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Dear Lazyweb
Hey, Lazyweb! What do I need to know about cheap midi keyboards? (As in, midi keyboards to be used with a digital audio workstation, not home keyboards that happen to have midi in/out pairs.) I am strongly considering one for studio work because I can't afford, you know, an orchestra. I'm seeing things like Miditech used for <$100, is this any good?
eta: to clarify, I don't know anything about these, other than they exist. So what I need to know really starts with the list of things I need to know. ^_^
eta2: I think I want semi-weighted keys. I have a piano background and don't like standard low-end synth/keyboard keys. But am I wrong?
eta: to clarify, I don't know anything about these, other than they exist. So what I need to know really starts with the list of things I need to know. ^_^
eta2: I think I want semi-weighted keys. I have a piano background and don't like standard low-end synth/keyboard keys. But am I wrong?
no subject
What other things do I need to know about? I don't know what I'm deciding between even. I see feature lists and I'm all "what" - except things like full-size and number of octaves. I know what that means from piano. ^_^
I was planning on buying something used to save money - what kind of fail/abuse should I be looking out for? And is that a bad idea in general?
no subject
The person who bought my used midi controller a couple years ago did very well with the deal - it was in great condition. Ask if it was used on stage, outside or if the owner smokes. Dirt, dust, smoke and to a lesser extent - surface moisture are things to be aware of.
Some cheaper keyboards have keys that make a little noise when they are presesd. You can pay a fair bit to replicate the 'feel' of piano action.
Semi-weighted keys fell, in my opinion (and I am not a trained piano player) heaps nicer than no-weighting at all. I think I would care about full-weighted if I were a pianist and looking for a 'piano' that was the size of a full set of keys.
Local e-bay sales might be a good place to start looking. Some musical instrument shops will sell used gear too (thinking of Daddy's Junky Music), but they get a good premium on those sales so it won't be as good for you. Store demo units with full warranties are a favourite purchase item of mine - generally they have not had the wear that used gear would have and it has a warranty.
I think the issues you can address with who made it and can you get it fixed/replaced will be the biggest issues. A noisy key that goes "thock-boing" when pressed, but otherwise still works along with the others is a hazard of any keyboard and best remedied by playing all the keys to see what they do. Untried is more of a risk and you need to be certain you can get it fixed/adjusted if you can't try it out first.
Funky power connections and data ports are the other potential weak area - but again - if there is a repair shop you won't have much to worry about.
I sent my Alesis QS6.1 (a decent, now vintage, synth off to the local repair place in NZ to get the power supply converted to 220v and it was not too expensive or a pain - I brought it to the local music gear shop and they sent it off to the local authorized repair shop).
A $99 keyboard will be an item that you replace - more likely. A $400 controller that someone is selling for $275 and you get for $250 because they need the cash will likely be able to be repaired (but do a little homework on the brand/model).
no subject
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/keyboards/keyboard-controllers/buying-guide.php
They also will sell you gear too. Brands that would seem to fit your criteria are CME (their M-Key controller), or M-Audio (Key-Rig or Oxygen).
Sliders and knobs on a controller can be mapped to control elements of your recording software so don't completely discount those features.
no subject