Electronic Keyboard

[crmay]

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy a keyboard for use with my computer. I'm hoping
someone can recommend a keyboard that is mainly designed for an
external mixer/amp rather than something on-board. I'm looking for a
just a keyboard, weighted etc, but not with any extras, just the
keyboard.

Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?

Cheers,

[MiNe 109]

In article
>,
crmay > wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I'm looking to buy a keyboard for use with my computer. I'm hoping
> someone can recommend a keyboard that is mainly designed for an
> external mixer/amp rather than something on-board. I'm looking for a
> just a keyboard, weighted etc, but not with any extras, just the
> keyboard.
>
> Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?

Yamaha. I use the P-85. Or Casio Privia. Not M-Audio.

Stephen

[John Atkinson[_2_]]

On Dec 23, 10:44*am, MiNe 109 > wrote:
> In article
> >,
> *crmay > wrote:
> > Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?
>
> Yamaha. I use the P-85. Or Casio Privia. Not M-Audio.

I use an M-Audio MIDI keyboard, Stephen. Is there something
I should know?

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Non-keyboard player

[MiNe 109]

In article
>,
John Atkinson > wrote:

> On Dec 23, 10:44*am, MiNe 109 > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> > *crmay > wrote:
> > > Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?
> >
> > Yamaha. I use the P-85. Or Casio Privia. Not M-Audio.
>
> I use an M-Audio MIDI keyboard, Stephen. Is there something
> I should know?

I should have been more specific! I meant the very cheap sprung
controllers available at the Apple Store. I was prepared for the less
than even touch but I was disappointed by the ciphers and silent notes
that developed within a few months. Presumably the "graded hammer
action" on the more expensive M-Audios is better.

I see my model has been discontinued and I haven't tried the
replacements because the Yamaha does everything I need it to.

It also wasn't clear whether the OP needed on-board sounds or not.

I just took a look at The Midi-Store.

http://www.midi-store.com/M-Audio-ProKeys-Sono-61-p-17938.html

Today's cheap keyboard comes with:

* 2-in/2-out audio interface
* 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD-quality) audio
* XLR microphone, 1/4" instrument and RCA inputs
* 1/4" jacks for stereo line output
* dual front-mounted headphone jacks
* hardware direct monitoring

I guess the guts of your run-of-the-mill USB interface are so cheap they
can be included without raising the price too much.

Stephen

[crmay]

On Dec 24, 2:19*pm, MiNe 109 > wrote:
> In article
> >,
> *John Atkinson > wrote:
>
> > On Dec 23, 10:44*am, MiNe 109 * > wrote:
> > > In article
> > > >,
> > > *crmay > wrote:
> > > > Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?
>
> > > Yamaha. I use the P-85. Or Casio Privia. Not M-Audio.
>
> > I use an M-Audio MIDI keyboard, Stephen. Is there something
> > I should know?
>
> I should have been more specific! I meant the very cheap sprung
> controllers available at the Apple Store. I was prepared for the less
> than even touch but I was disappointed by the ciphers and silent notes
> that developed within a few months. Presumably the "graded hammer
> action" on the more expensive M-Audios is better.
>
> I see my model has been discontinued and I haven't tried the
> replacements because the Yamaha does everything I need it to.
>
> It also wasn't clear whether the OP needed on-board sounds or not.
>
> I just took a look at The Midi-Store.
>
> http://www.midi-store.com/M-Audio-ProKeys-Sono-61-p-17938.html
>
> Today's cheap keyboard comes with:
>
> * * * *2-in/2-out audio interface
> * * * 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD-quality) audio
> * * * XLR microphone, 1/4" instrument and RCA inputs
> * * * 1/4" jacks for stereo line output
> * * * dual front-mounted headphone jacks
> * * * hardware direct monitoring
>
> I guess the guts of your run-of-the-mill USB interface are so cheap they
> can be included without raising the price too much.
>
> Stephen

Thanks Guys!

The P-85 looks like just what I'm after, a bit expensive but has the
features I wanted. The M-Audio is more in my price range, but i did
want more keys. The sound card i have has an optional midi interface,
thought i think the best bet is to purchase a USB-MIDI cable.

I've played with FL Studio and it seems great, but a demo of Cakewalk
really impressed me. I just enjoy music, not looking to perform so
the cost of the software is a major factor. Can anyone suggest a good
software package?

Cheers,

[MiNe 109]

In article
>,
crmay > wrote:

> Thanks Guys!
>
> The P-85 looks like just what I'm after, a bit expensive but has the
> features I wanted. The M-Audio is more in my price range, but i did
> want more keys. The sound card i have has an optional midi interface,
> thought i think the best bet is to purchase a USB-MIDI cable.
>
> I've played with FL Studio and it seems great, but a demo of Cakewalk
> really impressed me. I just enjoy music, not looking to perform so
> the cost of the software is a major factor. Can anyone suggest a good
> software package?

I'm still learning the Garageband program that came with the computer!

Stephen

[John Atkinson[_2_]]

On Dec 23, 10:19*pm, MiNe 109 > wrote:
> In article
> >,
> *John Atkinson > wrote:
> > On Dec 23, 10:44*am, MiNe 109 * > wrote:
> > > In article
> > > >,
> > > *crmay > wrote:
> > > > Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?
> > >
> > > Yamaha. I use the P-85. Or Casio Privia. Not M-Audio.
> >
> > I use an M-Audio MIDI keyboard, Stephen. Is there something
> > I should know?
>
> I should have been more specific! I meant the very cheap sprung
> controllers available at the Apple Store. I was prepared for the less
> than even touch but I was disappointed by the ciphers and silent
> notes that developed within a few months.

Ah, I don't use it nearly enough to have encountered those
problems.

> Presumably the "graded hammer action" on the more
> expensive M-Audios is better.

Stereophile reviewer Bob Reina uses a touch-sensitive Yamaha,
which he swears is close to the real thing. (He uses Kurweil
samples that also sound rremarkably natural.) Go to
http://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/ilive_at_ottosi_a_new_stereophile_jazz_cd/
and scroll down the page to see the Yamaha in action.

Happy Holidays, Stephen, and to all other r.a.o.ers

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

[MiNe 109]

In article
>,
John Atkinson > wrote:

> On Dec 23, 10:19*pm, MiNe 109 > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> > *John Atkinson > wrote:
> > > On Dec 23, 10:44*am, MiNe 109 * > wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > >,
> > > > *crmay > wrote:
> > > > > Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?
> > > >
> > > > Yamaha. I use the P-85. Or Casio Privia. Not M-Audio.
> > >
> > > I use an M-Audio MIDI keyboard, Stephen. Is there something
> > > I should know?
> >
> > I should have been more specific! I meant the very cheap sprung
> > controllers available at the Apple Store. I was prepared for the less
> > than even touch but I was disappointed by the ciphers and silent
> > notes that developed within a few months.
>
> Ah, I don't use it nearly enough to have encountered those
> problems.

Store it flat! At first I only used it for arranging, not performance,
but eventually I needed to play things in for time's sake.

> > Presumably the "graded hammer action" on the more
> > expensive M-Audios is better.
>
> Stereophile reviewer Bob Reina uses a touch-sensitive Yamaha,
> which he swears is close to the real thing. (He uses Kurweil
> samples that also sound rremarkably natural.) Go to
> http://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/ilive_at_ottosi_a_new_stereophile_j
> azz_cd/
> and scroll down the page to see the Yamaha in action.

That's the advantage of a good controller: enabling the pursuit of
ever-better samples.

> Happy Holidays, Stephen, and to all other r.a.o.ers

Same to all!

Stephen

[Jenn[_2_]]

In article
>,
John Atkinson > wrote:

> On Dec 23, 10:19*pm, MiNe 109 > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> > *John Atkinson > wrote:
> > > On Dec 23, 10:44*am, MiNe 109 * > wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > >,
> > > > *crmay > wrote:
> > > > > Can someone please recommend a keyboard/brand for this purpose?
> > > >
> > > > Yamaha. I use the P-85. Or Casio Privia. Not M-Audio.
> > >
> > > I use an M-Audio MIDI keyboard, Stephen. Is there something
> > > I should know?
> >
> > I should have been more specific! I meant the very cheap sprung
> > controllers available at the Apple Store. I was prepared for the less
> > than even touch but I was disappointed by the ciphers and silent
> > notes that developed within a few months.
>
> Ah, I don't use it nearly enough to have encountered those
> problems.
>
> > Presumably the "graded hammer action" on the more
> > expensive M-Audios is better.
>
> Stereophile reviewer Bob Reina uses a touch-sensitive Yamaha,
> which he swears is close to the real thing. (He uses Kurweil
> samples that also sound rremarkably natural.) Go to
> http://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/ilive_at_ottosi_a_new_stereophile_j
> azz_cd/
> and scroll down the page to see the Yamaha in action.
>
> Happy Holidays, Stephen, and to all other r.a.o.ers
>
> John Atkinson
> Editor, Stereophile

Thanks, John. Right back to you and yours.