Songcrafters.org

Hey all,

Im gonna purchase a keyboard, obviously for the extra instrumentation and all those different sounds you can get from them! I think it'll allow me to be more creative and i'll be able to experiment more, which is what I love to do...Anyway, I digress, what would you recommend, brand and model wise?

Im not sure...What price will I be looking at???

Thanks,

Tom.  8)

thats a hard topic to touch because there are so many options these days-if you have host program, many are using midi controllers and vst plugins for various instrument options
if you want a stand alone type keyboard with built in sounds there are many choices there too
Can't go wrong with the bigger players in that market, such as korg, roland and yamaha
what kind of sounds do you want to create?
Ron

there was a thread started in this vein a while back
https://songcrafters.org/community/recording/midi-keyboard/msg529/#msg529

I could suggest roland juno gi, very good, light instrument with boss 8 tracks recorder on board and great sounds.
It's perfect for song writing.

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1126&ParentId=83 (http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1126&ParentId=83)

i got the roland juno di and i love it. the gi looks pretty cool too. a bit like the di with a built in br800

Quote from: oldrottenhead on July 06, 2011, 11:00:17 AMi got the roland juno di and i love it. the gi looks pretty cool too. a bit like the di with a built in br800

yes, but gi has twice as wave memory then di.
It has practically same sounds as bigger juno stage.

cool, i was lead to believe it was a juno di with an 8 track stuck on top.

Can I recommend the Korg Micro Workstation - small 5 octave keys - but the sounds are brill.

Also - if you have a Mac - get an Oxygene 2 midi keyboard and use the garage band synths.s

If you are on Windows - you can download some brilliant freeware synths - a few years ago I downloaded a moog for PC - freeware - and it was bloody brilliant. See https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=14338.0, they background keys were that free download. But you will need a lot of external gear and patience as ASIO drivers are a pain in the arse, and you end up will all sorts of delays. Painful.

I bought a used Roland sound module a while back for $75.  Couple that we some afordable midi controller, and you're gold.

Blooby

(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScmiy8mHOAqZ9niI2mCuI8jCQ9z7Y4jb5eufEJMMdFGkJsonnU)
Ive just bought an Axiom 49 , which i use with garageband , also if you use an Apple camera connection kit , plugged into an iPad or iPhone , you can then connect your keyboard controller and use the apps in those as well

Rob

I'm also a keyboard rookie, who's in the market for a keyboard. I took a few piano lessons back in the 90s.

I was looking at controllers to use with Sonar X1 LE that came with the BR80. The free VST mini moog is so cool!  But I have a lot to learn about MIDI.

I was looking at the Akai MPK61 and the Roland A-800. I can spend around $350 USD. I'm NOT completely sold on a controller. My laptop is an older Sony VIAO, 1.8ghz dual core with 3Gig memory and USB2. Maybe latency is not the issue it used to be???

I do like the idea of built in sounds with the keyboard. But frankly, I don't know for sure what I want, so I'm open to suggestions on where to start.

I read the thread suggested above, but the suggested keyboards are now too old.

M-Audio announced their new Axiom A.I.R. keyboard controllers at Summer NAMM which look pretty good. Unfortunately, they won't be available until later this year (possibly mid-October).

Here's the 49-key version:



It's also available in 25-key and 61-key versions, plus there's a compact 32-key version with mini keys.

I'm kind of interested in the 25-key version because I don't have much room near my computer.



I don't think prices have been announced yet.

Wow! Those Junos are totally BA!!! The new MA Audio controller lloks nice. The Korg PS60 synth with semi weighted keys is nice.

I suspect I'm going to have to move into the $500 range. A Juno can be had "like new but used' in that range.


So many choices and so much confused thought......... ;D

Ok........you fellahs are such bad influences.............I just ordered a new Roland Juno Gi.   ;D    And there is a $100 rebate!

I was going to purchase a Roland 800 Pro keyboard. I thought it should be problem free with Sonar. But I decided I didn't want to be tethered to the laptop. The wife or daughter would never use it.


I dig the 12 touch pads on that A.I.R.!!!

Congrats on the Roland Juno Gi !!! Now I'm really getting GAS !!!!!

i am so jealous, you will have lots of fun with that gi baby i am sure

Quote from: DannyB_KY on August 08, 2012, 08:59:17 PMI just ordered a new Roland Juno Gi.   ;D

That's the one with the built-in recorder with 64 tracks and 8-channel mixing. Also comes with Sonar LE and can be used as an audio interface. Plus you can use the Gi to play software synths on your computer.

Excellent choice! I'm sure you'll love it.

While you're waiting for it, download the manuals and start studying.

http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=manuals&p=JUNO-GI (http://www.roland.com/support/article/?q=manuals&p=JUNO-GI)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOB6Ef3p4ag

Thanks all!!

64, I have downloaded all the stuff on the Gi.

But right now, I'm moving my music area to another side of the room. This will give me more elbow space!
I bought a Z stand for the keyboard, so I needed a little more real-estate!

as soon as you get it register it with roland, when i registered my di  i got an extended warranty.

I registered it last night, but I didn't notice anything from Roland. However, I bought it from Sweetwater Music, and they furnish a two year warranty on pretty much anything you buy from them.



Thanks for pointing that out. I'll log into Roland and see if I can find something!!

Just picked up an Arturia Analog Experience the Laboratory 49-key.
Pretty sweet, the software included gives you tons and tons and tons and tons of sounds.
Pretty sweet, indeed.

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products/ALE/intro.html