Members Billystrat Posted September 6, 2009 Members Share Posted September 6, 2009 I'm looking to get into playing some keys. I don't want anything elaborate, price is my main concern, but I like to record practice loops or demos and it's a pain to record an acoustic piano. I already have a Midi controller keyboard I use with Reason and Pro Tools, but was hoping for a stand alone unit aka not software. Anyone out there that can suggest some cheap keys? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cpt. Spliff Posted September 6, 2009 Members Share Posted September 6, 2009 Oh, sorry. That kind of keys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dan450 Posted September 6, 2009 Members Share Posted September 6, 2009 Bb Major is pretty common but often does the job, D minor is the saddest of all keys, so on, so on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Billystrat Posted September 6, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 6, 2009 Ahhh so no one here swings that way and plays keys? That sick synth bass from the 80s scare you all away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members oldivor Posted September 6, 2009 Members Share Posted September 6, 2009 newegg has some computer keyboards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted September 6, 2009 Members Share Posted September 6, 2009 Ahhh so no one here swings that way and plays keys? That sick synth bass from the 80s scare you all away? It's hard to go wrong with a yamaha: great soundset over all. Korg's tend to have good pads and sound fx and weak pianos.... Maybe try and find a used Yamaha or Roland board: the old gen 1 Fantom's are going pretty cheap these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Billystrat Posted September 7, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 It's hard to go wrong with a yamaha: great soundset over all.Korg's tend to have good pads and sound fx and weak pianos....Maybe try and find a used Yamaha or Roland board: the old gen 1 Fantom's are going pretty cheap these days. Thanks. I see stuff show up cheap at Guitar Center, but their Keys Dept. help is well, worthless! I just don't see spending more than $2-300 on something I just want for demo/practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 In dont think you"ll foind anything worthwhile in that 200-300 price range. For $350-$450 you might snag an Alesis QS6 or QS6.1 or perhaps one of the Emu Vk or PK keyboards that was out around the same time as them. These 61 key rompler synths sold for $600 new thru internet stores. So used one in the $350-450 range would be possible. Of the two the Alesis has better piano voices imo. I'm not a fan of piano voices myself, but haveing owned the mentioned synths when they where new I thought the Alesis did fuller sounding piano voices between the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members groutt Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 How about a "family home keyboard" style something like Casio WK200 76-Key Digital Keyboard Workstation Factory B-Stock I'm a few years out of touch on this stuff, but it would probably sound sort of OK and it has 76 keys. Wire up a footswitch and a plug for a sustain pedal. Some really cheap keyboards are not touch sensitive. That would be a deal killer for me. Disclaimer: I may not know what I'm talking about and I don't actually know how to play keyboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 Nah, don't mess with the "home" units - not worth a damn. Alesis QS is best bet, for sure: decent pianos, organs, and strings at a good price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gspointer Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 Way over your budget but I bought a Yamaha Motif ES6 cheap. It is very nice and sounds great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zamfir Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 Nah, don't mess with the "home" units - not worth a damn.Alesis QS is best bet, for sure: decent pianos, organs, and strings at a good price. +1. Kurzweil has some kind of mostly piano-sounds unit that supposedly sounds great, but Alesis QS is much more versatile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Detox Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 Try CL. My local one has tons of those things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hotblack Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 Since you already have a midi controller, I would look for a used rack unit. Which one you're going to buy depends on the sounds you are looking for. I like the E-mu single space units (B-3, Virtuoso, Vintage Keys, etc...) Here is an example. The prices and availability are going to vary wildly depending on the feature set. Some will have expanded roms, some will be bare bones. Do a little reading here on Harmony Central and E-mu's website to see what might fit your needs. Check into other rack units like Korg's N1r and Roland's JV-1010. It may be a little hard to try them out depending on where you live and since these units are not going to be available new. However, with a little research, checking out some sound samples, and a little patience, you should find something nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted September 7, 2009 Members Share Posted September 7, 2009 Where's DRF when you want him? :poke: He's the resident keyboardist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Texas Noise Factory Posted September 8, 2009 Members Share Posted September 8, 2009 Look for a cheap workstation, arranger, or multitimbral module. The more voices the better. Look for like a Yamaha SY-85, Ensoniq EPS16+, or Korg Triton or Trinity. You need a sampling keyboard to record your own sounds / loops into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Billystrat Posted September 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 8, 2009 Thanks for the heads up. I've got these models written down to further my quest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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