Hammer Action or Semi-weighted?

shakespearesmans · 28th February 2008

Which is better for synths and strings? I'd like to have hammer action for the piano work, but I'll be doing more synths than piano, so I'm wondering if it's hard to create string arrangements with hammer action?

The particular controller I'm looking at is the Studiologic SL-990xp. Thanks.

orange · 28th February 2008

loving my sl990 here - the action is pretty light -why not try it out in your local music store first ?

shakespearesmans · 29th February 2008

Will do. Thanks.

Kiwiburger · 29th February 2008

You need both. I chose a Roland piano for the weighted action, and a Korg Z1 for the light synth stuff. Most of the USB keyboards don't compare for the feel of the older keyboards - even though I like the ideal of avoiding midi and going straight to USB.

If you are using a DAW, most of the functionality of a controller keyboard is simply not required. So you can use any old keyboard you like the feel of, and leave it stuck on Midi Channel 1, and do all your midi routing and splits & stuff within the DAW. Even velocity curves and stuff can be sorted out inside the DAW.

Tommy-boy · 29th February 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakespearesmans

Which is better for synths and strings? I'd like to have hammer action for the piano work, but I'll be doing more synths than piano, so I'm wondering if it's hard to create string arrangements with hammer action?

The particular controller I'm looking at is the Studiologic SL-990xp. Thanks.

Depends on the preferences of the player and the type of music being played. Personally, I prefer weighted action, but a tad on the light side. I also have unweighted keyboards I can use for fast riffage.

If I were playing an actual piano, I'd prefer the action to be a little heavier.

Mr. Nice · 29th February 2008

HAMMER

semi????? why would you want to semi anything in this World? It's not being about semi-happy or just making it to the semi-finals or writing a semi-good song or making a semi-good mix....

all in all seriousness, go out there and try out as many keyboards as you possibly can and make your decision based on that.

personally i had a couple of semi keyboards and can't stand them. for me it's all about bringing THE HAMMER

DeepSpace · 29th February 2008

I guess there is a fair amount of personal taste and "what you're used to" involved. But FWIW, I prefer weighted action for synth work as well as for piano.

It doesn't detract from the ability to trigger samples, strings, etc smoothly (ie the key action doesn't translate into a problem for the slow onset of slow-attack sounds).

So - it's certainly a viable option, but ultimately you'll need to try it to decide whether or not it suits *you*.

Midiguy · 29th February 2008

I agree that you probably need both. I tend to use my weighted for more things, but for doing drum parts and other fast arrangements, I need the synth action.

cornutt · 1st March 2008

Every keyboard player I've ever asked about it says they like what they started with. Players who learned on piano want weighted action for everything. Players like me, who started on synth, want cheap plastic.

shakespearesmans · 1st March 2008

You are the most helpful slutz ever. Thanks.

dan p · 1st March 2008

thumbsup Weghted action is the way to go for real players.Like said once you learn on a real piano you never really want to go back.

28th February 2008	#1
shakespearesmans Gear nut Joined: Jan 2008 Location: NC Posts: 125 Thread Starter	Hammer Action or Semi-weighted? Which is better for synths and strings? I'd like to have hammer action for the piano work, but I'll be doing more synths than piano, so I'm wondering if it's hard to create string arrangements with hammer action? The particular controller I'm looking at is the Studiologic SL-990xp. Thanks.

29th February 2008	#7
DeepSpace Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Inside the Outside Posts: 1,193	I guess there is a fair amount of personal taste and "what you're used to" involved. But FWIW, I prefer weighted action for synth work as well as for piano. It doesn't detract from the ability to trigger samples, strings, etc smoothly (ie the key action doesn't translate into a problem for the slow onset of slow-attack sounds). So - it's certainly a viable option, but ultimately you'll need to try it to decide whether or not it suits you. __________________ .

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28th February 2008	#2
orange Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,688	loving my sl990 here - the action is pretty light -why not try it out in your local music store first ?

29th February 2008	#4
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,075	You need both. I chose a Roland piano for the weighted action, and a Korg Z1 for the light synth stuff. Most of the USB keyboards don't compare for the feel of the older keyboards - even though I like the ideal of avoiding midi and going straight to USB. If you are using a DAW, most of the functionality of a controller keyboard is simply not required. So you can use any old keyboard you like the feel of, and leave it stuck on Midi Channel 1, and do all your midi routing and splits & stuff within the DAW. Even velocity curves and stuff can be sorted out inside the DAW.

29th February 2008	#6
Mr. Nice Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Jersey Posts: 560	HAMMER semi????? why would you want to semi anything in this World? It's not being about semi-happy or just making it to the semi-finals or writing a semi-good song or making a semi-good mix.... all in all seriousness, go out there and try out as many keyboards as you possibly can and make your decision based on that. personally i had a couple of semi keyboards and can't stand them. for me it's all about bringing THE HAMMER

29th February 2008	#8
Midiguy Gear maniac Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 164	I agree that you probably need both. I tend to use my weighted for more things, but for doing drum parts and other fast arrangements, I need the synth action.

1st March 2008	#9
cornutt Gear addict Joined: May 2006 Posts: 497	Every keyboard player I've ever asked about it says they like what they started with. Players who learned on piano want weighted action for everything. Players like me, who started on synth, want cheap plastic.

1st March 2008	#11
dan p Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2006 Location: san ramon ca Posts: 1,249	thumbsup Weghted action is the way to go for real players.Like said once you learn on a real piano you never really want to go back.