Looking for a 88key weighted midi keyboard

I'm taking lessons on a real piano so I'm looking for the closest midi keyboard to a piano. Any suggestions?

how much is your budget? do you need more controllers like faders or rotary encoders?
is a pure midi controller enough or do you want one with integrated sound?

the best feeling keybeds are found in the doepfer controllers and in the yamaha stage piano series. kawai is also a very good choice.
weighted keys alone do not do the trick if they all are the same - a "graded" hammer action keybed with lighter action on the higher keys feels most realistic.

all the other brands lack a bit of the "real" piano feeling.

peace, jo

I suggest you read this thread: http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showf ... ain=984883

been hearing good things about mpk88, tried it out couple times and keys feeel good

selecta jo wrote:weighted keys alone do not do the trick if they all are the same - a "graded" hammer action keybed with lighter action on the higher keys feels most realistic.

thats a good observation!

When i grew up we always had a piano at home. I have tried many keyboards, digital pianos, master keyboards over the years, and nothing ever felt as close to the real piano as the Yamaha KX-88. They don't make them anymore but you can find them on ebay and they are built like tanks.

It was the favorite master keyboard of ray charles (supposedly) for a good reason.

If you find one in good condition for a reasonable price, i can highly recommend it!

Thanks for all the info guys. I don't really have a budget. Right now I'm using ableton push mostly and I dig it but I want the real thing. My prophet 12 is ok but I want real hammer action like the real piano at my lessons. Were moving soon so I'm going to but a real piano. Just looking for something in the studio for my vsts.

Jibber, I'll look into that Yamaha and see if I can find one on craigslist

To add to my previous post...

The kx88 has very limited midi functions.
I'm no midi-master, i use mine for triggering sound modules, it has a mod and pitch bend wheel and a sustain pedal... You have to hit the keys quite hard to hit full velocity... That's all i know.

It also weighs a ton! I think it's around 30kg.

The only real positive thing about it is the build quality, and the keys that feel almost like a real piano, smooth, soft and heavy. It's also worthy to note that this is not the best keyboard for very fast playing styles...

I guess it's not the best out there, just feels awesome to play.

What do you guys think about the arturia keylab 88? It had a fatar keybed? Are those good?

Well I found a Roland a80. Things got 4 midi outs. I'm pumped! Pick it up tomorrow

konc3pt wrote:been hearing good things about mpk88, tried it out couple times and keys feeel good

selecta jo wrote:weighted keys alone do not do the trick if they all are the same - a "graded" hammer action keybed with lighter action on the higher keys feels most realistic.

thats a good observation!

had a mpk88 in the house for a few years. Was a lot of fun and has a lot of extra features for when its time to make some beats. I would get a sustain pedal and stuff too for your lessons.

Wish they had weighted keys in smaller sizes

I use a Yamaha CP33, which is a stage piano, and the fully weighted keys feel really nice on that - you'd need to buy their top end stuff to get the really woody piano type keys.

Do most of my master keyboard duties on it too, although it lacks knobs and sliders as it's not really sold for that use. But sometimes I just wanna fire it up for five minutes to chill and destress and have a good basic piano/rhodes sound without turning on a computer or module so a stage piano made most sense.