What keyboard should I get?

**TimLam** · 08-01-2009, 03:40 AM

I've been playing guitar for a year or so and i went home to my mom's place yesterday and started playing her piano and fell in love with the instrument. It honestly trumps the guitar for me because it is much better organized, i feel that i could play whats in my head alot easier than with a guitar. chord transitions sound great, improvisations just sound overall better. This was the first time i've ever played piano and playing melodies, chords, etc. were just.... amazing.

anyway, on to the question. I want my own keyboard. I don't want to spend too much money though. i'm thinking no more than 1 grand CAD or about 800 USD. My buddy's a musician and he plays a roland so i really like that brand, but i wouldn't mind another brand if it's a good keyboard too.

I can't wait to get it and thanks for the answers.

**Synthologist** · 08-01-2009, 07:29 AM

A few questions first:

What type of music will you be playing?

What type of sounds do you need... piano, strings, brass, synth?

Do you want an instrument that offers on-board sequencing (recording)?

Will you ever be playing live (weight plays a factor)?

**TimLam** · 08-01-2009, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Synthologist

A few questions first:

What type of music will you be playing?

What type of sounds do you need... piano, strings, brass, synth?

Do you want an instrument that offers on-board sequencing (recording)?

Will you ever be playing live (weight plays a factor)?

What type of music will you be playing?

Rock and blues, but i like to try new styles of music, like jazz, electronic, etc.

What type of sounds do you need... piano, strings, brass, synth?

i just want a basic set of sounds. I like splitting with the stand up bass on the left side and the e piano on the right.

Do you want an instrument that offers on-board sequencing (recording)?

I'm not sure. I would like to have it though, just as an extra feature to help me learn, however, if the feature knocks up the price by more than another 100 or 200 bucks i don't think i'd want it. I do want built in beats to just jam to though, but i'm sure thats the standard for most keys.

and i don't think i'll be playing live any time soon. i'll have to get to a level where i'm musically inclined enough to do so.

**Synthologist** · 08-02-2009, 03:58 PM

I'd suggest visiting your local music store and auditioning some keyboards in your price range. If you only need a keyboard with 5 octaves, the Korg X50 meets your price qualifications, while the Korg M50, Yamaha MO61 and Roland Juno-G are a few hundred dollars higher, but offer many more features.

Everyone will most likely give you a different answer to the, "What keyboard should I get" question, so it's better to try out as many keyboards as you can, and find what works best for you.

**Synthologist** · 08-03-2009, 05:45 PM

Of course I did expect more people to chime in on this one...

**Digital Eagle** · 08-17-2009, 10:18 PM

Do yourself a favor and audition the Kurzweil PC3. I guarantee you will figure out a way to save your money for this board. I have lots of gear, Roland, Yamaha, etc. and the PC3 blows everything else right out of the water. I like the Korg M50 but it doesn't compare to the power and incredible sound of the PC3. It's just one of those boards that you can't stop playing when you use it. I'm serious! This thing just plain rocks!!!! Not only are acoustic instruments better than anything I have ever used but the synthesizer in this thing is a monster!

Of course it comes at a price but IMO it is well worth it. You can check around and look for a B stock unit in the 76 key configuration for around $1400-1600, the 88 PC3X for around $2000-2200. The 61 Key version is even less.

If you wait a little longer you will be able to pick up the new PC3LE for an even better price. It is supposed to have all the same sounds but with less polyphony.

Check out the Sweetwater video.

Good luck with your purchase.

**Atlas5** · 08-20-2009, 08:34 PM

I recommend you check out the Yamaha Motif XS6 ($2K) or the MO6 ($1K).

The XS has been very successful for my rock & roll, guitar playing friends. They've sequenced almost 60 original songs. It did take them months to learn the Operating System. They also have access to Roland/Korg stuff, and it just doesn't work for them.

I am now in hot pursuit of the PC3, the thing has some fantastic sounds. I would consider it more of a keyboard players instrument, where I consider the XS/Fantom/M3, more full blooded production workstations. I want the PC3 just to play live/jam/improvise.

I find the Yamaha & Kurzweil to have a more classic rock & roll sound. The Korg stuff is bright and poppy. The Roland is some where inbetween. They all sound excellent! I extend your money as far as you can get and buy as much keyboard as you can, the sequencer and audio recording abilities make the instrument more useful in the long run.

**Synthologist** · 08-21-2009, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Atlas5

The XS has been very successful for my rock & roll, guitar playing friends. They've sequenced almost 60 original songs. It did take them months to learn the Operating System.

I have both a Korg M3 and a Yamaha Motif XS, and believe me... Yamaha is famous for its tedious operating systems. It will take months to learn! The Korg M3 (and M50) is a breeze with its touch screen and more intuitive OS.

As far as the Kurzweil PC3 is concerned, the tiny screen and menu diving aren't much fun. Yes, it sounds great and offers an onboard VA, but if you want to tweak sounds on the fly, forget it.

**Atlas5** · 08-21-2009, 09:23 PM

Synthologist, I agree, especially for workstations

Yamaha OS is complicated to learn, and once you do, you'll never want to learn another OS. I find myself still using the manual once or twice a month, for some odd reason I just can't remember. And the manual is wacky, to find a complete answer I find myself jumping around the book two or three times.

Korg OS is much easier, at least for me, but I've been a korg user since he M1. Funny thing the M3 has excellent documentation, but I seldom need it. Most things are where I look and function as I expect.

Roland OS is pretty easy also. Documentation always seems easy at first, but not much detail. Here, like the Korg, I very seldom need to look anything up.

**Synthologist** · 08-22-2009, 09:18 AM

Atlas, what are your thoughts regarding the Fantom G?

**Atlas5** · 08-22-2009, 03:43 PM

The Fantom G7 is an excellent keyboard. While I find it easy to use and sounds excellent, it takes effort to produce songs on it. There are many arps available, they take lots of effort to utilize.

I don't think the Fantom has anything like the Motif's performance mode or Korg's Combi mode (especially with karma). So that instant jam like your a whole band, is not there.

The big screen and sequencer are more triditional in feel to a DAW, I was able to record simple multitrack songs fairly quickly, "without" the manual.

I find the Fantom G to be more of a production tool than the others. I use the Fantom G to supply piano sounds to my music.

I like the keyboard feel on the Fantom better than the Yamaha, but I perfer the M3-6 the most.

The Fantom G sound is more full sounding then the M3, but not as dark as the XS.

I used the Fantom X7 for a few years and the G7 is much more keyboard power. I miss some of the X7 sounds, but I stopped playing X7 when I got the G7, and then proceeded to loaned it out.

**shadowcompany** · 08-22-2009, 04:28 PM

There are some threads here regarding the Fantom G. There seems to be many people who have had issues with the fantom G and many opinions regarding the sound quality when compared to other comparable workstations. Many people I discuss keyboards with seem to stay away from the fantom G in favor of other things. I've just heard too many similar stories about the famtom G and then heard the same things from people i trust. The opinions that really made me wonder were the ones coming from its owners and former owners.

Each persons needs are different, audition them and see what fits the bill best for you.

**Atlas5** · 08-23-2009, 11:12 AM

Well, I am current owner and happy with the Fantom G.

But, shadowcompany is right, you need to decide for yourself.

people say the things the say for different reasons. I find the Roland Fantom G forums to be generally negative. People seem to have want more than they got when they first purchased the Fantom G. Since all the youtube video and upgrading to 1.3 the negative rumble has slowed way down.

But, always be careful in what you read, a lot of the compliants I read where posted by people who did not own the thing! Many of the other compliants where based on the lack of instant gradification (see my last post).

Many of the bad mouthing of various keyboards is technical mumbo jumbo, "seq wont record in 15/16, or some other wacky thing trying to compare the Keyboard to a computer DAW.

The Fantom G is expensive, sounds excellent, and has lots of cool features. I love mine. If it was cheaper, I'd just send the saved money on some other piece of music equipment.

You need to determine what your application is first. Decide what you would like to do with the instrument. Then study the various feature sets, listen the sounds. And make your choice, never look back.