PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hi,

I'm about to purchase a new keyboard and am wondering which will be best to buy.

The specifactions I have thought of already are

- to make best use of the midi parameters offered by Scope (aftertouch, touch response, etc)

- 73 keys are a minimum

- Some accompliament would be good as I'm sure when my nieces and nephews visit they will want to play (though this isn't strictly necessary)

- A good keyboard action

- I don't mind if it has speakers or not as I have enough output sources


Any help would be greatly appreciated
Many thanks

Depends on how much you want to spend but I prefer Yamaha for weighted keyboards. I actually use a Yamaha hardware fake piano and when I need sliders and knobs, I have an old Novation 25 for that.

Beware of cheap brands and "semi-weighted" keyboards. Those are a no no for your primary keyboard. You might consider using software for the sounds. It can sound way better than any synthesizer.

weighted? Or not weighted?

Since you already made a DIY if I remember correctly, then I assume you want some serious Scope controls?....Could you show us a pic of your MIDI DIY for Guitar? I love custom stuff but lack the knowledge or patience to roll my own as you did.

There are many options, but I am a Pianist by birth, and MIDI / Synth addict by association. I have used many controllers over the years and never have had one as simple, stable, with sufficient weighted action as the KS88's by M Audio. They are very cheap, built well, but cannot be taken apart. So if you break a key, hope it is a very low one or very high, because these boards were not meant to be worked on, but replaced.

They support MIDI Time Code, MIDI Machine Code ( hardware tape sync & multitrack ), Sysex, and MIDI CC's galore. For example the 24 knobs ( Group B ) are great for any mixer faders or synth knobs in software or hardware. I can track a motorized fader from a Yamaha O3D and watch it follow perfectly. The 9 faders can be reversed for Hammond style drawbars, or whatever you desire. The 22 buttons can be used as on/off, and are even capable of toggle style. Push it once and have a value of 29, push it again and have a value of 74 or whatever you need on that particular MIDI channel. The possibilities are asounding. I use SpaceF's FB5 mixer as it was meant for this keyboard. I can gang groups of faders in a Scope mixer and have 5 to 8 of them on a single drawbar. Then there's the 5 transport buttons one can use with a live use of VRC-S / VDAT, or whatever software or hardware sequencer you desire.

As a Pianist I have had to deal w/ every kind of Piano in many different places often with no warm up. This was great practice as a kid because I had to suceed or fail, I did both actually, but more often suceeded. So I can play any keyboard and make it work for me, even the mediocre weighted action on the KS88. It's a great trade off IMHO as I don't use this for Grand Piano / Classical sounds all night, but when the time arises, I also arise as the action allows it. Too many people in the Piano forums whine about action, when they actyually are trying to say the software instrument doesn't respond to their touch as well as they would like. Hence, Velocity Curves. The KS88 only has a few, and they are generic just like most controllers are. But unless you are going to play Chopin or Debussey all night this Dog Will Hunt.

I Hope You Find What You Want Sista' Women Mary,

It has to be weighted keys - I think at this stage at least and this is the hopeful stage before I become realistic.

A pure midi controller keybord is a second option and yep the CME look good (I like the inclusion motorised faders) as does the KS88 look good

Since posting this question I have seen the Korg M3 and the Yamaha Tyros but I don't know if I'm just being over optimistic and I'm not sure if all the features are really necessary and I would be better saving my money for Xcite-1 (though I think the purchase of Xcite-1 was always on the cards). The inclusion of ribbon controller and X-Y touch screen and joystick and velocity sensitive pads and 88 weighted keys has me erring towards the M3 but I'm not sure if these are blurring my judgement and I can get such functions on a cheaper keyboard and also get a better sound.

So I'm still undecided and open to advice. Its a tricky decision as I'm not sure what's out there.

As for the guitar midi controller, Jimmy, I didn't build that part just the Midibox controller I've pictured previously. What I did get was a Roland GI-20 GK-midi interface with the GK3 pickup which is an excellent controller. I'm not sure, given the choice again I would pay out so much for what I was looking to achieve as the development in this area make software Guitar to midi converters adequate and the price of complete midi guitars has dropped plenty since my purchase. That said though, I'm still inspired by the creativity I can achieve with the setups and functions of the GI-20. I may have over speced myself at the time of purchase but the flexibilty to play beyond what I was looking for has fuled my creativity and enjoyment. One thing I have learnt and it seems this is familiar with most Guitar to Midi devices, accuracy in playing is paramount to achieve the best results.

Many thanks for your advice

The M3 looks sweet, and if it is anything like the Oasys, it should be an excellent choice.

The CME is unservicable, so buy 2 of them. The KS88 lacks the extra bells and whistles so for 340 USD barnd new, you could buy 2. I needed 3 for my group, 2 onstage and 1 for the FOH engineer. Personally I used 2 x for 32 MIDI Channel projects live, leaving the 6th as my spare.

The Korg M3 looks great, but personally I would get an XITE-1 and a KS88. Of course an Oasys / M3-88 w/ an XITE-1 would be a life long investment, no nephews or neices allowed !

One good thing about the M Audio is the support forum, which I never needed until I decided to add program change messages to the toggle buttons, which I couln't do on my own. They responded within 3 hours and gave me a detailed message which is great, as each of 8 Group B Controller's buttons are different snapshots of Scope's Project Window, 5 Group A Controllers for Sequencer or Multitrack, and 9 Group C buttons for presets within the Project window for the 9 most used Modular prests.

Ain't it nice to go shopping. It's refreshing to hear about a gal who shops synths, instead of Ceaser's Forum Shops.

Good Luck.

I bought a large CME and I hated it. That things was crap! Some of the keys started to stick after a while and make a really bad physical sound. I liked the action when I played it in the store but after I got home and played it a lot I wanted my Yamaha back so I sold it a bought another Yamaha.

Thanks for your replies. I've been receiving PlanetZ has exceeded thier maximum connections errors for the last few days when I've tried to login so I'm sorry I haven't responded sooner.

I agree that a few extra bits of kit, like ribbon controller, kontrolPad and a motorised fader module would be a great addition to Xite-1 and KS88 and may be the answer I am looking for. I am dubious that there would be connection issues with all the seperate gear but I cannot ignore the amazing Xite-1.

Thank you again, I believe I am getting closer to making a purchase armed with better understanding of what's out there.