KVR Audio

Failed Muso · Post by **Failed Muso** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:23 pm

Alesis Fusion 8HD.

Awesome workstation, excellent fully weighted keyboard with aftertouch.

http://www.fusionsynth.com/index.html

Audeon · Post by **Audeon** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:56 pm

I own a S90, which has a really nice hammer action. It's got aftertouch, too. Built like a tank. However, if all you need is a controller, you might look for anything cheaper from Yamaha using the same keyboard. Unfortunately I don't know which model share the same excellent keyboard as the S90.

underface · Post by **underface** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:15 pm

In comparison to a real piano, the Oberheim MC keyboard has a well defined strike and a smooth release (impossibly smooth, You'd almost swear the linkages between the hammer and keys had disapearred.) The velocity and aftertouch scales were accurate across the entire range of the keyboard and the black keys were identical to the white keys in terms of response. (That's a serious source of irritation with me, when the black keys are more/less sensitive than the white ones)

I can't really compare it to the yamaha controllers as I haven't spent all that much time on one, but I was planning on heading down to the music store tonight, so I'll check some of their 88's out.

One more thing, before you buy a kurzweil, check out the reviews at harmonycentral.com. I was just looking through those the other day and it looks like they put out some flakey keyboards.

krank · Post by **krank** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:32 pm

underface wrote:In comparison to a real piano, the Oberheim MC keyboard has a well defined strike and a smooth release (impossibly smooth, You'd almost swear the linkages between the hammer and keys had disapearred.) The velocity and aftertouch scales were accurate across the entire range of the keyboard and the black keys were identical to the white keys in terms of response. (That's a serious source of irritation with me, when the black keys are more/less sensitive than the white ones)

I can't really compare it to the yamaha controllers as I haven't spent all that much time on one, but I was planning on heading down to the music store tonight, so I'll check some of their 88's out.

One more thing, before you buy a kurzweil, check out the reviews at harmonycentral.com. I was just looking through those the other day and it looks like they put out some flakey keyboards.

Excellent info, thanks. Please post comparisons when you get back - I've found Yamaha's electric pianos to have great, realistic piano action, but as synth controllers they of course lack functionality such as modulation/pitch wheels. I think I'd prefer the Oberheim if the action is comparable.

The CME UF8 would be a viable and budget option to me if it wasn't so damn ugly.

Adambomb337 · Post by **Adambomb337** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:36 am

I'm looking for a 88key controller and keyboard (something I can just turn on and play without the computer required and also capable of recording what I play through midi on the computer very accurately) for under $1000. And it must feel like a real piano.

does this exist?

John_P · Post by **John_P** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:48 am

The new CME VX series looks promising. Great featured master controller keyboards.....and they look good too.

http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-vx.html

rp314 · Post by **rp314** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:01 am

I've had an Alesis QS8 for years and, as a non-keyboard person (although once upon a time I had to fake through "Keyboard Harmony" in college) what I did beforeI bought it was to try out as many models within my price range as I could rather than decide based on what was in magazines or what other people recommended. Too much about all this is personal preference and nowadays there are even more choices in the low-price range to take into consideration, not to mention used ones.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:11 am

John_P wrote:The new CME VX series looks promising. Great featured master controller keyboards.....and they look good too.

http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-vx.html

yeah .. they caught my eye too ... great spec for the money, but not available until june ...

egbert · Post by **egbert** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:29 am

The best hammer action is in the Kawai MP9000 and 9500 series. 88 wooden keys but it weighs about 80 lb.

DevonB · Post by **DevonB** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:24 am

egbert wrote:The best hammer action if in the Kawai MP9000 and 9500 series. 88 wooden keys but it weighs about 80 lb.

Not that many of the other 88 key keyboards weigh much less.

Devon

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:13 am

rp314 wrote:I've had an Alesis QS8 for years

Your QS8 is a keeper for more reasons than just the key action. I've got a QS6.1 that I wouldn't dream of parting with. I know it's limited. I know it's just a rompler. I know that the sounds on the 2 Q-cards that I have are easily duplicated.

I don't care. I love the QS. If I take one keyboard to a gig, it's that one. It's got a great organ. It's got a great piano for live rock. I've got a handful of sounds that I've tweaked on it, that are mine. It's built like a tank. It's got great key action.

This is off topic for a 88-hammer discussion, but, if I could have ever found a deal on a QS8.1, or even a QS8, I would have gone for it, and I have little doubt that board would still be my master controller today. Notice how you don't ever see a QS or a Roland XP80 going for $150

egbert · Post by **egbert** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:28 am

DevonB wrote:
egbert wrote:The best hammer action if in the Kawai MP9000 and 9500 series. 88 wooden keys but it weighs about 80 lb.
Not that many of the other 88 key keyboards weigh much less.

True. I guess the knub of the matter is that while you gain in terms of range and control you end up with something which, once you put it in a road case, is going to give you a hernia or a slipped disc if you try to lift it on your own.

You pretty much set these beasties up somewhere and use them as a really nice master keyboard or you employ a road crew

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:52 am

SoftJunkie wrote:there's a rave review of the studiologic VMK line. there's the VMK-161 plus, VMK-176 plus and VMK-188 plus. they are all fully-weighted.

Thanks heaps for the tip on the VMK176PLUS, dude!

I've been wanting a decent, fully weighted 76 key controller for years! I can live without the extra keys (which I don't play much except on a real piano anyway) if it means I'm saving space and weight!

Watto · Post by **Watto** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:55 am

Although I'm having trouble finding a distributor in Australia...

Failed Muso · Post by **Failed Muso** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:09 am

Adambomb337 wrote:I'm looking for a 88key controller and keyboard (something I can just turn on and play without the computer required and also capable of recording what I play through midi on the computer very accurately) for under $1000. And it must feel like a real piano.

does this exist?

Alesis Fusion

www.fusionsynth.com

A bit above $1000, but worth it

What keyboard - 88 keys hammer action