playing 61 keys...

[Michael Troy]

Ive been noticing alot of synth guys only playing 61 key synths...what do you guys suppose the primary reason for this is? I would think that besides 88, most players would opt for 76.

Any theories?

[MrPillow]

Alot of purely synthesizers, especially analog, and other non-workstation synths are only available in 61 key and lower, that may be a reason. 61 key actions are also unweighted making it easier to play quick synth type stuff, and 61 key boards are alot cheaper than their 76 or 88 key counterparts. Thats all I can think of =\

[djpacman]

Yea i would have to agree on the price thing but now that i have 88 keys I won't go back and I find it to my advantage to have the hammer action I play better since I got the New Keyboard :-D

[Maximus]

Ive been noticing alot of synth guys only playing 61 key synths...what do you guys suppose the primary reason for this is? I would think that besides 88, most players would opt for 76.

Any theories?

in my case, i play 61 because the weight, taking my 88 note Sg Pro-X to reharsals once a week, to gigs once or twice a week, and back in the day on tour, all at ungodly hours, i prefer taking two 61's than one 88,

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Playing faster with light weighted keys? I don't know - for me it's easier to play faster on weighted keys, because I can feel them better. The hardness doesn't really matter, if you are used to it. Jr does all his solo on weighted keys btw

I think it's just a matter of taste and practical aspects (IMO not for professional musicians - I mean, some of them take tonnes of "unpractical" gear, like a modular, 6 Tritons etc)
People who used to play piano or EPs go for 88 weighted keys.
Former old school analog players prefer light weighted keys.

It's also important what you do with your keyboard: if you play synth leads, pads etc 61 key keyboard, because it has a more sensitive after touch, but less sensitive velocity.
88 weighted keys are very velocity sensitive, makes it easier to play piano stuff, and more "velocity sensitive" patches. After touch is usually less sensitive.

[Michael Troy]

Yeah, good points. Im referring to Jens Johansson still playing that old beat to shit DX7 and Janne Warmen plays something that looks small too. Actually, jens plays a Oberheim Matrix 12 in the Live in Leningrad Yngwie concert (61 keys on that too right?)

It doesnt matter I guess...Im just curious.

[Asho]

Playing faster with light weighted keys? I don't know - for me it's easier to play faster on weighted keys, because I can feel them better. The hardness doesn't really matter, if you are used to it. Jr does all his solo on weighted keys btw

I think it's just a matter of taste and practical aspects (IMO not for professional musicians - I mean, some of them take tonnes of "unpractical" gear, like a modular, 6 Tritons etc)
People who used to play piano or EPs go for 88 weighted keys.
Former old school analog players prefer light weighted keys.

It's also important what you do with your keyboard: if you play synth leads, pads etc 61 key keyboard, because it has a more sensitive after touch, but less sensitive velocity.
88 weighted keys are very velocity sensitive, makes it easier to play piano stuff, and more "velocity sensitive" patches. After touch is usually less sensitive.

+1

Total agreement there.

[HammondToby]

Hm... I think, it depends on your setup and how often you have to move it.

Most of the time, I play wighted keys (Nord Stage, Rhodes, PC88) but on some gigs, the K2661 is enough, so I don't lug around another board, just to have wighted keys... For me, there is no need to use 88 keys, 76 would be enough, but there is so workstation, that has 76 keys AND hammeraction and I don't want to take a controller and an additional rack with me, if not necessery... so: I stick with the 61 keys of the K.

Best regards
HammondToby

[keyslord]

I agree with AnatomiC.I prefer heavy weighted keys than light weighted because being a piano player, I'm used to play on heavy weighted.I have better feeling!It has to do also with the player.If you are a pianist you usually prefer the 88 weighted keys.If you aren't, like people I know who are keyboard players, it's little difficult to play on heavy weighted keys.

[Mathieu Fiset]

I'm using 61 Keys for all my bands and keyboard composition, I don't need more , and it is easy to move fast, and I like to minimalize my rig so that's perfect^^

I use my 88 notes piano for piano stuffs of course, only ! And I would say that when I play piano stuffs with my metal bands, I like more the feel of the 61 notes...well that's only a matther of taste again.

When I first compose something on the light keys I feel it better on it, same thing when I compose something on the piano.

[djpacman]

It's also important what you do with your keyboard: if you play synth leads, pads etc 61 key keyboard, because it has a more sensitive after touch, but less sensitive velocity.
88 weighted keys are very velocity sensitive, makes it easier to play piano stuff, and more "velocity sensitive" patches. After touch is usually less sensitive.

The new Vx8 Has programmable velocity for the pads the keys and the aftertouch so that you can customize it exactly to your type of playing :) if you normally play piano you would probably leave the velocity to normal if your used to synth keys you might turn the velocity to hard so that even playing lightly still gives you alot of sound. The keyboard world is coming out with some really cool stuff and cme to me is a cheap brand i can't wait to see what the expensive companies do with there up coming keyboards.

[Gustavo]

I think its not just a matter of taste, its a matter of what you are used to, In what kind of keyboard you learned. I personally learned in a piano most of the time, but i had a keyboard with the kind of sound u say. 4 me the piano is Better I feel i have more control over what sounds, like playing soft give me a lot softer and not as loud sound as if I played hardly. But the main reason is probably that they get the synth and dont want/need a 88/76 key controller, due to lack of money, space or just cuz it would be a little unpractical if u dont need the 88.

G

[djpacman]

Playing faster with light weighted keys? I don't know - for me it's easier to play faster on weighted keys, because I can feel them better. The hardness doesn't really matter, if you are used to it. Jr does all his solo on weighted keys btw



That $8000 korg doesn't have hammer action keys?

But the main reason is probably that they get the synth and dont want/need a 88/76 key controller



Doesn't everyone NEED 88 keys just not everyone can afford them lol

[Gustavo]

That $8000 korg doesn't have hammer action keys?



Doesn't everyone NEED 88 keys just not everyone can afford them lol

Well Anatomic meant that it HAS weighted keys. Not everyone needs them, there are some tunes that dont even use the the 61. BUT there are a lot that needs the 88. besides if u have a workstation/synth of 61, you can always asign the octaves to be higher or lower.3

G

[Deceit]

88 keys weighted keyboards are VERY heavy to lug and I wouldn't want moving one as I drive about 40km for rehearsals these days. I'm quite happy with my light gear and rack unit, 76 keys are great for layering purposes.
I am currently performing very different parts and layers with two hands (e.g. octave synthetic texture section spanning between three octaves and two layers on the left, piano spanning between two octaves on the right) and I couldn't think of doing what I do on 61 keys even with transposing.
So yes, to me 76 keys are the ideal compromise between weight and capabilities for a workstation. And anyway you could think of playing on a smaller master keyboard, but I have some serious problems remembering octave assignments on stage and I try to keep it compact as much as I can.
If you're playing lots of piano parts, of course you'd want that weight under the fingers but hey, it's all about compromises when you're not a world-famous professional touring with your personal roadies.

[Gustavo]

Actually there is one pretty light 88 that i know of, the nord stage. It weighs like 18kgs, or bout 36lbs. i believe, which for me is a breeze to carry, compared to many other ones. Also theTR is veeery light, dont know how much, but when i saw one, i lifted it and it felt as lifting some paper!

G