The Silv
March 28th, 2007, 03:11 am
I know someone else has a similar thread here on the first page, but my specifications are a little different, and help would be much appreciated. Now this is gonna be a little lengthy, detailed, and picky, so I'll need some patience.
I'm a self-taught intermediate pianist(taught myself to read sheet music as well) and am looking to invest in a keyboard. The thing is, I'm not very familiar with keyboards. And if I'm going to be investing around $1500 into something, I want to know that not only did I get my money's worth, but I got specifically what I needed, considering I am hoping to use it for live performance with a band.
While I play the piano, my only experience with keyboards is this old 66-key Casio a friend of mine tossed(and with good cause). But before I start, I need a question answered. While looking for keyboards online, I commonly see keyboards called synthesizers and workstations. While yes, I do want a synthesizer to play for a rock band, I want to know if I'm getting the same deal with something officially labelled "Keyboard" or "Worstation." What is the difference, and what are each best suited for?
Anyway... what I need in the keyboard is the following:
1.) A wide selection of instruments and sounds
2.) Sounds to be as realistic as possible.
3.) A full 88 keys.
4.) Capable of recording sounds for me to layer(this is more optional since I can record with other material)
5.) A USB port for computer sound editting.
6.) Also, this may be a tricky one. I'm unsure if I can even get this with what I'm looking for. The keys on the keyboards I see, are thin, more like organ keys, with the black keys standing up less, and clicking more than anything else. However, I have seen other keyboards where the keys are made like piano keys, and feel like piano keys. I don't know if these are actual synthesizers or just electric pianos, or if it's possible to make synths with these types of keys. Because in all honesty, I have trouble playing with the standard "Keyboard" type keys. I'm sure I can get used to it, but I feel like it would be better for me to just get what I'm more comfortable with at the moment. Help on this matter would be appreciated, because on product descriptions for keyboards, they never specify what types of keys are used on the keyboard. And it's hard for me to tell when the only picture is a bird's eye view shot. I've been looking at the Alesis Fusion 8HD, which seems to be the most appealling to me at the moment. But the only thing that could really turn me away from it are the keys.
Anyway, once again, anyone's help and advice would be much appreciated.
I'm a self-taught intermediate pianist(taught myself to read sheet music as well) and am looking to invest in a keyboard. The thing is, I'm not very familiar with keyboards. And if I'm going to be investing around $1500 into something, I want to know that not only did I get my money's worth, but I got specifically what I needed, considering I am hoping to use it for live performance with a band.
While I play the piano, my only experience with keyboards is this old 66-key Casio a friend of mine tossed(and with good cause). But before I start, I need a question answered. While looking for keyboards online, I commonly see keyboards called synthesizers and workstations. While yes, I do want a synthesizer to play for a rock band, I want to know if I'm getting the same deal with something officially labelled "Keyboard" or "Worstation." What is the difference, and what are each best suited for?
Anyway... what I need in the keyboard is the following:
1.) A wide selection of instruments and sounds
2.) Sounds to be as realistic as possible.
3.) A full 88 keys.
4.) Capable of recording sounds for me to layer(this is more optional since I can record with other material)
5.) A USB port for computer sound editting.
6.) Also, this may be a tricky one. I'm unsure if I can even get this with what I'm looking for. The keys on the keyboards I see, are thin, more like organ keys, with the black keys standing up less, and clicking more than anything else. However, I have seen other keyboards where the keys are made like piano keys, and feel like piano keys. I don't know if these are actual synthesizers or just electric pianos, or if it's possible to make synths with these types of keys. Because in all honesty, I have trouble playing with the standard "Keyboard" type keys. I'm sure I can get used to it, but I feel like it would be better for me to just get what I'm more comfortable with at the moment. Help on this matter would be appreciated, because on product descriptions for keyboards, they never specify what types of keys are used on the keyboard. And it's hard for me to tell when the only picture is a bird's eye view shot. I've been looking at the Alesis Fusion 8HD, which seems to be the most appealling to me at the moment. But the only thing that could really turn me away from it are the keys.
Anyway, once again, anyone's help and advice would be much appreciated.