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Joined: December 25 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 374
Topic: Looking for inexpensive keyboard synth Posted: January 15 2013 at 06:52
Looking for portable synth (weight < 20lbs) with good assortion of sounds , usable in the rock band context (pianos, organs, synth leads, synth strings/pads) , and transportation-friendly (not as big as 88-keys stage pianos)
criteria:
-61 semi-weighted keys (could be 76, if unit weight is still under 20lbs )
-ability to store live "presets" for quick change (combination of split/layering, transposition, patch assignment)
-released in 1997-2004 (newer are more expensive)
-interface to computer to upload new sound banks (USB is preferrable. but I doubt it exist on pre-2000 models)
-price under $500-600
what should I look for?
Roland XP-30/50/60, Kurzweil K2000S, Alesis QS-5/6, what else?
Joined: March 30 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Status: Offline
Points: 3843
Posted: January 15 2013 at 07:22
So here's my suggestion, it doesn't entirely fit your criteria, but it's close.
So it seems like weight is an issue, something to keep in mind, the more modern you get, the better the weight / stuff ratio is. A modern synth will have all kinds of stuff in an eleven pound keyboard while a keyboard from fifteen years ago will weigh three times as much and have half the capability.
With that being said, the Roland Juno Di lists for about $700 from a couple of vendors on Amazon:
I have the Roland Juno Stage which is the Daddy of the product line, and I really like it a lot. There are a lot of good sounds for it and it's served me well for two years now. If you can swing the extra hundred dollars, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with this one.
Joined: February 01 2013
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 221
Posted: February 02 2013 at 00:27
Have you thought of using a MIDI keyboard controller with a computer?
I use a Roland A-800 Pro on stage, hooked up to my MacBook. (I also use it in my home studio, hooked up to an iMac.) It seems to meet almost all your criteria:
- weighs under 10lbs - 61 semi-weighted keys (plays beautifully) - transpose, split, layering, etc - USB interface with computer - available for under $400
Because it's a MIDI controller, it has no sounds of it's own - but you're limited only by what softsynths/samplers you can run on your computer. And there's a treasury of such software on the internet, much of it freely available.
I like the feel of it, and I like the look of it - and my audience seems to, also. At my last gig with it, a couple of girls from the audience came up on stage after I finished and stood oohing and aahing at it.
At NAMM this year, Novation previewed their Launchkey range of keyboard controllers with a layout of faders, buttons, knobs and transport controls which remind me a lot of the A-800. Imitation and flattery and all that.
Joined: December 25 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 374
Posted: February 05 2013 at 03:26
Ajay wrote:
Have you thought of using a MIDI keyboard controller with a computer?
I use computer , and this is a real pain.
I use notebook with Windows 7 and USB audio interface ESI U24XL
Software sometimes stops to work (no sound ), and need to be re-loaded many times, while playing live it is unacceptable. For example, It can stop to produce any sound when a guitarist switch on and off his combo nearby, or somepody touch the wires accidentally.
I figured out that it can be traced to USB device losing it's power for a short time , so computer loses connectivity with the box.
I bored from this crap, so I'm thinking to get a "normal" keyboard.
I believe that software platform much more stable with the Mac ( I have Mac at home and it has no such reliability problems),
but buying second Mac laptop is as the same as buying second keyboard
Joined: March 27 2013
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 5
Posted: March 28 2013 at 08:19
A used Masterkeyboard ($100,-) + ChordArranger($150,-) like IM3 and a access Virus A ($ 400,-).
I am going with an old Korg ix300 which has programable chord arraging, disc related MIDI / patch storage as well as tons of instruments and even synthesizer functions / filtering included together with a Virus B for over 10 years now. Haven't found something beating that yet.
Joined: May 12 2005
Location: Paris, France
Status: Offline
Points: 652
Posted: April 02 2013 at 10:56
The Juno-D (not manufactured anymore I think) seems to be what you need! I don't think you need the more expensive/newer Juno DI.
- Great organs, weirdly amazing Rhodes sound (preset called "sweet stage").
- some very nice leads
- very good controls/effetcs range for a keyboard of this type
- Weighs 5kg (11 lbs).
- 61 semi-weighted (?) keys
- Storable presets
- Used price : around 250$, new for around 400 (if still found)
- ... but no PC interface, only MIDI
https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence
https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects
https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else
Joined: January 04 2007
Location: Grok City
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Points: 17510
Posted: April 07 2013 at 14:49
awaken77 wrote:
...
Software sometimes stops to work (no sound ), and need to be re-loaded many times, while playing live it is unacceptable. For example, It can stop to produce any sound when a guitarist switch on and off his combo nearby, or somepody touch the wires accidentally.
... I figured out that it can be traced to USB device losing it's power for a short time , so computer loses connectivity with the box.
I bored from this crap, so I'm thinking to get a "normal" keyboard.
I believe that software platform much more stable with the Mac ( I have Mac at home and it has no such reliability problems), but buying second Mac laptop is as the same as buying second keyboard
...
That means the wiring between point A and point B are not safely guarded ... and properly protected.
Tangerine Dream would not live with these issues, and in fact, I know that Edgar would not even allow the folks from Portland to get anywhere near his stage, for which he has been given a nasty nickname and will never be invited to Portland, even to use the men's room!
You have to make sure your connections are secure ... and in tight spaces that is hard, but you have to fix it so it is secure ... end of story ... it's about your work being right at this point, and the equipment failing is not acceptable, if it is preventable, and it is!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Joined: September 29 2013
Location: Snodland
Status: Offline
Points: 18
Posted: September 29 2013 at 06:36
If you want really cheap, really lightweight, try the Yamaha MM6. It weighs 11bs
It has 400+ sounds (based on those found on the Motif) which can be layered and split.
There's also an arpeggiator.
You can pick it up for as cheaply as £299.
In my opinion it's not a true synth but it allows you to massage each sound with resonance and cutoff, attack and release functions. It also has some nice piano and guitar patches and the organ patches are usable.
Like I say, it probably won't rival, the Rolands, Korgs and Motifs but for the price, you probably won't find much better.
Joined: December 25 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 374
Posted: January 21 2014 at 08:45
Finally, I got Kurzweil PC361.
Is't not cheap, but I got it used. Unfortunately Kurzweil dropped it from the line, replaced with stripped-down PC3LE6
I'm very happy with this instrument. It allows to create powerful setups for live use , and has endless options of programmability.
Especially I like feature to have many keyboard zones in a setup with different layout.
For example I have complex keyboard layout (bass/strings/brass synth) for most of the song, and I need whole keyboard for piano or organ solo. So I can assign footswitch to zone activation/deactivation, and have a specific sound for solo section in the song in a second.
As additional bonus for retro-prog-minded musicians, there are numerous programs, emulating classic synths like ARP or Moog, and mellotron pads, like the ones in famous Genesis and Yes recordings.
it is a lot of instrument for the money . but also it has some drawbacks or limitations
-weight. 33lbs / 15 kg - that's too much for 61-key semi-weighted keyboard.
-user interface and programming is non-intuitive, not easy to understand. also, some features are poorly documented in the user guide.
-KB3 organ mode is monotimbral. It means that only one KB3 program can be used in complex setup (although it can be combined with VAST programs).
Joined: May 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 397
Posted: July 08 2014 at 23:29
Didn't read through all the other posts so I don't know if this has been addressed, but do you have an iPhone or iPad? GarageBand is free and for $5 you can purchase an insanely awesome array of synths. Cheap controllers can be found, and plugged in.
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Looking for inexpensive keyboard synth
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Ajay wrote:
