Help needed with purchase of usb midi keyboard..!

[Monarch]

Good points raised Semi D.

A 61 key purchase might be possible (within yourr budget) even if it is not a more recognised brand. Worth a look sog1969.

[sureno]

yes i really urge you to get the bigger amount of keys, it is not relevant how small your boys hands are as key size remains the same all through out the octave ranges. i think a minimum of 61 keys is needed to be able to play simultaneously with both hands at times

[tyronehowe]

I know this is outside budget but I like this baby:

http://www.dv247.com/invt/21697/

Next time I upgrade my keyboard that’s what it will be. I’ve had a quick play with one and it felt perfect. The five octaves of my Virus TI are ok (and the keyboard quality is good), but with more and more key-switched patches, it is limiting.

[Monarch]

Nice I'm looking at getting the Edirol PCR 800 at some point.

[tyronehowe]

Originally Posted by Monarch

Nice I'm looking at getting the Edirol PCR 800 at some point.

When I restarted music (four years ago), I purchased Cubase SL3, an Edirol UA-25 interface and an Edirol PCR-50 keyboard controller:

http://www.edirol.net/products/en/PCR-50/

I was really pleased with it – did me for a couple of years no problems. And then got about half my money back on eBay!

[sog1969]

Thanks for the replies....

We do have a proper piano in the house for my son to practice on.
The only software that my son has any experience on is Sibelius 5.(neither of us have ever used sequencing software). I presume that if I just got a keyboard without the extras like the oxygen etc. we could get more for our money. (ie more keys, less features)

I was only looking at the more advanced keyboards as i thought he would be able to have fun with the features afterwards.....

This gets more confusing !!!

David

[Monarch]

Originally Posted by tyronehowe

When I restarted music (four years ago), I purchased Cubase SL3, an Edirol UA-25 interface and an Edirol PCR-50 keyboard controller:

http://www.edirol.net/products/en/PCR-50/

I was really pleased with it – did me for a couple of years no problems. And then got about half my money back on eBay!

Good bit of business I say.

[sureno]

Originally Posted by sog1969

Thanks for the replies....

We do have a proper piano in the house for my son to practice on.
The only software that my son has any experience on is Sibelius 5.(neither of us have ever used sequencing software). I presume that if I just got a keyboard without the extras like the oxygen etc. we could get more for our money. (ie more keys, less features)

I was only looking at the more advanced keyboards as i thought he would be able to have fun with the features afterwards.....

This gets more confusing !!!

David

if im to be brutally honest mapping midi is a pain in the ass, save on the features and get more keys imo, also those functions wont offer you that much with a simple scoring app

[trbguy]

Originally Posted by sog1969

Thanks for the replies....

We do have a proper piano in the house for my son to practice on.
The only software that my son has any experience on is Sibelius 5.(neither of us have ever used sequencing software). I presume that if I just got a keyboard without the extras like the oxygen etc. we could get more for our money. (ie more keys, less features)

I was only looking at the more advanced keyboards as i thought he would be able to have fun with the features afterwards.....

This gets more confusing !!!

David

Is Sibelius only software to be used? If so anything will do. Quantisation is not in the level of sequencers and editing a played in score is much more trouble than doing it note by note or chord by chord. Also I can't find any use for knobs and buttons except for octave change. I have found that easiest way to input notes in Sibelius is to use number pad(note value) with other hand and keyboard with other hand.

[sog1969]

Yes Sibelius will probably be the only software used with the keyboard...

I guess the best option would be to go with a 61 key keyboard.... without all the bells and whistles to keep the cost down.

[sureno]

Originally Posted by sog1969

Yes Sibelius will probably be the only software used with the keyboard...

I guess the best option would be to go with a 61 key keyboard.... without all the bells and whistles to keep the cost down.

yes, do that if you can you shouldnt regret it

[trbguy]

Originally Posted by sog1969

Yes Sibelius will probably be the only software used with the keyboard...

I guess the best option would be to go with a 61 key keyboard.... without all the bells and whistles to keep the cost down.

You can actually play with 61 key keyboard and it is nice to have all octaves in hand rather than changing octaves in smaller keyboard.

[sog1969]

Thanks for the replies....

Finally... can anyone recommend a 61 key keyboard..?

The only ones I have found are the M-Audio oxygen and the keystation....

Thanks in advance !!

[sureno]

well Korg used to do one the K61 series which i own but it seems to be discontinued, the M-audio should be cool

[tyronehowe]

Well here’s what I’d do:

You can get the M-Audio OXYGEN 61 for £95, which is good, but it’s a synth action keyboard.

http://www.dv247.com/invt/35698/

For just £11 more (yes, I know, there’s always something for just a few extra quid) you can get the M-Audio Keystation 61es which has semi-weighted keys. That will make a difference, especially if your son is used to a real piano.

http://www.dv247.com/invt/23345/

But … for £135 you can get the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88. Full piano keyrange and semi-weighted keys as well. Is it worth the extra £29 for 88 keys? Oh yes. Without a doubt (in my opinion).

http://www.dv247.com/invt/24172/

So that’s that what I would do – buy the 88 key. It’s £40 more than the M-Audio OXYGEN but it will do you for a very long time.