Keyboard Selection Advice

[1tune]

I currently don’t play an instrument, but I want to purchase a keyboard and begin to learn. The keyboard would not be used so much as an instrument itself, but to simulate other instruments for eventual song recording, one track at a time. The genre would be rock/metal/alternative, so I am looking for a keyboard with the best suitable sound for this – especially the guitar sound. This is a beginner basement personal project, and it will be far from professional. My budget is about $300 for the keyboard, which I realize isn’t very much to get the best results. I'm just looking for the best compromise.

I don’t know anything about recording, but I understand that the least expensive method is with the keyboard, computer, etc. I have a lot to learn in that department.

I have looked at Casio WK-500 and Yamaha PSR-E413. There are so many to choose from, but I know they aren’t all best suited for this genre and for use in recording. I see terms like “piano focused” (doesn’t sound like what I want) and “workstation”, which might be the correct direction.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[songstre]

Hey 1Tune,

I'm in a similar boat in that I'm setting up a new studio. I do play keys, however, and I'm a pretty good singer. $300 doesn't sound like a lot of money to get started. Hope your hopes aren't too high. I'm purchasing a whole bunch of stuff to get started and it's running me $3K (computer not included). I'm buying a Korg M3. I struggled between that and the Yamaha Motif XS8 (I am a piano player at heart, so I had to have good key action a and 88 of em) and the Korg M3 and M50. Budget stopped me from getting the Motif. Anyway, sorry if I don't have much to offer. I would say one of the PSRs from Yamaha is fine if that's all you can afford. Just don't get your hopes up as far as sound.

 

[stevieb]

You almost can not go wrong at the budget you have, on either a Casio or a Yamaha, as long as you are buying it for what it is.

What you will get (without getting into tit-for-tat comparison- you can do that):
Great voicing. Pianos sound quite realistic, if not perfect.
Usable, if beginner, sequencer ("Recorder.)
Some pretty good drum tracks.
Learning stuff that may help you learn to play.
A whole hell of a lot of fun.

What you will NOT get:
Weighted action, or even semi-weighted. It will feel like buttons, not piano keys.
A gig-ready instrument. You CAN bring it to gigs, but they are not made to survive the rigors of the road.
Ohhs and Ahaas from "real" piano, synth and keyboard players. So what?
Much in resale value. Figure the price to plunge to about a third of what you pay for it, new. Or, beat that by buying used.

 

[gecko zzed]

stevieb offers wise words.

If you are starting off, then that price range is going to get you something fairly basic, easy to use, and with generally okay sounds.

They will allow you to experiment and develop techniques.

If it turns out that the whole thing is working for you and you want to go further, you can start considering more advanced sound modules, or VST instruments (at commensurately more advanced prices too, of course!).

You can still keep the keyboard to drive these modules.

Make sure that whatever you get has midi or USB connectivity. Most do these days, but there are still a few that don't.

 

[stevieb]

Thanks, Gecko.

Midi is getting a bit long in the tooth, but still the defacto standard.

 

[Toker41]

I picked up a Casio digital piano with weighted keys on craigslist for $200. I spent another $100 on a cheap Casio keyboard without weighted keys. In a few minutes, and after reading a few posts, I learned how to get great sounds from my computer, triggered by the cheap keyboards. I spent very little, and have very expensive sounds for next to nothing. I use N-track recording software, which was $50.

Might be worth mentioning that I'm not a keyboard player at all. I wanted it for recording, and my Daughter wants to take lessons (need weighted keys for that). So, I'm not saying that I know best of what choice to make, but I do know that you really don't need to spend a lot. In fact, I've bought drums, guitars, amps, violins, flutes, and many other instruments, and keyboards have been the least expensive of the lot.