Best synth-weighted midi keybed

[funk5]

What are your favorites? Either a straight controller or just a synth with great action/feel to the keys?

[lean]

well there are plenty of nice keyboards, but as far as stuff that's in production now, i'd say the prophet '08. very nice semi-weighted synth keys, and real compact given the number of keys ('cause the modwheel is on top not to the left of the keys.)

Originally Posted by funk5

What are your favorites? Either a straight controller or just a synth with great action/feel to the keys?

[vixapphire]

nord lead 2/2x. super lightweight feel, the superlative left-hand pitch/mod interface. nothing like it.

[lean]

Nord Lead 2? Well you said super lightweight so I guess that's your thing but I'd say it's straight out of M-Audio city. And by that I mean $99 shit controller keyboard territory. No weight at all, no aftertouch. You can't even set the sensitivity to make up for the feel. I've always wondered why they used such a low quality cheapo keybed on the Nord, especially because it used to cost almost 2 grand.

Awesome synth. Awful keyboard.

[Jazzpunk]

Hey Funk,
This for practicing? Gigging? Triggering piano samples? Playing softsynths?

For practicing as well as for laying down temp piano lines I enjoy Yamaha's weighted boards (I use the P140). I haven't found a weighted midi controller that felt even remotely close. For a semi-weighted midi controller, I think the Novation boards are cool.

Keyboard action is such a personal thing though. You really need to test 'em out for yourself if you have the opportunity.

[funk5]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

Hey Funk,
This for practicing? Gigging? Triggering piano samples? Playing softsynths?

Hey man how you been? Well I was thinking either synth or a nice semi-weighted keybed, for synth and organ playing, and possibly triggering some samples. I do agree with you for sure about weighted keys for piano and ep stuff. I think my friend has a yamaha p120, not exactly sure, but I have played that quite a bit, if that's anything like the p140, which I thought was nice for piano, but for rhodes and wurlitzer it's too heavy for me, as the those both have a little lighter action themselves.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by funk5

Hey man how you been? Well I was thinking either synth or a nice semi-weighted keybed, for synth and organ playing, and possibly triggering some samples. I do agree with you for sure about weighted keys for piano and ep stuff. I think my friend has a yamaha p120, not exactly sure, but I have played that quite a bit, if that's anything like the p140, which I thought was nice for piano, but for rhodes and wurlitzer it's too heavy for me, as the those both have a little lighter action themselves.

I spend a couple hours a day on the Yamaha and when I finally move over to the Rhodes to do some writing, it's like butta'!

Like I said before, the Novation Remote has worked out well for me (use it with my Omega and for triggering NI's B4) but as feel is so subjective you really need to try 'em out for yourself.

If you want more opinions though you could try posting over at the Keyboard forums;

MusicPlayer Forums: The Keyboard Corner

(Novation and CME got voted 'classiest touch' in a recent Keyboard magazine controller shootout but I've yet to have a chance to check out the CME boards in person.)

[Ruudman]

I enjoy my P-140. It has quite a heavy feel, but I'm used to it.

Ruudman

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

For practicing as well as for laying down temp piano lines I enjoy Yamaha's weighted boards (I use the P140). I haven't found a weighted midi controller that felt even remotely close.

How's this for timing?!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...ml#post1899646

Know it's not what you're lookin' for Funk but I'm interested!

[plaid_emu]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

How's this for timing?!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...ml#post1899646

Know it's not what you're lookin' for Funk but I'm interested!

Those look pretty nice. Clean attractive design. Almost too clean. Could use a couple more knobs and an X-Y pad, ribbon or something for fun.

Thank <insert your deity of choice here> they didn't use that damn silver plastic shit!!! If I see one more new controller made with that cheesy silver plastic I'll need an airline "comfort bag".

[funk5]

I could damn near get a used s90 for that price though, and probably have a similar action and a big sound bank with a nice piano already on it though. That's actually what I have been thinking about getting, as I don't have any weighted controllers/keyboards for piano.

[vixapphire]

Originally Posted by lean

Nord Lead 2? Well you said super lightweight so I guess that's your thing but I'd say it's straight out of M-Audio city. And by that I mean $99 shit controller keyboard territory. No weight at all, no aftertouch. You can't even set the sensitivity to make up for the feel. I've always wondered why they used such a low quality cheapo keybed on the Nord, especially because it used to cost almost 2 grand.

Awesome synth. Awful keyboard.

clavia in the literature used to brag about the "fly-weighted"/"synth-weighted" or something to that effect keyboard. you can fly on that thing, no doubt. the guy asked about "synth-weighted", and it stands to reason that he's not asking for a KX-88.

personally, i find it a nice complement to my midiboard. and the m-audio shite (including the 02 that i have by them) is in an altogether deeper circle of shite hell than anything bearing the clavia brand.

[vixapphire]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

How's this for timing?!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...ml#post1899646

Know it's not what you're lookin' for Funk but I'm interested!

what's with the totally bizarre placement of the wheels on that thing, though?