Best keyboard for the studio?

[Telefunken]

I dont play keyboard, but would like to have one for the studio. I would like it to be pretty close to a full range of keys and wieghted because my wife plays piano and it would be nice for her to have the feel of a real piano. I am also looking for something with really authentic piano and string sounds, maybe horns to. Does anyone have a sugestion? I dont think I want pay much more over $1000.00. My bro has a roland xp80 and it has tons of cool sounds in it. I think this is the missing link of my studio.

[anppilot]

I love the XP-80, cause I am a total Roland nut. Im like one of those people you see in the Roland User Group Mag the has wall to wall Roland gear. But I cant give Roland credit on the XP-80's piano patches without incredable tweaking. I picked up a Yamaha S-80. 88 full size keys, GREAT piano, Elec. pianos, strings, and many other great patches. S-80 is $1400, but its well worth it.

I also have:

Roland JV-1080 with 3 expansion boards, JD-990, JV-90, Korg Triton Rack, Yamaha TG-77, Yamaha TG-500, and a computer dedicated to Gigasampler.

The S-80 makes a WONDERFUL Master Controller over all of them.

Trust me, go and check it out yourself, its worth the price.

[Telefunken]

Hey thanks I am going to go check it out at GC this weekend.

[AlinMV]

I have an S-80, and love it! If you want a cheaper version that has all the same great sounds check out the S-30 (60 keys, not weighted, and maybe one less expansion slot). Great sounding keyboard. I also like roland, but not half as much as my S-80. Great CLEAN sounds!

As far as Roland is concerned, my biggest beef with them is that once you've played one Roland, you've played them all. I have a JV 880 and an XP50. I can't tell one set of patches from the other. Essentially the same stuff!!

My Two cents

Albert

[schwa]

Along the lines of "all rolands soun dthe same", you might want to check out the XP-30. Its got three expansion cards installed (permanently) session, ochestral, and techno, with room for two more.

You lose the on board sequencer that the xp-80 has and its only got 61 keys, but in the context of a studio setup, you don't miss the sequencer.

I use one myself and find its 1200 sounds to be all I need.

[shem]

Just a question, If I am a cheap skate and dont want to spend 1 thousand bucks but want a nice keyboard with good strings,piano and drums, bass , how would the xp 10 by Roland be? I dont need sequencing software like yamaha gives out and just want something that will do it all for way under a thousand.

[anppilot]

As a total Roland Fan/nut...ect, I LOVE them to DEATH!!!, But the XP-10 IMHO, isn't that great, the sounds arent bad, but I think it sux arse. Just play it and compare it to a JV-1080 or XP-60.

Peace,
Mike

[CyanJaguar]

I tried out the triton last week and was disappointed.

Trying the Yamaha s80 was a revelation. THe piano was tight.

A friend has anxp-30 and I can also recommend that.

[crosstudio]

i've got a fatar sl-880 ($600 i think), and the roland xv-3080, but the jv-1080 and such can be had on ebay for much cheaper.

the fatar will give your wife the full 88 keys, and the jv-1080 and whatever cards you can glean along the way will give you the sounds you seek.