which Keyboard/controller for me

[Hang Fan]

I am getting into the home recording world. I am getting myself a EMU 0404 interface, a pair of SDC's and will make some melodies.compositions at home on REAPER.

I don't know what is best for me so I like to have the expert's views here. This is what I will be doing :

- Recording a basic rhythym with drums or percussion.
- Recording my Hang drum on that basix rhythm.
- Fill in over the melody with violin/piano/harp or other similar instrument from the keyboard.

So what keyborad/controller is right for me. My budget is $300 but lower will do also

 

[mjbphotos]

$300 doesn't give you much of a budget. Unless you are planning on driving a bunch of midi instruments/modules with the keyboard (say for live performances), then you really don't need a 'controller' - any keyboard with standard midi should be ok for you. I'm using a Casio WK500 - I wanted 76 keys, not gigging with it so the lightweight construction doesn't matter, and the overall sounds are pretty good, especially the pianos, not so much the strings.

 

[diggy_dude]

How do you like the WK500? All of my Casios are vintage 80s models. Been thinking about getting a WK, but I have a SoundCanvas box that has pretty convincing instrument sounds, so I'm not really missing anything.

 

[mjbphotos]

As keyboard is my secondary playing/composing instrument, I am very happy with the WK500. Some sounds are better than others, but the flutes and saxes and pianos are all good. I also am using the percussions sounds to lay my own drum tracks down for some recordings or for adding more percussion sounds, rather than/in addition to the rhythm machine in my Boss BR 600. Haven't even tried the built-in sampler or recorder.