Synth or Controller?
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Posted on Apr 04, 2005 06:16 pm
sax_fan
Member Since: Feb 06, 2005
Keyboard is not my primary instrument, but I play a little. I have an old 61 key Yamaha synth and a 49 key desktop controller. As far as I'm concerned I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I would like to get an 88 weighted key keyboard to use both to learn to play keyboard better and to use in recording. What do people recommend -- a good synth or a midi controller with a sound module? Maybe a digital piano?
I would also appreciate recommendations of models. I do not anticipate that I will be tweaking sounds (it's not really my thing), nor do I imagine that I will be using a sampler. I use my computer for sequencing, so that probably isn't a necessity either. I would, however, like something that is fun to just sit down and play.
As a budget, I would say $2000 is about the top of my range (less is always better).
Thanks.
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BleakA small pie will soon be eatenMember
Since: Aug 26, 2004
Apr 04, 2005 09:43 pm M-Audio have The Keystation Pro 88. Its weighted and has as many tweakable nobs and dials as a space shuttle! ITs Also hammer action so it feels a lot like a real Piano.
www.m-audio.com/products/...Pro88-main.html
Now this is ONLY a Midi controller and has NO sound of its own!
However, There are heaps (and i mean heaps) of sounds you can use with it!
88 Keys are a lot and unless you will be playing classical or zoning the keyboard you might want to try a 61 key Keyboard.
www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Radium61-main.html
I have the Pro 88 and its awsome!
Oh and they are both USB so no messy MIDI Cables. Also BUS powered which is always handy!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 05, 2005 12:44 am The ones Bleak recomended are great, the Pro88 feels pretty good. The other controler to look at would be something like what I use. They are made by Fatar and sold as their StudioLogic midi controller series. the weighting on the keyboards is absolutly stellar.
Apr 06, 2005 05:27 pm Based upon the responses, I assume the consensus is that a midi controller and sound modules is a better bet than getting a synthesizer?
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Apr 06, 2005 09:35 pm well a midi controller is great but you'd need something to control, like a hardware or software synth or sound module
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 06, 2005 10:56 pm sax, that really depends on what your needs are. A controler is a bit more versatile in many ways. It can be used to control not only a hardware synth module, but it can also be used with software synths and samplers as well as can control other keyboard synths.
If I may ask, what exactly are your needs, and how are you going to use it for the most part?
Apr 07, 2005 02:07 pm Noize,
I am planning to use the keyboard for a home studio (not live) and also to hook up to educational software for the purpose of improving my playing. I also plan to use it just to sit around, without the computer, and play for the fun of it.
At the moment I have both a soft synth and a hardware module. I am not tied to either as the soft synth came free with a program (it's a Roland VSC) and the module is about 10 years old and is GM/GS only, so I plan to replace it with something. I'm not sure ultimately whether I plan to use soft synths only or plan to use hardware also, but I suspect it will be a mix (at least until computers get so powerful that hardware just isn't necessary).
On the music side, I'll probably be doing a mix of classic and contemporary jazz and pop-oriented music.
I don't expect that I will need to control dozens of synths, but I thought a separate controller might make some sense because they tend to be cheaper than weighted-key synths and then you can choose whatever sounds you want and replace them if they get stale.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 08, 2005 09:25 pm sax, I guess I am torn then on what to really recomend. For the type of playing you do a nice weighted controller can be had for a pretty fair price. My Fatar was a $2200.00 controller I picked up for $500.00 as it was the previous years model and the store had it 6 months into that next year. so if you look around they can be had.
AS for Pc's getting powerfull enough to do the synth thing with. I got news for ya, I rarely touch my hardware synths as I run almost all software synths now. Even my older second PC can do a pretty good job of keeping up. But my new PC I can run a dowen or more synths without much trouble. And a new one I am using is a CPU monster for the most part.
But yes, the controller will give you the option of doing either hardware or software synths. But as you stated, you might want to just sit around without the PC. In that case you can either have just an outboard module running, or decide to go with a synth with onboard sounds. But with the later you will still need to be tied to an amp set up for listening.
Apr 10, 2005 11:09 am "sax, I guess I am torn then on what to really recomend. "
Noize, that's how I feel. I played around some with the Roland Fantom, Yamaha Motif and Triton workstations yesterday and they were really a lot of fun -- but way pricey! I also looked at the Roland XV-2020 module which seemed to have some pretty nice sounds for a decent price. I guess the hunt will continue ...
Apr 10, 2005 12:07 pm Yamaha s90 (the Yamaha Motif without the onboard sequencer)
I have it, I love it... Very Easily to connect and starting to record...GREAT sounds...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 10, 2005 02:55 pm Gotta agree with Presley there. The S90 is great and contains all the sounds of the Motif. As for the Roland XV-2020, that is also a great module. Way more sounds then you may ever need. And it covers a vast majority of what you might use.
Apr 10, 2005 08:37 pm The S90 is definitely on the short list. Loved the sounds and the feel. I didn't get as much time to play with the XV-2020. Obviously much less expensive, but then I still need a weighted key controller. Thanks for the input!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 10, 2005 09:11 pm I guess in the long run the S90 might satisfy both needs. But if you can find a weighted controller for a decent price, maybe the 2020 and a controller will give the better oprion. I know honestly my Fatar has a much better feel then any of the weighted synths I tried out. And the price could not be beat.
Apr 11, 2005 08:59 pm For some reason the Fatar (now Studiologic) controllers aren't carried by my local stores. They just have the M-audio controller. I'd like to check them out.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 11, 2005 11:23 pm I've only had a few minutes playing time on the newer M-Audio keyboards. But the control wsnt half bad. The weight felt a little light but you might be able to get used to it. I have to say for me switching back to a fully weighted keyboard from a synth weighted keyboard was a bit to get used to but now it feel very good. And for playing piano parts it is great. I still miss my synth weighted though for string parts and such.
But the M-Audio stuff is very good, and the price cant be beat.
Apr 11, 2005 11:30 pm Don't know if it's to late to get in on this topic, but I bought the Yamaha SO8 for just under a grand. 88 weighted keys. I'd like to pick up any one of those mentioned above- better units, but I have fun with the SO8 and I use it in my home studio. I'm not up on terminology, but it's a workstation with sound card and sequencing capabilities. If you should see one, give it a try. mwaynew
