Hello, I using Ableton and Fl Studio. IS making music mainly in a home studio, without live performance - main techno, deep-house.
I want buy a new device for my home studio:
Ableton Push + digital piano like Roland FP 30 / Casio px 870
midi keyboard with past instead push like Arturia MK II 88
What is better? I mainly use keys, because I like playing a full composition on my keys and records it is in daw, and next working with its in daw, adding filters, mastering, etc.
Additionally question:
Arturia is okay for long-term playing on the piano, like a digital piano? What is a midi keyboard also OK? I wanted to buy w native complete 88, but I heard that very often this device has problems with keys.
Is Arturia planning a new version of MK? MKII was released in 2019, next version when released?
midi keyboard with pads or push + digital piano, what is better?
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pathsofglorypersona pathsofglorypersona https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=576633
- KVRer
- 2 posts since 15 Aug, 2022
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- KVRist
- 184 posts since 17 Dec, 2020
Hey, choice of kit very personal but here’s my amateur take on it…
I’ve tried quite a few keyboards over the last couple of years & been un-impressed with many due to inconsistent key/velocity response or QC issues.
My current master controller is the Novation Launchkey 88 - I’m confident in saying it’s the best semi-weighted feel I’ve tried. If you want fully-weighted/hammer piano action then it won’t be for you but from what you write that doesn’t seem a priority for you. Likewise since you’re not a live performer I’m assuming aftertouch not that important? The Launchkey has no aftertouch.
I owned an Arturia KeyLab 61 Mk2 - fantastic, sold purely to fund new 88-key controller. The KeyLab 88 Mk2 does get some bad press for heavy/sluggish keys - same keybed as NI’s S88 Mk2 which gets similar feedback although the NI seems to have more issues after you’ve owned it a while (mainly rattly keys). As an aside I tried 3 (!) NI S61 Mk2 keyboards & after a few days/weeks they all started to rattle with even light playing. Plus the far left C key would make a weird crunching noise (this is well documented on NI forums).
There’s not a massive amount of choice for non-hammer 88 keys. Nektar’s GXP 88 gets mixed feedback (again I owned one briefly, quite liked it but after a week the mod wheel stopped working & the replacement arrived with a key that didn’t work so like the NI 61 Mk2 I gave up!).
I’m really pleased with the Novation - owned it about a month, seems a high quality build & integrates well with my DAW (Cubase via MIDI Remote feature). Launchkey was originally designed as an Ableton controller so integrates ‘natively’ with it very well.
If you want the fully-weighted option, I’ve tried a Roland A88 Mk2 - some say it has a heavy/sluggish feel (but not as bad as Arturia/NI Fatar keybed). I quite liked it - again no aftertouch (not an issue for me). Knobs, pitch/mod joystick & pads at far left which is a bit polarising but means it’s a very slim build so fits nicely under a desk allowing one to play whilst being close enough to main desk for PC keyboard/mouse etc. It’s also a quality Roland keybed with its popular PHA-4 keybed, the one used on its mid-range digital pianos.
I think if I were in the market for a hammer-action controller I’d be looking at the Roland or Studiologic SL Grand. The cheaper SL Studio gets a bad press for sluggish keys, but the Grand seems popular. No MIDI control functions (knobs etc.), nor pitch/mod wheels but 3 weird little joysticks! I’d probably pair it with a separate fader controller (many options, including Studiologic). Both SL Studio & Grand have aftertouch & very customisable keybed.
But if you want a nice feeling 88-key keyboard, loads of MIDI control (knobs, faders), pads, DAW integration, built-in arp & other creative features (chord mode etc.) for a decent price then the Novation Launchkey 88 is worth a look.
Sorry, quite a long post there!
I’ve tried quite a few keyboards over the last couple of years & been un-impressed with many due to inconsistent key/velocity response or QC issues.
My current master controller is the Novation Launchkey 88 - I’m confident in saying it’s the best semi-weighted feel I’ve tried. If you want fully-weighted/hammer piano action then it won’t be for you but from what you write that doesn’t seem a priority for you. Likewise since you’re not a live performer I’m assuming aftertouch not that important? The Launchkey has no aftertouch.
I owned an Arturia KeyLab 61 Mk2 - fantastic, sold purely to fund new 88-key controller. The KeyLab 88 Mk2 does get some bad press for heavy/sluggish keys - same keybed as NI’s S88 Mk2 which gets similar feedback although the NI seems to have more issues after you’ve owned it a while (mainly rattly keys). As an aside I tried 3 (!) NI S61 Mk2 keyboards & after a few days/weeks they all started to rattle with even light playing. Plus the far left C key would make a weird crunching noise (this is well documented on NI forums).
There’s not a massive amount of choice for non-hammer 88 keys. Nektar’s GXP 88 gets mixed feedback (again I owned one briefly, quite liked it but after a week the mod wheel stopped working & the replacement arrived with a key that didn’t work so like the NI 61 Mk2 I gave up!).
I’m really pleased with the Novation - owned it about a month, seems a high quality build & integrates well with my DAW (Cubase via MIDI Remote feature). Launchkey was originally designed as an Ableton controller so integrates ‘natively’ with it very well.
If you want the fully-weighted option, I’ve tried a Roland A88 Mk2 - some say it has a heavy/sluggish feel (but not as bad as Arturia/NI Fatar keybed). I quite liked it - again no aftertouch (not an issue for me). Knobs, pitch/mod joystick & pads at far left which is a bit polarising but means it’s a very slim build so fits nicely under a desk allowing one to play whilst being close enough to main desk for PC keyboard/mouse etc. It’s also a quality Roland keybed with its popular PHA-4 keybed, the one used on its mid-range digital pianos.
I think if I were in the market for a hammer-action controller I’d be looking at the Roland or Studiologic SL Grand. The cheaper SL Studio gets a bad press for sluggish keys, but the Grand seems popular. No MIDI control functions (knobs etc.), nor pitch/mod wheels but 3 weird little joysticks! I’d probably pair it with a separate fader controller (many options, including Studiologic). Both SL Studio & Grand have aftertouch & very customisable keybed.
But if you want a nice feeling 88-key keyboard, loads of MIDI control (knobs, faders), pads, DAW integration, built-in arp & other creative features (chord mode etc.) for a decent price then the Novation Launchkey 88 is worth a look.
Sorry, quite a long post there!