Hardware Compare top rated Musical Keyboards equipment for your home recording studio
You write and perform GREAT music. You've gotta record it and get it out there.
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My keyboard is my whole studio band. I have made recordings that sound as if I hired top musicians, and that's only due to the flexibility of MIDI. For the most part, I record into a MIDI sequencer so I can edit and change the sounds.
On the keyboard side, the most important factors are: MIDI connectivity, velocity (touch) sensitivity, sustain pedal jack, modulation slides and other effects, aftertouch for vibrato, and, of course, the number of keys. I wouldn't use a keyboard with less than 61 keys, since I record a lot of piano parts.
With sounds for keyboards and sound modules, it is hard to quantify what units have better or worse sound. This is a subjective thing. Nowadays, the sounds are more realistic, even in consumer keyboards. Important factors are: maximum polyphony -- the number of voices that can play simultaneously, of sounds, what internal and effects the unit has, and how much editing it allows you to do.
Budget: Casio CTK2100 Musical Keyboard - 61 Keys
Features
* Easy-to-play keyboard 61-key portable keyboard with wide range of tones, rhythms and learning capabilities
* Premium package includes professional closed-cup headphones, single x-braced stand, and power supply
* 400 high-quality tones, 150 rhythms and auto accompaniments for Latin music
* Voice Pad allows you to play sampled sounds connect CD or MP3 player for practicing along with favorite songs
* Powered by 6 AA batteries or AC adapter
61 piano-style touch keys and step-by-step lessons that help just about anyone learn to play. Offering a wide range of features and functions, the CTK-2100 keyboard includes 400 tones and 150 rhythms, sampling function, an audio-in jack that lets you play along with your favorite songs, USB port for connecting to a PC, and AHL audio technology for reproducing amazingly real grand piano and acoustic musical instrument sounds. It's powered by 6 AA batteries.
Buy and love the Budget: Casio CTK2100 Musical Keyboard - 61 Keys from:
The Music Zone for $85
Quality: Yamaha YPT-320 Musical Keyboard 61 Keys
Features
* Total of 482 high-quality instrument voices and 106 accompaniment styles
* Music Database: 100 song titles for quick keyboard setups
* Special 2-track Easy Recording feature
* Portable Grand button lets you instantly call up Yamaha's world-famous grand piano sound
The YPT-320 is a touch sensitive instrument that features 482 dynamic, authentic voices, with 361 XGlite voices, 12 drum kits and a sound effect kit. The YPT-320 also has 106 accompaniment styles and 102 built-in songs. Music database with 100 songs-for instantly setting entire instrument to match a desired music genre. Special two-track Easy Recording feature lets you record and save up to five of your original songs - great for composing and practice purposes.
Buy and love the Quality: Yamaha YPT-320 Musical Keyboard 61 Keys from:
The Music Zone for $139
Top: Casio WK-500 Musical Keyboard - 76 Keys
Features
* Digital Effects
* Real Time Recording
* On-Board Sampling
* Pitch bend wheel
* SD Card slot
Summary
670 high quality tones, recording capabilities and song expansion, the WK-500 as the latest edition to the "WK" range of Casio keyboards. Featuring 48 note polyphony, line and mic inputs, 10 seconds of sampling, USB MIDI Interface, pitch wheel, a SD card slot for song storage, line outputs for connecting the WK-500 to an amplifier or PA, the quality, flexibility and usability all help to make the WK-500 the ideal instrument for beginners and advanced players alike.
Buy and love the Top: Casio WK-500 Musical Keyboard - 76 Keys from:
The Music Zone for $250
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