skyy38 Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I think they should total 73. 6 octaves total. 3 below middle C,3 above. I dislike 61 key 'boards- But 88 of 'em is even worse and I think it just adds to the cost of a synth when the majors are trying to please most everyone all of the time. This is my idea,what's yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pierce Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Originally posted by skyy38: I think they should total 73. 6 octaves total. 3 below middle C,3 above. I dislike 61 key 'boards- But 88 of 'em is even worse and I think it just adds to the cost of a synth when the majors are trying to please most everyone all of the time. This is my idea,what's yours?As a guy who grew up playing traditional organs and pianos, I'm exactly the opposite -- 61 and 88 both seem "natural", whereas 73 just seems wrong somehow. Takes all kinds, I guess. --Dave Make my funk the P-funk. I wants to get funked up. My Funk/Jam originals project: http://www.thefunkery.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowly Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 My current board is 61 keys. All my previous were 61 keys. All my future boards will be...61 keys. Kcbass "Let It Be!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progfusion74 Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 and I like 76 http://www.indiegrooves.com/dnm/images/dnm_small.gif My Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlito Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 From an 88, just take the last octave out.That's 76 keys.My ideal layout.If you ever need that last octave, just transpose using a pedal(maybe crossfading two versions of the same sound, one octave apart). The standard 73-76 layout is good only for those who always play with a bass player.Not good for classical, jazz, or even pop piano solos. And the standard 88 is not necessary for electronic keyboards and only add bulk and weight. Not so good for splits either.Better having two keyboards stacked than one long board where you have to stretch your arms in a unnatural way to play one sound on each end. A double manual controller with 76 weighted and 76 semi-weighted waterfall keys in one single box wouldn't be bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yahoo Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Funny that you've made this thread, because I was just about to state an opposing view as I found this however, I'm pertaining to mainly synthesizers. Your view on a keyboard with more keys to be better might be a whole different ball park, because of splitting the board into 4+ parts , and all that other stuff people need from workstations. For the first time , I actually think one of those small 2 octace synths such as nord modulars, K-stations, and access indigos serve a good purpose by having only so many keys. Ultimately, and this may just be me because I haven't been playing keys for that long, I think that the boards with less octaves will teach the player to learn to play and create more complex, satisfying, and better melodies and riffs, mainly because the octaves not allowed would only serve as obsolete notes which is the base of this theory. So I figure smaller keyboard, less octaves to jump to . Don't get me wrong, though , I would still have to have at least a 49 key synth.. does anyone agree, disagree with my idea?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan South Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Step AWAY from the Minimoog, and put your HANDS on your HEAD! The Black Knight always triumphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I think we should aim for a minimun of 12, 14 tops, if we're just talking major keys. If we're talking minor keys, I quit. No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I think all keyboards should come in two varieties. 5 octave C to C with no black keys for playing major keys. 5 octave A to A with no black keys for playing in minor keys. Then all you need is special buttons for octave shift and transpose. Ok. Jokes aside, I love the current 76 key versions. Also, I never understood why keyboards should begin and end with C. Sure, organs are 5 octave C to C, but how many songs do you play in the key of C? Robert This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Between my various boards I have 49, 61, 76, and 88 keys. I like them all, and each has its purpose. To come along and say "they should all be standardized at XX keys" is moronic; it is ignorant of the needs & desires of everyone on the planet but oneself. I don't ordinarily flame people this way. But it is well-deserved here. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlito Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Well, I don't know about you, but, I was talking about piano solo playing keyboards. I know I only need 73 keys to play Rhodes sounds,32 to play synth lead, and 12 to play bass lines. 73-76 keys are good for most applications.The layout is not pianist friendly. Between my various boards I have 49, 61, 76, and 88 keys. I like them all, and each has its purpose. To come along and say "they should all be standardized at XX keys" is moronic; it is ignorant of the needs & desires of everyone on the planet but oneself. I have 73, 76 and 88 keys. I like them all, But I wish my favorite one had those extra low notes I was talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanS Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I think the Bosendorfer Imperial Grand has 97 keys. Longer is better. What we record in life, echoes in eternity. MOXF8, Electro 6D, XK1c, Motif XSr, PEKPER, Voyager, Univox MiniKorg. https://www.abandoned-film.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I have to say that a keyboard whose top note is anything else but a C, drives me crazy. I owned a 76(?) note keyboard years ago and having the top note being a G always was weird. All three of my keyboards are 88s, so at least for me, this discussion is academic. I just wish chord writing was standardized, but that's another thread. No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyy38 Posted August 2, 2003 Author Share Posted August 2, 2003 Wow,I didn't expect such numerous and varied responses!Way to go board!I'll go ahead and clarify some things myself-I just didn't want any biased responses based on the following,beforehand. Dave: I grew up playing the traditional 88 myself right to the point where things became un-traditional,meaning that when I picked up my first keyboard(a Casio CT-655)I went along with the territory because basically I was ignorant and had no desire to fight the system.The 655 was a 61 key(I believe from my memory-I no longer have it) but I really didn't care because it was part of the instruments make-up and I had music to make and record.I never got locked into a "one way" mode because that just would have down graded my lot as a musician who wished to become more versatile.Even when I picked up another board 6 months later,I STILL didn't care about the keys thing(61 again)I cared about how it SOUNDED. But time and experience will eventually say to you"Hey,this 61 keys thing is cramping my style-can't I get a few more keys?"Thats when the WK-1350 showed up with 73 keys with no "leftovers" on the left or right side. When I said 73 as a standard I forgot to mention that it should likely just apply to standard size synths and boards.I did not mean to imply that a Mini-moog or a Nord should have 73 keys-that would look downright ridiculous and also be needless.But when pro keyboards are still drifting between "X" amount of keys(61,73,76,88) for Standard Pro Keyboards(especially when most,if not all of them have a "transpose" or "octave" shift" function on them)it gives one pause for thought:Shouldn't they be more concerned with the SOUNDS of the instruments rather than releasing a particular model with two or more key number sets? It just clouds the waters when they could be thinking about more important things,IMHO. To sum up,73 keys is the near perfect average between 61 and 88 note keyboards,at least for me. It just looks and feels "cleaner". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 The playability of an instrument is at least as important as its sound. It's difficult to sound good if you ain't feeling right while playing. And playability varies wildly by individual. I would almost rather see the exact opposite of what you're proposing - I'd like to see manufacturers just pool their sounds at this point and focus more on varying the interfaces. In fact, we're beginning to approach the point where that's feasible as softsynths improve. Soon your PC (or perhaps some other new module) will hold an incredible array of phenomenal sounds, and the main issue will be how those sounds are accessed. Will you then limit the entire world to 76 semi-weighted keys? Will you only allow wheels for pitch modulation? Originally posted by skyy38: Shouldn't they be more concerned with the SOUNDS of the instruments rather than releasing a particular model with two or more key number sets? It just clouds the waters when they could be thinking about more important things,IMHO. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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