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[voidSkipper]

I know absolutely nothing about keyboards, but I'm finding a lot of the ideas I come up with could really use one.

If anyone is knowledgeable, could they point me at something relatively basic and lightweight? Basically all I need is velocity sensitive keys, the classic keyboard presets (choir, organ, that annoying sound that's in trance but sounds alright in moderation), and a female 1/4" output jack.

I can go up to around a thousand in price, but I'd rather not, as I have my heart set on that Tele in the window as well.

[ThePQ4]

Hmmm... My sister has used a basic Yamaha-type for some years now. I think your best bet would be to just go to a store and look at the selection...

[supersheep]

If you're looking for something that basic, I don't think you need to go anywhere near a thousand. The output and voices will come as standard. A quick browse for velocity sensitive keyboards on the net implies the price could well be under a hundred euros for a basic model. You should easily be able to pick one up for under two hundred dollars, which I guess means more money for your guitaramajig.

[Beastmouth]

I love my PolySix, but that's not velosensitive.

I picked up a Roland EP 9 on craigslist for <$100, and that is a hell of a digital piano. 

[Sox]

Things you'll want to consider are the number of keys, midi compatibility and the potential upgrade ability. Even if you don't want certain features now, if you start playing, you almost certainly soon will. If you opt for the cheapest option at the cost of some basic features, you will eventually regret it.
It's also fantastic idea to buy an adjustable stool, as a regular chair just won't do.

[StaedlerMars]

Tommy, I was hoping you would be linking to this

Obviously, you're not as quite hip as I thought you were.

[KickThatBathProf]

If I were you, I would also look into weighted keys.

[WriterofAllWrongs]

Keyboards, Guitars, Drums - These have all been surpassed. Don't waste your money on this old shit.

These are the only instruments worth considering now.

Oh I lol'd.  The dude "playing metal" is all like "Check out my sunglasses and my T-shirt and my love of Poison and Toto." 

[sean]

Keyboards, Guitars, Drums - These have all been surpassed. Don't waste your money on this old shit.

These are the only instruments worth considering now.

Thanks Tommy, I definitely needed more reason to give up in humanity after this thread.

Extra content: This post is grammatically incorrect! Stay tuned to find out why!

[rynne]

Keyboards, Guitars, Drums - These have all been surpassed. Don't waste your money on this old shit.

These are the only instruments worth considering now.

Tommy, I was hoping you would be linking to this

Obviously, you're not as quite hip as I thought you were.

Huh.  I was hoping either of you would link to this, but I was wrong.

[TheoristB]

Is your plan to play out live with the keyboard or is it for home use?    If you are just going to play around at home and use it to record I would suggest buying a nice midi controller and then getting some softsynths.  Something like Reason would be awesome.  It comes with a couple of samplers that have all of the sounds you are looking for plus it has 3 pretty powerful synthesizers so that you can experiment with that. 

If you are going to play live you could still do the midi controller but use a laptop.  Otherwise look at something like a Motiv or a Fantom or Triton.  Those all come loaded with the samples you are looking for and have midi sequencing on board.

Honestly though the cheapest way to go is Midi Controller and softsynths.

[Caspian]

I got a Roland Juno D and it's pretty enjoyable. Patches seem to be pretty decent and of course having 'resonance' and 'cut off' knobs is unbelievable good times.

[TheoristB]

I got a Roland Juno D and it's pretty enjoyable. Patches seem to be pretty decent and of course having 'resonance' and 'cut off' knobs is unbelievable good times.

Yeah, those are pretty awesome and affordable synths.  So if you are looking for something more synthy check those out.  Also everybody and their grandma owns a microkorg, those are another cheap and cool synth. 

[RedLion]

An OASYS is ridiculously expensive, but they're the best thing you can get, in my opinon.

Whatever you do wind up choosing, make sure it has weighted keys. It costs more, but believe me, if you're intending on playing real music and not two chords, you need a keyboard with weighted keys.

[Caspian]

An OASYS is ridiculously expensive, but they're the best thing you can get, in my opinon.

Whatever you do wind up choosing, make sure it has weighted keys. It costs more, but believe me, if you're intending on playing real music and not two chords, you need a keyboard with weighted keys.

To be honest if the OP is a rank beginner I don't see why he has to have weighted keys. My old Casio didn't and I don't think it was *that* bad, though certainly you wouldn't want to use one for more then two or so years.

[Christophe]

Personally, Beamz + Complete, The Band = Super Awesome Fucking Awesome. Keyboards are overrated.



Ok, I'll concede that I do enjoy my crappy Casio keyboard even if I can't play the fucking thing. The more sounds it has that doesn't sound like a regular piano, the better for me.

[voidSkipper]

Thanks for all the suggestions (:

Yeah, I'm only using this to record. If I was to go on stage, it would be with a bass guitar.

What are these weighted keys I hear about? I do plan on playing more than 2-chords (though there's nothing wrong with some depth-adding fifth's in the background ).

I played a couple of the keyboards at my school today, just to get a feel. There was an older yamaha midi controller, which I didn't care for - the keys were too.. squishy - and what was more of an electric piano than a keyboard, also yamaha. That had a much better feel, but looked a lot more expensive and was way too large for what I need.

I'm really surprised the smaller ones are so cheap, actually.

I'm definitely liking the midi controller idea, though, if I can find a nice-feeling one.

Guess I'll be heading down to Alans this week

[Caspian]

Thanks for all the suggestions (:

WHO ON EARTH DOES THEIR HAPPY SMILEYS LIKE THAT

I MEAN SERIOUSLY

[Spluff]

Weighted keys = keys that feel like piano keys, iirc. You can't go as fast but some people prefer it.

[voidSkipper]

Thanks for all the suggestions (:

WHO ON EARTH DOES THEIR HAPPY SMILEYS LIKE THAT

I MEAN SERIOUSLY

It's born of hating that ugly (: face in msn. I avoid it at all costs.

I don't really know what each instrument feels like - my upright piano's keys seem to come up very slowly and are extremely (read: too) easy to push down - will weighted keys emulate this, or will they make the return snappier?

[KickThatBathProf]

Weighted keys really just emulate the hammer action used with a piano.  Basically, if you're used to playing a piano, get weighted keys.  The converse is also true.

And well, if you're not accustomed to either, I would try both kinds and see which option you like better.  I personally favor weighted, but it's your call

[Alias]

I love my Yamaha P-70 with a full 88 weighted keys for around $500.  It has the same Graded Hammer system (i.e. higher notes are lighter, like in a real piano) as higher end models without all the extra bells and whistles.  The default piano voice sounds great and it has a small selection of other less useful voices.  It has MIDI in/out and two 1/4 in headphone jacks -- the only thing I really miss is a true line out in the back.

Alternatively you could spend a little more and get a nice Roland with a few more features, or spend a lot less and get a simple keyboard for MIDI input.  I went through this same process about a year ago and settled on the P-70 because I wanted the full 88 keys, but granted I use it as a piano and not just as a MIDI controller.  The full 88 keys may be a bit much for your needs.

Remember that you will have unlimited patches on the computer, so the options on the keyboard itself are less important -- just make sure you get something that feels good to play.

[Beastmouth]

everybody and their grandma owns a microkorg, those are another cheap and cool synth. 

representin' everybody else and their grandma every day of mah life! not what you are looking for as it's not velocity sensitive. that can be a bitch though. i have the boss dr-3 drum machine, and it's velocity sensitive with no way to disable it, and so you cant just press the buttons you have to concentrate on hitting it at a consistent velocity. you can edit the velocity later but it's a bitch. while I appreciate it sometimes I just wish there was a way to turn it off!

the microkorg is velosensitive, the presets just have it turned off on all of them

[FireAarro]

It's velocity sensitive, just not very, IIRC.