Purchasing a Keyboard

Tunez

Tunez

Tunez

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Joined
1 Jun 2007
Posts
258
Hi i am currently doing a music technology course and want to buy a keyboard for my room, as practice rooms are quite often fully booked. So how much would i be looking at if i was to get a midi keyboard (so i can connect it to my mac) with a similar action to a piano and and maybe 5 octaves?

Thanks
 
Midi keyboards don't come with sounds,so I guess you have some VST's or music programs installed(Reason,Fruity Loops etc.)I own a Novation Remote SL which is amazing,but it is expensive.Have a look at M-Audio's Axiom series,built quality ain't that great but they are cheaper.
 
Thanks for the quick reply

I don't know very much about this, you saying a midi keyboard doesn't actually make the sounds, but plugs into the computer and then software will create the sound?

My basic needs are, a large keyboard (more than 60 keys) for playing complex pieces which i will later be performing on a piano. Therefore a keyboard with the action of a piano would be great. I will also need this to plug into my mac via midi so it can be used to record, notate would i play etc.

The remote sl seem to be very small, and have more than what i need.

Could you recommend any others? I am willing to spend up to 300 if necessary.
 
A midi keyboard is just a controller.It controls the sounds from any music production software which is packed with sound libraries(piano,violin,guitar,pads,and lots of other sounds).As I said,check out M-Audio's Axiom series and the Keystation series which are even cheaper,and they have up to 88 keys.The controller alone is not enough,you will also have to buy music production software in order to play and record notes.I hope that helps.
 
starmanwarz is correct. You play the keyboard and midi messages will be sent to your computer via a midi iterface and a program such as cubase (a sequencer) with instrument plugins will produce the sound. They are often called midi controller keyboards and they connect to the midi interface of your soundcard so you'll be needing a soundcard with midi input/output. If you're on a budget i'd highly recommend the m-audio audiophile 2496 which is a simple stereo soundcard with the connectors you need and is also excellent in sound quality. Another factor to bear in mind is latency of the soundcard i.e. how long it takes for the sound to be produced after you press the key. Most modern cards have low latencies and the audiophile is great for that too.

If you're going to be switching to a piano then go for a full 88 weighted key keyboard. You'll want a hammer action weighted keyboard which is much more like a piano than standard controllers and they can be had for 300 notes. They're pretty heavy though! I use a Fatar studio keyboard which i bought many moons ago but not sure if you can still buy them.

This would fit the bill:
CME UF80 88 Key Hammer-Action Weighted MIDI Controller Keyboard

A retailer that sells them (with 3 numbers in their name), depending on the product, also tend to give discounts if you just simply ask for one politely!

Hope that helps
:)
 
Thanks, that's very useful.

So just to clarify, i will need the midi keyboard and the sound card for this to work? I was thinking of buying the mBox, would this do instead of the sound card?

Do you think a midi keyboard is what i need or could i get by with something for a bit less? I saw a M-Audio Keystation 61es Semi Weighted Keyboard which was half the price. I know it is semi weighted and 61 keys but i suppose i could do with that, or is semi weighted not close at all to the action of a piano?

Are there any websites I could use to read up on all this?

Sorry for all the 'noobish' questions.

Thanks
 
If you're referring to the Digidesign Mbox 2 (USB) then that's more than adequate. I thought you were on more of a budget!!

As far as the controller keyboards go, if you intend your music to be played on the piano, then fully weighted is closest to the action of piano keys so that would be my personal choice. I also have a 61 key Roland and am very often frustrated when i need to go beyond the range, although there are ways of jumping up and down octaves but it's not that convenient.

I would pop down to your nearest music gear shop and have a play with different types of keyboard action to see what really tickles your fancy. Usually staff in music shops are very helpful and accommodating. It's easy to be impressed and distracted by new instrument sounds so i would ask to have them all set to a similar piano sound so you can fairly compare. They'll probably get you going, give you some headphones and leave you to test equipment in your own time.

Good luck!!
JM
 
Yea, i think ill pop down to one later this week, thanks for the advice. As for the budget thing, i do have money to spend but the keyboard is a lower priority as max msp and pro tools, i regard as a more important. And looking at the total price of everything is worrying, but hopefully will be worth it!

Thanks again for the help
 
go on that well known auction site and hunt down a keyboard. m-audio make some decent ones, velocity and touch sensitive if needed, something like a s/hand radium 49 or 61 are decent, they have sliders and rotary controls which send midi cc's to control vst's or other stuff. if you get a free vst host and some free vst's you can do a great deal for a small amount of money....
 
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