I'm looking to purchase a keyboard and need some help. I've played the guitar for about 4-5 years now and want to get into working w/ a digitial piano. Basically, i want one that will give me a very nice piano sound, and have touch sensitivity to be able to vary the length of my notes...but still have the option of using it for making music for games and such. If that makes any sense. I've been looking at these to possibly start out with. Casio CTK-900 Here it is M-Audio Keystation 61es Here it is or.....should i just save my money and go for this later. Yamaha DGX-505 88-Key Portable Grand Digital Keyboard Here it is I'm just having trouble b/c many of the features sound almost the same, but i really dont know the difference between say touch-sensitive keys and velocity sensitive semi-weighted keys. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. --------------------------

Quote: Original post by Landroid74
I've been looking at these to possibly start out with.

Casio CTK-900
Here it is

M-Audio Keystation 61es
Here it is

or.....should i just save my money and go for this later.

Yamaha DGX-505 88-Key Portable Grand Digital Keyboard
Here it is

I'm just having trouble b/c many of the features sound almost the same, but i really dont know the difference between say touch-sensitive keys and velocity sensitive semi-weighted keys.

1. Velocity sensitive keys.

Velocity sensitive (sometimes called touch-sensitive) keys are able to sense how hard you play them, usually via a velocity sensor that detects how fast the key moves. Usually this means that the harder you play, the louder the sound. More advanced keyboards will allow you to adjust this sensitivity via a "velocity curve" parameter so that you can tailor the velocity response to your own playing or the way a particular sound responds.


2. Weighted vs. Semi-weighted keys.

Weighted keys usually have some sort of resistance mechanism that attempts to make them feel more like a real piano. Some expensive keyboards go to great lengths to create key mechanisms that are very similar to the hammers in real pianos.

Semi-weighted keys usually just have something like a bit of metal under the keys or a lever mechanism to make them heavier and feel more "natural". This is usually the case with keyboards on synthesizers that are not trying to mimic the action of a piano. I know many synth players who prefer this style of keyboard when working because they do not have to play as heavily and feel they can get a bit more velocity variation when working with MIDI.

Finally, there are unweighted keys. These have no weighting or resistance mechanism and feel particularly light. This is commonly found in less expensive consumer keyboards and controllers where users are not as picky about the action of the keys. Most keyboards with unweighted keys are not designed for professional live performance, but there are plenty of exceptions.

Note that manufacturers may differ on what what constitutes a weighted vs. a semi-weighted key, especially in budget or consumer keyboards. It's usually best to try out a keyboard first if proper action and feel are a concern to you. You may be able to find budget keyboards at a local electronics store like Best Buy or Circuit City. More expensive keyboards can be found at a music store.

3. MIDI controller vs. electric piano/synth/etc.

MIDI controllers usually contain no sounds of their own. They are designd to trigger and manipulate sounds contained in another device such as a computer or synthesizer/sound module. This is usually done via MIDI or USB cables. Note that if you purchase one of these (I believe the M-Audio Keystation is one) you will have to have to connect it to something else that can generate sounds.

Hope this information helps to get you started as you delve into the wooly world keyboards!

Questions:
1) How much can you spend for basic features? And to have nicer piano presets?
2) Do you want a portable keyboard or a large one to install in your studio?
3) For the same medium-high price you can get either a piano replacement (88 keys, very good action, very good piano sounds, barebones features) or a general purpose keyboard with possibly
worse action, typically 61 keys, many decent sounds and advanced synthesis and accompaniment features. Which would be more useful for you?
4) Are you interested in/good at synthesizer programming or do you want ready-made sounds? You can have a very flexible programmable system or a no-compromise sample library, but rarely both in the same product.
4b) What level of sophistication can you accept beyond pressing a button labeled "piano"? Are you familiar with MIDI and synthesizer technology?
5) Do you plan to use software synthesizers on a computer or existing MIDI synthesizers? It would allow you to buy a markedly less expensive mute keyboard like the M-Audio Keystation.
6) Do you need pedals? How many?

Don't buy anything without testing it extensively: sounds, key actions and ease of use are a matter of taste, and due to the amount of marketing vagueness in product descriptions a keyboard's advanced features need to be seen in action.

Lorenzo Gatti

My .02: Stay away from a Casio. Look on around for an old Yamaha DX7 or Korg M1. They are industrial strength but old enough to be pretty cheap. The internal sounds are great and they also double as MIDI controllers.

As another guitarist-turned-keyboard-experimentalist, I have an E-MU Xboard 49 and am very happy with it, but for the sounds I use FLStudio with some good free soundfonts downloaded from the web (usually with some free VST effects as well for good measure). It's more expensive than the Keystation but I get the impression the quality is higher too, and I didn't want to be hindered by poor playing action (for example).