M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3 – 88 Key Semi Weighted MIDI Keyboard Controller for Complete Command of Virtual Synthesisers and DAW parameters

Product Information

If there is one downside, it’s that the DGX-660 isn’t the lightest option around, nor the cheapest. If you’re looking for something more portable, I recommend the [recommendation]. These early digital pianos were hardly acoustic piano replacements. Their tone was clunky and the keys never felt much like real pianos. What they did have going for them was their price. Since there were no moving parts, nor did they require expensive materials, you could make digital pianos for extremely cheap.

A wide range of software is included with this keyboard, such as Ableton Live Lite, MPC Beats, 80 Effect Plug-ins from AIR, Mini Grand, DB-33 Tonewheel Organ, Velvet, Eight-Eight Ensemble, AiR TubeSynth, AIR Electric, AIR Bassline, Hammer 88 Preset Editor, and also a three-month subscription with Skoove (interactive online piano lessons). Unless you need it for the performance aspect (a guy with a keyboard plugged into a laptop isn’t as nice to look at as a guy on just a keyboard), you don’t always need synthesizers anymore. Pitch bend and modulation are handled by a combination lever, and the keyboard can operate in up to three layers or three split zones. These velocity-sensitive and pressure-sensitive (aftertouch) pads give you options to perform drum and percussive elements and trigger-loaded samples within your DAW, giving you more creative freedom. And you are also able to maneuver in the map mode of the keyboard between Analog Lab 2 and DAW functions or the templates made in User mode. In addition, the Pads are color-lit as well, signifying different functions.Nektar has made its Impact GXP series with 49, 61, and 88 keys. The keys are semi-weighted, meaning that you can have reasonable response control on various plug-in instruments like drums, synths, or bass. A feature that allows this keyboard to be lighter in weight is that the 88 full-sized keys are half-weighted. As a result, it is relatively easy to move compared to other keyboards of the same size. Also to mention, the keys are velocity-sensitive and have aftertouch functionality, which allows for additional articulation control and creates some interesting effects on the tonal quality. This applies to key count as well. If you’ve never played the piano before, 88 keys will confuse you. A smaller 49-key keyboard will be much easier to control. A keyboard that does a lot of the technical work for you to concentrate on bringing out the best of your music. The LX88+ is loaded with some cool features like knobs, faders, transpose buttons, and pads, and not to mention that you can also connect it to your iPad with a separate Apple connector. Advanced players might love these additional features. But for beginners, they can easily become too overwhelming. A new piano player will actually benefit from lighter keys and simpler acoustics.

On the left of the touch fader, you will find the channel buttons, which make working in the DAW’s mixer more seamless than having to use the mouse. It consists of the Master button (which lets you jump straight to the master channel), Channel left/right, Bank left/right, Mute, Solo, and Rec-enable buttons. Mixing your levels and having control of individual channels is now at your fingertips. Many keyboards offer a streamlined DAW to get you set up. These programs, like ProTools First and Ableton Live Lite, provide enough features and controls to get new players on their feet. While professional producers might need a more robust feature set, these basic programs are more than adequate for most users. Plus, a full-size keyboard is heavier and unwieldy. Not exactly perfect for lugging around to gigs. Piano is the instrument you all know and all. A digital piano is like a piano, except it is entirely electric (i.e. has no analog components). Digital pianos replicate the sound and feel of a piano through a computer-based sound engine. Read more about them in our guide to digital pianos.MIDI controller keyboards not only enable you to play and record tunes into your computer, they also let you control software - and in some cases, other studio hardware - so have become one of the most essential items for the modern music producer alongside an audio interface and laptop or PC. They can be plugged directly into your computer or laptop via USB - or, in some cases, operate wirelessly over Bluetooth or connect to iOS devices to control apps. They are mostly used to let you play and record with your DAW's software instruments and any VST synth plugins you might have installed. The high-quality hammer action keyboard is probably one of the essential features of the PK88. The keys have freely swinging hammers and give you real piano-style action for the mobile pianist who needs a quality keyboard when moving around to gigs.

First off, this keyboard features Korg's natural weighted hammer action keys. This is similar to Yamaha's GHS keys. The keys are heavier in the bass notes and become lighter as you move to higher treble notes. This does a great job of replicating the resistance of acoustic keys.Acoustic pianos are expensive and difficult to maintain. You can’t move them around much. And God forbid if they get out of tune – you’ll have to call in a tuner who’ll take half your salary for half a day’s work. The keys, of excellent quality, have a professional, fully weighted hammer action and are made by Fatar and offer such a realistic feel when playing. Above every key, you will notice an LED light, and the lights reflect the smart play functions by the lights switching on and off to indicate to you which keys are active and which are not. The light guide also shows the settings of the loaded instrument and helps to show mappings. So before you plop down the cash for the best 88 key keyboard, ask yourself: what kind of music will I play with this keyboard? Does this music really require 88 keys? The easiest way to ruin your music journey (and your finances) is to buy an instrument you’re not really ready for yet.