Buying a good midi master keyboard

[FeliceMente]

I've played guitars for a long time, at a average-high level but... I'm starting to love keyboards (the keyss themselves, the synths, the playing style...), so... I finally dediced to start learning keyboards, and.. would like to arrivete AT LEAST at the same level I was with guitar.

Considering my budget is limited at the moment, but would like a good instrument, with a good keyboard, something I will use for a long time (without having to change it newxt year because I understand I need something better, or because I need some harder stuff), and considering I've no problems with computers and electronic stuff, I decided to buy a midi master control keyboard.

I'm not an acoustic piano player, but, after several tests, I understood the keyboard for me should be fully-weighted hammeraction, and possibly with 88 keys... I don't want to deny any possibility for the future.

I intend to play especially prog rock, but also love classical and jazz stuff, so... at the moment I think the best thing is to buy a good and robust 88 hammer action keyboard with master keyboard capabilities, for using it with PC soft synths (VSTi, etc...) at the beginning, and eventually buy some sound module after (Motif rack, Triton Rack, etc...).

I want to use the keyboard in this first phase only at home, for studyng, but would also like to use it live in a second time, and... for now... and maybe also for a long time, it will be my only keyboard, s... I thing it should have at leas 4 layers capability.

One instrument I was consiering was M-Audio Keystation Pro88, that looks very interestng, and fits my budget (600-650 euro).
A lot of people told me to buy instead a Oberheim MC2000, that has a best keyboard, and better MIDi possibility (8 layers, many MIDI ports, etc...).
It's 850 euro about.
Is it really worth wayting, for buying MC2000, or is Keystation Pro 88 a good instrument too?

I'd like a real intrument, with good quality keyboard, robust keyboard and chassis, etc...
I don't care about the stuff like "I could need to sell it in a second time, and MC2000 will make me get some money in the used market", etc...

Is really MC2000 keyboard (I actually mean the keys) better that Keystation Pro 88 ones?
I'd like something at the level of the ones provided but high level intruments as Kurzveil, Yamaha, Korg, etc...

Thanx

[Over The Edge]

M-Audio Keystation 88
Great performance, great price.




FL
www.franklucas.net

[FeliceMente]

Thanx for answering.

M-Audio Keystation 88
Great performance, great price.


Did you actually try it? And did you try Oberheim MC2000, or other keyboards of this kind?
I really need some good advice for.. not to waste my money... and advice from experienced users (because I'm not).

[FeliceMente]

I'd like to know some things about M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 (possiblyfrom someone who uses it):

1) contruction quality of the keys (the action the response, the material, their robustness, etc...)

2) contruction quality of the body (material, robustness, has it a plastic-toy feeling, or does it look more robust?)

3) contrusction quality of the controllers (the faders, the rotative ones, etc... and, most of allo, the modulation wheels...)

4) Does it handle both attack velocity and release velocity?

5) No kind of aftertouch is supported at all, right?

6) How many programs and backs can it store?

In general.. I wondew if it trasmits the sensation of a solid, well built keyboard controller, suitable for live preformace, or it looks more like a toy, or anyway... no more than a fragile PC controller.

Thanx

[FeliceMente]

Another thing I'd like to know, is about the 10 only memory locations.
Aren't they too limited for live performance?