Digital piano / MIDI controller for learning classical piano.

[pbassist]

HI, I recently joined a music school (see http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/taking-lessons-double-bass-piano-need-advice-591984/#post8139963), and now I need a suitable digital piano or midi controller with 88 keys for learning.

My initial idea was getting the M-Audio Keystation pro 88, but I have read many negative reviews (http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...on+88+Pro/10/1) about the feeling and the velocity response of the keys. My budget is around $500 (I don't want to spend too much), and I have seen the following alternatives:

Casio CDP-100
Yamaha KX-8
Fatar SL-990Pro
Fatar VMK88plus

Which one would you suggest? Is there any other choice in this price range? Does somebody has any first-hand experience with the Keystation pro 88?

Thanks (and please excuse my bad English).

[JimmyM]

The KX8 is discontinued. But you can never go wrong with Yamaha. Dollar for dollar, I think you get the most quality with them. But I would look for one with speakers built in. Yeah, they don't sound nearly as good as through an amp, but when you just want to turn on the keyboard and play, it's nice to have them.

[bassybill]

I have a Casio home piano (about 10 years old) that I use as an 88 key controller. It's been great. The keyboard is sprung rather than weighted, but it feels very good to me nonetheless (although nothing beats a real weighted piano action).

The downside of using a piano as a MIDI controller is I miss the pitch bend and modulation wheels with some sorts of patches. I still use my Yamaha SY85 for that reason.

This thread really should be in miscellaneous. I'll ask for it to be moved.

[santucci218]

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfrien...no-?sku=703096

my buddy has one of these and its pretty solid.

[pbassist]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The KX8 is discontinued. But you can never go wrong with Yamaha. Dollar for dollar, I think you get the most quality with them. But I would look for one with speakers built in. Yeah, they don't sound nearly as good as through an amp, but when you just want to turn on the keyboard and play, it's nice to have them.

There are still for sale a few in the Internet at a nice price (around $450)... so is this a good choice right? I like that it also has some controls, so it can be nice for managing some computer synths.

I also have a Yamaha TRB-5P bass, and right, Yamama seems the best for the buck...

Originally Posted by bassybill

I have a Casio home piano (about 10 years old) that I use as an 88 key controller. It's been great. The keyboard is sprung rather than weighted, but it feels very good to me nonetheless (although nothing beats a real weighted piano action).

The downside of using a piano as a MIDI controller is I miss the pitch bend and modulation wheels with some sorts of patches. I still use my Yamaha SY85 for that reason.

This thread really should be in miscellaneous. I'll ask for it to be moved.

Yes, I have tested a couple casios (px-120 and cdp-200) and they sensitivity was pretty good, although the keys felt a bit softer to me.

Sorry for posting in the wrong forum, I was not sure if there was a better choice than offtopic.

Originally Posted by santucci218

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfrien...no-?sku=703096

my buddy has one of these and its pretty solid.

It looks good, but the price (around $600) is a bit above of what I can spend.

Thanks to all.

[santucci218]

buy used