I know... I'm kicking myself. It's just not possible right now. Maybe I should look at all my older gack and see if I can sell something to make this happen. I do still need something small for basic input first though.

Okay... I'm just talking to myself now but it helps me think. Maybe I could get the Oxygen 25 ($100) and have my padKontrol set up beside it (or above it). Then I could trigger chords, beats, loops, etc on the pK and play melodies on the Oxygen. Not sure how well using multiple devices (from different manufacturers) at the same time would work. hmm...

Right on, John. I think this may end up being the way to go... until I change my mind again. lol... How are ya?

Naw. We're talking about the MPK25 Mini which is a hundred bucks and apparently has itty bitty keys. It's a real drag because if it wasn't for that I'd buy one. I'd like the regular MPK but I can't afford it.

Hi, js516. I was actually thinking about building something for the Yamaha out of some scraps I have in the garage and I think I do have some casters kicking around. Sadly I just don't any room for something like that just yet and although I'm a pretty good carpenter it really hurts me to build stuff these days. But I like how you think. Maybe I can find some old folding table legs that I can attach some 2x4s onto for the casters (I had something like that before) and just slap the old pantry door I have onto it as the shelf. For now I really just need something to get some data input going on. I'm new to MIDI so I guess having something small to learn on will suffice for now. I also like the DX-7's action as far as keyboards go but the little bit of keyboard playing I did in the past (just learning how to play scales and chords properly) was on an old Rhodes so it's hard to really top that action for a reasonable price. In the next year I'll be able to make some more gear investments so perhaps I can take a look at a proper piano action keyboard like those really nice Yamaha's (there is a Yammie retailer near me) but they tend to cost $1000 or more. If I ever get to the point I want to go for my conservatory ticket that's what I'd want to use at home. I'm hoping between lessons and sticking my hands into commercial music production I can get a little business going and write that kind of thing off as business expenses. I don't see myself making any money for at least another year though. Still gotta learn Sonar properly and finish setting up my teaching method (halfway done with the method... that shiz is time consuming). I have lofty goals and many roadblocks so one piece at a time, yanno? I'm just happy to finally have a modern, working DAW setup going. It has taken me over two years just to get to this point. Cheers.

@bitman... Holy crud! Thank you for that suggestion. Just poking around the intertubes for those now. Fully weighted for next to nothing?! Why are they so cheap? I'm seeing 88 keys for around $200 and that's just after a couple minutes looking. I thought I was gonna have to pay a couple grand. There's gotta be a catch. Latency? Bad keys? I won't be buying anything like that just yet but at that price I could make it happen sooner than I thought. Anyway... here's a guy making one sound awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ly2rePmuCk

I use the Korg Microkey. I used the 37 key version. Slightly smaller keys and very small and compact which make it perfect for putting on a desk out of the way.

They keys are actually great quality for something so cheap. The pitch and mod wheels are also really smooth. It's really great quality build for the super cheap price.

I also have a simple cheap 88 key thing. Unless you have the room, I would highly suggest NOT getting it. I had this thing for 6 years. It took up so much room I RARELY ever set it up. Now that I have such a nice compact controller, I am doing SO much more synth stuff and freaking loving it. This keyboard has made my album so much more electronic and I'm so happy for that!!

http://www.korg.com/microkey


Also for super cheap is the korg nanoKontrol. Super cheap little controller which is real handy and easy to use.

http://www.korg.com/nanoseries2

You can link the two up via the one usb port as the keyboard has usb in and 2 usb outs! Microkey was SUPER easy to set up. Literately plug and play and it just works. No issues at all. NanoKontrol was a little more tricky, but considering what you use it for, I expected that to be the case. Still, can't image it's any more difficult that other units out there.

Suggest you check these two out!

But as has been mentioned, if you're looking to do some big piano based parts, maybe look into a decent full sized piano. But if you're just looking to play with synth leads and pads, can't go past a little, space saving controller. Trust me, if you don't have the space, you'll regret a big unit.

Guitarhacker

You can spend a couple grand easily on a keyboard workstation, but remember that MIDI from a top of the line workstation is the same exact MIDI as comes from a $69.00 clearance special ...as far as the DAW is concerned. You can take that midi and using a soft synth with a sampled library, make it sound like a $50k concert grand piano. 

I cannot agree with this at all... the expression of a piano is all to do with the interaction of the player with the weighted keybed... this is the reason why there is a market for 88 key controllers that cost >>$1000.. and in that context, a used stage piano is a good investment.
 
 
 
 
 

Mystic38

Guitarhacker

You can spend a couple grand easily on a keyboard workstation, but remember that MIDI from a top of the line workstation is the same exact MIDI as comes from a $69.00 clearance special ...as far as the DAW is concerned. You can take that midi and using a soft synth with a sampled library, make it sound like a $50k concert grand piano. 

I cannot agree with this at all... the expression of a piano is all to do with the interaction of the player with the weighted keybed... this is the reason why there is a market for 88 key controllers that cost >>$1000.. and in that context, a used stage piano is a good investment.
 
 
 
 
 

I don't think anyone will dispute that. Weighted keys are much easier to play with the right expression. But arguably, an exceptional player could play just as well without it. The physical SOUNDS are exactly the same. The playing ability may vary, but now that depends on the player. Bottom line, weighted keys make it a hell of a lot easier to get that right expression, but doesn't mean you can't do it with something cheap, provided you have the skills.