Keyboard purchase advice

[silvertunes]

Hi peeps,

I am a newbie to electronic music, and i need some advice. After toying around with a Logic+Akai MiniMPK setup for a while, i think it's time for me to upgrade to a big boy keyboard. Here is where your advice would come in handy.


I am looking to both produce and perform, so I want something that i can use both as a midi controller and as a standalone keyboard. Ideally 61 keys, semi-weighted polyphonic piano/keyboard with good comfortable action, well built, sturdy, good sounds, something I can grow on as a musician.


Despite being relatively new to keyboards/synth, i am fairly seasoned musician (guitarist) with years of gigs under my belt, so i understand the importance of spending a little more and buying something that will last for years. That makes me a little wary of going for something like the M-audio Axiom or Akai MPK line, they feel very plasticky (plus the obvious fact that they are controllers only).


What are in your view some good candidates for what I am looking for? Triton? Nord Lead? I have seen them so often in pro studio and live setups, there must be a reason they are so popular. I’d much rather go for something that is true and tested, a classic if you will. Would be very happy to buy used too.


My budget is roughly $700, but it’s more about adjusting my expectations here, so if you think that increasing my budget a little would make a serious difference, please let me know.


Thanks so much for your help.
a.

[payt]

Originally Posted by silvertunes

Hi peeps,

I am a newbie to electronic music, and i need some advice. After toying around with a Logic+Akai MiniMPK setup for a while, i think it's time for me to upgrade to a big boy keyboard. Here is where your advice would come in handy.


I am looking to both produce and perform, so I want something that i can use both as a midi controller and as a standalone keyboard. Ideally 61 keys, semi-weighted polyphonic piano/keyboard with good comfortable action, well built, sturdy, good sounds, something I can grow on as a musician.


Despite being relatively new to keyboards/synth, i am fairly seasoned musician (guitarist) with years of gigs under my belt, so i understand the importance of spending a little more and buying something that will last for years. That makes me a little wary of going for something like the M-audio Axiom or Akai MPK line, they feel very plasticky (plus the obvious fact that they are controllers only).


What are in your view some good candidates for what I am looking for? Triton? Nord Lead? I have seen them so often in pro studio and live setups, there must be a reason they are so popular. I’d much rather go for something that is true and tested, a classic if you will. Would be very happy to buy used too.


My budget is roughly $700, but it’s more about adjusting my expectations here, so if you think that increasing my budget a little would make a serious difference, please let me know.


Thanks so much for your help.
a.

Wow.. um $700 isn't going to buy you anything that's current and considered pro. You'd be better off looking it the second hand market, where you can find a gazillion things.

Question is: do you want to make entire compositions on this keyboard? In that case you may want to look for some kind of workstation/rompler thing. If you want specialized sounds like analog or virtual analog, then that's a different universe.

You could go to a local store and try out some of the new Juno's Roland has on offer, and some of the cheap Korg/Yamaha stuff. They give you quite a lot of synth for the money, but you'll rarely find them in recording studio's since they kindof lack that pro quality.

If you want to go pro, you're really looking at the Motifs and Phantoms or even the Korg Kronos, but those will cost you a lot more.. from say $2000 up to $4000.. They are amazing instruments though.

Another option is to stick to plugins and a DAW, and buy a good midi controller. Personally i like the Akai stuff a lot, since they don't feel as cumbersome/cheesy as most of the cheaper controllers do.

Anyway, i guess it'd be good to decide what exactly you want from your keyboard, and then specifically look for an instrument that meets those demands best.

[silvertunes]

hey payt - thanks for your advice. as i said i am a newbie, so thanks for the wake up call

i am not looking to do entire compositions on the keyboard, that is what i use logic for. Part of me wanting an actual keyboard rather than a controller only is that i like the idea of not staring at a computer screen and being able to turn it on and play.

As for prices and selection, i am definitely looking for a second hand instrument. I live in NYC, the used market is huge here. Have not bought a new piece of gear in years Also, i am not a pro, so am not looking for a top of the line instrument.

I just want an instrument that plays decently, somewhere in between a piano and a synth in terms of action and feel. The focus is really on a good keyboard, as for sounds i can always use soft synths on the DAW or expand with sound modules (would love a DSI mopho at some point...). My fear is buying something i will outgrow very quickly.

any suggestions? i can probably stretch my budget up to $1000, but that would be tops, hence my focus on getting something used. thanks

[payt]

I'll post a few suggestions..

There's a really nice V-synth on ebay right now. That's just about all the synth you're going to need for a long time, and you won't outgrow it quickly. It sounds fantastic and i guess this one isn't too expensive either.

Roland V-Synth v synth +$500.00 in EXTRAS !!! LOOK 12 pX | eBay

If you like something cheaper but still really solid, you could go for something like an XP50, which is basically a JV1080 with a keyboard. It's kindof a jack of all trades synth, and master of some. Doesn't have a very good piano sound onboard though, unless you stick an expansion board in it.

Roland XP-50 XP 50 Music Workstation Synthesizer + Manual 30 60 80 SHIP WORLWIDE | eBay

Here's a Fantom.. has a more updated engine compared to the JV.. some like it better, some don't. Has some better piano presets, and is a solid synth allround.

ROLAND FANTOM X6 SYNTHESIZER WORKSTATION - Sweet Sounds! | eBay

Here's a nice Korg triton.. this once dominated the world of workstations, and probably still is a very good machine.

Korg Triton Music Workstation and Sampler w/ Case | eBay

And here's a yamaha MM6, which is kindof Yamaha's entry level synth, and it's still current. I've never played it myself, but knowing Yamaha it's a really good synth.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-MM6-S...item1c1faf31e1

Now if i can make a special recommendation: i'd go with something like this:

Yamaha S 80 MUSIC SYNTHESIZER SYNTH 88KEY WEIGHTED KEYBOARD S80 | eBay

The Yamaha S80 has weighted keys.. they feel incredible, and it's a very good synth to boot with some really nice piano's, strings, choirs, synthsounds and especially good EP's like rhodes. If you can find an S90, that's even better.. same keyboard, but with some even better piano presets.

Mind you i'm posting these ebay links to give you some indication of what's out there.. maybe you can find something similar locally, but at least you'll know what to expect pricewise.. maybe you can find them cheaper in NY