Roland E-36, Yam. PSR E-313/303, or..?

[flc^]

Hello.

At first, sorry for my english ;\)

I would like to buy a keyboard with dynamic keys, but i don't have too much money... and so range of products isn't too big.

I have money to buy for example Roland E-36 (used of course) and Yamaha E-313/303. Wich will be better and why? Or maybe you'll recommend me something other in that section of money?

Thank you :-)

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Sorry, but there is nothing I can recommend in this price range.

For 200$ you can buy a toy, not a keyboard - there is no way you can be satisfied with it (as a motivated musician).
To get a decent keyboard, you have to pay at least 5 times more.

How ever, you can try a midi-controller: you can get one, for a small amount of money.
Just connect it to your PC and run some Software synthesizers. There are plenty of free ware synths around.
You will get much more professional sound/functions that way.

Here is a suggestion: CME UF6 (http://www.arbiter.co.uk/cme/products/uf_series/images/uf6.jpg) - I think it's a nice controller, for a very reasonable price...
Notice that such keyboards don't have sound engines (they can't produce sounds), but they can manipulate other devices, which do have some sort of sound engine, and have Midi In or USB. (Such as a PC with software, other keyboards, synthesizers, racks)

[flc^]

Thank you for answer.

Well, i'm just looking for something to play a piano (plus something like ragtime...) and not make a samples, dj music or something other wich is associating with electronic sounds... i just wonna to play classical music and learn how to do it. And you know what.. in my country that sum of money isn't too small, it just depending on the economic situation...

Well, what will you suggest at now? :-)

[Grey Loki]

I would recommend a second-hand stage piano from the last five years or so - if you're going to be learning classical music, you'll want the full 88 keys - partly so you can work on your playing dynamics, but also because trying to play a piece like the first of Chopin's Etudes on anything less than a full piano-style keybed will see you making very heavy use of the octave switch button ;)

I've always rather liked Yamaha's stage pianos (and their home-based counterparts) - they sound very open without losing depth. Roland's pianos come a close second - I find they have more clout to them, but perhaps that's just the models i've tried.

You might also want to look into the possibility of picking up an Alesis Fusion 8HD - even if you don't use half of the features that are available, they're there if you do ever want them, and you still get some fairly nice presets, especially synth-y ones.

Hope this helps.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

You might also want to look into the possibility of picking up an Alesis Fusion 8HD - even if you don't use half of the features that are available, they're there if you do ever want them, and you still get some fairly nice presets, especially synth-y ones

Alesis Fusion 8HD is still 5 times over his budget.
If you want to learn classical music, nothing really beats the good ol' acoustic pianos. I suggest you try it - you can buy an old one, from someone who haven't played it for decades - for a acoustic piano, age doesn't really matter - some maintenance and it will sound perfect.
Btw: It's not because you don't need any electronic synthesizer sounds, that you will be satisfied with something cheap.
In contrary - the piano sounds, and keyboard mechanics are very hard to simulate - so if you want something that comes close to an acoustic piano, you will have to pay a very large amount of money. It is much more cheaper to make a pure synthesizer!!!
Believe me, I played classical music for quite some time.

Besides - when I first wanted to buy a keyboard, I also wanted to play mostly classical stuff. But when I begun to discover the synth capabilities of my keyboard, I became really interested in sound design/electronic music. So you never know... :wink:
If you do need a keyboard, I still suggest a Midi controller, but one with 88-key weighted keyboard. I'm sure there are some decent sounding free ware Piano plug-ins.

[Grey Loki]

If you want to learn classical music, nothing really beats the good ol' acoustic pianos.

I totally forgot about suggesting one of those old things :P

One of my aunts gave me her old Yamaha upright because she didn't play it any more - it's actually a fairly nice one, too :D

[-=AnatomiC=-]

I totally forgot about suggesting one of those old things :P

One of my aunts gave me her old Yamaha upright because she didn't play it any more - it's actually a fairly nice one, too :D

Yeah - some people will give it away for free, just because they want to get rid of it, because it's so large and heavy.

I have this one acoustic piano - let's say it's an outgoing type :biggrin:
First, when it was new, it had to travel 8 floors... by foot!
Then, it had to go down, 8 floors, still by foot... and 30 km to an other house...
Then it had to travel massive 3000 km, to an other country...
It have been staying in a garage for several years (without moisture, temperature isolation), and then we moved to an other house... 2 floor.. elevator this time... then once more... and then again....
We had to pay every time, to move it....
And well, now, it's pretty much ruined... there is no way I can restore it, it would be cheaper to buy a new one. Besides it wasn't a good one, and now it doesn't worth a penny...
Well, some moral value maybe - I learned how to play piano, on this one....

[flc^]

Huh. Probably, in future, i'll buy digital piano but today it's just too expensive for me. So... you won't recommend me one of theese models... :frown: i've found roland em-15 in good price too, perhaps this?

[Omega Monkey]

You could try the new Yamaha NP30. Street price about $300, and it's probably the best choice for under $600 or so.

[flc^]

Uh, i've read many negative overviews of it...

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Uh, i've read many negative overviews of it...

That's what you get for a 300$ keyboard. :rolleyes:

But it won't get better than that, at this price. I suggest you wait a while, spare some money, and get something decent.
Otherwise, it is a waste of money.
With 900$ you can buy a very good keyboard - Yamaha s90 or Alesis Fusion 8HD, second hand.... or something out of Roland's FP series... FP-7 is a kick ass digital piano, with improved hammer mechanics and Fantom x piano samples...
Rd-300sx is very acceptable also.
There are much more options... all keyboard mentioned above are synths/stage keyboards, pianos...
You could try cabinet pianos also...

Just go to a music store, try some cheap keyboards, and then try some professional ones - you will feel the difference!!!

Personally, I can't recommend anything below this price range (this particular type of keyboard)... like I said, you will be wasting your money IMO.

I'm not a rich person btw...

[flc^]

yeah... right... nevermind...

[Grey Loki]

yeah... right... nevermind...

Now there's no need to be like that - you asked us our opinion on your gear choices, and we told you, then gave you other choices to look at.

In this game (as with many others), you get what you pay for - if I paid $300 for a keyboard, I would expect it to last for about a month before it broke somehow, or I became frustrated with its shortcomings. Better by far to wait for a while and save for something else that will work as a solid platform for me to build on in the future.

I believe that people are starting to clear out the Alesis Fusion from their stocks now - I saw a 6HD (the 61 key version) being sold for £400 (US$800) - this is a stupid price for such a powerful synthesizer. Honestly - go check it, and its big brother the 8HD, out.

[flc^]

I've asked for opinions of two models... you are talking all the time about something different, it's just offtopic...

[-=AnatomiC=-]

I've asked for opinions of two models... you are talking all the time about something different, it's just offtopic...

Your two models are crap - here you go, my opinion. (like I already said btw). Besides, you also asked other suggestions - so we staid on topic all the time.