A baby grand piano's too big—do zygote pianos exist?
October 18, 2008 3:36 PM Subscribe
I need a music composition aide—what's the smallest and/or cheapest piano keyboard I can buy?
I compose music as a hobby. As much as I would like to think I have perfect pitch, a keyboard is best for working out chords and melodies. Apartment space is at a premium, and I don't need many features, so I don't need anything expensive. All I really expect is a range of a few octaves and a voice that resembles a piano. (So, no '80s Casios. Plus, they require a gazillion batteries.) What keyboard/piano can I buy that fits these specs?
Alternative question: Is there a program for OS X that serves this purpose? There's this, but it requires 10.5 (?!).
I compose music as a hobby. As much as I would like to think I have perfect pitch, a keyboard is best for working out chords and melodies. Apartment space is at a premium, and I don't need many features, so I don't need anything expensive. All I really expect is a range of a few octaves and a voice that resembles a piano. (So, no '80s Casios. Plus, they require a gazillion batteries.) What keyboard/piano can I buy that fits these specs?
Alternative question: Is there a program for OS X that serves this purpose? There's this, but it requires 10.5 (?!).
I am not primarily a keyboard player, but if you are not looking for the full 88 keys and you are happy to omit things like weighted keys, you should be able to find something pretty reasonable. Unlike acoustic instruments, electronics gets outmoded and cheap while (usually) still working.
I bought a vintage 1985 DX-7 in 1987 for $2100 and sold it two years later for $1400, which was more than it was worth. I see them for about $200 now on Ebay and in pawnshops.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:34 PM on October 18, 2008
I bought a vintage 1985 DX-7 in 1987 for $2100 and sold it two years later for $1400, which was more than it was worth. I see them for about $200 now on Ebay and in pawnshops.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:34 PM on October 18, 2008
Best answer: M-Audio made my keyboard. 49 keys, pitch/modulation wheel, USB-powered. $100 or so. Use it with GarageBand and voila! Instant piano.
posted by infinitewindow at 4:58 PM on October 18, 2008
posted by infinitewindow at 4:58 PM on October 18, 2008
Upright pianos are often available on Craigslist for free or cheap. I have a studio apartment, but it's not so small that I couldn't fit an upright in the corner. You can certainly still store things on top of it.
Of course, if you've got a fifth-floor walkup, this solution may be less than ideal...
posted by Madamina at 6:41 PM on October 18, 2008
Of course, if you've got a fifth-floor walkup, this solution may be less than ideal...
posted by Madamina at 6:41 PM on October 18, 2008
Best answer: You may want to consider the difference between a MIDI controller keyboard and one with its own built-in sounds/speakers. A controller keyboard like infinitewindow's is great for recording into your computer (the USB makes it easy to connect the two), but realize that it's useless on its own, because it is not capable of making sound. It requires that your computer be booted up and running software like GarageBand in order to generate sound through your computer speakers.
This is very convenient for recording, and it may be just what you want. However, sometimes when you have an elusive melody in your head it's convenient to just turn on your keyboard and sound it out instantly, without having to worry about the state of your computer. This calls for a keyboard with speakers and its own soundbank.
Even the very lowest-priced portable keyboards have decent sampled soundbanks these days. This model would be very suitable.
However, this type of keyboard is more difficult to connect to your computer, because it only has the standard 5-pin MIDI jacks. To plug it into a computer, you need either an external USB/Firewire audio interface like this or (if your computer supports it) an internal card like this that provides a MIDI connection to your computer.
So there are some tradeoffs between ease of use on its own or ease of connectivity with your computer (unless you get into more expensive models that give you the features of both types in one unit). If you really just want a piano substitute that you can sit down and play no-hassle, get one with speakers like the Yamaha. Otherwise, get the cheapest M-Audio controller-type keyboard that has the number of keys you want.
Either way, as ricochet biscuit points out, you can save some money buying used. However, sampler technology has gotten better and cheaper in the past several years, so if you want a keyboard with its own soundbank, try to get something made recently--even in the cheapest models, the piano samples will sound better than with older ones.
I would stay away from software that plays via your computer keyboard. It's just too clumsy and limiting, especially when you want to play chords.
posted by [user was fined for this post] at 7:46 PM on October 18, 2008
This is very convenient for recording, and it may be just what you want. However, sometimes when you have an elusive melody in your head it's convenient to just turn on your keyboard and sound it out instantly, without having to worry about the state of your computer. This calls for a keyboard with speakers and its own soundbank.
Even the very lowest-priced portable keyboards have decent sampled soundbanks these days. This model would be very suitable.
However, this type of keyboard is more difficult to connect to your computer, because it only has the standard 5-pin MIDI jacks. To plug it into a computer, you need either an external USB/Firewire audio interface like this or (if your computer supports it) an internal card like this that provides a MIDI connection to your computer.
So there are some tradeoffs between ease of use on its own or ease of connectivity with your computer (unless you get into more expensive models that give you the features of both types in one unit). If you really just want a piano substitute that you can sit down and play no-hassle, get one with speakers like the Yamaha. Otherwise, get the cheapest M-Audio controller-type keyboard that has the number of keys you want.
Either way, as ricochet biscuit points out, you can save some money buying used. However, sampler technology has gotten better and cheaper in the past several years, so if you want a keyboard with its own soundbank, try to get something made recently--even in the cheapest models, the piano samples will sound better than with older ones.
I would stay away from software that plays via your computer keyboard. It's just too clumsy and limiting, especially when you want to play chords.
posted by [user was fined for this post] at 7:46 PM on October 18, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ambilevous at 4:21 PM on October 18, 2008