The "Which keyboard should i get?" Overview // Read first!
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You're welcome, Bill!
Hey everyone, I have been driving myself crazy over this the past 2 weeks, I've searched as much as possible between the following keyboards but I am totally unsure which one to go for.
Yamaha PSR S770
Roland E-A7
Korg PA600
Basically I want a Keyboard purely for the sounds, I do not need styles or anything or to record, I purely want beautiful *Voices* as many as possible with the purest sounds to them.
After studying further I discovered Arrangers, are probably not what I should be looking for, so I then found out about Arrangers, Workstations and Synthesizers.
My conclusion came to think I needed a Synthesizer keyboard like the Korg Kingkorg but then I had no idea what speakers i'd have to buy for them.
So basically I need help, I am purchasing this online so I won't have a chance to get to the store, please tell me your thoughts if any.
Thanks
Frankie
Yamaha PSR S770
Roland E-A7
Korg PA600
Basically I want a Keyboard purely for the sounds, I do not need styles or anything or to record, I purely want beautiful *Voices* as many as possible with the purest sounds to them.
After studying further I discovered Arrangers, are probably not what I should be looking for, so I then found out about Arrangers, Workstations and Synthesizers.
My conclusion came to think I needed a Synthesizer keyboard like the Korg Kingkorg but then I had no idea what speakers i'd have to buy for them.
So basically I need help, I am purchasing this online so I won't have a chance to get to the store, please tell me your thoughts if any.
Thanks
Frankie
I have been using a KingKorg for a couple of years now. It's a highly specialised VA (virtual analogue) synth.
VA synths are digital machines designed to closely emulate analogue synthesisers such as Moog, Oberheim, etc. The KK does this particularly well. It sounds fat, warm and buttery, and the filters have pretty much zero "stepping" when you open and shut them. It also has a lovely tube pre-amp built into it which really warms up the sound.
However what it does not do overly well is your more traditional keyboard sounds like acoustic and electric piano, organ, etc.
Some people also find the interface with its small screens hard to get along with although I personally have no issues with it. It's got quite a few knobs for real time adjustment of filters and effects which make it excellent for live performance.
The keybed is a bit on the squishy side. My last bit of feedback is that it's very hard to fall in love with the way it looks. In fact it's almost beautiful in its unequivocal ugliness.
I love my KK but I would never take it on stage all by itself, not really versatile enough. However it can play a very important role for you if you're after some quality analogue synth emulation.
Speakers - that's a whole separate discussion and would depend on where and how you want to use the keyboard. Plenty of speaker threads in this forum - there's a live one going at the moment in the Keyboard Purchase Recommendations forum.
Hope that helps!
Thank you very much for all the information, I have decided to sway away from Arrangers altogether, I am very close to the purchase, I just need to know which speakers will be better now lol.
M-Audio BX6 Carbon or SubZero SZ-6A Studio Monitors.
and is 1/4 inch cables correct for keyboard to speakers?
I am so new to this style of setup, I only knew about arrangers until recent.
Roland FA-06 Music Workstation
Duronic KS2B Height Adjustable Twin X Frame
SubZero SZ-6A Studio Monitors (Pair) with Stands
Stagg NGC3R 3m N Series 1/4 inch Cable?
Stagg NGC3R 3m N Series 1/4 inch Cable?
It's impossible to say which speakers will be best without understanding how you intend to use the keyboard.
Check out this thread: https://www.keyboardforums.com/threads/the-best-keyboard-amp.22578/page-2#post-176467
...and the others around like it. That may help?
Check out this thread: https://www.keyboardforums.com/threads/the-best-keyboard-amp.22578/page-2#post-176467
...and the others around like it. That may help?
I am just setting up speakers in my bedroom with the keyboard, I just wanted to make sure I had the correct cables, 1/4 inch cable, I am just guessing I need 2 of those, I was unsure if there was anything else on top of that, like when all items get delivered to me, i set it up then turns out i needed a audio interface hooked up to make it work or something random, I have found little information about this so far, but I am just roughly guessing 2 of those 1/4 Cables should do the trick along with the speakers and keyboard without anything else being needed to get it to work.
I ended up going for JBL LSR305 Two Way Active Studio Monitors
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Anyone know of a useful comparison between the Jupiter-80 and the Montage? I can't really find anything online comparing/contrasting them. I know the Montage is more powerful, but how much more? I hear the Roland has the capacity to do a number of the things the Super Knob can do.
I decided to purchase a Yamaha 950, a Korg 900, A Roland EA7, and a Casio MZX300 to compare arrangers. I purchased them all used and they all came in around the price of the Tyros. Let me start by saying that Casio really surprised me because it seems like they want to get back into the "SERIOUS KEYBOARD" business. You can buy the MZX 500 in the $700 range & the 300 is less expensive on the internet. Although not up to par with the big boys of the industry, its a a pretty good bang for the buck for the home/hobbyist player. Next the Roland. It seems that Roland has some hits and misses over the years but the EA7 has a lot going for it with over 1,500 Instrument Sounds, Built-in WAV/MP3/MIDI Player, and USB Recorder. I downloaded a lot of styles for it on the internet and its good enough to take out on a gig. I love the sliders on the Roland that let you easily control the background instruments in playing styles. The Korg vs Yamaha is now where I'm at. I love the fact that the Yamaha allows you to access all the styles you can put on the memory stick while you have to download styles into the Korg to access them. Going through the instrument sounds prove that "BEAUTY IS IN THE EARS OF THE BEHOLDER" as each has their great ones. I'm not a piano aficionado and like the both instruments equally well in that area. I have also downloaded thousands of styles for both and there are many great ones to choose from. I guess I've now confused everyone with this post. I suggest you start with youtube and then get out to your local keyboard store to try them out. When you're ready to buy, check out all the options. I purchased my Korg from a PAWN SHOP because it was set up with all middle eastern sounds and they sold it very cheap. It was a snap to restore the original factory sounds so I made out well. Try Craigslist also, there are many bargains there.
Of these instruments, which would you say has the best lush string sounds and orchestra combos. I tried out the Korg 900 and loved the sounds however the instrument doesn't have enough sounds in the classical genre for my taste. I'm wondering about the Yamaha. I'm wanting to record my voice and wondered if you'd tried out those features yet and which instrument you prefer?
The Korg keyboard that Lou reports upon has been replaced by the PA1000 and hence a much improved model is now available.
The Roland is considerably cheaper than the Korg or Yamaha hence really is in a different market segment.
Otherwise an excellent report
Youtube is sort of OK to watch reviews but given its bandwidth limitations and what you are probably going to listen to the audio on you will be best advised to visit a music store and listen to them yourself.
I was in the market for a Korg PA700 or Yamaha 770, the difference in quality in my local music store was mp3 v analogue vinyl, you can see from my signature which to me sounded much superior.
The Roland is considerably cheaper than the Korg or Yamaha hence really is in a different market segment.
Otherwise an excellent report
Youtube is sort of OK to watch reviews but given its bandwidth limitations and what you are probably going to listen to the audio on you will be best advised to visit a music store and listen to them yourself.
I was in the market for a Korg PA700 or Yamaha 770, the difference in quality in my local music store was mp3 v analogue vinyl, you can see from my signature which to me sounded much superior.
Nice try! It seems from the following posts you may not have made your point. I don't think there's one answer. However, one frequently sees a 'should I get A or B' where A and B are quite different keyboards which seems to me to say they have no solid idea of what they want or need. Too bad: I've seen newbies sold inappropriate stuff which just indicates that store clerks are not necessarily the best to ask either. Lucky for me, my everyday keyboard is one I got used at a great price from someone who had been victimized by up-selling to something that didn't actually meet their needs. I've helped (I hope) others buy an instrument, but what someone wants to see, hear and needs are different things. One problem is that experienced players have their own preferences and are probably not the best to ask such an open question. In my view there are roughly four classes of sound synthesis - analog, pseudo analog, FM, wave and sampled wave - plus a host of effects: some I like better than otherst and some implementations/manufacturers that I like better than others; more than a little determined by past experience and musical taste. Also, I mostly like to play and will deal with instrument features up to a point but don't have a lot of time for my synths with their highly configurable and programmable algorithm approach to sound production but I know guys that glory in that stuff. Bottom line, don't ask me. Having said that, I've once or twice attempted to help out and one thing I've noted is that most modern keyboards are sold on their features and come with a great many so it's hard to find anything that's really simple enough for beginners; I've even found this a problem for musicians with considerable experience/training on old school instruments. The lack of full damper pedals and keyboard rebound can be disconcerting to pianists, The lack of drawbars, stops, swell pedal and/or knee switches is replaced by alternative paradigms on many keyboards makes them really organs for non-organists.
Kathrin
Welcome.
Difficult to answer without knowing mire of what you want and how much your budget is.
In digital keyboard form there are Pianos, arrangers, synthesisers, workstations and combinations of them so you can see why it is a difficult question to answer.
Learning to play Piano is inherently different from learning to play a Keyboard.
To play a piano both left and right hands work more or less independently and this is the most difficult to learn as you have more keys and a heavier weighted action of the keys which makes the digital piano feel more like an acoustic piano.
Playing a keyboard can be left hand playing chords and right hand melody, or combinations. Or even right hand chords and left hand plays the chord root and octave or again combinations.
You can buy a Yamaha for $200 up to a top of the range arranger for $6000.
Have a look at a Yamaha PSR E463, Casio CTX3000, Roland Go Keys, and a Korg EK 50.
If considering a digital piano then again plenty of choice with Yamaha, Casio, Roland and Korg in the under $1000 price.
Welcome.
Difficult to answer without knowing mire of what you want and how much your budget is.
In digital keyboard form there are Pianos, arrangers, synthesisers, workstations and combinations of them so you can see why it is a difficult question to answer.
Learning to play Piano is inherently different from learning to play a Keyboard.
To play a piano both left and right hands work more or less independently and this is the most difficult to learn as you have more keys and a heavier weighted action of the keys which makes the digital piano feel more like an acoustic piano.
Playing a keyboard can be left hand playing chords and right hand melody, or combinations. Or even right hand chords and left hand plays the chord root and octave or again combinations.
You can buy a Yamaha for $200 up to a top of the range arranger for $6000.
Have a look at a Yamaha PSR E463, Casio CTX3000, Roland Go Keys, and a Korg EK 50.
If considering a digital piano then again plenty of choice with Yamaha, Casio, Roland and Korg in the under $1000 price.