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Subject: Cheapo keyboards

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Original Message 1/28 24-Nov-03 @ 06:55 AM - Cheapo keyboards

Me!

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G'day folks,
I'm after a cheap 5+ octave keyboards with some decent velocity sensitivity. Aftertouch and pitch bend would be nice also. I'm not worried about features or how it sounds, I really only need it as a controller. What am I looking to pay? Anybody?
Thanks dudes

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Message 2/28 24-Nov-03 @ 08:19 AM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Garuna

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I have the Roland XP10. Cheap. Excellent as a controller. A few neat sounds on there too.

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Message 3/28 24-Nov-03 @ 02:21 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

craig

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CS1X

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Message 4/28 24-Nov-03 @ 03:03 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

BluStudio

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defo second that - yamaha's Cs1x, Cs2x & An1x make wicked keys/controllers.

An1x prolly best bet cos you get a great VA too, but mebbe the dearest out the three.

blu

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Message 5/28 24-Nov-03 @ 03:21 PM Edit: 24-Nov-03 | 03:21 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Bastiaan

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An1x has a better keyboard to0 (compared to the cs2x which I also own) and all 8 knobs are assignable and it has an assignable ribbon controller.

The cs2x also has 8 knobs, of which 2 are freely assignable and it's sound engine is slightly better then the 6 knobbeb c21x.

Go for the An1x, cos it's a very nice sounding VA.

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Message 6/28 24-Nov-03 @ 04:56 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Influx

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Korg Wavestation EX

$250-$300 US

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Message 7/28 24-Nov-03 @ 05:05 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Defector Z

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I don't know folks, I've been seeing the keyboard version of the Kurzweil k2000 out for under $500. If you got that much to spend, I think you're better off getting the kurz over the others mentioned. Although that AN1X is a heck of a synth. You wouldn't do wrong with either. Did anyone ever solve the problem of using the CSxX as a controller and turning off the internal sounds?

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Message 8/28 24-Nov-03 @ 05:38 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Influx

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why get a K2000 tho? seriously

hell even the wavestation isnt as good cuz no knobs really

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Message 9/28 24-Nov-03 @ 06:46 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Defector Z

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Well the k2000 is a HELL of a controller keyboard - aftertouch, velo sensitive, 5 octaves, solid. Got a data slider, mod wheel, pitch bend. 3 zone midi control. Pedal inputs.

The synth engine in it is amazing. The sounds are incredible to begin with - lush strings, good accoustic drums, plus all the sounds are editable. Sampling capability if you want to add it on. Sure its Rom based, but the synth architecture allows you to go SOOOO much deeper. Plus 6 outputs, effects. If you want a VA, perhaps another synth is the better option, but to get a VA with as good a keyboard is much more expensive.

As a controller, it's as good as it gets. As a synth, it's as good as it gets.

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Message 10/28 24-Nov-03 @ 07:30 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Influx

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bah

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Message 11/28 24-Nov-03 @ 07:39 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Defector Z

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Can't argue with that.

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Message 12/28 24-Nov-03 @ 07:47 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Tom

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Haha,

if you want cheapo cheapo you can't go wrong with something like casio. I've been using a casio ctk-601 61 keys for something like 7 years at least... At the time i paid equivalent of 200 us dollars for it. These are way cheaper now. Suprisingly It has survived a lot of moving around and abuse.

Tom

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Message 13/28 24-Nov-03 @ 07:52 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Influx

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bah

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Message 14/28 24-Nov-03 @ 08:02 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Yonce N Mild

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If you use a synth for a controller you lose all the extra functions that you get with a dedicated controller keyboard. I used to use a yammie cs1x, I got a 61 key evolution and I'll never go back to using a synth as a controller. I have ten presets for keyboard setups. That means I have all my hardware and my favorite softsynths cc#s ready to go at a touch of a button. I can switch from tweaking the cutoff on my darkstar to tweaking the pitch on my asr-x with the touch of a button. Or I can do both at the same time since I can assign different knobs to different midi channels.

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Message 15/28 24-Nov-03 @ 08:32 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

craig

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Yes, there's a fix to turning off the internal sounds of the CS1X.

-Craig

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Message 16/28 24-Nov-03 @ 08:38 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Yonce N Mild

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I just turned the volume down !

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Message 17/28 24-Nov-03 @ 09:21 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Influx

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yonce has a point

just seems like the current crop of mid-level controllers are really cheap feeling and looking

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Message 18/28 25-Nov-03 @ 12:47 AM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Me!

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Hey I like the look of the evolution mk-361. It's apparently velocity sensitive, but does it have aftertouch??

Yonce??

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Message 19/28 25-Nov-03 @ 04:32 AM Edit: 25-Nov-03 | 04:34 AM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Optofonik - AKA, mick, rhyze, etc.

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SQ80 for around $250.00.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1996_articles/jul96/ensoniqsq80.html?session=7ee3885fcc301cb50e17136413fab180

For a bit more I'll agree about the K2000. Is there a more powerful synth, from a programming standpoint, even today?
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep98/articles/kurzweil_k2000.html?session=7ee3885fcc301cb50e17136413fab180

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Message 20/28 25-Nov-03 @ 05:16 AM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

psylichon

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k2000 for $500??? duh!

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Message 21/28 25-Nov-03 @ 09:10 AM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Bastiaan

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quote
I don't know folks, I've been seeing the keyboard version of the Kurzweil k2000 out for under $500. If you got that much to spend, I think you're better off getting the kurz over the others mentioned. Although that AN1X is a heck of a synth. You wouldn't do wrong with either. Did anyone ever solve the problem of using the CSxX as a controller and turning off the internal sounds?

Ehm, the cs2x has a local on/off option, dunno about the cs1x. At any rate: go for the an1x if you can choose between tha cs2x and the an1x: the cs2x has a predefined soundset, some of the sounds are totally useless (badly sampled chooped up loops and vocal stabs) and it's not as programmable as the an1 nor does is offer the same keyboard or the same controller options.

Besides that: the really good sounds of the cs2x can also be had if you buy a tg500 (which sounds way better actually) and all the 'synth' stuff in the cs2x are (it seems) samples from the an1x to begin with anyway.

So unless you need a piano, 'real' violins etc. I'd go for the an1x though the cs2x isn't that bad at all, it's quite nice actually (nicer than I made it sound just now)

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Message 22/28 25-Nov-03 @ 01:39 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Yonce N Mild

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No the mk361c doesn't have aftertouch. It is very nice to play though, the keys feel great, easily as good as the csx keyboards (not saying to much). To be honest I'm not exactly sure what aftertouch is but it's not listed as a feature and I can't tell any difference between the evolution and other keyboards I have had as far as how the keys respond so I'm guessing no

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Message 23/28 25-Nov-03 @ 02:37 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Tom

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After touch is like an additional controller, that acts on how hard you press the key after its been initially struck. With aftertouch you could for example control the amount of vibrato added to the voice. It makes for a nice intimate controller. Not that ive ever tried it, just guessing tho.

Tom

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Message 24/28 26-Nov-03 @ 10:51 AM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

dan-s

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I'm pretty sure the cs1x can turn local on/off.

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Message 25/28 26-Nov-03 @ 12:24 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

cheddar

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at last

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Message 26/28 26-Nov-03 @ 01:48 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

craig

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From: dan-s@home.se
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Date: 26-nov-03 - 10:51 am
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I'm pretty sure the cs1x can turn local on/off.

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Yeah, but the problem comes in when using it in a simple MIDI system with only one out.. There's no apparent way to "disable" the XG voices on channels 5-16. There IS a way though.

-Craig

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Message 27/28 26-Nov-03 @ 03:07 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

dan-s

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"Yeah, but the problem comes in when using it in a simple MIDI system with only one out.. There's no apparent way to "disable" the XG voices on channels 5-16."

hmm... I guess I never had that problem seeing that I only ever chained it with a (monophonic, one midi channel) basstation rack.

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Message 28/28 26-Nov-03 @ 07:55 PM - RE: Cheapo keyboards

Influx

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cheddar I think Ive seen that...it just has a space cut out for the qwerty no?

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