Can't decide on either privia 310 or privia 110 maudio keystation or axiom 49 key

[mellotron]

I'm looking to use a keyboard for recording rather than performing, but am not sure whether I need hammer action for recording. I know that an axiom or m-audio keystation would be better for recording since it has all the knobs and faders, right? Would I really need hammer action if I'm not that interested in recording piano? I'm concerned that if I record piano with MIDI, it'll sound cheesy.

[mikeh]

If you are not a pianist, weighted action may not be that important to you. However, if you are not fairly well schooled in MIDI -a controller with lots of "knobs and faders" won't do you all that much good either. If you're a guitar player. etc - who simply wants some pad sounds for recording,you may simply need a keyboard that is easy to use with a lot of sounds. If you plan to trigger samples - a basic controller (maybe only 49 keys) may be enough.

As a keyboard player who spends a lot of time on an acoustic piano - weighted keys and realistic piano is important to me. However, when I play synth parts (or organ sounds) the weithed action does not feel realistic and I prefer touch sensitive keys with after touch. It is possible to get very realistic sounding piano via MIDI (even without weighted action) - it simply does not feel authentic while you're playing.

You need to determine exactly what you want to achieve - and then buy the gear that will get you there. In your case, the Privia 110 (mostly piano sounds with weighted action) likely is not a good choice. The Privia 310 is also mainly piano sounds but also has a bank of GM sounds - however it has very limited MIDI flexibility. The M-audio (depending on which one) serves well as a MIDI controller, with some usable sounds - but the keys do not have the bite to please a pianist. I've never tried the Axiom.

If you are not a piano player (or for that matter an actual keyboard "player" and simply want to add some 1 note string lines or triad chords - a 49 ley non weighted action may be all you need.

[mellotron]

Thanks a lot for breaking that down for me.

I'm actually a pianist. I guess my main concern is for recording piano. I'm new to MIDI recording.

So do the sounds come from VSTi instruments on music software like Cubase? I have Cubase and the ProPak Recording Suite. Or do the sounds come from the instrument sound bank on the actual keyboard?

I'm probably going to get the Privia 310, then get an Axiom later on once I have enough money.

[antispatula]

yeah, none of those keyboards are alike at all.
The privia's are the most excellent digital pianos there are,
nothing can beat their action, not even keyboards 5 times it's price.
But it has no assingable faders/knobs, and doesn't even come with wheels.
There is also no MIDI THRU jacks. I have one, and use it specifically for piano.

I also have an Axiom. They are great for recording midi in general (unless you need good action) nearly EVERYTHING is assignable (faders, knobs, buttons, wheels, even transport buttons) and they come with 8 drum pads which is nice. The action is not even semi-weighted in my opinion, but I don't care about action unless I'm doing piano.

I wouldn't touch the keystations. The 88 Pro claims hammer action, but they have the same action as the Prokeys 88, which has absolutely horrifying action. The other keystations, that have the semi-weighted action, barely have any features at all. If programing faders/knobs to midi commands is important to you, don't get it.

I think in your case, since you aren't interested in weighted action much, is to get an Axiom. They are great, I absolutely love them. I got a brand-new 61 off ebay for $260.

[mellotron]

thanks for the advice

I'm having a tough time deciding which Axiom model, 41 keys or 61.

[antispatula]

depends on what you're recording.
I have a 61 and have realised I could have done fine with the 41,
especially since it has a transpose button that allows all 88 keys to be reached. In fact I wish I had a 25 or 41 instead of a 61 takes up less space.

[mikeh]

If you are a pianist, I would think sound and feel would be very important to you (in fact I would suggest feel should be perhaps the primary concern, since you can always trigger piano samples).

I own the Privia 310 - which I selected after trying about a dozen different models made by Roland, Yamaha, Kurzweil, Korg, M-audio and a couple other companies I can no longer recall.

I though the Privia had the best combination of feel, sound and price of anything out there (as a stand alone digital piano). I only use it as a piano since the MIDI applications are very limited (I use a Roland XP30 for everything else).

If you are a pianist, I would give serious thought to either the Privia 110 or 310 (for the extra $100 -having access the GM sounds on the 310 may be worth it to you) and consider that your primary "piano controller". Get a low cost 49 key controller for everything else (organ, pads, etc.)

Regarding if sound from cubass (or whatever) are better - i can only share what I have found.

Most sounds that come in "recording software" are basic and not much better than basic GM sounds. Sounds that come on a keyboard tend to have certain really dood sounds and a lot of other "filler sounds" (as an example, a digital piano tends to have a couple of good acoustic piano sounds, maybe a decent electric piano - such as a Rhoads - and everything else is filler. Sample disks can be hit or miss - the good ones are very good and the bad ones are very bad (sadly, there is often no way to determine until after you've already bought them) and the better they are.....the more computer space they require.

Maybe I'm a dinosaur - but I still prefer a keyboard with on board sounds that I can try and tweak.