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Or weighted with little metal weights glued under each key to give a bit of feel (compared to the ultra-lightweight cheapo synth type)? They are plentiful - I'd go for a Yamaha or Roland from 10+ years ago, such as a Fantom X6, X7 or S6, etc. Those are workstations, but you can also find simpler synths with the same keybeds (Yamaha V50).
I'm not up to speed with the sound-less MIDI controllers, though. They'd be MUCH cheaper, and also far lighter and take up less studio space.
Easier to find on 76 than a 61.
Studiologic SL73 comes to mind as a controller.
Various Nord's (6D for example) for something with sounds.
Why weighted?
Do you want to be playing piano?
If so then an electric piano (Roland, Kawaii, Yamaha etc) will be a good shout.
Fewer sounds, but a focus on playability.
If you want something that does it all then get out the big bucks.
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I have a weighted keys clavinova with midi output that I can use for stuff, But I want something that I can move around with me. I used to use my Korg N364, but having not touched it for a few years, the non weighted keys feel horrible. Feels like a toy. Semi-weighted - I have an M audio thing and that too feels horrible, although it was cheap.
You'll find many more weighted 88 note keyboards for sale than 61 or 76.
You should be able to nab a bargain.
If you definitely want a smaller keyboard then you might be waiting for quite a while if it has to be weighted.
Not all semi-weighted/synth weighted keyboards are crap.
Anything with a Fatar keybed is absolutely playable.
Personally I find some cheaper weighted hammer action keypads worse than good quality synth-weighted.
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But that means 88-keys. PX-5S is old, but gold (has a full-blown synth under the hood) and the more recent CDP-S100 is super-slim and very affordable. PX-S1000 slightly higher spec, ISTR.
I have a P-35.
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This has been my main keyboard since the aftertouch strip on my JX-10 turned as firm as concrete. I am willing to part with the XP because I have duplicates of all of its sounds in other Roland MIDI devices.
DESCRIPTION
https://www.roland.com/uk/products/xp-80/
REVIEW
http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/xp80.php
REVERB (for price tracking reasons)
https://reverb.com/uk/p/roland-xp-80-76-key-64-voice-music-workstation-keyboard
Yup - that'd be a great buy.
Just noticed, very old thread!
I've been looking for <88 key weighted keyboards for forever and they're so rare, can only remember one - the Studiologic one.
Kind of surprising it's like this with the virtual instrument and home studio thing being so big - there surely must be a market for weighted keys to be used for controlling soft synths rather than to play classical piano on and the 88 key boards are pretty big for a lot of home studios I'd imagine (and I'd be surprised if many used the full range for anything other than piano pieces that need it).
Even the top midi controllers whose 88 key version has fully weighted keys seem to invariably change to synth action for the other models.
Most home studiod do use 88 keybefs for the weighted piano option.
Normsl setup, assuming a single board (which is common for home studios) is an 88 hammer if you need piano, or 61/48 (or smaller) synth action if you dont intend to use piano.
A lot have an 88 note main board for piano duties and a 37 synth for vsts.
The problem with it is that it's not really portable, you need a sturdy stand so that it's does not wobble, they make a matching stand so make sure you get it unless you put it on a proper table.
For me, if the patch has a lot going on depending on velocity so I want to be precise then weighted makes it easier and if I want to play fast then an unweighted makes it easier.
There tends to be 4 types these days. Synth - with no spring action a light keys (some classic synths had this), semi weighted with a little more heft to the keys and some spring pressure on the back of the key (which is what most classic synths had to some degree). Weighted (like a piano but no bounce back) and hammer action (true piano style feel if not constructions). My preference is hammer for piano, and semi for synths.
I agree with the velocity thing - but I find velocity is just as easy on a synth action bed than a hammer/weighted. speed is different but not velocity as such IMO. each to their own though, everyone is different.
If its that "semi weighted", sprung keybed common on classic synths your after - there are quite a few available options in 73/76/61 keys. You wont find weighted/hammer action on many under 88 - which is what I (for one) thought you were after given your use of "weighted",
Flimsy synth action is OK for cheap synths (MODX6, FA06) but the feel of semi-weighted keys on (e.g.) the Montage, Virus, etc, is much better.
Also worth checking: piano-weighted keybeds rarely have aftertouch*, which is another reason for having a second quality semi-weighted keyboard with it. I'm happy now, having settled on the Kawai ES8 and Waldorf STVC.
(*An honourable exception being the Oberheim MC2000 controller I sold here recently.)
As you say, it's just personal preference but it does surprise me that you find weighted useful for piano but not any other sound when there are synth patches that react to velocity similarly to a piano. To me it seems obvious that the best action for piano sounds would also be the best for those. Unless, of course, you are playing different music on the piano to what you're playing on synths then that would explain it.
It has changed now though, they do generally now have it. At least, the top few brands I'd buy regardless of AT's inclusion do have it on their weighted 88 key controllers.
Any specific semi-weighted models you find useful for accurate velocity control? I've tried a lot of the well known ones from Novation, Akai etc.
I do still wonder why you don't use the semi-weighted one for piano sounds then?
Piano-weighted keys are also graded across the board, with different weight in the treble to the bass. Unlike a semi-weighted synth keyboard.
For me (a keyboard hack) the best thing about piano-weighted keys is that you have to work harder to be consistent and get the tone you want. Which is rather like playing guitar. A downside is that poor technique (pinkie/4th finger strength) shows up more readily than on a semi-weighted synth keyboard.
See that surprises me. Say I had to play a game where I'd do play a piece and get as many notes hitting the same specific velocity as possible; I'd have thought I'd have a better chance with a digital piano style keyboard than on a synth style keyboard.
I assume your after a controller not synth? Whay functionality do ypu need snd what price point. Ideal size?
For years I've been looking for a weighted keyboard that's smaller than an 88 key but the only one I found was Studiologic's lowest end one which gets a bit of mixed feedback online. If there's a particular semi-weighted one you find to have good controllable action, I'd be grateful for a recommendation if it's not one I've already tried. I'm not playing Romantic piano nocturnes or anything, it's just that the semi-weighted ones I've tried already didn't seem to have enough resistance for what I'm after.
Just out of curiosity, do you use the hammer action or semi-weighted keyboards for electric piano if you use that?
As for recommendations - I dont use controllers, I use synths/pianos as controllers (as I use them for their own sounds as well). As such Im not aware of whats particularly good or bad on controllers. Good, controllable semi weighted, affordable synth to look at would be something like the Model Argon/Cobalt 8s (the 61 key version if you want a controller). they have the bonus of transmitting separate midi on every knob so can be used as a controller in a fashion.