(Part 2) Best electronic keyboards according to redditors

It's never too late. But I have a few suggestions:

As a beginner, don't get a real piano. Get a piano-weighted keyboard such as a Yamaha P85. It'll be easier to move around as you get adjusted and you don't have to tune it. Also, later, you can plug it into your computer and use a MIDI program to change the sounds and do more advanced things.

Second, keep your piano near your computer. Youtube is your friend. There are TONS of tutorials on there that will teach you how to play.

Third: Synthesia. Enough said. Don't rely too much on this, it's merely a tool to use early on when you're still learning your way around the keys.

Fourth: There are piano teachers everywhere. I suggest you watch videos and such and teach yourself for a while and get into it, but after that, getting lessons can really push you to learn/expand to things you never would have on your own. But always explore on your own.

Good luck to you and your musical endeavors!

Zoom MS-70CDR + Casio SA76 + Cheetos + Root beer + hosa 1/4" - 1/8" cable= $186 plus shipping and handling. Basically an M-1 but with cheetos and rootbeer.

some vendor named "Precision Audio Sales" is selling them for $200 w/prime fulfillment on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B07BHYZRYG/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

edit: nvm they corrected it lol

Well, they're both certainly great looking. I think the MT-65 is one of the best looking keyboards ever made, and the MT-70 is no slouch either with its classy two tone scheme.

They're both pretty unique as far as Casiotones go, the MT-70 being covered here. Don't know if the MT-65 has a similar page. They both can sound pretty good, especially with external effects (your guitar pedals would be great for this), as demonstrated here and here. I used to have a Casio MT-100 that I had some fun with. Sounded more like the MT-65, but it was less interesting except for the EQ section.

But...

First off, even in immaculate condition I would personally never pay $50-60 for a Casiotone of any stripe, especially one with some parts missing. I got that MT-100 I mentioned for $4 and that's about how much it was worth. They're toy keyboards, not professional instruments (although many Casiotones have of course been used professionally).

Secondly, if you're trying to buy your first synth to learn synthesis, you're not going to be able to do that on one of those as they have almost no sound editing capabilities and the sounds you do get are very limited.

$50-60 isn't a whole lot of money for a synth but you could still do a lot better than a Casiotone. Here's some options that you might consider:

• Stylophone Gen X-1: At $70 it's just a tad more money than one of those Casiotones, but it's a full-featured pocket synth that sounds really good and will teach you the fundamentals of synthesis as it's totally editable. This is what I would personally recommend for you as it's a complete analog synth that lets you create your own sounds, is very easy to use, has a built-in delay, and is self-contained like the Casios with battery power, a speaker, and a touchstrip ribbon keyboard that you can play with no prior keyboard experience. I kind of want one myself!
  
  
• Casio SA46: At just $39 new ($49 for the slightly larger SA76), this Casio undercuts the price of the Casiotones you've been looking at and is a lot more modern, with 100 sounds to choose from instead of the handful you get in a Casiotone. And, like the Casiotones, a lot of them are nice, usable sounds. There are a few people on here and on the Facebook synth groups that have one and enjoy it. If you really want a small Casio, this would be the one I'd heartily recommend! As with the Stylophone, it's alluring enough that something I kind of want to buy for myself just for fun.
  
• Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators: These tiny calculator-like devices have lots of that lo-fi charm that people love about the Casiotones, but are enormously more flexible and lots of fun to jam on. There are a bunch of different options that all sound great, and they start at $49.
  
  Any of those three options would be a great fit for you in my opinion. However, if you can stretch your budget, there's a whole lot more fun gear you can consider.
  
  
• Akai MPK Mini Play: At $129 it's quite a bit more expensive than a $50 Casiotone, but it's worth all of those dollars as it's totally packed with features. It's a new model of one of the most popular MIDI controllers ever, but this one adds a suite of built-in synth and drum sounds to play on the keys and pads. Another one I really want myself!
  
• Korg Volca Keys: The Korg Volca series is one of the most popular points of entry for people new to synthesizers. They're small, they're fun, and they're packed with features. Any of them would be good for you, but the Keys is my favorite and the simplest for a beginner IMO. If you're more interested in making drum sounds, there's the Volca Beats, or the Volca Sample for sampling. And so on. A Volca Keys or Bass would serve you really well for a first synth. New the Volcas are $150-160, but they very frequently show up used for less than that. Here's a Keys for $115, and they sometimes show up for as low as $80. And that brings me to my final suggestion:
  
• Used synths! There are tons of great synths that you can get for very little money if you snoop around Reverb, eBay, Craigslist, and sometimes even the Facebook Marketplace. Volcas, Meeblip Triodes, Korg Electribes, Arturia Minibrutes, home keyboards with synthesis editing capabilities and many more.
  
  Finally, if after all of this you decide you actually really do want an old Casiotone, please don't get extorted into paying $50 or $60 for one. Check your local thrift shops and you'll likely find one for about as much as I paid for that MT-100 in a Goodwill. They're all pretty similar anyway.
  
  I hope any of this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi,

I got $700CAN maximum to buy a Synth/Keyboard

I'm upgrading from an PSR-172(61key) and a M-Audio mini 32
I feel like 61 key might be egnuff for what I do

I love using it as a midi controller through some vst on ableton as I compose music

A pitch wheel, 61Keys and more + and the ability to sit in front and switch sound quickly would be a +
Right now I only found

Alesis Coda Pro
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00SHCDMRQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1[1]

and

Novation Launchkey MK2 Version 61
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00VVK2CUY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1


Any other suggestion?

Thanks Much !

*I'm switching from guitar to piano forever right now and I don't really care much about this whole weighted keys thing, but If you got some good argument about going for weighted key please write them ! Right now I'm really feeling this Novation MK2 as I use ableton to create music!

if you're going to learn piano you need at least weight sensitive keys + 88 keys. a midi keyboard will HEAVILY restrict you when playing even the beginner pieces. I personally have this digital piano that i bring with me to university and its fairly cheap -

http://www.amazon.de/Casio-CDP-120-Digital-Piano/dp/B005N2DKDO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419987226&sr=8-1&keywords=casio++piano

Get yourself a keyboard haha

Edit:

https://www.amazon.com/HONEY-JOY-Electronic-Keyboard-Rechargeable/dp/B07FCG3NQW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=roll+up+piano&qid=1568219818&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWlJFME5EVlVOUEI0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTIzNDE5MkVMWjBOV0hBVFhBUCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjg5NzU1MzJWQU5TS0I3NlRDVSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

For me a good MIDI keyboard has evenly spaced keys with some resistance. Also, the MIDI must be able to pick up velocity levels. I personally love keyboards that have 61+ keys but they can be pricey. Heres one I just recommended in another thread that's perfect.
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-CTK2400-61-Portable-Keyboard/dp/B00JZEW3KC

Depending on your price range, you could also get a really nice Yamaha. Yamaha keyboards with weighted keys are incredible to play on. I have an old PSR E313 and I love it and while they keys are unweighted, the keys pick up velocity well and are evenly spaced. Some people dislike the plastic keys though.

All about personal preference! If you have a music store nearby you should check out some of the keyboards and get a feel for what you like.

Hope this helped! Happy hunting!

1: That's just a controller. It doesn't have sounds of its own. I would suggest considering something that does have sounds of its own (such as a synthesizer, a piano, or something more like a normal student keyboard like this) so that you aren't tethered to a computer+software any time you want to practice. That said, you can still get by with a controller only and your laptop. Whatever you get, you probably do want Midi so you can use it with your software. (Unless it's a real 88-key piano, which is probably the best for learning IMO). For the "portable keyboards" with midi support, like the one I linked, Yamaha and Casio make some pretty good ones. A little pricier than the one you linked, unfortunately. 32 keys might feel a kind of limiting, but maybe not. You can probably find a 61-key one with MIDI on craigslist pretty cheap. (Yamaha PSR series is pretty good, nice sounds)

2: Learning some music theory is definitely a helpful tool, and that generally means studying an instrument. It's pretty much essential for collaborating with other musicians, since you'll need to speak "the language of music." (Keys, chords, etc.) One thing I've always enjoyed for learning is going to guitar chord sites (like ultimate-guitar.com), looking up some songs I know, and playing the chords on piano. If you don't know how to play a chord, look it up. You'll start noticing patterns (how to play a major chord, minor chord, 7th, maj7, etc). That combined with practicing scales can take you pretty far, and give you some tools to explore when writing songs. /r/musictheory seems to be a good community for resources, too.

3: Piano is so fun. I played other instruments before picking up piano, but learning piano has improved my understanding of other instruments (and theory in general) dramatically. So I think you definitely have the right idea looking at keyboard instruments.

4: If you do get a MIDI controller that doesn't have built-in sounds.. I noticed that the one you linked doesn't have any pitch bend or modulation wheel. I'd consider getting one that does. Pretty handy when working with synths (including the ones in your DAW). Another nice thing to have is pads for banging out drum beats. Much more intuitive than using the keyboard. Neither are essential, but they're fun, and something to consider. M-Audio Axiom series is a good one with both of these features. Oxygen series, too.

5: Interestingly, Keystation 49 II is the same price on Amazon as the Keystation MIni 32 you linked. Out of the two, I would definitely go for the 49. More keys, and real pitch bend+modulation wheels. (The pitch bend buttons on the mini look kind of lame IMO.) Unless the more portable size is just super important to you.

6: If the keyboard you get has traditional (round) MIDI I/O ports but no USB port, then you'll need a MIDI interface for your computer. They're cheap, and you don't need anything fancy. Something like this is fine. You can also get an audio interface that has MIDI built-in. If you go with an audio interface, you should do more research, as a good audio interface (unlike an expensive midi adapter) does make a big difference in the sound that gets recorded. But that's probably farther down the line if right now you're just trying to learn and get better at composition. At that point you'll be looking at good monitor speakers and/or monitor headphones, too.

No hard and fast rules, here. Just a few things to consider.

This is an actual synthesizer. The keyboarist in my old band used to use this on top of his piano for certain songs. The reason we used it is because you plug it right into an amp, and you perform the piece live without the need for a laptop with a DAW on it.

If you want to also use a synth as a controller, what you need is one with a MIDI output. MIDI controllers/keyboars have MIDI outputs, because that's what they're made to do. MIDI is the language that the controller uses to speak to the DAW/computer. A MIDI output looks like this. A cable will run out of that port into your computer.

As far as whether an actual, self-contained synth like the one I posted would have a MIDI output on it or not, I'm afraid that is not my area of expertise at all. I know nothing of electronic music aside from what I've said already, I was mainly hoping to help you decide what instrument you want to pick up. I'm sure someone here will give you a good synth recommendation, or you could head over to /r/synthesizers.

EDIT: One more thing. You say you want to be able to play the instrument. If so, you're going to need something you can practice on. You can't really practice very well on a little 3-octave microkorg like the one I posted up there. If you're serious about acquiring the skill to play keys, you should think about getting a decent sized MIDI controller like this (this is what I use to control my DAW), or, if you really, really don't want to have to use a computer, get a nice electronic piano like this. It's all about what you want to do in the end.

I have one just like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Casio-CDP-120-Scaled-Contemporary-Digital/dp/B005N2DKDO

Pretty good value for what you get. You need a keyboard stand too.

Yamaha P105- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-P105-Portable-Digital-Piano/dp/B009DER0MA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406648800&sr=8-1&keywords=p105

£470 delivered.

Bought it myself back in Feb, it's been fantastic. Go and check it out in a music shop before you buy it though, just so you're sure it's right for you.

Holy crap, how'd you pull off such a steal? I see $275 on Amazon.

This one on Amazon is one of the cheaper ones, at $100.

Moog makes one that is going to be significantly better quality, but Moog is always ridiculously expensive...that one is going for about $500. There are several others that range anywhere in between those price points, if you do a little digging.

The Casio WK-500 is a decent starter for the price:
http://www.casio.com/products/Musical_Instruments/Workstation/WK-500/

About $250 street:
http://www.provantage.com/casio-wk500~7CASS1M5.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Casio-WK500-Personal-Keyboard-Connection/dp/B001FSJC2S

Thanks!

The little red box is a Gakken SX-150 Mark II. In this song I added a blur effect and a delay to make it more dreamy. Last year I made a song where I added a pitch-correction plugin in order to keep the notes in a given scale.

I use an Alesis Coda Pro as my main controller. It doesn't have the knobs and buttons of a regular midi controller, but it has hammer action keys that feel great, and are very close to a real piano. It has Midi out, along with midi over USB, and Aux input. It also sounds pretty good on its own with some different electric piano and organ sounds built in. The speakers are good enough to play to a room of people without an amp.

Hmmm. I was thinking the new one was more of a competitor to this.

Boop.

How about the Gakken SX150 mark II? It might not be very DIY, but it is an extremely cheap ladder filter. You might have some fun adding jacks/pots for external CV.

There are schematics here so you could even try cloning it.

my boyfriend has been really into music (mostly hip hop/rap) since he was a kid and has recently expressed an interest in the producing side of things. he’s mentioned a couple of times that he’d like a keyboard or synthesizer, so i thought i’d get him one for Christmas this year.

i should emphasize that he’s never played an instrument before; i’m sure he doesn’t know how to read notes or anything. i played the piano for about 10 years growing up so i at least can help him out with some of the basics, but what i don’t know anything about is keyboards or synthesizers.

i just want to get him a solid option for beginners. i don’t want to spend too much money (hopefully $150 or less?) in case he tries it and isn’t into it. i don’t know if a keyboard or a synthesizer would be a better fit for him and his interests. below are a few options i pulled from amazon, but again, i don’t know anything about any of this so if you have suggestions please let me know! i really really appreciate all your help in advance, i’ll send gold to a few of those who reply later this evening :)

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I will do my best. I am only a month in to this madness. And when I started I wanted to emulate a workflow similar to how stuff was done in the early to mid 90s. Sort of faux hardware sequencing. The reason being every time I sit in front a DAW for a creative project I feel devoid of inspiration. So here's the current setup:

Hardware:

iPad Pro 1st gen connected to a USB hub via Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter.

LYFNLOVE USB Hub 3.0 Splitter,7 Port USB Data Hub with Power Adapter and Charging Port

KORG nanoKontrol2 connected to USB hub

Behringer UM2 connected to the USB hub and hi/low out of Model D

Behringer Model D connected to USB hub for midi control and UM2 to pass audio to iPad

So how does all this work together? Well the center of my workflow sits AUM AUM is my mixer, playhead, midi routing, and effects insert hub. It's the glue that ties all the widgets together with a unified clock.

For synthesis I am currently using the following apps: MOOG Model 15, MOOG Animoog, Audiokit Synth One, Audiokit FM Player, Menace, and Blamsoft Viking Synth which I can run many instances of. And now of course The Model D.

For Sequencing the Synths I am using the Rozeta suite.

And for percussion/drum machine I am using Patterning 2 which I absolutely love to death. With my quest to eventually go all hardware and possibly just a eurorack it's going to be hard for me to let go of this because I like it so much.

For effects/DSP I use all of the apps produced by Audio Damage, Inc., Kosmonaut, & RE-1 Tape Machine

For misc I use an app called Sector which is a nice sample slicer with a cool interface for introducing randomization to a sequence + effects to slices.

As previously mentioned. I am new to this and still learning. The apps I've mentioned merely are the tip of the iceberg as far as what /r/ipadmusic is capable of. I'm trying not to go too deep down that rabbit hole because I intend to go full hardware eventually. But it has been a great starting point to learn a lot of the basics and intermediate inner workings of how to use midi and some modular virtual patching.

I would be happy to answer any more questions. So far this (link to soundcloud, not just the one track RES is trying to make play)is most of what I've created with the newest to oldest representing the evolution of my learning curve. I have not recorded anything with the model d yet but plan to very soon.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-Furniture/dp/B07DL1TLVB?tag=slicinc-20&ascsubtag=c1c1392aedf511e8a06bb2322e4368960INT

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/casio-sa-76-keyboard?src=3soswxxa
Is this a good keyboard for someone who is a complete beginner, and is just wanting to know if they actually are interested before making a huge purchase?

Or this one

https://www.amazon.com/Casio-CTK-2550-Portable-Keyboard-Integration/dp/B074VGGRWX?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

This one is $138.04 used but good condition on amazon lights up and is midi compliant http://smile.amazon.com/Casio-LK165-Lighted-Keyboard-Headphones/dp/B005N4N2GW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1405829989&sr=8-7&keywords=piano+

This one has a usb port but I'm not sure if it works the same way as midi...http://smile.amazon.com/Yamaha-YPT-240-Premium-Keyboard-Headphones/dp/B00F07YC4S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1405829989&sr=8-4&keywords=piano+keyboard

If you can deal without the midi and specialty connections and functions (like me. I just stick my laptop on my keyboard and follow with youtube tutorials of songs) there are some good ones on there for under $100 that will work for a general player. This is the one I have and it works like a gem http://smile.amazon.com/Huntington-KB61-Portable-Electronic-Keyboard/dp/B005JK63K2/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1405829989&sr=8-8&keywords=piano+keyboard. Basic but lots of sounds and good portability.

I'm willing to help pitch in a little if your ending price for the one you want is a little over $100.

I really like the Yamaha P series (I have a P85), especially if you 1) don't care about all the extra synth stuff 2) want something portable 3) want weighted keys, pedal, 2 1/4" audio out jacks (for headphones and/or amp), and a midi out for like 500 USD

Edit: Link

Well, if you're really interested in playing piano for the long run and not just starting and quitting, you should get something nice. Because if you get something cheap and want to go further you'll probably regret it.

On the cheaper side, there's the Yamaha P-45 or the P-71 (They're the same thing) https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LY8OUQW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1509807635&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=P71&dpPl=1&dpID=41La5-9h9WL&ref=plSrch

The keyboard that my teacher has at lessons is a P-105. It's pretty good, probably better than the 45, but a bit more expensive. It may be a little old though idk. https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-P105B-88-Key-Digital-Piano/dp/B009DER0MA

I've also seen a lot of people on here getting the P-115. It may be something you want to check out too. It looks exactly like the P-105... Strange
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UHBGE7A/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1509808265&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=P105&dpPl=1&dpID=31FJaZHCjFL&ref=plSrch

I haven't gotten to play on them, but I've also heard really good things about the Kawai CA-67 and the CA-97. These are quite a bit more than the Yamahas I showed you but are a lot better quality. The two models are the same but the 97 has a better sound quality. It actually has a acoustic soundboard. You may be able to get these online or maybe at a store nearby. https://www.thomannmusic.com/kawai_ca_67_sb_set.htm?sid=a9519d05780fcfba15d9ee3e0fd56b33&ref=prod_rel_356373_0

https://www.thomannmusic.com/kawai_ca_97_r.htm

I think they just came out with newer models of these though. The CA-78 and the CA-98.

Anyway, here's some different options but definitely check out the FAQ on this subreddit. There's a whole page dedicated to this stuff.

Piano is the best thing for learning theory because the entire chromatic scale is laid out in a straight line for you... for travelling what about one of those roll-up keyboards

I'm a fan of Casio's PX line. They're not perfect of course, but I've always found them to be great values in terms of how closely they mimic a piano for the price. Basically anything labeled "Casio Privia PX" with a number at the end is in the same line, but there's less logic to their product names than there used to be.

Specifically I recommend the PX350, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/Casio-PX350-BK-Intelligent-Resonation/dp/B0094D3JI4

Again, it packs a lot in for $600. I have its predecessor from 2010 (the PX330) and even that one isn't too bad all things considered, but the modern ones blow it away with how much more realistic they feel and sound.

I just purchased my first keyboard a few days ago.
After talking to a lot of people and researching what I needed, I went with this.

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-CAS-PX150-BK-Tri-Sensor/dp/B0094KNESM

There are some keyboards that are 50-100, but the extra features you get with this one make it worth it.

I love it so far, sounds and feels great.

If you're in Canada it's a little more expensive. I got mine from best buy for 599 inc. a wooden stand.

edit: I think almost any modern electronic keyboard has a headphone jack, this one does as well as the ability to connect to your computer through usb for midi control and to upload different songs to play along with.

I had it narrowed down to three, I was also looking at.
http://www.amazon.com/Korg-SP170s-88-Key-Digital-Piano/dp/B004M92J0O
and
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Series-P35B-88-Key-Digital/dp/B009CN8WZ6

Are 'hammer action keys' a good enough reason to spend £50 extra? I found this http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005N2DKDO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

For an extra £150 would it be worth going up to a P105?
Amazon do a comparison, but it's lost on me:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009DER0MA/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=musical-instruments

Is this a good keyboard for a beginner. Is it a good keyboard for its price?

> would like to test it with a cheaper option for now.

Only downside to that is if you mistake not liking what you bought for not liking the piano as an instrument.

> On Amazon and Guitar Center they mainly have good reviews.

Who writes the reviews? People who've played for a few hours and are having fun but might give up in a week, people who have played for a few years and are telling you how this was a great instrument for them to start out with, or someone who plays and teaches the piano, isn't that familiar with the allegro 2, but in their limited time with it thinks it's a good starter instrument etc...? Consider the source.

When you hit a key on the piano it makes a signal like 'note on key e4 velocity 85'. This is sent to a sound engine running inside the piano. In general lower end pianos have pretty mediocre sound engines. Assuming it has one, you can use a midi or midi over USB port to plug the piano into your computer to send that 'note on' signal to your computer and with the right software use your computer as the sound engine. A VST is that software. You would plug your headphones/speakers into your computer. By mediocre sound engine what I mean is that you won't notice any difference when you're still trying to figure out which key is a b flat. But if you really get into the piano you'll start to appreciate the difference within months.

>The main thing for me is the sound. I don't want something that is going to sound like garbage.

Even if you can't play anything, take your headphones to a store and listen to some demo tracks. You won't have to be able to hear the subtleties of 'better' sound engines for this. There's a lot of variety in how pianos can sound. You're just trying to pick out the kind of piano sound you like for now.

Good prices aren't always available, but a few to have as a bench mark among entry level models if you go shopping:

Casio PX160: $400, CDP130: $250. If you decide you want a bunch of sounds to toy around with every now and then: CDP230 for $350, px350 for $480, cgp700 for $680.

Yamah P45/71: $350, p115: $500

Roland FP30: $600 with stand and pedal bar for costco FP25 version without bluetooth

Korg B1: $360

Alesis Coda Pro: $300, $400 with stand and pedals.

Don't know prices off hand, but recently discontinued ES100 and new ES110 are good entry level options too.

Sticker price can be negotiable, sales are basically continuous, some are just better than others.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Casio-CDP130-CDP-130-Digital-Piano/product/B00M4M9FF8?context=browse

Prices just around.

> "the past couple weeks I've been noticing that the keys seem to feel more and more artificial"

Allegro can be fine to start out on. But you'll outgrow it. If you notice that's happening and replace it then you'll be fine. If you don't you might stop enjoying your new hobby. The thing is, the same is true of the others you might consider buying, they'll just last a good deal longer.

You might be better off starting a bit upmarket from a Williams, but it depends on your situation. I know you've expressed reservations, but buying used can be a good option. You can sometimes find an older casio or yamaha that's equivalent in quality or better than the williams for less than $100. If you want to buy new but you're concerned about spending a lot of money and then not getting into the piano, one option would be to take your headphones to some stores, try out some entry level models and narrow down to a few you like the sound of, then buy one once you can get a great deal on it. That way if the hobby doesn't stick, or you decide to upgrade at some point, you can sell it for much less of a loss.

I've found one pretty cheap, if you're interested

Do you have a link to this? I've been looking at getting the PX350.

Edit: found it

Thanks for all of the advice and feedback. I do have another question. I was thinking about going with this keyboard: http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YPT-240-Premium-Keyboard-Headphones/dp/B00F07YC4S

That is around the price range I'd like for something starting out. Is this a good way to go or not?

at the time i purchased it, it was $140. there is a newer model now for same price:

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YPT-240-Premium-Keyboard-Headphones/dp/B00F07YC4S/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Ah yeah I was, I tried not staring directly at the image for too long, I didn't want to revive them and have them come through my screen. My question still stands though here is a nice keyboard on amazon for 25$(Used) http://www.amazon.com/Huntington-KB61-Portable-Electronic-Keyboard/dp/B005JK63K2/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1372620971&sr=8-19&keywords=keyboard

It seems like Casio WK500 would be something to get: it allows for creation of custom accompaniment, has a built-in sampler and a PA system (line - in), SD card slot and MIDI. I didn't get much time to play with it, but I am considering buying it for myself for quick drafts. It costs around $300.

As for the software - Energy XT 2.5 is a nice simple sequencer, and Ableton Live has an interface which explains where to click to do various things (but it might be an overkill).

In any case, you can get a free VST host and some free synths (my favourite being Superwave P8, MinimogueVA,Polyvoks station) - find all of them on KVR Audio Forums (in case you don't know, VST is a standard for virtual instruments, aka a way to get amazing sounds out of the computer).

You will also need a good audio interface for low latency (othewise the synths will be unplayable). You need one with ASIO support; use this google query to find one (Behringer ones are cheap and decent for a start).

Just curious - is there an issue with the lowest priced digital pianos from Casio, Yamaha etc like this one?

https://www.amazon.com/Casio-CDP130-CDP-130-Digital-Piano/dp/B00M4M9FF8


They're well under 500 USD but I've heard ok things about them

I think you might find the following more fun in the inspiration department. I have a roland sh 201 which is analog modeling like the mircro korg and i have alot of fun with it but don't end up recording with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Korg-Volca-Keys-Analog-Synthesizer/dp/B00CAKSVTU/


http://www.amazon.com/Korg-MONOTRONDUO-Oscillator-Analog-Synthesizer/dp/B00684KFFW/


http://www.amazon.com/Korg-Kaossilator-Dynamic-Synthesizer-Recorder/dp/B00B5S93OK

http://www.amazon.com/Korg-Volca-Bass-Analog-Machine/dp/B00CAKQCHS/


http://www.amazon.com/Korg-KAOSS-Dynamic-Effects-Sampler/dp/B00B5SDFRG/

TL;DR: Is the Alesis Coda Pro 88-Key a good keyboard for a beginner?

Does anyone have hands-on experience with this keyboard? (Alesis Coda Pro 88) I'm a beginner and am just starting to get into basic theory (major and minor chords & scales) and am looking into a good keyboard for practise and composition. I like that it has hammer action keys for an authentic feel and also has a MIDI output and 1/8" headphone jack for digital production.

I'm planning on practising my ass off for now until the end of Summer and then applying for lessons in the fall and I've heard that - especially for beginners - I should be looking for a full 88 key piano to practise on to avoid any bad habits I might develop on a 61 key board.

Any suggestion is fine and price isn't the main deciding factor either. I have an old Yamaha digital synthesizer to learn the basics on while I save up for the real thing, but I'd like to have a game plan set for the future so I can make room in my budget.

Thanks in advance!

Currently $209 on Musicians Friend. Or $225 on Amazon.

Yeah I just noticed that. :( I bought a Neutron for $330 a few months back and it's listed for $223 right now, and I literally just bought a model D a week or so ago.

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-WK-500-Personal-Keyboard-Connection/dp/B001FSJC2S

I have a used one of these...it's terribly improbable but if you happen to be in the houston area I would be happy to work with you. It has been sitting unused for a while as I haven't really been motivated to play it.

As far as finding one with weighted keys that's not too expensive will probably be tough as it's usually only the higher end ones that do. What is too expensive for you. Found what looks like a good one but it's about 400. Maybe watch for one on craigslist or something?

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-CDP-100-88-Note-Weighted-Digital/dp/B000GAP3J2

The Casio CDP-130 is definitely my $300 answer to anyone quoting $500 for a basic piano

Although I'd argue that for a beginner, a $200 semi-weighted is good enough to learn basic skills. Sure, if you can afford the extra $100 for a CDP-130, it will last you a lot longer, but the CDP-130 is absolutely "good enough" for even fairly capable players.

Advanced players may find the polyphony is eventually a limit, but for a beginner/intermediate level player, this piano should 100% be the first "Not compromised" model

If you can't afford the CDP-130, then yes, it's a case of pointing out that cheaper models are likely to be compromises

OK, got a hundred bucks you can let go of?

Well, I have this Digital Piano:

http://www.amazon.com/Korg-SP170s-88-Key-Digital-Piano/dp/B004M92J0O

It's not exactly light weight, but if I wanted to I could easily move it from room to room. Could you explain to me what you mean by the difference between keyboard and digital piano?

Thank you Koran for the timely response. I was looking at this 500 dollar one I saw posted in the FAQ http://www.amazon.com/Korg-SP170s-88-Key-Digital-Piano/dp/B004M92J0O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406221916&sr=8-1&keywords=korg+sp170 would this be a good one to get her?

Not sure, but I just saw that Amazon has a similar model/bundle as an "Early Black Friday Deal" now for the same price :)

https://smile.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-Furniture/dp/B07DL1TLVB/

It's the same keyboard, but the chair is different (the one at Costco is 4 legs & not foldable, might be sturdier but not height adjustable) otherwise it looks like the stand is also the same.

So I'm finally going to start working part time and start saving up for a keyboard. My first question is if the Casio PX350 is worth the 100$ more than the Yamaha P115. And my second question is how much are piano lessons on average? I'm so damn excited to finally get formal lessons after all these years of butchering music on my own.

I have the Casio SA76. It's a pretty cool little travel practice board. 44 keys, a lot of different sounds, and it's $50. Battery or ac power.
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-SA76-mini-Sized-Tones/dp/B00416WHV4

I originally started producing, barely haha. Downloaded some music software, and learned the ins and outs of it. Wasn't the best software by no means. But you soon get a handle of how music is supposed to be structured. Got introduced to people like Deadmau5, Adventure Club, Avicii, Daft Punk, Nero, and Flux Pavilion at somewhat of an early age. though it was 2007 when I found out about this music, it was basically still underground from where I live. Then around junior year of high school I was bored and looked up apps on my phone. Turned out there was a DJ app, go figure. Now don't hate people, I only used it to keep me entertained. For some reason though I had a big urge to do my own research. Then I would constantly look up stuff music related. Watch documentaries, YouTube videos, tutorials, you name it. I went head first into the culture and loved every bit of it. DJing fascinates me because there is so much potential for skill in it. The complete unknowing always believe that its just a big iTunes playlist equipment, but there is far more to it.
After that I bought my first set of turntables.

Then I got better headphones, to adding stuff like this bad boy! Also this too!

Being used to controllers and on a budget, I upgraded to this I personally wouldn't recommend it because it lags, and makes my computer run terrible at times. Keep in mind that I do have a solid laptop.

And now I've saved up and will be adding this to my collection.

It's all how you want to get started. Keep in mind with my first turntables I was able to easily do house parties and keep it simple with it. With my second one I soon started doing bigger house parties as well as doing events, and using speakers that only used XLR cables made me have to upgrade. Now the newest one is basically one of the best before going full CDJs. I get several events now and having the amount of stuff those turntables have is something that I need. Keep in mind I love to mix live, and play fully house, dubstep, and trap.

So it's up to you man, if you love music, love remixing it, and love the culture, I would say go for it. Now don't go full blast just yet. Always good to start small then work your way up.