I figured "cheap" was $100 so $60 is great. I don't have a line on anything cheaper but I do have some suggestions.
If you're just looking to enter notes into a sequencer, as opposed to real-time playing, a smaller (fewer octaves/keys) and simpler keyboard is fine. You really want velocity sensitivity, which lets the keyboard transmit how hard you initially strike the key. It adds some cost but not a ton. It's also nice to have at least 1 pitch bender/mod wheel, and most will.
Something that feels and acts like a real piano is much pricier. Pressure sensitivity (aftertouch) measures how hard you hold the key down. Many synths can respond to that, but it costs a bunch. Even more expensive is a weighted key movement that "feels" like a piano rather than a pushbutton. It's great but few people really need it.
I'd get something around 2-3 octaves, velocity sensitivity and at least one mod wheel. I'd like to think you can get that for $100 or less.
And now it occurs to me scherzoid is the person to talk to about this!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 02:17 pm (UTC)If you're just looking to enter notes into a sequencer, as opposed to real-time playing, a smaller (fewer octaves/keys) and simpler keyboard is fine. You really want velocity sensitivity, which lets the keyboard transmit how hard you initially strike the key. It adds some cost but not a ton. It's also nice to have at least 1 pitch bender/mod wheel, and most will.
Something that feels and acts like a real piano is much pricier. Pressure sensitivity (aftertouch) measures how hard you hold the key down. Many synths can respond to that, but it costs a bunch. Even more expensive is a weighted key movement that "feels" like a piano rather than a pushbutton. It's great but few people really need it.
I'd get something around 2-3 octaves, velocity sensitivity and at least one mod wheel. I'd like to think you can get that for $100 or less.
And now it occurs to me