Recommend a good 'screen break' keyboard

[publicradio]

For me—and I'm sure this is true for many of you—all the music I produce is on the computer. Even when I'm playing percussion or guitar, I'm in front of my computer, recording into my DAW.

Sometimes, I just get sick of being in front of the screen. I also get really distracted. Luckily, I have a little Pocket Rock-it that I can bring into another room, and just sit there and play guitar into my headphones. The device has an aux line in so I can plug my media player into it, and play along to songs (or even my own recordings).

I'd like to get a second keyboard that serves the same function. I recently tried out a contemporary Casio keyboard, and I was pretty impressed with the sounds on it. Unfortunately, it wasn't velocity-sensitive, though.

Here are the features I'm looking for in a keyboard:

• Reasonably inexpensive. This is just a practice tool, so it doesn't need to be anything special.
• Simple; very few bells and whistles
• 61 keys
• Portable and rechargeable (meaning it has it's on l-ion battery or equivalent. I don't want to have to feed 6 D batteries into it)
• Optional bus power, can be used as a USB MIDI keyboard if needed
• Decent keyboard sounds with velocity sensitivity (this doesn't have to be much. Piano / Rhodes / B3 / Transistor Organ / String machine. Even the Casio had a pretty passable '60s Electric Piano')
• Something to keep time—even rhythm box patterns. I don't need realistic drums at all.
• Very basic MIDI record and playback (so I don't forget my tune before I can get back to the computer)
• BONUS: an aux in so I can play along with my media player, like I do now on the Pocket Rock-it

I have a Nektar 61-key MIDI controller, and it's awesome. Good price point (80 bucks at purchase), good keyboard action, very few controls, and it just feels really sturdy. I've had controllers that feel 'plasticky' and creaky when you pick them up, and the keys are clacky. But the Nektar is great and I'd love to find an equivalent "offline" keyboard.

[publicradio]

Since posting this, I have learned the Casio CT-S1 has absolutely everything I want (except one thing):

• Reasonably cheap (Under 200 bucks if you look around)
• Extremely simple interface. No screen at all.
• Can be used as a MIDI keyboard
• Classic sounds: B3, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, a wah clav. It has a whole 'vintage' suite with realistic emulations. It even has a Mellotron flute! I couldn't believe it!
• A dead-simple metronome and no cheesy drum patterns
• A dead-simple record and playback function
• An aux in so I can play along to recordings

Casio has thought of everything for this unit. They even offer a Bluetooth adapter so you can connect to your computer, phone or tab, wirelessly.

The one downside is that it requires a bunch of 6 batteries, if you don't want to be plugged in. Fine, I'll just get high quality, rechargeable D batteries. The specs are so good on this thing that it's worth the compromise. In fact, I already ordered one. Also, it just looks great. This is their Yamaha competitor:



Ugly, plasticky and bloated. This is the CT-S1:



Simple, warm and tactile. The keys are textured and they have felt under the the tops so dirt can't get in, and so they're silent when you release the keys. I'm really excited about this keyboard.

[FranklyFlawless]

My audio setup without the laptop consists of the LinnStrument and the Deluge. Usually I use this pairing for live performances, so I also have a JBL Eon One Compact portable speaker, but it is not essential, as the Deluge has an external speaker near the SD card slot. There are several accessories and cables required to make this all work, depending on what application I want or need it for.

[publicradio]

OK, well I received my Casiotone, and it's... pretty good. It's bigger and heavier than I expected, and I suspect the reason is that it has big, heavy speakers in it. I think Casio's goal here was to have a standalone instrument that you can just turn on in a room, play, and it'll sound good in the room. And they accomplished this. It is nice to have something with no wires that you can just play.

It also works well as a USB MIDI keyboard, though it has no mod wheel or pitch bend.