weighted but not 88 keys?

[andydeedpoll]

hi there,

has anyone got any suggestions for a midi contoller with weighted keys but not necessarily 88 keys? i'm a pianist at heart, but my new band won't see any use for a full 88 key keyboard.

is there such a thing as a 61 key weighted midi keyboard? i really don't feel very comfortable on my CME UF5 'cept for synths/pads really, and piano and organ sounds are going to be quite common. so yeah, weighted keys on a shorter keyboard would be great.

any ideas?

Andrew.

[Walter Mitty]

Originally Posted by andydeedpoll

hi there,

has anyone got any suggestions for a midi contoller with weighted keys but not necessarily 88 keys? i'm a pianist at heart, but my new band won't see any use for a full 88 key keyboard.

is there such a thing as a 61 key weighted midi keyboard? i really don't feel very comfortable on my CME UF5 'cept for synths/pads really, and piano and organ sounds are going to be quite common. so yeah, weighted keys on a shorter keyboard would be great.

any ideas?

Andrew.

semi-weighted http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61-main.html

i have the mini version of this and it feels pretty good.

[andydeedpoll]

Originally Posted by Walter Mitty

semi-weighted http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61-main.html

i have the mini version of this and it feels pretty good.

thanks for the suggestion - has anyone else got an opinion on the feel of this keyboard? will i find it weightier than my CME UF5?

Andrew.

[Halion]

I have the Axiom 49 and experience with the CME controllers.

The Axioms have actual piano keys, that are lighter than piano keys, but still react in somewhat the same way. I feel the CME ones are more like organ keys with added tention. I like the Axiom a lot more.

[andydeedpoll]

Originally Posted by Halion

I have the Axiom 49 and experience with the CME controllers.

The Axioms have actual piano keys, that are lighter than piano keys, but still react in somewhat the same way. I feel the CME ones are more like organ keys with added tention. I like the Axiom a lot more.

excellent, thanks for that really helpful. i'll put a bit of time into hunting one down then, and trying it out!

Andrew.

[SonicAlbert]

I"m not sure I know of a single 61 or 76 note keyboard with fully weighted keys. All I've seen are semi-weighted. Which to me, as a pianist, seems very light and unweighted.

But you are right to try the keyboard out in person. That's the only way to find something you can live with.

I don't know how much "semi-weighted" differs between MIDI keyboards, but my $200 M-Audio 88 key, semi-weighted keyboard feels nothing like a piano.

It's great for synths, pads, etc., but I have to either slam the hell out of it, or play extremely softly to get any sort of realistic dynamics out of it.

[andydeedpoll]

Originally Posted by danny.guitar

I don't know how much "semi-weighted" differs between MIDI keyboards, but my $200 M-Audio 88 key, semi-weighted keyboard feels nothing like a piano.

It's great for synths, pads, etc., but I have to either slam the hell out of it, or play extremely softly to get any sort of realistic dynamics out of it.

one of the problems, i think! there's no definitive idea of what a semi-weighted keyboard is, as to my knowledge. it's as much a marketing thing as anything, as far as i can tell

but yes, thanks for the advice,

Andrew.

[antispatula]

Originally Posted by Walter Mitty

semi-weighted http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61-main.html

i have the mini version of this and it feels pretty good.

I love my axiom 61 very much, but the action is NOT what I would call even "semi weighted". It may have waterfall keys, but I have felt better action on a 100 dollar radioshack keyboard (I'm serious, I work at an old radioshack)

You'll be hard pressed to find a keyboard with less than 88 keys that has hammer action. In fact, even most keyboards that DO have 88 keys still have pretty bad action. Take the yamaha motif or one of those pricey Kurzweil workstations for example. They are very expensive, have 88 keys and are packed to the brim with sounds and features, but their action is always very unresponsive and cheesy.

The best action I've ever felt on a keyboard that was not an actual piano is a Casio privia, but they are 88 keys and are usually 500-800 dollars. Casios are usually quite ugly too. I luckily got to pick up a Casio Privia px-700 new for $499 at GC a few months ago. Not only was it a couple hundred dollars off, it is really classy looking.

[kojdogg]

http://www.studiologic.net/index.html
they make some

[SonicAlbert]

As far as I can tell from the pictures, that Axiom 61 does not have waterfall keys. Waterfall keys originated on the Hammond B3, and what distinguishes them is that there is no lip on the edge of them. No overhang of the top surface on the front edge.

[warble2]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

http://www.studiologic.net/index.html
they make some

I didn't even think of checking Studio Logic. Good to know.

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by antispatula

I luckily got to pick up a Casio Privia px-700 new for $499 at GC a few months ago. Not only was it a couple hundred dollars off, it is really classy looking.

My brother bought a Privia for $550, and when he told me he bought it - I was thinking,"Sucker!"

But it's actually a killer keyboard. I was definitely surprised.



Tim

[andydeedpoll]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

http://www.studiologic.net/index.html
they make some

oof, thank you! and not as pricey as i was expecting. i don't know where i'd find one to try out before i bought it, but looks like it might fit the bill... thanks!

Andrew

[antispatula]

Originally Posted by Tim Brown

My brother bought a Privia for $550, and when he told me he bought it - I was thinking,"Sucker!"

But it's actually a killer keyboard. I was definitely surprised.

The Privia series is the only decent thing casio has ever done,
if think it was a suprise to everyone when it came out
I just can't get over how good the action is.

[kojdogg]

Originally Posted by antispatula

The Privia series is the only decent thing casio has ever done,

not true-- the sk-1 is a classic
but yeah-- i'm a happy privia user too

[mellotron]

is there a difference in quality between the two? the 310's cheaper on musiciansfriend.