⌛ Input on electronic keyboard

Ok, so I am looking for an electronic keyboard. Since I know next to nil about such a subject (Yes, there are subjects I know nothing about) I am asking here, where I know there is a plethora of knowledgeable musically talented individuals. So please don't ask me any high tech questions, as I will not have a clue. Hi tech definitions, on the other hand, are highly appreciated.

I have a budget of around P5000. I am searching for one that is suitable for a beginner, up to low/moderate skill level. It should have inputs and outputs, USB would be nice also. Recording capabilities?

So, please tell me what I should be looking at, and where. I have only found two such keyboards in the city, one at Unitop, Miles brand, p3500 (I have not had very good luck with much I ever bought at Unitop.) and one at the music/sporting goods store on Real, a Global brand for P5000. I have searched most everywhere else I can think of downtown and these two are all I have found. I would also consider a used unit of a little better quality. The Real store also has a Yamaha for P16,000, but this is a little out of my budget.

Thanks all!

Larry

 

If you buy a new keyboard with built-in synths (instruments) below 5000p it will probably not have a sustain pedal input. It means that you will not be able to play music serious on it. Also they usually don't have any velocity sensitivity, so you will not be able to use expression while playing - your music will be flat. The keys are light and plastic, sometimes smaller then they should be.
If you are familiar with computers, I suggest you to buy a midi keyboard that has no instruments in it so it should be much cheaper. You can plug it to your computer and install required synths so your keyboard will control a software that makes sounds. Usually these keyboard have everything you need to play serious music.
I've bought one for 800 pesos (second hand roland pc-180) here in Dumaguete and I know, that one new is coming soon in JVS store for 6000. New costs around $100-150 + delivery + custom taxes if you buy it online.
If you want, I can show you how it works and what you can expect from it. I also have lots of synths.

 

x2 on that. get a keyboard controller and use your pc as the sound module. If you spend more then you can start with the basic korg, kurzweil, Roland, Yamaha, etc...

 

+ M-Audio this one for example: M-AUDIO - KeyRig 49 - Easy-to-Use 49-Note USB Keyboard

 

Ahhh, yes! Thanks, now that is the kind of input I was hoping for. I would like to see how it works.

Larry

 

Yeah!

Larry, if you come up trumps on this, will you let me have the details? My monster is still set on a Keyboard. Thank You!


Jack P.

 

Will do, Jack. I'm getting a crash keyboard course right now.



Larry

 

You are welcome Larry, i live in Katrina Homes, Batinguel. My cell number is 09496610959, my name is Ajay. You can come any evening and I will show you the system. Unfortunately I don't know how to play keyboards yet. Just started to study, so I can show only the technical side of the question which I am familiar with
If you are a beginner in keyboards, it will be useful to make friends and share our studying experiences sometimes.

 

There is a little resale store up the street from Lee Plaza. It has used keyboards starting at about 3000php. Its at the corner of the North Hwy. Across from that Call Center and then Inasal. If all you are looking is a piano sound that might fit the bill. But the sound is bloody thin on a board that cheap. But what can you expect for 5000?
My Korg goes for over 60,000php here. Its a professional workstation. So really, you get what you pay for.

HEY, ANYONE WANNA JAM SOME FLOYD????

 

A big thanks to Ajayver and Donunus for getting me interested enough to study the MIDI concept. After a week or so of studying this, I have come to the conclusion that everything else is near obsolete. Other than for stage presence and/or prestige, I don't understand why anyone would purchase a traditional instrument. Midi is, in fact, the method of choice of recording studios for some very valid reasons.

Some condensed reading for Jack and anyone else who is interested;

MIDI Tutorials

Unfortunately, MIDI does not seem to be popular at all in the Philippines. Maybe this is due to few people having computers? I have yet to see one in Dumaguete, but did find several midrange units (P20,000-P30,000) in Cebu, as well as some higher end stuff up to P200,000. Roland and M-Audio both have very highly rated units below P10,000. (I have yet to see one) Yamaha, Korg, and others start at about P15,000. Ebay.ph. Ayos Dito, and other online classifieds turn up very little. I did find one 12+ year old Yamaha in Cavite that has the requisites of being a very nice machine, and a good buy,... IF one were close enough to buy it. I searched all the music stores I could find in Cebu and found very little midi stuff, but did find probably 100 "electronic" keyboards, whose features pale in comparison.

The opinion I formed from my research was forget the piano. Why buy a piano when you can buy a piano, organ, saxophone, drums, trumpet, banjo, and most any other instrument you can dream of in one unit, and control the entire orchestra individually from one keyboard? If a mistake is made on one note of the performance on one instrument, you can go back and change that one note on that one instrument.

If I were looking to buy a computer for today's usage, I would not be looking for a DOS model.

Still looking!

Your hearing may vary.

Larry