Members wilki29 Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 I know a few of you do, I just remember who. Anyway, I need a suggestion on a cheap keyboard to get started on. I went over to the keyboard forum, but they keep recommending $500+ keyboards and synths that I dont need. I just need a cheap one thats under 300. I also need some kind of book to learn from. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 BOOYA! 88 keys, and everything else you need to get started. http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-YAM-YPG525KIT.html# If you spend a little more, you can get a digital piano. http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-YAM-P70-PAK.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 What is your aim?Do you want a fun synth for making patches on?Do you want to learn proper technique?If it's the latter, go Casio Privia series fo' sho!If you want a FUN synth, go with Roland's SH201 fo' sho! I used to do sound design with FM synthesis as well as sampling, as well as others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 BOOYA! 88 keys, and everything else you need to get started. http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-YAM-YPG525KIT.html# If you spend a little more, you can get a digital piano. http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-YAM-P70-PAK.html That 1st Yammy is very nice IF you want more of a toy to play with. As far as Yammy's pianos go, they're hit an' miss from my recent experience...you get what you pay for. Play it alongside the Privia and your eyes will be opened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 By the way, why the cutoff at $300. What's wrong with spending a couple hundred more? {censored}, play a few more gigs bro! I don't know of anything in the $300 range...unless you go used, of course. But like cheap basses, get too cheap a 'board and you won't want to play it soon after you get it. Get something decent and the least bit inspiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wilki29 Posted August 16, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 By the way, why the cutoff at $300. What's wrong with spending a couple hundred more? {censored}, play a few more gigs bro! I don't know of anything in the $300 range...unless you go used, of course. But like cheap basses, get too cheap a 'board and you won't want to play it soon after you get it. Get something decent and the least bit inspiring. well the reason I dont want to spend much is because im just learning. I dont want a 500 dollar keyboard that wont get much playing time. My main goal is just to learn on it first, and then branch off from there. I will probably get a synth in the future to make some cool sounds, but until then I just want to learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cruciatus Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 get the yamaha thing at Best Buy that's in your price point. that's what i have, i'm not like a gigging keyboardist but the sounds are really quite acceptable for learning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wilki29 Posted August 16, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 well I was looking at the casio ctk-900. It got good reviews, and its only 200. Is it better to get an 88 or 61 key, keyboard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 Something about Casio, man. I just don't like 'em. They feel cheap, and don't sound right. Just my humble opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 Something about Casio, man. I just don't like 'em. They feel cheap, and don't sound right. Just my humble opinion. Oh, I know what your sayin'. But the $500ish Privia KILLED everything under a grand in sound and feel(feel is VERY important in a weighted 'board). They look sharp to boot. Also, don't forget about Casio's synth heritage- the CZ101 is hearalded as one of the best, and the CZ1 is highly respected. They've done a lot of cool things in the pro synth market like the VZ series that rocked too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wilki29 Posted August 16, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 Something about Casio, man. I just don't like 'em. They feel cheap, and don't sound right. Just my humble opinion. yea ive always been under the impression that they make cheaper entry level products, but 200 is pretty cheap, plus MF gives you free software with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 Is it better to get an 88 or 61 key, keyboard? If you've got room and REALLY want to learn to PLAY, a properly weighted 88 keyboard is the only way to go. If space is tight, and/or your traveling with it a lot, 61 is respectable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnyswonger Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 At that price point, most any new one is going to be toyish. I've seen used Yammy DX-7s going for 2-3 hundred - not my favorite synth, but at least a real instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 yea ive always been under the impression that they make cheaper entry level products, but 200 is pretty cheap, plus MF gives you free software with it. Then, by all means, go for it! Hope you do try one before you buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 well the reason I dont want to spend much is because im just learning. I dont want a 500 dollar keyboard that wont get much playing time. My main goal is just to learn on it first, and then branch off from there. I will probably get a synth in the future to make some cool sounds, but until then I just want to learn. If you only plan on learning the basics, then a 61 key 'board will work, but you'll soon exhaust that if your serious about actually learning. Where I come from, you learn on an acoustic piano. Those run in the thousands. Not realistic in this day and age, I know. That's why $500ish is, honestly, a drop in the bucket. I was thrilled at the price/performance of the Privia. I played a $2K Yammie that blew my mind too ...but at $2K, you can buy a real piano too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 At that price point, most any new one is going to be toyish. I've seen used Yammy DX-7s going for 2-3 hundred - not my favorite synth, but at least a real instrument. Yeah, that crossed my mind as well...an ol' DX synth, or an Korg M-series or a Roland D-series... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 Then, by all means, go for it! Hope you do try one before you buy it. Uhh...feel is VERY important here, folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dDigitalPimp Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 But like cheap basses, get too cheap a 'board and you won't want to play it soon after you get it. Get something decent and the least bit inspiring. so what you are saying is that there is no SX type keyboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 so what you are saying is that there is no SX type keyboard. I think, at this point, the SH201 is the SX of the synth world...maybe the Alesis Micron.Otherwise, the Casio Privia is definately the SX of the digital piano world. Possibly another option would be getting a used/decent 88 key weighted controler and using some free softsynths(???). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hotblack Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 I thought this one from M Audio was respectable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members anothertxn Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 I like the microkorg, but I'd hardly call it a "real keyboard" or anything that you can learn proper technique from. I used it quite a bit in my old band...even the presets were pretty great, and you get a vocoder as well, although i recommend using a different mic than the one that comes with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 I like the microkorg, but I'd hardly call it a "real keyboard" or anything that you can learn proper technique from. I used it quite a bit in my old band...even the presets were pretty great, and you get a vocoder as well, although i recommend using a different mic than the one that comes with it. Yeah, the MicroKorg gets a lot of attention. The reason I(and many other real keys players) recommended the SH201 over the MicroKorg and Micron is that it has full sized keys to start, and has all real time sliders-n-knobs o' my...and the D Beam controller is a riot. I recommended it if he was looking more for a SYNTH to play around with sound design. The SH201 is a perfect synth to start with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thelurker Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 As many have said before, there is no SX of keyboards. Bob offers the best advice looking used. You can likely find an Ensoniq VFX (I wouldn't go to an 80), or one of the Roland D- series (I'd go with a 20 or 50 first). There are DX series Yamahas, but people tend to love them or hate them, if you don't know, it's hard to say. As to 88 keys, the only keyboard with that many is a piano. In rock & roll, 61 is usually plenty. 88 makes it easy to split parts (bass on left, organ on right, for example) but unless you're planning on playing Beethoven, you likely won't need that many. Lastly, I have always stayed away from keyboards with built in speakers. They have limited sounds, lotsa features I don't need, and are troublesome on stage. STAY AWAY FROM MINI OR MID-SIZE KEYS!!! The way to save money on keyboards is to be able to buy MIDI tone generators, since you get sounds without the keys, but you need keys, so no bargain there. If you find some things you'd like, I would be happy to offer an opinion on them. Just post or PM. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wilki29 Posted August 16, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 If you find some things you'd like, I would be happy to offer an opinion on them. Just post or PM. Good luck! so what would you recommend in terms of 88 key keyboards? I think I want to learn to actually play. I just would like to keep the cost below 500. Also are there and books you would recommend to help get started with technique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jugghaid Posted August 16, 2007 Members Share Posted August 16, 2007 http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-CAS-WK3800AD.html I have an earlier version of this and it works just fine. Records pretty well too. It doesn't have weighted keys or anything, but at your budget for new gear it's probably one of the better ones out there. if you're willin to go used I would find a nice used Alesis QS8 or QS7 http://cgi.ebay.com/ALESIS-QS8-1-64-Voice-88-Key-Weighted-Keyboard-QS-QS8_W0QQitemZ190140105526QQihZ009QQcategoryZ29552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I have one of these and they have a great stereo piano sound. If your'e patient you can find them in the $360 range for the QS8. 88 weighted keys, digital out, and pretty damn good sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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