need some advice

[ronnie35]

Hi I'm not sure what kind of keyboard to get for my logic pro 9
Right now I'm using the computer keyboard and it SUCKS! its never in sync etc.... I don't want to spend an arm and a leg what do you recommend
I have a mac the lion series.

Thanks so much

Ron

[bobporri]

Ronnie,

I am primarily a guitarist and not a keyboard player so you will get more specifics from someone else. Just trying to get some ideas going for you.

If space is limited, 2 octave keyboards would be a consideration. I have a 2 octave Oxegen 8. When I went to a 61 key several months ago it was immediately helpful. I was able to pick up an Alesis QX61 for free during a sale when I purchased some software. I could see someone with better taste saying "good thing you got it for free", but it serves my purposes for the time being. I think they usually go for like $200. It might be worth doing a search of reviews of that and similar controllers and see what sounds best. Keep the 61 keys in mind and look for your best deal, maybe something of higher quality but the Alesis I have is at least okay. See what others suggest as far as that goes.

Anything you do though will be a vast improvement over using a computer keyboard.

Bob P.

[ronnie35]

Thanks Bob That is very wise advice
Ron

[nick.moxsom]

Ronnie, if you can afford it go full length - 88 keys. I've got 61 and I find that some VI's use the full spectrum for various controllers. And personally I wish I had proper pitch and mod wheels instead of dual-purpose keys. It also might be useful to get a keyboard with a few dial controllers on the top – saves a lot of time with automation, if you mess with that stuff much.

S'all I've got. Good luck with your search.

Nick

[daveydad]

As a pianist/keyboardist of 30+ years I have to have 88 keys! I also must have weighted piano feel but a synth touch is nice for things like pads, strings and solo instruments. With VSTs it almost doesn't matter in some ways.... I rarely use the built-in keyboards sounds. I'm still using my 18 year-old Alesis QS8.2 for everything!

[ronnie35]

Thanks everyone very insightful
Ron

[VanderBoegh]

Hey Ron, I'm not a pianist, so minimal works just fine for me. I've got a 2 octave Oxygen 25 that has been my workhorse for 2 years. It does what I need it to do, since I only play one note at a time anyway, haha. And on top of that, it's a big space-saver and sits right on my workstation without really getting in the way of anything.

~~Matt

[Kolstad]

I've found that weighted keys really make a big difference, especially if you are recording strings. Don't know why, but it's almost as if they make the software sound much better. Says a lot about how much the right touch means to get the sound you want. For synths any old keys will do, so cheap is plenty sufficient for that use.

[StevenRedig]

I have found 88 weighted key Casios for pretty cheap. $200 to $300? Not easy to find at that price, but they pop up every now and then. I always thought of the name "Casio" as being cheap, but I have used a couple of them and have been very happy. Good luck on your search.

[HectorRContreras]

Hello dear Ronnie,

Nice question and good replies from everyone.

And here is my Little Piano, it is called : "M-AUDIO/Key Ring 49" :

M-AUDIO/Key Ring 49

M-AUDIO-Key Ring 49-.jpg (35.86 KiB) Viewed 1812 times

M-AUDIO/Key Ring 49

M-AUDIO-Key Ring 49 .jpg (36.22 KiB) Viewed 1812 times

It is very reliable with a Mac, because the Sounds of course all come from the Garage Band, so you just have to plug in !
I paid £ 60 for it about three years ago.
It is also very light and just the right size for placing it on the same table in front of your Mac, which comes handy when you also have to type on your Mac Keyboard and be wirely connected between your Mac and your Headphones.

And with all this equipment in front of you, you have to be ... an Artist. A tall order.
But the Little Piano helps because it is Key Sensitive. And it has also many Octaves of course.
The "Master Track" at the Garage Band tool is very good. For instance, it does excellent fades ... and other things.

So, it is a matter of concentration and work for several hours. And rehearsing the work on the day after, and again perhaps on the day after that.
Hector always says to leave a fresh Composition having a rest for a night or two.

There is also a Pitch Wheel and a Modulation Wheel on the Little Piano.

You may want to listen to a recent Composition of mine, that I achieved in that manner, called : Once in the ZHOU Dynasty" :[/color]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ9xfYOcKnc