I want a keyboard...but I don't know what to look for

[Myriad_Rocker]

I have NO idea what I'm doing when it comes to playing keyboard. But, I'd like to learn. I'd like to incorporate it into some of my songs that I write...you know, a really nice piano part here or there...something that sounds like a huge grand piano, you know?

Also, I wouldn't mind having it for recording other stuff...like organs, electronic stuff ala Rob Zombie, etc.

What should I be looking for?

 

[Krakit]

Let me ask you a question. By no means is this a put down.

Imagine if someone were to ask this:

"Hello everyone. I'm looking for a mode of transportation. I don't know anything about traveling, but I would like to start doing it. I'm pretty sure I'd like to get a car, but a bicycle, bus or truck might be useful. What should I get?"


In the question above, you'll see that there isn't nearly enough information from the questioner to answer without typing a whole essay on all the advantages and disadvantages of everyting with a set of wheels that exists.

I'm going to respectfully ask you to think about what you want to accomplish and be as specifid and detailed as possible. I'll be happy to offer my opinions about what suits your needs best.

Carl

 

[mawtangent]

Hey Myriad...this is my gut-take on your question...you have 4 options that will give you a palette (a wide variety of sounds) to work with....with some varying degrees of complexity to use, price to pay, and quality of sound...

softsynths that work as software in your computer and is manipulated by a midi-equiped keyboard (I have little knowledge about these, just what I have read on this board)...from my readings these seem to be relatively inexpensive ($100 - $300 ???) if you already have a proper computer. I haven't had good experieces with MIDI...others couldn't live without it.

Brand new, top-of-the-line, keyboard/synths that can run from $600 to $3000 and beyond. I don't have one of these but it makes sense that these are going to sound great.

Past top-of-the-line keyboard-synths that were produced in the last 10-12 years which can often be found for $300 to $600. I still have my Roland XP-50 from around '94 and it still sound impressive to me (although the sequencer is notoriously un-user friendly)

The "home" keyboard with built-in speakers...usually a Yamaha or Casio...this is what I have been recommending to ones who don't know what they want or where to start: the Yamaha PSR-273 is $157 in Musician's Friend. It has 480 voices, 32-note polyphony, and touch response. (It does not have a pitch-bend wheel, with some here feel is essential)...If you can check out a Yamaha model in a department store and see if you like the sounds...I have a PSR-540 and I like its sounds.

you could also go to a music store and check out the "big boys" and compare...I guess a lot depends on the money you have to spend and how much time you want to devote to learning what is out there before you buy...Hope this helps you.

 

[Myriad_Rocker]

Let me ask you a question. By no means is this a put down.

Imagine if someone were to ask this:

"Hello everyone. I'm looking for a mode of transportation. I don't know anything about traveling, but I would like to start doing it. I'm pretty sure I'd like to get a car, but a bicycle, bus or truck might be useful. What should I get?"


In the question above, you'll see that there isn't nearly enough information from the questioner to answer without typing a whole essay on all the advantages and disadvantages of everyting with a set of wheels that exists.

I'm going to respectfully ask you to think about what you want to accomplish and be as specifid and detailed as possible. I'll be happy to offer my opinions about what suits your needs best.

Carl

And how can one be specific if they do not know what they are looking for? While your analogy is a good one, it's not really applicable to my particular situation. I gave specific examples of what I was looking to accomplish...nice piano sounding stuff and also maybe some Rob Zombie esque stuff...

 

[Krakit]

Perhaps I can get more information by asking you some informed questions.

For example. Do you think that 49 keys is enough? There are boards with as little as 25 keys and as many as 88. Where do you think you would be happy?

Do you require a small set of sounds from your board? If you can get these Rob Zombie sounds and a nice acoustic piano would that be enough to satisfy you?

What sort of action do you think that you would prefer? There are a few to choose from. There is a light "synth" action, semi weighted, weighted and piano hammer actions. How expressive do you wish to be?

Do you someday wish to create your own sounds?

The answers to these questions should get the ball rolling.

Carl

 

[Atterion]

I pretty much agree with Krakit here. But if you are more or less shooting for a good balance of performance and features, I would suggest you find one of the greats of the last decade or something middle of the road. Maybe Roland XP-10 or XP-50, Korg N364, Alesis QS6, Yamaha S03.

 

[brzilian]

I pretty much agree with Krakit here. But if you are more or less shooting for a good balance of performance and features, I would suggest you find one of the greats of the last decade or something middle of the road. Maybe Roland XP-10 or XP-50, Korg N364, Alesis QS6, Yamaha S03.

Since when is the XP-10 anything good? It is nothing but a Roland Sound Canvas with a keyboard. It has nothing in common with the rest of the XP series. Nevermind that it also sounds like crap.

 

[Atterion]

Aren't all Rolands just Sound Canvas's with keyboards??? I'd put it in the same class as the S03 (S03 being a bit better of course). I personally would never use one, but figured it would be a good suggestion for a self-proclaimed newbie. OK scratch the XP10.

 

[EVT]

How much do you want to spend?
I think you should go to guitar center, or whichever music store that's near you and just play around with the keyboards that are there. Then you will have more of an idea of the things you would like in each keyboard. Then you can determine what you feel the keyboard you buy must have.
evt