is a weighted MIDI controller worth the price?

  • Thread starter Thread starter imotic
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imotic

DAW DIY Guy
I currently own an Alesis QS7.1. Sometime within the next 2 years, I'll be in the market for a new keyboard. I'm fairly pragmatic about things at the moment- I don't want to pay for a whole bunch of features I won't use. I do a lot of DAW-based recording, so the upgrade path for buying new soundfonts etc. is more appealing than buying a whole new keyboard everytime the technology goes up a step. However, I also perform, so I don't want to get a keyboard I'll only be able to use in the studio.

A few questions.
How do weighted MIDI controllers justify their price? It seems that you can get a weighted alesis qs8.1 with analog/digital output AND midi for about the same price as a 'high-end' weighted midi-only controller. How do you measure performance in a MIDI synth, and how crucial is it? (How far away is the midrange from the highrange? Am I going to notice the difference?)

Can I perform with a MIDI controller? How difficult would it be? I imagine I'd have to bring a laptop, and if that crashes then I'd have to wait for it to reboot... I'd look pretty silly.

For those of you who have purchased weighted MIDI controllers, what made you do it? What factors and evidence helped you make your decision? Do any of you use it to perform, or did you get it because you don't play live and didn't need a live rig, or did you get it because you use a different keyboard for gigs?

Any help would be greatly appreciated:) And any advice in general, as well...
 
Personally i use only weighted keyboards...
For choosing a master key you have to look mainly in number of transmission zones, number of controllers (including knobs, faders, pedals, breath controllers etc), the type of midi data transmitted (cc, sys ex).
regarding the key feel...it's a personal choice.
I've had a QS8...and i didn't like the action. (it's semiweighted, not hammer action)
Than I selled it and bought a yamaha S90.
With this I've got both a professional synth for live use, a controller for vst instruments, and a master key for my racks. the best of the two worlds.

moreover you don't need a laptop: master keys have internal memories for your presets...If you buy a master + a good rack (motif rack, fantom xR, or also the alesis QSR if you like it) you can use the master at home with your DAW and the master+rack for the live rigs.

Personally I suggest to you to take a look at the M-audio keystation pro 88.
88 keys, a loooot of controllers, software for programming....and it looks pretty cool :cool:

hope it helps
 
imotic-

The questions you ask are good ones, but, ultimately, they are questions only you can answer.

Metropolis79 gave you HIS answer and, for him, it's the right answer. You might be different. Personally, the feel of a keyboard is absolutely critical to me. If it isn't enjoyable to play, I find that hinders my creativity and my desire to even sit down an play at all. You may very well be different. I started as a piano player so I prefer a weighted action. However, some people can't stand playing organ sounds on a weighted keyboard and I agree with that as well. Nearly 20 years ago I bought my faithful Yamaha KX88. I think it cost $1700.00 if memory serves me. That was a small fortune for a MIDI controller keyboard. I still play it today. It's never needed any service, still works great and is probably the best music investment I ever made.

Worth is a highly relative thing. If I was a gigging musician, I might have grown to hate the KX88 since it weighs something like 70 pounds and it's a pain to move. It's got limited controls and, because it was one of the first controllers ever made, difficult programability. Still, I love it! You might have always played semi-weighted or synth action keyboards and feel more comfortable on those.

Metropolis79 mentioned the new M-Audio Keystation Pro 88. I've looked at it and I didn't LOVE the feel, I think I would adjust to it though. It also might be that it will settle in after use. I thought the keys were a little "bouncy" on their return. My KX88 is like that a little, but it's not too bad. A real piano doesn't exhibit as much of a tendency to do this. The great thing about it is that it has tons of controllers and you can set up presets for different applications (i.e. controlling softsynths, modules, a DAW, etc.).

I know I wouldn't be happy with a controller with fewer than 61 keys and even that seems limiting at times. Some people love the little 25 key units because of their portability. In another thread I said I didn't like the Edirol boards at all because of their feel, others said they liked them. For a second controller I wound up buying an M-Audio Radium 61. It fills a need for a synth action controller with a fair number of controllers that wasn't too expensive. Who's right? Everyone!

Bottom line? There is only one way to do this. Go out to your local Sam Ash, Guitar Center or whatever store and play as many of these keyboards as you can. Then you can decide which fits your needs best.

Ted
 
I think the most important consideration would be whether or not you are an experienced piano player or not. I've been playing organs & synths all my life
& a piano is a totally different animal. Unless you have the strength & dexterity (training) to take advantage of the kind of expression that a weighted keyboard provides, it may be a waste of money. Like the previous post suggested, go to the store & spend some time with one, your hands & ears will tell you what you need to know.
 
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Metropolis79 mentioned the new M-Audio Keystation Pro 88. I've looked at it and I didn't LOVE the feel, I think I would adjust to it though. It also might be that it will settle in after use. I thought the keys were a little "bouncy" on their return
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Really??I haven't still tried one...i've advised it only because it' cheap, 88 keys and have a lot of controllers.
I'll give it a try next week, so I can tell you my impressions.
 
If ever there was an area that is subject to personal taste, this is it. For me, I need both weighted and synth action for different reasons. When I play piano, I must have as close a piano feel as possible. For that reason I purchased a Kawai MP9000. I simply love the feel. I also recall an article in either EQ or Recording or one of the mags about a guy that had a collection of overe 80 keyboards from vintage greats to the latest chartbusters. He too had purchased the same keys because of the feel. All this proves however is that for many players, the feel of the keys is an important factor.

Now for me, when I play other parts such as bass parts, strings, drums, horns, woodwinds, etc. I like using a synth action keyboard because the approach to playing is different.

And I also checked out the 88 key M-Audio controller. For me the keys were nice but not nicer than the Kawai and, for me, the number of midi controllers is probaly over kill.

Like the guy above, I think that the Radium would be perfect for me. It would help by making my setup physically more felxible in terms of where things are located whiile providing eastily accesable midi controls.
 
could someone please explain?

hello guys. i was just woundering. can you play preset styles on these midi controllers? i mean like on a sunthesiser. And were do the sounds and instruments come from. are they loaded from a computer or something? sorry, i just don't know how these midi controllers work. if someone could explain that would be very cool. thanks a lot.

vova
 
vova said:
hello guys. i was just woundering. can you play preset styles on these midi controllers? i mean like on a sunthesiser. And were do the sounds and instruments come from. are they loaded from a computer or something? sorry, i just don't know how these midi controllers work. if someone could explain that would be very cool. thanks a lot.

vova
Click to expand...

with a master you can send a lot of controls, including patch and bank changes. In this way you can change programs on external sounds modules or maybe in a VST plug in.
The master, generally, have no sounds on board. they are pure controllers.

Peace
 
I think it's worth it. :)

I mean heck, I got my Studiologic SL-1100 for $500 and just bought the modules. I needed the weighted feel and wanted the sounds so instead of buying 5 keyboards, I buy 5 modules. Saves me some cash.

For my synth weighted needs I bought an SL-161 for $150.00

Of course I was forced to purchase a Fantom X6 for the wife. LOL Keep her out of the studio making silent keyboard noises bugging me when she creates. LOL (nah I am not that mean...)
 
vova said:
hello guys. i was just woundering. can you play preset styles on these midi controllers? i mean like on a sunthesiser. And were do the sounds and instruments come from. are they loaded from a computer or something? sorry, i just don't know how these midi controllers work. if someone could explain that would be very cool. thanks a lot.

vova
Click to expand...

A controller is simply that- it controls (i.e.-sends controller information) synths, modules or softsynths via MIDI. As has been said, they generally don't have any sounds of their own. Think of taking a keyboard synth and detaching the keyboard portion. You'd have a synth module and a keyboard controller.

With the proliferation of softsynths there is a need for a method of controlling and playing them so I think we'll see a lot of these units hitting the market.

Ted
 
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