I learned guitar on my five year old sister's half scale First act guitar, at age 15, hardly fit my fingers, but 8 years later I wouldnt have traded that memory for anything. My biggest regret with equipment is buying a 25 key controller, in hindsight I should have bought the 61 key that I was initially planning on getting. Then you should buy at least 49 vrs of keys. A 49 key (four octave) keyboard is fine - IF - you are sure you only want to play single-note bass lines or single-note melodies or very simple three note chords. 00. I was just wondering if it was necessary to get one with more keys. Also relatively cheap if bought used. Hey guys. It's also just to get used to keyboard basics. Posts: 3,675. If you plan on quickly testing patches that can span 3 octaves to find the sweet spot for your tune, once again, the larger the keyboard, the better. Appreciate any feedback! MP Hall of Fame Member. Stream Tracks and Playlists from 49-Keys on your desktop or mobile device. I'd also do a bunch of organ stuff. I think 61 keys is the better choice. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Sure, they'll spit out the midi notes but not as consistently as the good ones. Of course, 5 octaves (61 keys) will give you that extra bass note that you may occasionally need, but in my experience 4 octaves are very adequate for a desktop controller (you always have octave +/- keys ;). I can barely play the piano with two hands and I was planning on ⦠Vangoa VGK611 Electronic Keyboard Piano, 61-Lighted Mini Key Electric Piano Keyboard with 3 Teaching Mode, Microphone, 350 Tones, ⦠New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the WeAreTheMusicMakers community, Continue browsing in r/WeAreTheMusicMakers, Press J to jump to the feed. I have my little portable 25 key AKAI controller that I use when travelling or collabing at a friends place. I agree completely. In my experience, 49 keys will will show their limitations pretty early. 28 Followers. You didn't make it explicit, but do you need something that generates audio by itself, or a master keyboard controller would suffice? Don't be lured by sliders and knobs. FREE Shipping. I've got an MPK25, and while I'm happy with it in some respects (keys are fine, knobs are good, pads are shit), even two octaves can be a bit tight and limiting, and not in the "limits are good!" The price is also a big factor, especially since I'm just starting out. Octaves are equally spaced when measured on a logarithmic scale (cents). I can barely play the piano with two hands and I was planning on using the controller to test out melodies and some chords. If you are serious about music production, a MIDI keyboard is probably one of the most useful tools that you can invest in. I think the current version of that is the a49 or the a500pro, with all the bells and whistles. Heck yeah. 49 keys; 61 keys; 73 keys; 76 keys; 88 keys; With more pads, you can utilize using more samples and you can even put piano notes on the pads if youâre more comfortable with doing so. Only when it's really needed i switch to my 88weighted piano, which is mostly when using a piano sound. For simple enough music pieces that don't require multiple octaves, a 61-key keyboard will more than do the job. You can't play more spread out chords, and you won't be able to play quite a few inversions. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. But I'd choose the M-Audio still. I wanna learn piano, and I found a decent 49-key keyboard from a thrift shop. A few editor's choices for the best keyboard for music production, universal DAW compatibility and beat making. Likes: 2. I recently just into making edm tarcks on FL Studio, so I was wondering if I should get 32 or 49 keys on a midi. Listen to 49-Keys | SoundCloud is an audio platform that lets you listen to what you love and share the sounds you create.. Laguna Hills. I hope this sarcasm will help you in your decision! I would stay away from behringer, samson, m-audio. If you're just starting, it doesn't matter, play anything and everything you can get your hands on until you outgrow it. More than synth lines, but less than something notably complex. Its also good if you don't know to play piano or keyboad like professional . For what it does, the MX49 is very moderately priced. If you intend to record things using a DAW (digital audio workstation) then a controller will be more than enough, as you can use a myriad of virtual instruments readily available on the net. Posts: 3,675. Mostly simple lines I make to record. All keys, pads and faders working. It may not feel cheap when it shows up on your credit card bill. Octaves increase exponentially when measured on a linear frequency scale (Hz). Just get a one octave midi keyboard - you'll have to octave +/- quite a bit to get the notes you need but I doubt this will be too inconvenient if all you are doing it hitting A0 on every off-beat. One thing I'd highly recommend is getting something with decently weighted keys. Space is the only other consideration. However, if you're serious about really learning how to play piano, then it's better if you get keyboards with weighted keys or those with hammer action, so that you can easily transition to a real piano's 'resistance.' Just thought I'd ask for my specific circumstances. To a pianist 61 keys feels cramped. Next. This is because weâve got to ensure you can use it, wherever you are. 9 Tracks. They usually don't get used often, and you pay a hefty price for them. Inverary, ON, Canada. a 25 key is definitely enough if you're just trying to get ideas down, and a lot of controllers even have octave +/- buttons so you can change your range without even having to touch your computer. is 49 keys enough?! It's a false economy to spend $80 instead of $150, imho. Bleh, if you're only playing the piano one handed, go with the 32 key. I imagine I can't play the Dylan song, as it goes all over octaves, but that level of complexity is the highest I would go for now. $499.00 $ 499. "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." Cookies help us deliver our Services. I recently got the M-Audio 88, buy I also wanted to dig into some piano and theory. While I completely understand the practical and earned perspectives presented, I'm very happy with my 49 key Alesis. I think some good examples of complexity would be Imagine by Lennon, or Sign on the Window by Bob Dylan. if you already know how to play the piano i'd go with the 49 key unless you're looking for something explicitly portable. This video is focused on the Best Midi Keyboard Controllers and trying to find the right size Midi Controller at the right price, for your setup. 49 is certainly enough for a beginner anyways. One octave is so limiting. I've seen notes on the forum of 49 not being enough for some of the songs. Feeling cramped is not an option , but for just beat making then yeah 61 keys would be just fine hopes this helps , Peace Get the 49 Key, You will get better later on, besides, M-Audio is one of the leaders in midi controller, Midi plus is meh. A fully weighted 88-key is out of the question. Keyboards also function as piano and MIDI controller. Besides having to switch octaves a lot, are there any other problems with having less keys. Been playing guitar for quite a while. What many people do these days is use external hard drives for their productions and run everything that is music based off these externals. This subreddit is for discussing the production of electronic music. Likely the issue is the music extending outside the four octave range of the 49 keys ⦠Battery life is a key element to every laptop, especially when it comes to music production. However, it is important for you to internalize this as we look at the keyboard. Messing around with a synth action won't ruin you but yes the technique it's quite different, like typing on a mechanical typewriter vs. a modern membrane keyboard. But I wish I would have started off on something bigger. So basically should I buy a 49 key now and mess around, or will it just make things harder when trying to switch over to an 88? If it's the case a good one I'd recommend to you is the M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII, or the Alesis Q88. KeyStudio makes it easy to command a library of virtual instruments audition loops and compose songs in GarageBand Logic and other Mac-compatible applications. Oxygen has synth-style key action (too light to me to be comfortable with) while the Keystation as a nice semi-weighted key action. I feel like I want to tip toe into keyboards, but I'm on a super low budget. It might be years until I can get a semi weighted 88, so I was curious if I could dive in with this limited way. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They should both be fine for what you wanna do. The one I like is semi-weighted. Octave switches work wonderfully, so you'll have all the range you need. I've got the 49 key, a busted 1st Gen NanoKey, and an Akai LPK25. Back. Appleâs GarageBand has become one of the most ubiquitous music-making tools on Earth, though its real-life utility is up for debate. But try them for yourself if you can; I found that the cheap ones fail to accurately represent the velocities in the performance. 25 keys keyboard is Good for work while travelling. KeyStudio 49-Note USB Keyboard Controller for Mac Music Software - Harness the power of your Mac music software with M-Audio s KeyStudio USB keyboard controller. Joined: Feb 2013. Good, weighted keys will make this a lot easier. I've been playing 61 key instruments for decades so when I briefly used a 49 key controller, it drove me crazy. I have other controllers/keyboards here, but I restricted myself to what you're looking for. If you have more than 50 fingers it will most definitely be an issue for you. 49 keys controllers that I own are roland pc300 and a500s: small and light, featureful and with a decent keybed. Table of Contents . WesG. If you plan on playing chords and melodies at the same time, the larger keyboard will obviously serve you better. Just to put in perspective, an M-Audio Keystation 88 MkII costs US$199.99, while an M-Audio Oxygen 61 will cost US$229.00. You may be in a super random place and have an idea for a song, youâve just got to start producing it. The LPK25 has been an extremely valuable pickup, and going from that to the full size Alesis is like opening up a lot more space. All of this advice stems from my regret over buying a catch-all, "do-everything" keyboard that does nothing to a particularly high standard. Cent (music) Jump to navigation Jump to search. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1 . This means that keeping up with them is important if you are serious about staying modern as a ⦠Could I use this to learn music theory and play some basic songs? that being said though, if you already play piano, you're gonna want enough ⦠Other options New and used from $280.00. 61 keys will do most things for your general keyboard needs as long as you don't do deeper basses. Im a piano player and I like having 88keys it just feels better and I also have alot of room . In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. I'm not really worried about space or any other inconvenience. Twelve-tone equal temperament divides the octave into 12 ⦠1 Best Keyboard For Making Beats â A Quick Glance; 2 Best Keyboards For Making Beats. Ableton Live Lite - Produce, perform, create - The revolutionary music production solution that lets you spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvize and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. As technology changes exponentially, so do MIDI controllers. The more keys, the more octaves you can play at the same time â without having to awkwardly press the octave jump button. Besides having to switch octaves a lot, are there any other problems with having less keys. But, since the 49 synth action controller is very handy to have anyway (the 88 weighted one is usually really heavy and you won't move it so often), you may start with that and get the weighted one later. But nonetheless I'll advise you to get an 88 if you can. I have a 49 key keyboard and I wish I bought the 61 keys. Also, it doesn't have any 'bells & whistles' type pads or faders or control surfaces - it's just a dumb MIDI keyboard. Semi-weighted keys, pitch bend and modulation wheels, basic Mackie-compatible session controls, supports sustain pedal, and very cheap. There are, but they also cost a lot more. Which is the Best Midi Keyboard for Music Production? 61 keys will do most things for your general keyboard needs as long as you don't do deeper basses. To someone who has never played other keyboards, it's probably hard to decide. Its been wonderful. However, relative to the market you get a lot for your money with the MX49. Try to stick with well respected manufacturers (roland, yamaha, korg, akai, maybe novation) and if you can, try the keyboard before buying it. Bonus points for anything 61 keys or more, because you can play piano on it. M-Audio Keystation 61 owner here. You'll inevitably integrate velocity/dynamics into your playing at some point down the road, so you want to make that as easy and expressive as possible. Here are some of my personal suggestions. I own a Keystation 88 MkII and a UMX610, and owned an Oxygen 61, so I have hands on experience with such devices. Is a 49-key keyboard decent enough to learn to play basic piano songs? Better equipment may make you sound better, but not play better. Yamaha MX-49 Music Production Synthesizer 4.8 out of 5 stars 9. 4.3 out of 5 stars 113. In my experience, 49 keys will will show their limitations pretty early. I recently just into making edm tarcks on FL Studio, so I was wondering if I should get 32 or 49 keys on a midi. I have an Akai MPK88 I will sell you at a reasonable price. When I owned hardware synths with 37 and 25 note keyboards, I had to play them over MIDI. Definitely ran out occasionally with my old 49. Cheap, broad enough space...and it has an "Octave" button to slide down the register so if you want to get 'deep' into the sub register, it'll do that just fine in a pinch. - Victor Hugo Re: Is 61 keys enough for gigging? Lots of piano experience here 20+years...I recommend just getting something from a thrift store...I don't hold equipment in very high regard...the artist on the other hand is where the music comes from. Likes: 2. MIDI keyboards come in a range of sizes, from under 30 keys to a full-size keyboard that is over 80 keys. Tusker #2651624 01/03/15 10:58 AM. M-Audio Keystation 49 II USB Keyboard MIDI Controller - $99, midiplus AKM320 midiplus MIDI Keyboard Controller - $36. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the edmproduction community. Akai Professional Advance 49 | 49-Key Virtual Instrument Production Controller with Full-Color LCD Screen & 10K Sounds Download. If you actually play keyboard or willing to learn, buying bigger keyboard is a no-brainer. With a 49 key you run out of left hand options pretty quickly and have to modify parts to sorta kinda make them work. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. keyboardist of 20yrs here, i record 95% on my 49keys midicontroller. $549.99. A Behringer UMX610 is a better option if you want to stick with a 61-keys controller. One cent compared to a semitone on a truncated monochord. I dislike semi weighted action, but maybe it's personal preference. 49 Keys are not enough, but also the synthesizer's plastic keys are incorrect. Are there boards that do more than this one does? My perspective is that I prefer portability in the trade-off game. Joined: Feb 2013. Oxygen's sliders and knobs feel cheap, and in overall it gives the impression of being a paper toy. What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? Inverary, ON, Canada. This Acer Aspire has a battery life that lasts longer than 9 hours and performs very impressively. I'd say go for a 49 key controller if you can. But anyone can ⦠This is highly recommended as it helps free up space on the computers hard drive so you aren't pushing the computer to it's max. you can play but you will not have highs or lows unless you use the octave switch - it makes it difficult to practice some aspects of technique that require multiple octaves to move through. Don't consider one without a sustain pedal input. In the end if you want to learn piano, there's nothing like a full weighted keyboard, or better still, a real piano. Right 61 keys arent enough if your really gonna be playing the piano very seriously . I won't be playing Bach or anything. When it comes to key number, bigger is better if youâre performing complex pieces and/or are used to a full-sized keyboard. But if you play as mid or adv level in piano, where you play mostly with both hands. WesG. They are just so much more efficient, user-friendly and can save you a lot of time. Lately the quality of cheap controller keyboards is not that great imho... if you have space you may also consider a used synth, they usually have better keybeds than controllers (Dx7, D50, M1 and so on) and of course, sound. 49 keys will suffice, but only gives you a range of 4 octaves as oppose to the 5 you get with 61 or 6 with 73. i.e. Besides, if you have more keys, when you get better at the piano you will want a bigger playing space. way. If you want to learn piano you need to have the feel of a real piano. I have never felt the need for more than my current 61 keys for accompaniment. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. We will get into the true features in just one moment. But ⦠This. The cent is a logarithmic unit of measure used for musical intervals. The answer is No. Would I prefer weighted keys? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Black man detained while jogging offered police job Well, actually with 4 octaves you can play most Bach just fine :-) The range of a 4 octaves keyboard goes from C2 (the C on the second ledger line below the bass clef) to C6 (the C on the second ledger line above the treble clef), so you can play lots of music. MP Hall of Fame Member. MIDI keyboards typically come in 25, 49, 61 and 88 key varieties. Feels solid, is very well built, has an excellent semi-weighted key action, has 8 knobs and 8 buttons, and comes with an UCA-222 audio interface, all for US$179.00. 49-key MIDI keyboards are fantastic, as they allow you to play more like a piano, though are still portable enough to take with you on the go. Consider a 61 key controller. Very happy with it. Small keyboard will be a barrier for you creatively constantly shifting octaves and recording each hand separately. The sleek controller features 49 synth-action keys plus pitch bend â¦