Can anyone tell me their thoughts on the Keystation Pro 88 (preferably those that own one)? I'm looking to buy a MIDI controller with 88 weighted/semi-weighted keys, but I haven't really heard anything about this controller.
If anyone has any other suggestions for a controller with 88 weighted keys (and knobs), I'd love to hear them. I'm looking to take piano lessons and I want to be able to practice on a keyboard that feels very similar to a piano. Thank you.
Thoughts on the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88?
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NewOrleansElectronic NewOrleansElectronic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=57923
- KVRist
- 68 posts since 14 Feb, 2005 from New Orleans, LA, USA
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fishbowl.tucson.az fishbowl.tucson.az https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=45536
- KVRist
- 415 posts since 23 Oct, 2004
You must have missed the whole thread where the gist of it was the Keystation is a complete pile of crap.NewOrleansElectronic wrote:Can anyone tell me their thoughts on the Keystation Pro 88 (preferably those that own one)? I'm looking to buy a MIDI controller with 88 weighted/semi-weighted keys, but I haven't really heard anything about this controller.
The company acknowledged this, and contacted owners, like a recall. The later versions of the Keystation are said to be "almost decent, sort of."
I think you can do better for the money.
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- KVRAF
- 2830 posts since 2 Mar, 2003 from The only civilized county in Texas
In that case, look for the Casio Privia 100/300/500 series. They are home keyboards, so no nobs (not even pitch bend wheel, except for the largest model), and they have speakers built in, but they sound very nice, and feel better than anything else in that price range (500-800). IMO of course.NewOrleansElectronic wrote: I'm looking to take piano lessons and I want to be able to practice on a keyboard that feels very similar to a piano. Thank you.
Guitar Center stocks them.
V.
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- KVRian
- 697 posts since 2 Dec, 2002 from northern germany
yeah, some people were really unhappy, others, like myself, like their keystation, so i guess mine is ok 
there are problems with the black keys of some of the units, too loud and stuff, but mine are fine.
but you really should test the keys anyway, as the action is rather untypical, not you standard weighted action, not semiweighted either, i liked it instantly, others just hate it.
so what are my thoughts?
i am happy, with aftertouch it would be the perfect unit for me, but even without i don#t know any controller that comes close to it for my needs.
there are problems with the black keys of some of the units, too loud and stuff, but mine are fine.
but you really should test the keys anyway, as the action is rather untypical, not you standard weighted action, not semiweighted either, i liked it instantly, others just hate it.
so what are my thoughts?
i am happy, with aftertouch it would be the perfect unit for me, but even without i don#t know any controller that comes close to it for my needs.
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fishbowl.tucson.az fishbowl.tucson.az https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=45536
- KVRist
- 415 posts since 23 Oct, 2004
"Different" isn't necessarily bad. I didn't like the Keystation when I tried it. Two reasons, before even listening to a synth it was controlling: 1. The black keys actually descend below the plane of the white keys. That's bad enough to rule it out for me (serious piano player). 2. The "hammer action" doesn't seem to be accomplished with hammers, but with springs. The better hammer-action keyboards are exactly that, hammer action. I think Kawai has the best keyboards in this regard. Fatar is worth looking at also.luCiPHer wrote:yeah, some people were really unhappy, others, like myself, like their keystation, so i guess mine is ok
there are problems with the black keys of some of the units, too loud and stuff, but mine are fine.
but you really should test the keys anyway, as the action is rather untypical, not you standard weighted action, not semiweighted either, i liked it instantly, others just hate it.
so what are my thoughts?
i am happy, with aftertouch it would be the perfect unit for me, but even without i don#t know any controller that comes close to it for my needs.
It strikes me as odd that people are looking at the Keystation when a Studiologic can be had for the same money.
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- KVRian
- 697 posts since 2 Dec, 2002 from northern germany
no, the black keys do NOT go lower than the white keys, they go rather low, but still above the white keys.
and i could no care less about the way the keyboardaction is accomplished, as i said, i really like it, others hate it, that's a thing one has to try in reality.
and i could no care less about the way the keyboardaction is accomplished, as i said, i really like it, others hate it, that's a thing one has to try in reality.
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- KVRian
- 718 posts since 17 Jan, 2004 from Vesta, Earth, Moon, Titan, Enceladus and Gliese 581d
I bought one and returned it the next day.
Playing Beethoven to test it, I got a lot of black keys played loud, and had to concentrate on this behavior.
Also, the LCD display has childishly large numbers in a bright blue, annoying to say the least. I found the manual hard to understand, it assumed you had owned many a controller before...which I had not.
The action is wierd.
I'll be getting a Yamaha P120 maybe with a controller on the side...
allen
Playing Beethoven to test it, I got a lot of black keys played loud, and had to concentrate on this behavior.
Also, the LCD display has childishly large numbers in a bright blue, annoying to say the least. I found the manual hard to understand, it assumed you had owned many a controller before...which I had not.
The action is wierd.
I'll be getting a Yamaha P120 maybe with a controller on the side...
allen
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- KVRian
- 1313 posts since 29 Mar, 2002 from Salt Lake City, Utah - U.S.A.
I thought that was a great feature, actually. I think the blue they use is a cool colorpeppy197 wrote:.
Also, the LCD display has childishly large numbers in a bright blue, annoying to say the least.
, it's very easy to read, and stands out better than red. I like the large display size, kinda relaxing, 'cuz you can kick back and chill since you don't have to focus on searching for the numbers on the keyboard. I think the layout of the thing is the best of any keyboard under $1000, with the 88 keys, large display, rotary knobs, and sliders. If I didn't already have a 76 key keyboard and an Evolution UC-16 I'd definetly seriously consider the Keystation Pro, in fact I've been tempted to sell what I have and switch over to the Keystation. That being said, I didn't love the keyboard feel, it was okay, but seemed rather squishy with short action when I tried it briefly at GC. I'm not much of keyboardist so the feel doesn't matter that much to me, but even I could tell it had a semi-cheapish feel.I hope they make a second version with a few revisions, then it would be a perfect score IMO.
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- KVRian
- 1185 posts since 2 Jan, 2004 from England
Find a demo model, then play the living daylights out of it in the store. I tried it, even ended up jamming with a guy on some roland v-drums demoing nearby.
End result? I liked it, then bought it. I'm a classically trained pianist; it's not perfect, but I've played many real pianos with poorer key actions than this.
Each to their own, I guess. But don't let anyone who's played it for less than 10 minutes sway you on a 600 dollar purchase. Get out there and give it [and the competition] some stick before committing.
End result? I liked it, then bought it. I'm a classically trained pianist; it's not perfect, but I've played many real pianos with poorer key actions than this.
Each to their own, I guess. But don't let anyone who's played it for less than 10 minutes sway you on a 600 dollar purchase. Get out there and give it [and the competition] some stick before committing.
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- KVRAF
- 1530 posts since 20 Feb, 2003
i hear only bad things about this keyboard on several forums
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- KVRist
- 339 posts since 16 Aug, 2004
Firstly: i don't own a k pro 88, my roommate does, i've just toyed around with his a few times...
What i first noticed was that the keys are weighted, very weighty indeed, much more so than the grand my mother has (and you have to press them a lot deeper than that grand, but that depends on the piano you're playing). So although the keys don't feel like synth keys at all, i don't think they represent a 'piano-feel' at all. I'm not a keyboardist (i play a bit of piano but not good at all), but i can say that it's not like playing a synth, and neither like playing a piano...
As a controller i love it... You can divide your keyboard in 4 zones, it's got aftertouch (but then, which keyboard controller hasn't these days?), faders are 60mm, which is just enough for mixing (for me it is anyway), and a lot of assignable knobs. The large LCD screen is great though, as someone else mentioned...
Overall: nice controller for the price i think!
What i first noticed was that the keys are weighted, very weighty indeed, much more so than the grand my mother has (and you have to press them a lot deeper than that grand, but that depends on the piano you're playing). So although the keys don't feel like synth keys at all, i don't think they represent a 'piano-feel' at all. I'm not a keyboardist (i play a bit of piano but not good at all), but i can say that it's not like playing a synth, and neither like playing a piano...
As a controller i love it... You can divide your keyboard in 4 zones, it's got aftertouch (but then, which keyboard controller hasn't these days?), faders are 60mm, which is just enough for mixing (for me it is anyway), and a lot of assignable knobs. The large LCD screen is great though, as someone else mentioned...
Overall: nice controller for the price i think!
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NewOrleansElectronic NewOrleansElectronic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=57923
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 68 posts since 14 Feb, 2005 from New Orleans, LA, USA
I think the M-Audio Keyboard (Radium 61) I have is poorly made, so I can't imagine the Keystation being much better. I don't think M-Audio takes much pride in its products. Also, their service department is horrible, which is another demotivator.
I would like to find something well-made and realistic-feeling under $1000. I've looked at StudioLogic, but there are no knobs/sliders on their controllers. I've also heard the buttons don't work while you're playing, which is very limiting.
I liked the story about the guy trying the keyboard out and jamming with a drummer in Guitar Center. I think I'll go by and see for myself...there aren't any stores specializing in electronic music equipment in my area.
I got spoiled with Robotspeak in San Francisco.
I would like to find something well-made and realistic-feeling under $1000. I've looked at StudioLogic, but there are no knobs/sliders on their controllers. I've also heard the buttons don't work while you're playing, which is very limiting.
I liked the story about the guy trying the keyboard out and jamming with a drummer in Guitar Center. I think I'll go by and see for myself...there aren't any stores specializing in electronic music equipment in my area.
I got spoiled with Robotspeak in San Francisco.-
- KVRer
- 1 posts since 15 Apr, 2007
I hate it. I'm ready to take a sledgehammer to it. G2 action is off so I tried to go inside to see if I could correct it and it's like trying to get into Fort Knox. I'm reasonably skilled with this kind of maintenance so the problem is in the design. And no matter what velocity curve I use the output stays between 115 & 127. The manual may as well be written in Klingon.NewOrleansElectronic wrote:Can anyone tell me their thoughts on the Keystation Pro 88 (preferably those that own one)? I'm looking to buy a MIDI controller with 88 weighted/semi-weighted keys, but I haven't really heard anything about this controller.
If anyone has any other suggestions for a controller with 88 weighted keys (and knobs), I'd love to hear them. I'm looking to take piano lessons and I want to be able to practice on a keyboard that feels very similar to a piano. Thank you.
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- KVRAF
- 2028 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from New York, N.Y.
I was ready to purchase one, but when I tried out one in my local music store I was very disappointed by the action. Not even remotely piano-like, it felt very cheap and plasticky.
For the same price ($399 U.S.), they were unloading the Privia PX-310...when I felt the action on there, I flipped - it was outstanding. So I just got another keyboard controller to handle synth stuff, with aftertouch, pitch/mod wheels, etc. The Privia, meanwhile, makes an outstanding controller, and not only has excellent action, but only weighs 26 lbs, which is about half of any of the decent Yamahas or other fully weighted keyboards...
For the same price ($399 U.S.), they were unloading the Privia PX-310...when I felt the action on there, I flipped - it was outstanding. So I just got another keyboard controller to handle synth stuff, with aftertouch, pitch/mod wheels, etc. The Privia, meanwhile, makes an outstanding controller, and not only has excellent action, but only weighs 26 lbs, which is about half of any of the decent Yamahas or other fully weighted keyboards...