I need a new key board/or pedal suggestions?

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Unicorn Warrior
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I need a new key board/or pedal suggestions?

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Wed Sep 07, 2016 6:27 am

Or rather, my wife needs a new keyboard. I bought her a Yamaha mx63 and I hate it. The tones that thing gives all sound generic. Too many options and not enough quality sounds to make it worth while.

What I really want is less options and better quality. Analog or digital. I don't know enough about keyboards to even begin the hunt.

What I want are quality sounds in these 3 areas:
1. Strings
2. Piano
3. Organ
4. Pads (I can do without)

Would like to have weighted or semi weighted keys if possible. A ton of options isn't necessary. I'd prefer quality over quantity. Will be used mostly for live performance with occasional recording.

Would love quality sounding strings that sound similar to those used by The Cranberries. Don't want to spend a ton and would like to keep it under $1200...new or used. The cheaper the better.
Last edited by Unicorn Warrior on Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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GhostPlayer
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Re: I need a new key board

Post by GhostPlayer » Wed Sep 07, 2016 8:31 am

Mellotron.

Low fi in terms of technical audio quality, super HD in terms of spiritual bliss.

A real mellotron (old or new) will break the bank, but VST/sound bank and midi keyboard and done!
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Unicorn Warrior
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Re: I need a new key board

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:17 am

Interesting. Ok, I know nothing about mellotrons. Any particular brands? I really want something with very low maintenance.

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cestlamort
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Re: I need a new key board

Post by cestlamort » Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:21 am

Keep an eye out for an older Kurzweil, too. Lovely string sounds and the ones with weighted keys feel great.
(We have an old K250 that is amazing... but about three times the size of normal keyboards and 10 times the weight).

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Unicorn Warrior
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Re: I need a new key board

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Fri Sep 09, 2016 6:18 am

GhostPlayer,
When you say "real mellotron", do you mean the brand or an actual analog mellotron?...I was somewhat intrigued by the digital 4000miniD or whatever it's called.

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Unicorn Warrior
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Re: I need a new key board

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:57 pm

So, I experimented. I put my wife's keyboard on the string setting through my RAT and it didn't sound so terrible anymore. Sounded almost like a mellotron and it made the tone sound more analog vs digital. Not perfect, but spending $60 on a RAT might be better than 2k on a keyboard right now. Any other good pedal recommendations? I'm now itching to try the mel9 for it to see what it does. I may also grab a chorus

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Zork
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Re: I need a new key board/or pedal suggestions?

Post by Zork » Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:39 am

I recently run across the King Korg and I can tell you that this is a very decent keyboard. Does classic sounds such as Pianos, Rhodes, Organs or several Mellotron sounds as well as modern synth stuff and is less than 1k new.

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ruraldave
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Re: I need a new key board/or pedal suggestions?

Post by ruraldave » Mon Oct 17, 2016 6:30 pm

Eh Mel9 pedal will get you most of the way to the Mellotron. I've been using one (bi-amp) to control the mix live.
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Re: I need a new key board/or pedal suggestions?

Post by Domm » Mon Oct 17, 2016 8:51 pm

Nord!

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