Dear Lazyweb

[solarbird]

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?

Comments

[emrecom.livejournal.com]

Yeah--and whether you want aftertouch, how many octaves, etc might be an issue.

Me, I just need to input note values so simple is fine.

[solarbird]

In my chibi experience with narrow keyboards, I have immediately found two-octave to be intensely frustrating. But I think three would be an okay minimum. I don't need 88 keys, but I do want at least three octaves.

I'd like weighted keys (I dislike the standard bouncy lightweight low-end keyboard keys that you find on the usual, say, "250 voices!" home unit at Costco) but I think I'd trade that for aftertouch. I have a fairly strong feeling I'm going to want that eventually and if by some freakish opportunity I can get one for my budget now, then I'd take that opportunity.