Which electric piano/keyboards?
Discussion
Son is turning 16 shortly. He is very much into music - he practices piano about 2 hrs a day at the moment.
He is also studying a music production course, learning the basics of recording and mixing using pro tools and so on. He wants to get into the music industry as a producer.
I thought a decent keyboard would be really useful for him to practice in his room with headphones and to start recording his own samples etc.
Cannot really afford a Korg M1 or whatever - so what is worth getting for around £250?
He is also studying a music production course, learning the basics of recording and mixing using pro tools and so on. He wants to get into the music industry as a producer.
I thought a decent keyboard would be really useful for him to practice in his room with headphones and to start recording his own samples etc.
Cannot really afford a Korg M1 or whatever - so what is worth getting for around £250?
singlecoil said:
He has a computer in his room?
If so, all he needs is a midi keyboard, the computer will provide the sounds.
This. Just make sure you get a decent midi keyboard with weighted keys, sustain pedal and at least 6 octaves.If so, all he needs is a midi keyboard, the computer will provide the sounds.
(I have 6 grand pianos in my computer - all much better than a Korg.)
GetCarter said:
singlecoil said:
He has a computer in his room?
If so, all he needs is a midi keyboard, the computer will provide the sounds.
This. Just make sure you get a decent midi keyboard with weighted keys, sustain pedal and at least 6 octaves.If so, all he needs is a midi keyboard, the computer will provide the sounds.
These are cheap, cheerful, have passable onboard sounds for piano/rhodes etc and mine has been going for several years with no complaints:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProKeys88.ht...
Midi interface needed too, unless you get a keyboard with USB. The Steinberg UR22 (IIRC, mine's at home) is s
t hot and only costs about £100, midi in/out, phones out, audio out (to connect to the hifi) mic input and guitar input too, all with level controls, even comes with a basic Steinberg sequencer.
t hot and only costs about £100, midi in/out, phones out, audio out (to connect to the hifi) mic input and guitar input too, all with level controls, even comes with a basic Steinberg sequencer.Tough not to find a controller without USB these days and unless you're doing a lot outboard (again, not very common in project/home setups these days) it's a lot more simple to just USB straight in.
Singlecoil makes a good point though - if he wants to record anything, a preamp/interface will definitely be needed.
The Focusrite Scarlet series get spoken highly of at a budget price point.
Singlecoil makes a good point though - if he wants to record anything, a preamp/interface will definitely be needed.
The Focusrite Scarlet series get spoken highly of at a budget price point.
johnfm said:
...start recording his own samples etc.
Cannot really afford a Korg M1 or whatever - so what is worth getting for around £250?
Agree with others, software with controller is the way to go these days, however if for whatever reason you/he did want to go hardware, £250 is about the price of a used M1 these days, so you could get one. Note the M1 isn't a sampler though. About £350 would get you a Korg Triton classic, which is a much better all rounder than the M1, and does include a sampler.Cannot really afford a Korg M1 or whatever - so what is worth getting for around £250?
johnfm said:
Cheers all.
I think he might lean more towards good quality weighted keys with pedals etc than sampling/midi - but who knows.
I will find out what he is using at music school etc.
Both are easy to achieve.I think he might lean more towards good quality weighted keys with pedals etc than sampling/midi - but who knows.
I will find out what he is using at music school etc.
The piano I linked to above is useable on it's own as an electric piano, but has a USB port on the back to allow its use as a midi controller keyboard.
I would take a bet that he's using midi in some way, be it to enter drum rhythms or record anything from string samples to keyboards. If he's doing a course, it will definitely be part of it and is a pretty essential component of modern music making. Most DAWS (pro tools, live, logic et al) come with lots of built in software instruments and you'll need some sort of midi controller to play them back. The beauty of a midi controller with weighted keys is that it allows you to include an element of performance that a more basic one wouldn't without a lot more post-programming.
Good luck - it's an expensive road!
Disastrous said:
johnfm said:
Cheers all.
I think he might lean more towards good quality weighted keys with pedals etc than sampling/midi - but who knows.
I will find out what he is using at music school etc.
Both are easy to achieve.I think he might lean more towards good quality weighted keys with pedals etc than sampling/midi - but who knows.
I will find out what he is using at music school etc.
The piano I linked to above is useable on it's own as an electric piano, but has a USB port on the back to allow its use as a midi controller keyboard.
I would take a bet that he's using midi in some way, be it to enter drum rhythms or record anything from string samples to keyboards. If he's doing a course, it will definitely be part of it and is a pretty essential component of modern music making. Most DAWS (pro tools, live, logic et al) come with lots of built in software instruments and you'll need some sort of midi controller to play them back. The beauty of a midi controller with weighted keys is that it allows you to include an element of performance that a more basic one wouldn't without a lot more post-programming.
Good luck - it's an expensive road!
johnfm said:
Disastrous said:
johnfm said:
Cheers all.
I think he might lean more towards good quality weighted keys with pedals etc than sampling/midi - but who knows.
I will find out what he is using at music school etc.
Both are easy to achieve.I think he might lean more towards good quality weighted keys with pedals etc than sampling/midi - but who knows.
I will find out what he is using at music school etc.
The piano I linked to above is useable on it's own as an electric piano, but has a USB port on the back to allow its use as a midi controller keyboard.
I would take a bet that he's using midi in some way, be it to enter drum rhythms or record anything from string samples to keyboards. If he's doing a course, it will definitely be part of it and is a pretty essential component of modern music making. Most DAWS (pro tools, live, logic et al) come with lots of built in software instruments and you'll need some sort of midi controller to play them back. The beauty of a midi controller with weighted keys is that it allows you to include an element of performance that a more basic one wouldn't without a lot more post-programming.
Good luck - it's an expensive road!
>immediately stops<
Hmmm....
Bebee said:
GetCarter said:
johnfm said:
I don't intend to furnish him with a recording studio...
Just wait... this is what he really wants 
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