r/keys Jun 27 '24

r/keys is back!

22 Upvotes

So now that this sub has an active moderator again (henlo, it's me), I've removed the "approved posters" list, so any member can contribute to this sub again.

I'll open up custom flair too, so be sure to put your flagship keyboards in your flair so we know what you're working with!


r/keys 3h ago

Which old stage keyboard do you think would be the best buy ? (If you find one that has not been used a lot on the market)

3 Upvotes

Budget around 1000 euro on the second hand market.

I don't really need all the bells and whistles, only a good action keyboard and decent piano and electric piano sounds plus a midi out.


r/keys 14h ago

Which of these stage pianos will be best?

3 Upvotes

Hello all im in the market to buy a stage piano. I want 88 weighted keys and im mostly intrested in playing the piano but i really want other sounds like organ,different classic keyboards, mellotron etc hence the need for a stage piano.

I was intrested in the yamaha ck88 but its a little over budget for me. I have also found a used roland rd-08, yamaha moxf8 and yamaha mx88 all of these were around 700€ which is more in my budget

Which one of these would be the best? As i said i wanna play some piano but also other keyboards. I might bring this piano for band practice and probably live use if we ever do that. Built in speakers are practical but i will probably play with headphones most of the time.

Is it worth going almost double that price for a ck88? That organ simulator seems really cool. Or do you have any better suggestions?


r/keys 4h ago

Looking for these yunzii keycaps or an alternative clone

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0 Upvotes

r/keys 23h ago

Gear Yamaha CK-88 Acoustic Piano Sounds

6 Upvotes

Hey Guys,

I just recently purchased a Yamaha CK-88. Overall, I’ve been very pleased with the keyboard - however the acoustic piano sounds have been very disappointing. I’m not exactly a music expert, so I don’t know how to describe it better, but they sound very dull or muted. I’ve dried fiddling around with the various settings on the keyboard but have encountered very little improvement.

Does anyone have any experience with this that could offer some suggestions on how to remedy or at least improve the sound slightly?

Thanks!!


r/keys 1d ago

Which keyboard to buy mainly for piano and electric keyboard sounds + midi controller for vst

2 Upvotes

I want to upgrade my Yamaha p125, it has served me well but it is busted and I've reached its limitations.

I was looking at the nord but they are damn expensive and then I found the Yamaha series of pro keyboard.

I could save money and wait to buy the cp 88 or yc 88, don't really now what is the difference between them, I don't need a lot of option and sounds, if I wanna play synths I will just hook it to the computer and use some plugins on my pc, I just want really nice piano and Rhodes sounds and be able to play without turning my computer on.

I've also came across the Ck 88, which is much cheaper but has not as nice action than the more premium model I guess ?

Really want to buy one keyboard and be set for 10 years sor reparability is also important.

What would you recommend ?


r/keys 2d ago

Want a new keyboard for aux player in church and for home practice

2 Upvotes

Budget is 400 dollars, I had in mind roland go keys 3, korg ek 50


r/keys 2d ago

Tunes of Indians $1 Piano

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0 Upvotes

r/keys 3d ago

Just Bought a Very Well Preserved Roland RD-800

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8 Upvotes

r/keys 3d ago

Korg keystage knob mapping

1 Upvotes

Dear all,

I am interested in the Keystage keyboards, but have a question for people using it.

If I am using Ableton Live 12 and an instance of Analog Lab Pro with an instrument, will it automatically map the controls to the knobs of the keyboard?

Or with an instance of Spitfire Audio Labs...?

Thank


r/keys 3d ago

Gear Upgraded from Rockjam RJ5061 (61key) to Yamaha PSR-EW320 (76key). Has anyone here done open mics/small gigs with this or a similar entry-level board? Would love to hear your experiences!

1 Upvotes

Overall I am satisfied, it is certainly a HUGE step up from the keyboard I was using, and I made that work (home use only).

The touch-sensitive keys make a huge difference, and while the keys are still shiny and sleek, they are not nearly as slippery as the ones on the Rockjam.

There is no comparison when it comes to the sounds, especially the piano sounds. I couldn't even use the piano sounds on the Rockjam.

I would like to start doing open mics within the next year, and depending on how that goes, maybe try to land some small gigs.

I see a lot of people refer to entry-level keyboards like mine as "toys", and it's certainly no grand piano, but compared to what I was using, it's heavenly. I'm the queen of making things work, (where there's a will there's a way!), so I am fairly confident I can make it work for low-stakes performances, but I would love to hear from others who have used similar entry-level boards.

I have 30 days to return it, and my budget is $400. (I spent $254 on this one, new)

I thought all the sounds and features would be a lot more important than they are. I actually find it all a bit overwhelming, and probably won't use a fraction of them. I am thinking maybe I should try to just find a portable digital piano. I loved the way the P-143 sounded and felt when I tried it in-store, but at $750 it was outside my budget.


r/keys 4d ago

Gear Studiologic: You can't find it in a store. Bizarre marketing?

5 Upvotes

I'm interested in buying a Numa X GT, but nobody carries it. I've had to return too many instruments, until I'm back where we were pre-internet: Ya gotta play an instrument to know if it suits you. Some places don't even cover return shipping. Who are these people, and why don't they want their instruments in stores?


r/keys 4d ago

Dreamplaypianos.com

0 Upvotes

I want to buy a narrow keys digital piano as soon as the right size becomes available.

Would you trust a startup enough to preorder and pay half in advance, half a year prior to estimated release?

The company in question is dreamplaypianos.com. The founder is a seemingly pretty well established YouTuber/pianist called Lionel Yu. I wonder if he would even need the money in advance in order to bring the product to market.


r/keys 4d ago

Gear Starter keyboard options under $350

3 Upvotes

Hey guys, I would like to start learning keyboard/piano. I will be playing church songs (worship) most of the time, and since they rely heavily on effects, I’m leaning more towards a keyboard/synth setup rather than a basic digital piano. I went to some local stores here in Australia and really liked the feel of the Roland FP10, but it’s out of my beginner budget. I also liked the Yamaha P45; it's an older model, but the key action is much better than a cheap keyboard. Some friends recommended the Yamaha PSR E383, but I didn’t like how the keys felt. They also suggested a MIDI controller like the Novation Launchkey 61 MK4, which has semi-weighted keys. It requires an audio interface and a laptop/tablet, but that is not a big deal since I already deal with plugging things in for my bass rig. What would you guys recommend for a starter with a budget of $500 AUD (around $350 USD)?


r/keys 6d ago

Gear Child beginning music journey : recommendations

1 Upvotes

Hi all,

Im a musically illiterate.

My 9 year old sarted carnatic vocal music at about 3 years of age.

Not prodigy level but hardworking and continues to pursue by own choice.

The school also sees some promise and enrolled in keyboard classes .

We are looking into a mid budget keyboard. Did a fair bit of survey and got confused more than when I began .

Shortlisted models are :

Yamaha psr e383

Yamaha psr e483

Yamaha psr i510

Yamaha psr i610

Casio ctx 8000

Casio ctx 9000in

Roland go keys 3

Roland go keys 5

im really leaning towards the gokeys 5 but it has the disadvantages :

a) it is well over my budget

b) it is so technologically advanced she might not concentrate on the core musical learning rather than the 'production aspect.

Currently we have come to the consensus that we need to invest in a medium term weighted keyboard that will last us long until the schooling years are done and actual progress is demonstrated before investing in higher options.

Any suggestions and tips are welcome.

Im based out of India some models may not be current or available in other markets. Im looking to buy new for forthcoming birthday. Avoid second hand dm offers.

Thanks all in advance.


r/keys 6d ago

Looking for keyboards teacher for a group

1 Upvotes

Looking for online keyboards teacher for few people (2 or more). All are new to music, not just keyboards. Will need to have atleast 1 class during weekdays and late into the night (10-11pm). The timing restriction is due to all of us having work till late in the evening.

If you even know someone please drop the lead here or share me in DM.

Thanks in advance. [India] Time zone: IST


r/keys 6d ago

Gear Yamaha PSR-E383 pros/cons? I have already tried it out in-store and am happy with the price, portability, and sound.

3 Upvotes

edit: I went with the Yamaha PSR-EW320, which is the exact same thing as the PSR-E383, except it has 76 keys instead of 61. I figured I might outgrow a 61 key board, whereas I may be just fine with 76 forevermore. (I do plan on getting a piano as well eventually.)

So far I am really happy with it! The ONLY downside is the headphone jack is not a standard jack and requires an adapter to use with most headphones.

The manual isn't the best at explaining all the features so I'll have to watch videos to fully master all of them, but I love that it's got a button you can push to automatically default to "portable grand" piano sound. Does it sound exactly as a real piano? No. But it does sound good! ​The keys not being weighted really doesn't feel like much of an issue to me, I feel like I can fairly easily adjust for the different styles of playing between weighted/non weighted. I used to play piano fairly well as a kid, so maybe it's a"muscle memory" thing? I actually think I just play the keyboard the same way I play piano, as if the keys are weighted.

Anyway, I am happy with my purchase! it cost me $254 new at Music and Arts.

Original Post:

I tried a bunch of options and for the price, this was my fave. I actually liked it better than some more expensive options. (My budget is $400)

I also learned I REALLY want a digital piano with weighted keys one day! But right now portability and ease of recording into a daw are my top priorities.

Basically I am just curious if this model holds up well, and if there are any downsides I should know about.


r/keys 6d ago

The Complete Guide to Modern MIDI Connectivity

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0 Upvotes

r/keys 7d ago

Roland FP-30x thoughts

5 Upvotes

What do you think of Roland FP-30x for restaurant gigs?
I want to get a light weight (around 30 lbs) 88 weighted keyboard, mostly for blues, rock, jazz. (I don’t need a lot of sounds for the 88)

I currently play a YC73 and have an ancient Privia.
I was also looking at the privia psx5000 but it’s twice as much as the roland and I’ve heard the action isn’t as good.


r/keys 6d ago

Looking for keyboards teacher for a group

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1 Upvotes

Looking for online keyboards teacher for few people (2 or more). All are new to music, not just keyboards. Will need to have atleast 1 class during weekdays and late into the night (10-11pm). The timing restriction is due to all of us having work till late in the evening.

If you even know someone please drop the lead here or share me in DM.

Thanks in advance.

[India]


r/keys 8d ago

Nord Electro 7 or Yamaha YC61 (with extra twist)

5 Upvotes

I’m going into music college this year and my parents just allowed me some budget for new keyboard.

I’m considering Nord Electro 7 73 keys because I wanted a semi-weighted keys, analog synth, and I know that Nord live up to their name,
but Yamaha YC61 seems like a good choice to me to with it FM engine, light weight, and it’s 30% cheaper than the Electro 7 in my country.

I mainly play jazz and fusion jazz but I also play in a band where they do pop song and maybe synth-pop-ish song? this is also what I wanted to consider about too.

P.S. I already have Studiologic SL73 if I wanted a weighted keys but if I buy a YC61, I would have leftover budget to get maybe a Studiologic Numa X Piano 73 or An Electro 6 (It’s 25% off in my local shop) but 2 keyboards maybe too much weight for me to carry.

P.S.2 I really wanted a Stage 4 Compact but its way way out of my budget.

Sorry for bad English and thank you for reading!

Edit : Thank you everyone for giving out opinions and helping me! I just realize that I got a spare Korg Kross 2 at home, maybe it could be a good substitute for my future second keyboard!


r/keys 8d ago

Latency Issues with Yamaha MX-61 Keyboard

1 Upvotes

I’m having issues when trying to record keys over a stereo mix that someone has sent me. Fully finished track I’m just adding some organ parts to round it out

I have the MX61 connected via USB and set to record in stereo. Im using my headphones to monitor and they are plugged directly into the keyboard, and I have the keyboard selected as playback device so I can hear the track while I’m recording

The issue I’m running into is that when I go back and listen to any of my takes, they are always a second or two behind the main stereo track, even though I am playing in time while recording

Any and all advice/suggestions are appreciated


r/keys 7d ago

An idea for a fifth Yamaha Reface Keyboadx

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0 Upvotes

Before I start, yes I used AI to help me expand on my ideas and generate images and a full summary of what the controls do, but the majority of this was my idea.

Let me know what you think of this, whether you love or hate the reface line there is no denying that this fills in the gap in what the reface line is capable of!


r/keys 9d ago

Gear Any downsides to Casio CT-S500? It seems to check all my boxes. Would love to hear from those who have/had one for awhile :)

2 Upvotes

I am also looking into the Casio CT-X3000. But heavily leaning towards the S-500.

The Yamaha ck61 just caught my eye as well, but that's out of my price range unless I can find a reallly good deal used. My budget is $400.

The main question I have regarding the Casio is how resistant are the keys? The Rockjam I currently use requires nearly Olympic-level strength to play!

Would also love to hear well it holds up over time?

Thanks so much!


r/keys 9d ago

Gear Hi! Looking for recommendations for a keyboard with touch-sensitive keys, recording option, headphone jack, and variety of voices for intermediate songwriter. Sound quality is highest priority. Budget is $400

3 Upvotes

Edit: Right now I am leaning towards the Casio CT-S500. I LOVE the extreme portability aspect, and the fact it uses AA batteries instead of D. And the strap option is amazing!

I am also considering the Casio CT-X3000.

Going to a music store soon to play both and see which I like better, but for anyone who has experience with both these models, I would love to hear your thoughts!

I had one as a kid I absolutely loved. Bought in the 90's. I can't remember what kind but I think it was either a Yamaha or a Kawaii. It had a bunch of fun voices like drums and guitar, and the sound was good. It lasted for decades, until something spilled on it and it finally went kapoot. I didn't play for a long time, and only recently got back into it when I was gifted a RockJam RJ5601 keyboard. It has served its purpose well, re-igniting the spark of passion for music and allowing me to finally dive into my life-long dream of writing my own songs. But I outgrew it pretty quickly. The sound quality is not very good, and it has zero touch sensitivity. The record option only lasts for 20 notes. And after like 1 minute of inactivity, it automatically reverts to the default settings which include a volume of 9. Startles me every time I forget to check the volume when I'm bouncing back and forth between it and Bandlab.

I am looking to upgrade to something similar to what I had as a kid. I don't play any other instruments, so having the onboard voices would be nice but it isn't a dealbreaker. The quality of the piano sound itself is more important. It doesn't have to sound like a baby grand, but it has to sound pleasant at least. I can't even use the piano setting on my keyboard now, it sounds awful.

I do want to be able to bring my keyboard with me to open mics and such eventually, so portability is important. Built-in speakers, a battery-powered option, and it not being too heavy are key here (I do not have a car and need to be able to take it on the train fairly easily)

I also want it to simulate playing a real piano well enough that I would feel comfortable sitting down at a real one and playing one of my songs. Right now I wouldn't even know how to adjust my songs for a real piano because I always play on a transposed synth bass setting (the only voice that sounds good).

I am located in the DMV, and am willing to travel anywhere Metro-accessible. Would prefer to buy used but am willing to buy new if need be.