Good completely weighted MIDI keyboards to buy

[ihui]

Hello guys,

I'm planning on getting a MIDI keyboard with weighted keys since I feel most comfortable with them; I have played piano for a couple years. The music I typically create involves mostly of acoustic instruments although I may venture into the electronic side of it as well.

What are your recommendations for such keyboards, preferably under $1000?

[jdnz]

roland a88-mkii ( though for the same money you can get the same pha4 action in a rd-88 ex and have a full functioned stage piano as well as a controller )

[lfm]

Constantly praised at PianoWorld , Kawai VPC
http://www.kawaivpc.com/en/

StudioLogic SL series is another with really good beds, I think Fatar.

But good weighted feel you can get with Yamaha P-series, if P106 or something these days.
- $500 or there about
- I used a P85 some years before investing more

Just don't use the built in sounds, but whatever in computer instead.

[cryophonik]

If it was me, I’d get a secondhand Kurzweil PC3X. Lovely keybed, excellent on-board sounds, and VAST synthesis all on one package.

[Spin Boyz]

If you don’t like heavy action, stay away from maudio hammer 88. The worst action ever. It’s collecting dust in my attic.

[rod_zero]

If you want a good piano action I recommend going for something from Roland, Kawaii or Yamaha, you can use most of their digital pianos as controllers with USB. The Casio privia line also has quite good key action.

I personally like Roland the most and they are also the brand with the most bare bones piano action controller, the A88.

Those 4 brands design manufacture each one their own key actions, all the other brands releasing controllers with weighted keys use most of the time keys by Fatar (NI, Arturia, Nord, among others) which aren't bad but they are not as good as Roland or Kawai, even the Casio key action is better.

[BBFG#]

I would not recommend Roland at all.
They feel fine when new, but develop a "saddle" in the middle range of playing in too short of time if you practice/play daily. Plus Roland has a history of discontinuing support for their products quicker than most. Although Studiologic also has a history of quick discontinuation, their Fatar keybed stands up better than the rest. If going for a keyboard with its own sounds, Yamaha is your best option. The Yamaha Montage M 88 of course has poly after touch as well.

[seangm]

roland a88-mkii ( though for the same money you can get the same pha4 action in a rd-88 ex and have a full functioned stage piano as well as a controller )

Yeah I've got an A-88, they have nice action and can be found used pretty cheap. I also have an old Roland FP-8 and it has the best action of any EP I've tried. They used to be pretty cheap used (<$300) but I haven't looked lately so not sure what they are going for now.

[Mans Lundberg]

A used Doepfer LMK-2 seems like a nice option in that price range.

[Torchlight]

I have a StudioLogic SL73 and it's fine. I'm planning to buy the Native Instruments Kontrol S88 mk3 because, apparently and amazingly, it's the only keyboard in existence with polyphonic aftertouch and fully weighted keys. If you get more into synth sounds, you might eventually want polyphonic aftertouch for added expressiveness. I think Fatar make the keybed for NI so it should be similar to the one I already have since StudioLogic is just a Fatar brand name.

I'm holding off on the purchase till next month, though, because NI may release a new version of Komplete/Kontakt then and I might want some of the bundles that will be available.

[Uncle E]

Yamaha DGX-670 is good for the money. The feel isn't the same as their more expensive keyboards but it's close, and it has excellent acoustic instruments that are better than most plugins, IMO. The 49 Super Articulation voices are particularly good.

[motif88]

As mentioned, the Montage M8x has poly aftertouch. While well oustide of your stated price limit, I can attest the quality and feel of the PAT keybed. The hardware and UI changes brought me back from my Roland RD-2000 with lots of soft synths. I am thoroughly enjoying my Montage M8x, playing more, menu diving less.

Using:
Yamaha: Montage M8x| Spectrasonics: Omnisphere, Keyscape | uhe: Diva, Hive2, Zebra2| Roland: Cloud Pro | Arturia: V Collection | NI: Komplete 14 | VPS: Avenger | Cherry: GX80 | G-Force: OB-E | Korg: Triton, MS-20

Sold/Traded:
Yamaha: Motif XS8, Motif ES8, Motif8, KX-88, TX7 | ASM: Hydrasynth Deluxe| Roland: RD-2000, D50, MKS-20| Korg: Kronos 88, T3, MS-20 | Oberheim: OB8, OBXa, Modular 8 Voice | Rhodes: Dyno-My-Piano| Crumar: T2