Hello everybody, All my life I've been playing a regular upright piano. However lately I have to travel a lot and I've noticed I'm loosing practice. For this reason I've been researching a lot about a solution and everything is telling me to get a portable keyboard workstation. So now that I've decided to buy one I was thinking on some features I would like to have. These features or specifications are: - Minimum 61 keys/ 5 octaves or more - From 30 to 37 inches long - With or without own speakers but definitely with own sound (preference for good orchestral over electronic) so I can use headphones or speakers (I don't watt to depend on a computer t o paly all the time) - I want to use Logic Pro to sequence midi for my music so I guess that requires midi port? - Average price: 650 dollars (500 euros) If I'm missing some feature that should be considered please let me know. But given this specifications, can you guys recommend me a keyboard workstation? I've been researching for days and didn't find what I'm looking for. The closest thing I've seen is the Korg Microstation but I'm don't want mini keys. If it helps my repertory is mostly classical music and soundtracks (that's the reason why I have preference for good quality orchestral sounds). Thanks a lot in advance to everyone!
Portable keyboard workstation recommendations
- Thread starter drumm
- Start date
happyrat1
Destroyer of Eardrums!!!
Perhaps a Korg PA50SD?
http://www.zzounds.com/item--KORPA50SD
The thing is, when you require onboard speakers you leave workstation territory and enter the arranger category.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--KORPA50SD
The thing is, when you require onboard speakers you leave workstation territory and enter the arranger category.
happyrat1
Destroyer of Eardrums!!!
Or you could save yourself a pile of money and get good orchestral sounds with a Yamaha PSR e433
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PSRE433
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PSRE433
wow happyrat1 thank you so much for your quick reply. The Yamaha PSR e433 looks really good, just what I'm looking for.
To be honest I suggested a workstation because I've tried the Korg Microstation and was great (except for the mini keys). So maybe there's another category that suits better my needs, like an arranger.
Basically I would be happy with a small 61 or more keys keyboard (like 38'' max) with its own sounds so I can play without the computer connected. I don't really need onboard speakers as long as I can connect external speakers or headphones. Does that exist?
Anyways, thank you again for your time and help, thanks to you right now the Yamaha PSR e433 is top on my list of candidates!
To be honest I suggested a workstation because I've tried the Korg Microstation and was great (except for the mini keys). So maybe there's another category that suits better my needs, like an arranger.
Basically I would be happy with a small 61 or more keys keyboard (like 38'' max) with its own sounds so I can play without the computer connected. I don't really need onboard speakers as long as I can connect external speakers or headphones. Does that exist?
Anyways, thank you again for your time and help, thanks to you right now the Yamaha PSR e433 is top on my list of candidates!
happyrat1
Destroyer of Eardrums!!!
Cheapest, smallest, full fledged workstations without onboard speakers include the Korg X50
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/X50
And the Roland Juno DI
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JunoDi
or the Yamaha MM6
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMMM6
But honestly I think the PSR e433 will probably save you a ton of money in the long run and you'll be very happy with the sound.
And they all have headphone jacks, though I'm not certain if the e433 has standard 1/4" line outs or not.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/X50
And the Roland Juno DI
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JunoDi
or the Yamaha MM6
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMMM6
But honestly I think the PSR e433 will probably save you a ton of money in the long run and you'll be very happy with the sound.
And they all have headphone jacks, though I'm not certain if the e433 has standard 1/4" line outs or not.
happyrat1
Destroyer of Eardrums!!!
According to page 13 of the manual the e433 can be used to drive external line level equipment from the headphone jack.
http://download.yamaha.com/api/asset/file/?language=en&site=uk.yamaha.com&asset_id=55373
Hopefully it has some kind of autodetect built in to select signal levels since I don't see any sort of line level switch. This means you'll need a stereo to dual mono adapter cable to connect to an amp and you won't be able to use headphones when speakers are connected.
http://download.yamaha.com/api/asset/file/?language=en&site=uk.yamaha.com&asset_id=55373
Hopefully it has some kind of autodetect built in to select signal levels since I don't see any sort of line level switch. This means you'll need a stereo to dual mono adapter cable to connect to an amp and you won't be able to use headphones when speakers are connected.
Thank you again for your time happyrat1. I've created the following table with the keyboards I'm considering. I'll leave it here just in case another user has the same concerns as me.
Model Keys Dimensions
Yamaha MX61 61 984mm (38.7”) x 112mm (4.4”) x 299mm (11.7”)
Korg X50 61 975mm (38.39”) x 257mm (10.12”) x 80mm (3.15”)
Korg PS60 61 925mm (36.4”) x 291mm (11.40”) x 90mm (3.5”)
Yamaha MM6 61 948.5mm (37.3”) x 122.8mm (4.8”) x 374.2mm (14.7”)
Korg MicroStation 61 778mm (30.63”) x 210.0mm (8.27”) x 82mm (3.23”)
Yamaha PSR-E433 61 946mm (37-1/4") x 140mm(5-1/2") x 405mm (15-15/16")
Model Keys Dimensions
Yamaha MX61 61 984mm (38.7”) x 112mm (4.4”) x 299mm (11.7”)
Korg X50 61 975mm (38.39”) x 257mm (10.12”) x 80mm (3.15”)
Korg PS60 61 925mm (36.4”) x 291mm (11.40”) x 90mm (3.5”)
Yamaha MM6 61 948.5mm (37.3”) x 122.8mm (4.8”) x 374.2mm (14.7”)
Korg MicroStation 61 778mm (30.63”) x 210.0mm (8.27”) x 82mm (3.23”)
Yamaha PSR-E433 61 946mm (37-1/4") x 140mm(5-1/2") x 405mm (15-15/16")
Not an expert about the options out there, but if your purpose is partly, at least to practice on the road, don't you need fully weighted keys?