Keyboard for £200 beginner level

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I am looking to buy one of the following keyboards to learn at beginner level.

The keyboard will stay in one place only and very close to my pc and laptop.
I would like to learn to play some classical music and stuff like this


I have listed the pros and cons for each that I could find but I could be wrong about some of them.
Yamaha NP12 Digital Piano
https://www.rimmersmusic.co.uk/keybo...-bundle-p25386
Cons
61 keys

Pros
Does not need a pc to use it.
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M-Audio Keystation 88 Mk2
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/m-audio-key...FakW0wodh7kPMw
Cons
This one needs to be connect to my pc or laptop to use it.
Input lag maybe?
I don't how well it will work on windows 10.
Software setup and getting it working correctly.

Pros.
88 keys.
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Nektar Impact GX61
http://www.nektartech.com/impact-gx49-61.html
Cons
Same as M-Audio
61 keys

Pros
Cheaper option for a beginner at £80 mark.

Leaning more to the Nektar Impact GX61 as it's a cheaper option to begin with.
Thank you any advice.
 

happyrat1

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My advice is to double your budget. Even with controllers cheap is cheap and they fail quickly and the feel of cheap sloppy keys is a horrible way to start a serious music hobby or career.

Take a look at the Casio WK series or PX-160 or PX-150 or if you are going the controller and computer or module route then make sure it at least has real MIDI ports and a decent feel and ratings.

You can usually get a good idea if you're shopping online by reading Amazon reviews for the models you're interested in.

Good luck with your endeavours.

Gary ;)
 

Fred Coulter

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If you're eventually thinking about playing a "real" piano, you probably should be looking at weighted keys. (And another increase to the budget.)
 

happyrat1

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The PX-150 and 160 are full blown electronic pianos with weighted, graded hammer action keys.

The 150 is discontinued and can be found on clearance for about 400 UK Pounds or used for around 300 to 400.

Gary ;)
 
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Thanks for the comments :)

I never intend to have a real piano right now as I don't have the money or the room :)
And at this time I can't double my budget :( but having a cheaper option to play something better then nothing right?
Cheers.
 

happyrat1

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Seriously, save your pennies for a couple of months. Brown bag it to work and skip the pub crawls with the meat pies and the expensive lagers.

It's well worth the effort and you won't regret it.

Gary ;)
 

Fred Coulter

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The reason we're talking about weighted keys is that it's far harder to move from organ style keys to piano keys than from piano style keys to organ keys.
 
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+1 to HappyRat1.

At lower price-points, look at a used Yamaha P45, or a used Yamaha P105 or Casio PX-130 or PX-150. All have 88 weighted keys. They're all "slab-style" DP's -- just a keyboard (the number of keys determines the width) and a minimal case, with electronics and speakers. Minimum weight for 88-key, weighted-action keyboards is around 25 lbs.

The NP12 is usable, and it may have a better action than the M-Audio keystation. But you'll have a bit of a shock when you move to either a weighted digital piano, or an acoustic piano. There's a general rule:

. . . _Any_ keyboard is better than _no_ keyboard.

. Charles
 

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