daav
Flailing up a storm.
I play some guitar, bass, drums, and want to begin to learn keyboard instruments. I've seen similar posts to this but would love some specific recomendations. I am interested in playing piano, not as into the other voice options, but down the road that might appeal. I definately want something that feels like a piano so weighted keys are a must. Baslically, i have no thoughts about performing with this setup for anyone, but i have an huge compusion to get something that would be respectable if not admirable.
I've looked at the
Kurzweil SP88 and PC88 series used on eaby, see these go as low as $500-700 which is the top end of my price range.
Casio PX-300 for about 600 or the Px-100 for 500 - as a layperson, these make me wonder about Casio as a decent quality instrument maker, with all their items that are essentially toys. i'm not sure if i care all that much though, since i am mostly interested in learning, but if the sounds comes off as really artificial, i would be disapointed.
Yamaha P60 for ~$750. Little on the expensive side, but it seems like the paino sound is a bit more realistic than the casio's
I'd appreciate any other models you all might suggest to look into, ebay or otherwise.
And then there is the MIDI option, right? I've never really used MIDI, but i am a pretty technical person, and i do some amateur digital recording to my PC (through a mixer (for preamps and to handle more inputs)->fostex MR-8-> PC with Ntracks and could probaably figure things out well enough with time. The NTRACSK has a MIDI piano built in, code i even get away with buying a controller for now, playing around with that MIDI piano and then buying a software package with better sounds?
I've read a bunch on the web that tells me what MIDI is, but I haven't seen much to tell me the practical stuff. THat is, if i buy a MIDI controller, what are my options for a decent quality software sequencers (right term?) and sounds libraries (and would I need to get a better sound card)? Is is generally considered that you can get better quality sound for the dollar throgu the PC with a setup like that and a decent controller (the fatar seems to be touted highly here)? Is the main reason to NOT go the pure MIDI route the technical stuff that many people aren't as adept with? If i could get somehting of decent quality for < $500 with a combo of buying a good weighted MIDI controller and software that would allow it to work well I would be very happy.
Anyway that should be enough to get started. THat for your replies in advance.
Daav
I've looked at the
Kurzweil SP88 and PC88 series used on eaby, see these go as low as $500-700 which is the top end of my price range.
Casio PX-300 for about 600 or the Px-100 for 500 - as a layperson, these make me wonder about Casio as a decent quality instrument maker, with all their items that are essentially toys. i'm not sure if i care all that much though, since i am mostly interested in learning, but if the sounds comes off as really artificial, i would be disapointed.
Yamaha P60 for ~$750. Little on the expensive side, but it seems like the paino sound is a bit more realistic than the casio's
I'd appreciate any other models you all might suggest to look into, ebay or otherwise.
And then there is the MIDI option, right? I've never really used MIDI, but i am a pretty technical person, and i do some amateur digital recording to my PC (through a mixer (for preamps and to handle more inputs)->fostex MR-8-> PC with Ntracks and could probaably figure things out well enough with time. The NTRACSK has a MIDI piano built in, code i even get away with buying a controller for now, playing around with that MIDI piano and then buying a software package with better sounds?
I've read a bunch on the web that tells me what MIDI is, but I haven't seen much to tell me the practical stuff. THat is, if i buy a MIDI controller, what are my options for a decent quality software sequencers (right term?) and sounds libraries (and would I need to get a better sound card)? Is is generally considered that you can get better quality sound for the dollar throgu the PC with a setup like that and a decent controller (the fatar seems to be touted highly here)? Is the main reason to NOT go the pure MIDI route the technical stuff that many people aren't as adept with? If i could get somehting of decent quality for < $500 with a combo of buying a good weighted MIDI controller and software that would allow it to work well I would be very happy.
Anyway that should be enough to get started. THat for your replies in advance.
Daav
