Beginner's question

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momentum

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So I'm about to go to uni and I'm looking for a cheap keyboard (preferably less than 200$) to bring with me (I normally play an acoustic piano at home)

From the zzounds.com site, i see digital pianos, MIDI controllers and personal keyboards. What are the differences between them?

I'm going to mainly use it as a substitute for my piano at home, but will probably try a bit of basic recording as well. Which type would fit me best? Any recommendations?
 
I guess I would research the Axiom25. It's a daw controller, keyboard, interface, midi in/out. There are several options in this catagory, but that one intrigues me anyway.
 
Not really my area of expertise, but I think I may be able to at least help a little bit.

If not then ignore me ;)

A digital piano does what it says on the tin - tries to be a piano. You'll get weighted keys, a piano-ish sound, some have basic built in sounds like organs, different pianos, even harps and awful sampled guitars :P

A personal keyboard will be a plasticy thing that is lighter than a digital piano, easier to get places, and cheaper - but you get what you pay for and it won't feel like a piano; in your case you probably won't feel 'right' playing it after an acoustic piano. The sounds are basic and, IMHO, shit.

A MIDI controller is the same kind of thing as a personal keyboard, but has no sounds. It simply has an output that you plug into MIDI software (ie. on a computer). Then you use MIDI to get the sounds.

Therefore - if you want a proper substitute with a nice feel and some different sounds, go for a digital piano (by the way some of the class ones work as MIDI controllers as well)
If you want something cheap and cheerful that's easy to get to gigs, get a personal keyboard.
And if you want a wide variety of sounds, but don't care what it plays like and don't want them to sound real, get a MIDI controller and some cheap software.

Hope that helps :)
 
go for a digital piano (by the way some of the class ones work as MIDI controllers as well)
Click to expand...

Agreed. If you are used to playing piano, a weighted piano keyboard is what you should be looking at. Take a look the M-audio prokeys 88. Unfortunately, weighted keyboards are pretty expensive and it is unlikely that you will find something for $200. If your willing to go non-weighted, then there are plenty of options in that price range. Pretty much everything with keys these days will have midi outs so you can always add sound modules later if you want more sounds
 
Ahh thanks guys

I don't really need it to feel like an acoustic, as long as the notes vary in loudness according to how hard i press (velocity sensitive i think?)

I have no experience at all with effects and stuff so I'm not looking for one loaded with knobs and other stuff...but a few basic ones to play around with would be nice
 
The description provided by Elton is accurate. Unfortunately $200 won't buy much (certainly not a digital piano).

I would recommend looking at something in the Yamaha PSR series of consumer keyboards. You will likely want 61 keys (vs. 49). You can get some usable sounds (the piano sounds are actually reasonable decent) and the PSR keyboards normally have a set of 30 or 40 (maybe more) rhythems to jam with and normally have some built in reverb/chorus. While I consider these "consumer" boards more of a toy than a "pro level instrument" they can be a lot of fun to play with (although don't expect any kind of weighted feel.

I've seen several at rummage sales that can be had for anywhere from $10 - $80 and most stores that buy & sell used gear likely will have a few.

I bought a PSR 330 for $10 (can run on batteries) that I've taken to the beach to jam with friends (accoustic guitars, bongos, etc) and it more than covers the parts I need to cover. I sometimes use it to learn a tune (rather than firing up my full rig).

Find the right Yamaha PSR and I think you'll be very satisfied.
 
YEah...

I agree with mikeh...

I own a Pro88 from M-Audio... Good unit... Great feel... NO sounds...
But his PSR suggestion is a good one...
Run down to Best Buy if you get a chance...
I've fiddled with some of the units there and actually been rather surprised at the sounds they play - Some are actually very good... And if you're not really worried about the 'true piano feel' these units will be lighter than a studio rig...

Hope you find what you're looking for...
 
get a cheap casio on ebay. I picked one up for like 130$ and it is touch sensitive has like 300 instruments and midi in/out. Its not a nice keyboard by any means, but it was extremely cheap and gets the job done.
 
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