I want to buy a midi-keyboard...

[Howlgram]

It sounds like, perfect for a christmas gift, for myself of course

but i know NOTHING about midi-keyboards, so if any of you could give me some guidelines.

I am not paying a fortune for something that i dont even know how to use yet, but im not greedy, so i would be glad if you tell me about quality and not high-priced keyboards, thanks =)

I am buying it because i have heard it is like x100 ways better than the pc keyboard, and it makes sense, just the limitation of octaves in the pc-keyboard SUCKS. Even though i havent done much at all....

Besides, i think it would be pretty nice to use, since i am gonna learn piano

[Aussie]

Akai MPK Mini. Cheap, efficient, great.

[bartekko]

As you're going to learn piano, I'd recommend something that has it's own audio engine (as no matter how good your pc is, It will still have a noticeable latency.

Look for something by casio, because Yamahas are damn expensive.

If you're looking forward to making electronica, why don't look at some synths they are damn expensive


I'm a happy user of Casio CTK-4000, which is nice for a simple reason, that is: it has USB connection, so no looking for midi to USB stuff.

It's a very good keyboard, with good built-in speakers, and comes with good amount of sounds.

However, If you're looking for something with weighted keys, more piano like, You're going to pay, a load of money



Aussie, he wants something with more than 2 octaves.

[Howlgram]

As you're going to learn piano, I'd recommend something that has it's own audio engine (as no matter how good your pc is, It will still have a noticeable latency.

Look for something by casio, because Yamahas are damn expensive.

If you're looking forward to making electronica, why don't look at some synths they are damn expensive


I'm a happy user of Casio CTK-4000, which is nice for a simple reason, that is: it has USB connection, so no looking for midi to USB stuff.

It's a very good keyboard, with good built-in speakers, and comes with good amount of sounds.

However, If you're looking for something with weighted keys, more piano like, You're going to pay, a load of money



Aussie, he wants something with more than 2 octaves.

thanks, i do have a real piano at my house to practice, so the midi-keyboard is merely for producing purposes =)

[Aussie]

Aussie, he wants something with more than 2 octaves.

You can change octaves. Plus some buttons light up. That is very cool. Also it comes with a USB connector.

It's really the cheapest thing you could get besides the Korg NanoKey, and that thing looks awful.

edit: OH, and it has knobs you can use for automation.

[Versilaryan]

If you're going to play real piano, don't get the MPK Mini. I mean, it's wonderful -- I use mine all the time -- but it's not what you're looking for. Look for one of the bigger keyboards (bigger as in more keys). It'll be much better for you.

[bartekko]

You can change octaves.

just the limitation of octaves in the pc-keyboard SUCKS.

hurr durr


also, Mine LPD8 broke after 2 months

[Tsyolin]

If you're going to play real piano, don't get the MPK Mini. I mean, it's wonderful -- I use mine all the time -- but it's not what you're looking for. Look for one of the bigger keyboards (bigger as in more keys). It'll be much better for you.

This is actually what I am looking into, anyone have opinions on a really good 61 key midi keyboard?

[Thorinair]

I use M-AUDIO KeyRig 49. Ofc, I never had any midi controller before this one, so I cannot tell if it's better than the other ones on the market, but what I CAN say is: It is cheap, and it works amazingly well!

[Freewave]

yeah I gotta m-audio (came with a slightly stripped down version of pro tools which was ok) keyboard which was at the time $100 (was $130 retail elsewhere) but has been really solid and w/o lag. For slightly better price you can get some knobs you might tie into effects for on-the-fly changes but the for the most part that's not really needed as long as you have a full size keyboards.

The advantages of having a midi keyboard are pretty amazing as your recording at the same time you are playing, you can use it in any DAW, use any of its synths or add any synths to it (or effects) AND if you screw up a note or two as you play you can go back and fix them with the midi editor. MUch better than a stand alone synth in these cases (unless you're playing live).

Reaper is a great cheap stripped down DAW for using a mid keyboard by the way.

[Versilaryan]

I have a Casio WK-200, which is good, but maybe not what you want. It's very obviously marketed towards people who just want to get started dabbling in keyboards.