What keyboard should I buy

I'm a guitarist, who started out on keyboards about 30 years, when keyboards weighed a lot more and did a lot less (which explains my switch to guitar). I'm thinking about re-learning how to play keyboards, so I'm going to buy one.

I'm looking for something that has a good selection of piano, electric piano, and organ (particularly B-3) sounds, as well as some bass, drums and horn sounds to use as a rhythm section. It should be MIDI capable, some sequencing ability, and have digital I/O. Basically, something that can serve as the foundation of a project studio when I get a computer with a MIDI soundcard and a sequencing/digital recording program later on.

And I'm looking to spend $1500 or less. Does anyone have any recommendations?

The samapled sounds are killer and very realistic and the keys are weighted perfectly. It's a bit heavy so I think that may be a perfect fit for a studio.

I don't believe it has sequencing built-in, but since I only really use it as a live piece I wouldn't know. You'd be under your $1500 so you could always get an off-board sequencer.

The sequencer isn't a deal-breaker because I do plan to eventually hook it up to a PC and use Cubase for sequencing. And the weight isn't a deal-breaker either because it's not going anywhere for a while.

One question - Does it have decent selection of piano, elec piano, and org sounds? I'm particularly concerned about that.

Thanks for the advice

A Triton Le 61 should fill the bill nicely. As they are going to replace it with another model soon, so you should be able to get a pretty decent deal on one.

Triton le

I have a couple of freinds who rave about theirs, and if I do get one, I'll always have them to help me out if/when I have a problem.

There are some great synths out there at great prices ...

Alesis QS6.2 (61 Key) costs about $600, and the QS8.2 (88 key) costs about $1000

Yamaha MOTIF starts at about $1500 for the 61 key, and goes to $2800 for the 88 key ...

The awesome most excellent keyboard today: the Korg Triton studio runs from about $2200 for the 61 key, to $3400 for the amazing 88 Key Triton Studio ....

Korg also makes two other Triton lines: the 'Extreme" line which costs about $500 dollars less, and the 'LE' line (Light Edition), of which you can buy the 61 key version for $1200 ...

Todays synths are amazing ....

It's trusty, dependable and sounds great. I only use it for gigs, but I'm starting to integrate it into studio apps. And you can't beat the price!

pax
ant

The price sounds great, and I'm pretty happy with my Alesis effects box, so I'll have to check it out. How is it with sounds? Does it come with a nice variety, or will I have to program the sounds? I ask because I'm not familiar with programming sounds.

It doesn't have built in sequencing, but it does have a TON of programs (about 640, if I remember correctly) and an expansion slot for adding Q Cards that provide even more programs. It also has four sliders that can alter program sounds on the fly, as well as options to program it yourself (which I don't do...I have enough trouble playing the darn thing :) )

It's a blast and is perfect for live gigging and studio work IMHO.

pax
ant

for the info

Cakewalk Sonar and some soft synths. There are plenty to choose from that simulate every organ up and down the line. Native Instruments has a great B-3 soft synth called "B4". The interface even looks like a Hammond keyboard, with all the stops and even a Leslie rotation-speed control.

That's why I'm not to set on anything aside from the MIDI ability and a nice variety of "classic keyboard" sounds to start out with. Once I get a PC hooked up to, I figure I can buy softsynths, soft smaplers, etc. to fill in the holes.

I would consider taking a look at the Yamaha Motif 7. It's a big, beefy synth/workstation that will work like a charm with any of the big PC sequencers out there. Check out www.musiciansfriend.com and search under keyboards then workstations. Here's a link:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040809115328161114001181347039/g=key/content/cb/index

I myself do all of my composing on my PC, since the tools available to you going that route are alot more varied and powerful...so much so, that I would recommend going that route instead of a synth workstation. With the advent of VST (virtual instrument) technology, you can have hundreds of synths and thousands of sounds to choose from. All you would need is a good sound card (preferably with a break out box with lots of I/Os), a good piece of sequencing software, a MIDI controller, and a LOT of time :)

Good Luck!

pax
ant

It is supposed to be good for controlling DAW's and PC-based sequencing programs. Do you have any experience controlling a PC-based sequencing program from a Motif?

A buddy of mine uses his to death, and it works beautifully with Cakewalk's Sonar software :)

pax
ant

But I don't want it to do a lot of things. First, I want it to have more or less the feeling of a real piano with scaled weighted hammer action and 88 keys. Next, I want it to sound as close to a fine acoustic grand piano as possible. I play jazz on the guitar and want to study a few pianists, their solos and their own harmonic ideas, hoping that it expands my horizons on the guitar.

The keyboard that has been VERY HIGHLY recommended to me by several professional jazz players is the new Casio line of either the Privia PX100 or PX300. Casio apparently has come a long way, if I can trust the opinion of some very established professional players who told me the new Casios were a true revelation to them. The PX100 goes for just under $500 and the PX300 is about $600. Both have a very authentic "real" piano touch and a very faithful reproduction of a good grand piano. They also can give you a very good Fender Rhodes sound. Both models are fully MIDI capable and the more expensive PX300 has 168 sample acoustic and synthesizer sounds.

My own choice will be the cheaper PX100 at $499 because I only want an acoustic grand piano sound with a great authentic piano touch. And these keyboards only weight 27 lbs., a real advantage, as I remember my garage band days and the entire band trying to carry a Hammond B-3 organ up a flight of stairs at some of my band's gigs and also the weight of a full Fender Rhodes.

I've got 'em both and they fill the bill nicely for what you describe that you are looking for.

Both new are around 1700, but since both of those models have been discontinued, you can perhaps find them on ebay, or some such place, in your price range.

The Fantom's B-3 sounds are awesome.

I'm also looking to buy a MIDI controller. Right now I create loop-based music using Acid and Fruity Loops. Unfortunately, loop-based music has its limitations, so I'm looking to add guitar and my own keyboard. Problem is I'm on the low end of the cash spectrum. Can anyone here recommend a good, low-cost MIDI controller?
Thanks!

M-Audio makes a ton of inexpensive midi controllers that do the job real well. They come in 25, 49, 61 and 88 keys, depending on how you are using them. The most popular MIDI controller they make, the Oxygen 8, sells for about $139, has 25 keys and MIDI assignable knobs, and is perfect for loop based music production.

Check 'em out at www.m-audio.com

pax
ant

I was actually looking into M-audio. I appreciate the tip.

And, welcome to DU! :toast:

I saw their ads, and was impressed by the price. An 88-key keyboard would be nice, but I was worried about the sound quality, the variety of programs, and whether or not it was built strong. I figured if they are doing the midi controller portion up, then they must be cutting some corners somewhere. Am I wrong?

....and not stand alone synths. They do not make generate sounds on their own, unfortunately :(

pax
ant

concerning what they left out.

Before I get into computerized sequencing and digital recording, I figure I should probably learn how to play the darned thing. :-)