Looking to buy keyboard

[michaelst57]

Eventually I need to buy a keyboard. I have been using a M-Audio Keystudio with four octaves. But I would really like to get a keyboard that has all 88 keys. Also I am looking for one that feels like a real piano. I know the hammer action keys get pretty close. Anybody have an opinion on this. I found the M-Audio Oxygen 88 for $500. If anybody has suggestions for something cheaper or better that would be great. $500 is my max. I don't care for external speakers I just need something that I can plug in to my computer, whether by midi or USB. Thanks

 

[mjbphotos]

Get thee to a music store and try out what they've got! If you are using this for MIDI control and don't care about internal sounds then you have lots of choices.

 

[michaelst57]

The problem is that all the music stores around here don't have keyboards to try. There is one store that I can order through but they don't have any demo units.

 

[mjbphotos]

Where exactly are you that music stores don't have any keyboards??!!

 

[michaelst57]

Provo Utah

 

[michaelst57]

there is Best Buy but they only carry the keyboards for kids to mess around on

 

[mjbphotos]

Provo is less than an hour from Salt Lake City - go to Guitar Center there.

 

[kcearl]

An Oxygen isnt going to give you hammer action...try a Fatar keyboard like the Studiologic VMK-188...you can pick up second use or refurbished for around $500-600...these are a huge jump in quality over normal midi controllers

 

[Brenton]

It would be worth it to check out the m audio prokeys 88. I never considered an m audio for anything but a controller but I was really surprised at the samples on board. On ebay you can get them for 459 on ebay. This way you have a controller and a performance board.

 

[fateisaweapon]

for 500 i'd get a minibrute

 

[T Sat]

My wife just bought a casio cpd 120 full keyboard and she is really happy with the action and feel. It takes a lot to make her happy, she was a piano teacher for many years and she found this is the best for the price, only around $400.

 

[killcrystal]

Sounds good, i just bought a Microkorg