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I currently have a Yamaha YPT-400 Keyboard and I wanted to upgrade my midi capabilities. I want to do more with it, and sometimes when I press 5 keys at once, my VST gets distorted. (left hand stops even though Im holding the note. Not sure if that's keyboard related)

Anywho

I would like to be able to switch my VST's and also VST's different samples with my keyboard or a (pedal maybe?) I'm not sure if my current keyboard has that capability.

I've always wanted a good piano too. So I was thinking, is the Yamaha YPG-635 or (DGX-620) a good choice? Does anyone have any experience with it?

Or if you don't, do you know of a good midi controller that has that capabilties. Any brands in particular to look at?

Thanks a lot!

Comments

crewxp Mon, 08/09/2010 - 12:33

sorry for the late reply. just got back from a trip.

Im kinda leaning towards a good midi controller now rather than a piano. No need to waste money on something I dont need. Dont really care on hammer action. Always wanted a hammer PIANO, but afaik, midi controllers are easier to make music using light keys (am i right?)

Anyways, my budget is about $400, as im just starting out. Ive been looking at the m-audio keystation pro (bc it has volume knobs/sliders and is 88key), CME Keyboards (UF series), Novation (no clue), Fatar (no clue either), and M-audio Axiom keyboards. Haven't looked into Roland and Korg but those have been recommended. Really need a 88 key though.

I live in a college town, so there arent many music stores near me, the ones Ive been to, they have to special order what I want at a higher price than online has. So I cant test any of the keyboards. I have to go purely off recommendations.

:(

What would you guys get/suggest?

hueseph Mon, 08/09/2010 - 23:36

Your midi problems are probably less the keyboard than your computer. interface, drivers and buffer settings. I don't know of any pedals that allow you to change patches other than ones offered by [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.roland.c…"]Roland[/]="http://www.roland.c…"]Roland[/]. Novation are cheap. M-Audio are better. By how much I don't know. Even Midi controllers can get expensive.

crewxp Tue, 08/10/2010 - 22:13

hey! Ive found out that if I buy a m-audio uno and hook it up to my GT8 guitar pedal, I can use that!! I ordered one a few hours ago.

I went to my closest store that pianos on display today... Best Buy. I tried out what a hammer-action keyboard felt like and I dont think its for me. It'll be hard to play the fast paced violin samples I come up with in my head. so I've decided on semi-weighted or less. Preferably more than 61-keys, but if I have to get 61, then I'll probably purchase a mixer/midi controller that has knobs/sliders so I can control my vst better.

Do you guys that have 61-keys ever feel like you dont have enough room to play? Any semi-weighted or less recommendations? Right now I have my eyes set on the Axiom (with it had more keys :/), but am looking for more.

Your recommendations help me a lot! It points me in the right direction as to where to look. Im going to force myself to make a decision and finally purchase one tomorrow!

crewxp Wed, 08/11/2010 - 12:35

I think I've finally narrowed it down.

I'm going to get two. Probably a 81se (for the full 88 keys), and also a Axiom 61 (unsure the difference b/w pro and regular). The Axiom along with the 88se because it looks highly configurable and has after-touch! I think thats probably something essential, right?

If not that, I'm looking into CME's UF70 or UF7 and CME's VX-7 (havent read anything at all about this. But its a midi controller, not hammer, has knobs, and 70 something keys is perfect for me)

How do my decisions look? The only thing im unsure of is pro vs regular axiom, and what VX-7's features are.

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