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Weighted keys vs Lightweighted keys

 
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      06-18-2008
For not all too long ago, I thought that lightweighted keys were better when playing harder stuff at higher speed, while weighted keys were better when playing piano stuff.
A few weeks ago, I noticed that the lightweighted keys made me slip much more, and I lost some of the tightness. I don't know if that was because they're lightweighted, or is there's another reason, but I've started to think more about if I should get weighted keys for my next keyboard...

If you know more about the pro's and con's of weighted/lightweighted keys, please share your knowledge
 
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      06-19-2008
Weighted keys are always better IMO. Hell even on acoustic pianos, I like practicing on baby grands with heavy action... not stiff or sticky, just pretty heavy. It takes a while to get used to, especially a new piano, but once I'm used to it I feel like I have a lot of control over the instrument, whether it be dynamics or sheer speed.

The only pro of non-weighted or light-weighted keys would be for organ playing, in which case you'd also need the keys to be "waterfall" keys (this allows for palm glissandos and other organ-specific techniques that I've only heard of but never done as I don't play organ, so this information is second-hand).

Get a weighted keyboard is my advice.
 
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      06-19-2008
Get away from lightweighted keys... That "I noticed that the lightweighted keys made me slip much more" is the first thing you'll notice. As you're getting better you'll want to play more complicated thing, or more expressive chords with better dynamics. You can't do that on plasticky keys.

Playing hammond-organ sounds -Yes, BUT semi-weighted. Difference between lightweighted keys and semiweighted was for me almost the same as it was when i switched from semiweighted to hammer keys.

Bottom line - if you need precision, great dynamics go for the real thing - hammer action keyboard. For everything else - semiweighted keys
 
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      06-19-2008
Okey, so there is an alternative between real weighted keys and lightweighted ones, didn't know that

So, hammer action keys are the ones that are just like on a piano? With heavier keys at the lower section, and lighter at the higher section?
And semiweighted are.... hmmm.... Same weight on all keys, and slightly lighter than the heavy ones?
Not sure if I've ever tried a semiweighted keyboard, so I don't know that much about it ^^
 
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      06-19-2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sargas View Post
Okey, so there is an alternative between real weighted keys and lightweighted ones, didn't know that

So, hammer action keys are the ones that are just like on a piano? With heavier keys at the lower section, and lighter at the higher section?
And semiweighted are.... hmmm.... Same weight on all keys, and slightly lighter than the heavy ones?
Not sure if I've ever tried a semiweighted keyboard, so I don't know that much about it ^^
Hehe... yes and no...

Hammer action keys are the "piano-ish" keys. not all keyboards have heavier keys at lower octaves. That's called graded hammer action. So as you can see there are a lot of sorts of hammer keys, but most of them are, as the name suggests) - heavy.

Now, for those "semi-weighted"... Every better workstation has those kind of keys. Triton, TR, Motif (classic, ES,XS), M3, Fantom, Trinity etc...

Although... the new motif XS has a peculiar type of keys... a bit more synth oriented... They feel a bit more rubbery then the ones on my ES but still, semi-weighted
 
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      06-19-2008
Always weighted keys... You will have a bad-pressing-finger on piano keys, if you always use light-weighted keys... Better you play on weighted keys, like on a real piano-key

 
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Last edited by Sparky93; 06-19-2008 at 11:51 AM..
 
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      06-19-2008
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Originally Posted by Sysryn View Post

Now, for those "semi-weighted"... Every better workstation has those kind of keys. Triton, TR, Motif (classic, ES,XS), M3, Fantom, Trinity etc...
What I've seen from the workstations I've looked up (Korg M3 and Oasys), the 76 key version has semi-weighted keys, while the 88 key version has Real Weighted Hammer Action keys.
Is it possible to get i.ex an Korg M3 with 88 semi-weighted keys? Or do I need to choose between 76 semi-weighted and 88 Real Weighted?
 
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      06-19-2008
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Originally Posted by Sargas View Post
What I've seen from the workstations I've looked up (Korg M3 and Oasys), the 76 key version has semi-weighted keys, while the 88 key version has Real Weighted Hammer Action keys.
Is it possible to get i.ex an Korg M3 with 88 semi-weighted keys? Or do I need to choose between 76 semi-weighted and 88 Real Weighted?
As far as I know there are NO 88 semi-weighted keys workstations.
Every keyboard with 88 keys have hammer action/graded hammer action.

There are some yamahas in 88 keys versions but they have plain plasticky keys so run away from that
 
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      06-20-2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sysryn View Post
As far as I know there are NO 88 semi-weighted keys workstations.
Every keyboard with 88 keys have hammer action/graded hammer action.

There are some yamahas in 88 keys versions but they have plain plasticky keys so run away from that
Ok, then I'd better just try a few semi-weighted keyboards, and a few hammer action/graded hammer action to see the difference between them. I probably won't buy anything in a few years anyways, so I've got time to think abd try the different alternatives, so I get something I will be really satisfied with

Thanks for the help
 
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      2 Weeks Ago
If you want a "real-piano" feel then I highly suggest weighted keys.
 
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