Keyboard for the studio

  • Thread starter Thread starter NYMorningstar
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I think a general question like - what's the best keyboard is too broad.

It depends on what you need it to do. If the user comes from an acoustic piano background - then a weighted feel and good piano sounds are important. If synth sounds/pads are more important - then a weighted feel is not as important.

If using sample libraries is important - then the keyboard may need sampling ability - however, if only software sounds will be used - then a keyboard with a lot of MIDI controller features is more important.

I don't like to eat up my computer with a ton of software synths/samples (samples can be very hit or miss and you can spend a lot of money building up a good sample library) - so I choose to depend on two main keyboards. One has 88 weighted keys and good acoustic piano sounds (and that is all I use it for) the 2nd keyboard is 61 keys with about 1,000 internal sounds (with a lot of the main sounds I need - organ, brass, strings, etc.) - it has a couple of expansion slots if I choose to add a another library or sounds and fairly deep sound editing options- and while it is designed as a "performance keyboard" it has decent MIDI controller features.

I'm not convinced there is one single keyboard that can meet all the needs (as an example - playing organ riffs on a weighted keyboard does not feel right at all - and playing piano without weighted keys significantly compromises technique).

If I had to limit myself to one keyboard - it would be a DX7 (used to triger other sounds/samples). While the DX7 sounds were limited......it had a good feel that even a piano player could live with.
 
"pretty much do everything" uhhhmmmm, everything as far as what??? To assume you mean make somewhat complete tracks all on one board I would look into the Roland Fantom X or G series. The reason I am asking as far as what, is because there is alot to be done in a studio. You know, other than making music, all that other technical jargon. But yea, I would go with the roland junka's. You could get a NeKo, though through personal experience I don't recommend it. ;)
 
Sound pallets are going to change. How much they change/improve is open for debate, but my approach has generally been to find controllers to give me the feel I want, and use them to trigger the sound I want from modules/software.

That said, the one keyboard I won't give up is my Kurzweil PC3.
 
fraserhutch said:
That said, the one keyboard I won't give up is my Kurzweil PC3.
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Yeah, I have a K2600XS and have been salivating to get my paws on a PC3. The Cascade mode and the new oscillators... mmmm, mmmm

For those that don't care to spend a lot of time programmign VAST, I'd strongly recommend the Kurzweil PC3LE. Great keyboard, great action, good sounds, and would double as an awesome MIDI controller as well.
 
noisewreck said:
Yeah, I have a K2600XS and have been salivating to get my paws on a PC3. The Cascade mode and the new oscillators... mmmm, mmmm

For those that don't care to spend a lot of time programmign VAST, I'd strongly recommend the Kurzweil PC3LE. Great keyboard, great action, good sounds, and would double as an awesome MIDI controller as well.
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A K2600XS is what I ended up getting for $840. It's like bran new, I love it. Thank You!
 
The Casio FZ-1 is another oldie with a nice keyboard. I got mine for about $150 each, but they weigh so much that it will cost you that much again to have it shipped - and it will probably be demolished in shipping. :laughings:
 
I haven't read all the posts, but in my mind it depends on what you're looking for... If you don't ever plan on taking the keyboard from the studio, I would go with a basic MIDI keyboard and use either a rack-mount MIDI sampler or VST instruments... Native Instruments has some great sounding virtual instruments.
I play mostly piano, and for built-in sounds I prefer Yamaha over just about everything else I've played, and on the models with weighted keys the action is good too.
I have a Yamaha PSR-500 in my apartment room, and while it is only 66 unweighted keys, it sounds very good and has alot of flexibility. Works well live and has USB-MIDI functionality. I paid $600 for it.
 
well hello newbie... no ones gonna shoot ya for resurrecting an old post (still best not to post your address)... and it sounds like this is a threade you might find interesting... so read it...
 
Beh, I wouldn't call a week "resurrected."... It was fourth on the list in the Keyboard forum. NYMorningstar actually dug this up from 6 months ago, go go shoot him :spank:
 
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