funkyhammond Posted November 20, 2022 Posted November 20, 2022 I'm looking for an inexpensive, compact, 88-key hammer action with a good AC like the Kawai ES110 but hoping for something with an adjustable split where I can also mute the upper sound. I want to have the option to trigger an external synth. Although separate MIDI channels at the split would be ideal, I can get around that by using one of my MIDI Solutions boxes as long as it has 5-pin MIDI out. Does anything like that exist without getting into keyboards costing twice as much? The only sound I'm looking for is a good AC and if it has decent EPs that's a bonus. If the keyboard also has any knobs/sliders that put out CC or sysex that would also be great but not essential.
AnotherScott Posted November 20, 2022 Posted November 20, 2022 I'm not sure, but I think likely possibilities would be Korg XE20, Yamaha DGX-670, Kurzweil SP1. I also see Sweetwater has a sale on the Juno DS88 which makes it not that much more than those, and that's got lots of flexibility. Also under a grand is the Casio PX-360. These last three have 5-pin MIDI. The first two don't, but I think they already use different MIDI channels for the split, so that might still be okay. 1 Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)
funkyhammond Posted November 21, 2022 Author Posted November 21, 2022 2 hours ago, AnotherScott said: I'm not sure, but I think likely possibilities would be Korg XE20, Yamaha DGX-670, Kurzweil SP1. I also see Sweetwater has a sale on the Juno DS88 which makes it not that much more than those, and that's got lots of flexibility. Also under a grand is the Casio PX-360. These last three have 5-pin MIDI. The first two don't, but I think they already use different MIDI channels for the split, so that might still be okay. Thanks for the feedback. The Yamaha is quite bulky and heavy so that's out. The Roland is also moderately heavy and I don't see a deal for it in Canada. Not sure I want to risk a lower end Casio for durability. Kurzweils are getting hard to find here in Toronto but the SP1 and the Korg XE20 look like my best options to investigate further. Thanks. 1
Jim Alfredson Posted November 21, 2022 Posted November 21, 2022 Don't discount the Casio Privias. Great boards. Keep it greazy! B3tles - Soul Jazz THEO - Prog Rock
funkyhammond Posted November 21, 2022 Author Posted November 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Jim Alfredson said: Don't discount the Casio Privias. Great boards. I didn't mean to discount the entire Privia line. It's going to depend on if I can find one to try out so I can judge the action and build quality of the PX-360. I've been a bit unimpressed with the action on the recent lines of super slim Privia DPs that I've tried out. But I know your music and your attention to detail in your videos so I appreciate the feedback. I'll keep my eyes open in case I can try one.
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