Green Hornet

[Creamyapples1]

Awesome! Thank You Sir!

[cortexx]

Check out a Korg Triton LE , not too bad for a low end workstation, will cover most of what your likely to want from a keyboard, at least to start with.

check it out here :-

http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_...&category_id=1

kinda hard to know what to suggest when i don't know what your budget is so im assuming you can affored to blow $800 or so

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by Creamyapples1

Just the reply I was looking for (and expecting), thanks for taking the time to make me feel worthless and stupid, rather than offering any relative advice or suggestions. Without this forum, noone would even THINK to read something. I am forever indebted to you for your wonderful insight and apparently far superior knowledge.

I'm under the impression that "what you're looking for is something with a sequencer, blah blah blah blah, check out <insert suggestion here>" would have been a bit too hard to type.


P.S. I don't recall stating that I had a "price range" but I'd like to thank you for letting me know that I can't afford whatever it is you're talking about.

Sorry. My response was harsh because I read your question quickly and mistook it as being something for your own use, not something that you were advising a musical friend on.

A sequencer would be a mixed blessing because the drummer would need to follow the tempo of the sequencer, not the other way around.

The technology to match the subtle variations in tempo of a good drummer in real time is still something that takes more raw computing power than has been built into what's referred to as a 'workstation', meaning sequencing and synthesis in the same board.

The Triton linked by cortexx would be a good place to start, but it is a workstation keyboard meaning it has a sequencer onboard that would be of limited usefulness onstage. Of course, if the keyboard player writes the material and has no access to a sequencer it may come in handy in a songwriting role.

The Green Hornet's suggestion about taking the keyboard player to vist Sweetwater is a good one --- nothing can replace actually playing two dozen different keyboards in an afternoon...

.

[Creamyapples1]

Good points all around, Thanks for the replies guys, mucho appreciato.