Need a new tiny keyboard

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derFunkenstein
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2011/11/16 10:12:31 (permalink)

Need a new tiny keyboard

I have an M-Audio Keyrig 25 and it has officially crapped its pants.  Pressing notes only works sometimes and it's an exercise in frustration.  I think I got a good 6 years out of it so I'm not too upset. But now I'm in the market for another (cheap!) 25-key controller with full-sized keys.  I'm looking at replacing it with another M-Audio device (Oxygen25) or an Alesis Q25.  I'd like to keep it south of $100 if at all possible.  Any other suggestions?

King Ben of Nopantsville
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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/16 11:07:29 (permalink)
    Why not a slightly bigger selection of keys? 61 is fairly affordable. 

    http://www.samash.com/web...1__DrillDown___182423_


    sorry for the huge link... prices low to high.... 


    or>>>  http://www.radioshack.com....jsp?productId=3811043

    You can easily find a decent replacement under $100. 

    I have a radio shack 61 key with touch sensitive keys I would sell cheap but I won't pack it and ship it cause it's likely to cost more to ship it then it's worth. I used it in the studio for a while.... looked impressive having 2 keyboards on the stand. It's in the attic now. 


    My website & music: www.herbhartley.com

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    #2
    derFunkenstein
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/16 11:37:22 (permalink)
    It's mostly just a question of desk space.  I don't need a full keyboard with sounds like so many Yamaha keyboards in your link - I just need a MIDI controller for entering notes into Finale and Sonar (and I don't think I was totally clear on that in the OP, and I apologize for being a bit opaque).  I am, however, tempted by lots of 49-key keyboards. I wonder how I can rearrange my workspace to make it fit...
    post edited by derFunkenstein - 2011/11/16 11:38:25

    King Ben of Nopantsville
    #3
    Guitarhacker
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/16 11:52:13 (permalink)
    OK... space is always a consideration in a home studio.


    Just thought I'd offer.... I saw a few of the smaller controllers like you were wanting and the price was around $50 to $70 fro most of them on the SA site. 

    You can also check on Ebay. I have gotten quite a few really good deals on there. Stuff is generally around 50% off the cost of new. Throw in shipping and you're still getting a deal.

    My website & music: www.herbhartley.com

    MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW   
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    "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer 
    #4
    derFunkenstein
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/16 11:54:45 (permalink)
    Oh that's an option I always forget about. Silly ebay, hanging out there with loads of stuff for me to buy.  

    King Ben of Nopantsville
    #5
    IK Obi
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/16 18:25:19 (permalink)
    I love my CME M-key with 49 keys. Small and portable.
    #6
    derFunkenstein
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/17 10:17:26 (permalink)
    Thanks, Obi. That looks perfect!  The width is by far the most important dimension, and it's got very little wasted space to the sides of the keys.  

    King Ben of Nopantsville
    #7
    IK Obi
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/17 13:35:03 (permalink)
    Yup! Thats exactly why I picked it! No wasted space, light, portable and has great features!
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    derFunkenstein
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/20 17:52:00 (permalink)
    Thanks to Amazon Prime it arrived yesterday and it's got some pretty good feel.  May just be the best $100 I ever spent on a MIDI controller (since the only other $100 was on the Keyrig25 several years ago, and honestly it was a pretty good $100).

    King Ben of Nopantsville
    #9
    MiykPace
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/21 04:06:58 (permalink)
    I see that you've already got one, but for informational purposes I purchased the M Audio Axiom 61 key off ebay for ~200 about a year ago & I absolutely love it. I've dropped it so many times yet it's build like a tank, and it integrates perfectly with every DAW I've used. 

    They have a 49 and 25 key model as far as I can remember, but personally if you're going to go with a small octave keyboard I would recommend Akai Synthstation25. It's actually a dock that you plug you're iphone into. You can then use their app or other third party ones which provide for an incredible ammount of synths and presets. It seems kind of gimmicky but I've found it to be a great creative influence, plus it's midi so it can be used with your computer as well:]

    just my two cents!


    #10
    derFunkenstein
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    Re:Need a new tiny keyboard 2011/11/23 22:54:50 (permalink)
    I had wanted to look for an Axiom, but the prices I was finding were more than I was willing to part with going into the Christmas season.  I'm a bit of an M-Audio junkie, so it was at the top of my list (my two interfaces are both M-Audio as well as the dead keyboard, and I'm using M-Audio monitors as well).

    King Ben of Nopantsville
    #11
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