Please help me decide with Keyboard to buy

[james]

Please help me decide which Keyboard to buy

Hi all,

My budget is limited and therefore I have shortlisted the following keyboards. All of these have a MIDI out (which is one of my requirements). Based on your experience, can someone please recommend which one should I buy:

1. Yamaha PSR-275
2. Yamaha PSRE203
3. CASIO CTK-800

I will also be grateful if you can please share any additional advice when it comes to selecting a keyboard for example: what advantage does a keyboard having 4 polyphonic tones have over a keybord having 16 polyphonic tones.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[bigdmakintrax]

I don't know much about those boards but just from looking at specs its a tossup between 2 & 3, I messed around with that casio in Radio Shack once and the sounds were ummmm ok I mean you might be able to do something with that board....but anyhow you want the highest polyphony you can get this has to do with the number of tones and keys that can be played simultaneously.....if you are really playing pieces and running thru riffs it makes a big difference, I had a friend that plays gospel was sick with the keys and he told me the polyphony is a big deal he found that the motif was one of the best boards where he didn't run into problems voicing or playing complex riffs and progressions....the higher the better.

 

[james]

Thanks for the reply. I hope this will help me in deciding which is a better option. Appreciate your reply and thansk again

 

[Ash Holmz]

u should try looking into a 2nd hand keyboard ... ebay is a beautiful thing ..

 

[wrightboy]

you might want to look at a midi controller. that's if you plan on using vst's. can use it standalone, but as long as you're hooking into the computer, or a sound module, you're good. i picked up an 88 key m-audio for $199.

 

[james]

Thanks Ash and Finnigan,

I'll keep your suggestion in minds. BTW, if I buy a midi controller and use it with my PC (having Fuiruty Lop installed) then will i have access to many more sounds which the midi controller offers by itself???

The idea of not being able to use it without a connected PC is a bit boring but I guess that results must ve worth it?

Will try eBay too

 

[afriquedeluxe]

hey have you thought of just buying a plain midi controller? like i started of with a keyboard of a similar type, a casio ctk391, but only time i used sounds from it was to pratice playing and nothing else(except on one beat). Most of the time i just used its midi function, so all the built in stuff was kind of useless. but keyboards like these non the less are good starters.

 

[james]

hey have you thought of just buying a plain midi controller? like i started of with a keyboard of a similar type, a casio ctk391, but only time i used sounds from it was to pratice playing and nothing else(except on one beat). Most of the time i just used its midi function, so all the built in stuff was kind of useless. but keyboards like these non the less are good starters.

Hi,

Actualli i have sort of thought about buying a plain midi controller but since I am realtively new to all of this thefore I think that :

1) Without connected to a PC running a sequencer (like Fruity Loops etc.), a plain midi controller by itself is of new use??? Can you lease comment on this understanding

2) Regarding the possible sounds I am not clear If (when connected to a PC; again running something like Fruity Loop or reason) a midi controller offer more sounds than a keyboard??? I am not sure about this and that's why so far am kind of more inclined of buying one of the above keyboards.

BTW, In additon to your repies (against my 2 questions above), can you recommend a decent midi controller which is in the same price range as of the 4 keyboads that I have shortlisted (ie. around $150 or so).

Everyone: Many thanks for youre replies and will appreciate more guidance.

Thanks

 

[Big Tone]

to answer your questions.

1. no you cant use a midi controller by itself. theres no sounds built into it

2. yes. you will have as many sounds as you can put in you FL or reason. etc

3. you should never buy anything solely because somebody recommended it to you. the best way is to go to your closest pro audio dealer and try out a few of them.

 

[james]

Hi Big Tone,

Thanks for the reply and clarification.
Appreciate it.