My Roland JV-80, which I have been using as my kebyoard controller and (to some extent) as a sound source, is crapping out (2 keys broken, some stuck buttons, etc).

I am looking for a new keyboard controller, but if I could pick up a controller that is also has cool synth sounds for cheap, that would be great. You know, something that might on sale cheap at this time.

Thanks for your thoughts.

JeffN

What sound do you like, or more importantly, DON'T like? Yamaha? Alesis? Korg? Roland? Tired of Roland?

Devon

Unfashionable and unloved, but the Oberheim OB12 is dirt cheap and has loads of knobs.
As for the sounds I haven't a clue but... , and...

Get the Roland A-70.

It can be had for around $325 on eBay, and you can install a synth module if you want using the VE-J cards.

I have one and love it.

lemmywinks wrote:

Get the Roland A-70. It can be had for around $325 on eBay, and you can install a synth module if you want using the VE-J cards. I have one and love it.

Was that the 76 key with synth weighted? I remember I played one Roalnd A-something that was really stiff in the keys. Somewhere between most non-weighted and hammer weighted. I just remember my hands were sore in about 10 minutes of playing it from the action on it. If you're used to pianos, I suppose that wouldnt' be an issue, but it was for me.

Devon

DevonB wrote:

Was that the 76 key with synth weighted? I remember I played one Roalnd A-something that was really stiff in the keys. Somewhere between most non-weighted and hammer weighted. I just remember my hands were sore in about 10 minutes of playing it from the action on it. If you're used to pianos, I suppose that wouldnt' be an issue, but it was for me. Devon

What they call 'synth weighted' means having small metal inserts inside the ends of the keys, which IMO gives a really nice touch response. It's not "weighted" per se -- it feels like a really good synth where the A-90 has the full-on 88-key hammer action. The A-70's keys are also ever-so-slightly rounded and slightly beveled on the edges, so palm smears with the B4 module or glissandos come off easier than the squared keys of most synths. This was a bonus I never read about.

I also own a Rhodes VK-1000, which was Roland's early-90's entry into the drawbar organ. That and also having a JX-3P and JX-8P, I can tell you that I like the feel of the A-70 better than all of them.

Ultimately, if the touch response is something that is important to you in a controller, then I'd stay far away from the 49-key toys marketed to the computer music segment.

lemmywinks wrote:

DevonB wrote: Was that the 76 key with synth weighted? I remember I played one Roalnd A-something that was really stiff in the keys. Somewhere between most non-weighted and hammer weighted. I just remember my hands were sore in about 10 minutes of playing it from the action on it. If you're used to pianos, I suppose that wouldnt' be an issue, but it was for me. Devon What they call 'synth weighted' means having small metal inserts inside the ends of the keys, which IMO gives a really nice touch response. It's not "weighted" per se -- it feels like a really good synth where the A-90 has the full-on 88-key hammer action. The A-70's keys are also ever-so-slightly rounded and slightly beveled on the edges, so palm smears with the B4 module or glissandos come off easier than the squared keys of most synths. This was a bonus I never read about.

Ok, cool, I thought that was the one I tried. Key feel is all down to very personal taste. I hated the heavier feel of those keys. Something to consider, as it's not like most keyboards, that's for sure. Just want Jeff to be aware of the fact, that's all.

Psst... get a Nord G2. It's killer.

Devon

I never understood the reasoning behind putting weights under the ends of the keys. Of course, it's a cheap attempt to copy some of the feel of a piano keyboard, but I just don't think it's worth doing. If you want piano feel, use some sort of hammer action.

Besides, don't the weights add inertia to the keys and limit your playing speed? Wouldn't a slightly stiffer spring tension be better instead? Stiffer springs would give you a firmer feel, and the key would return faster upon release, compared to the key weight approach. Wouldn't that be a good thing?

One of my favorite non-weighted keyboards is actually found on the VOX Super Continental--well, it has two of my favorite keyboards actually.

I also briefly played an expensive Walker custom-built organ with "tracker touch" once. I thought that was pretty interesting. I liked it far better than piano action, and also more than most of the synth keyboards I've played. The effect was a subtle amount of resistance that had to be "broken through" when initially pressing the key. For the remainder of the key's travel, the amount of resistance was somewhat less than the initial resistance. It's hard to describe accurately. It's best to play one yourself and actually feel what I'm talking about. It's nowhere near as much effort to play as a piano, but it certainly doesn't have that "mushy, cheap-synth" action.

I'm seriously considering building my own MIDI controller in the future. I don't like the design decisions made by most of the manufacturers, and I can't afford the more expensive controllers anyway. It might take me awhile, but at least I don't have to worry about making monthly payments on something I build myself.

I guess I don't expect to get realistic sampled sounds form the synth. But, if you could use it for synthesized sounds, that would be cool. I guess I might as well exclude Emu and Yamaha since I have sound modules from them. So maybe either a Korg or Roland or, perhaps, a synth doing analog simulation.

JeffN

jeffn1 wrote:

I guess I might as well exclude Emu and Yamaha since I have sound modules from them. So maybe either a Korg or Roland or, perhaps, a synth doing analog simulation.

I would personally pick a master keyboard based on its MIDI implementation and flexibility. Can I split the keyboard wherever I like, into as many sections as I like? Can it split MIDI transmissions by note velocity? Are the basic MIDI controls like channel, patch number, etc easy to work with? Are there any nice controller features or accessories like programmable knobs, wheels, joysticks, ribbons, pads, breath controller, etc? Does it do anything cool or unusual, like aftertouch for each individual note, and not just the whole channel? Speaking of aftertouch, do I practically have to stand on the keys to activate it? (Too many keyboards have very poor aftertouch sensitivity.)

The sounds it might make are almost inconsequential to me, because it is a controller keyboard first and foremost. I wouldn't rule out any brand, just because I already had some gear from that company, and wanted some more tonal variety.

Then again, that's just me. I realize a lot of other people also want some cool sounds from their master keyboard.

Your point is well taken. But, truthfully, I probably will not take advantage of a lot of that stuff. If it has one programmable fader that transmits midi, that fine, because I only do one at a time.

I gues one thing I did not love about the JV-80 is the pitch stick, versus a pitch bend. Maybe a ribbon controller would be nice too. Hmmm, maybe I do care about this stuff.

Ok, any recommendations?

JeffN

jeffn1 wrote:

...Hmmm, maybe I do care about this stuff. Ok, any recommendations?

My only recommendation was to not overlook the human interface aspects, in the quest add a few cool new sounds. As to which keyboard models you should look at, I'll leave that up to you and your own personal taste. Let the forum know which hardware features you want, what price range you can handle, and I'm sure you'll get some solid suggestions from the people here.