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Shopping for an 88 key MIDI contoller

snowleopard

Senior Member
Hi friends, my old Kurzweil K2600 I mainly use as a MIDI controller is about dead (motherboard) and perhaps not worth the cost to repair ($700). I may pay to repair it anyway, but it's got me thinking about the market for a new MIDI keyboard controller. Here is what I desire, but it's hard to find:

88 keys - I want them semi-weighted. I'm really a synthesist, and hammer action piano keys aren't what I'm looking for. It's not the weight of the keys (I studied piano years ago like others), but the response, so if someone has a great argument for a weighted action keyboard that handles synth sounds really well, I'm all ears.

Aftertouch - I notice a lot of the 88 key controllers omit this for some reason.

I'd like to have the mod and pitch wheels to the left and not above the keyboard, but I can't seem to find too many that do this.

I don't need a lot of sliders or knobs.

I can't say money is no object, but I don't try to earn a living from music. I have a very good day job, so it's not like I'm a starving musician trying to budget something cheap in. Throw anything at me, regardless of cost. Let me worry about the budget.

The only controller I've found that seems to fit this is the older StudioLogic VMK 88 (and +), but they are very hard to find, and the newer versions all have hammer action keys.
 
Will be waiting for user reports on this - https://www.nektartech.com/Impact-LX88-News . No aftertouch though. Would prefer none of the bells and whistles and like you I'd put the wheels on the LHS, but if the keyboard is better quality I might have to get it anyway. The M Audio is depressing.

I agree, the Keystation is my last M-Audio product.

The LX88 seemed to be nice but then I read that it's 16cm/6,3inches tall (the keystation 88es is just 9cm and the Impact 61 version just 7cm). I'll be going for the Remote SL instead.
 
What on earth?! Why is it so much more chunky?

Yeah, that's what I thought. Thomann says: dimensions: 1325 x 340 x 160mm.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/nektar_impact_lx88.htm
https://www.nektartech.com/c.1289520/Nektar%20site/Products/Impact_LX/LX88_kbd.jpg (https://www.nektartech.com/c.1289520/Nek ... 88_kbd.jpg)

I guess it's a typo.

Is there an 88 note version of the Remote SL?

Nope 61, but I whish there would be one though.
 
Will be waiting for user reports on this - https://www.nektartech.com/Impact-LX88-News . No aftertouch though. Would prefer none of the bells and whistles and like you I'd put the wheels on the LHS, but if the keyboard is better quality I might have to get it anyway. The M Audio is depressing.

Arrgghh. So my M Audio KSP 88 is finally dying, and I like the look and price of the LX-88, plan to go and try one, UNTIL I realize- it has one pedal input. One. How much could it have cost to add one more so that one could have both a sustain pedal and an expression pedal ?? Just dumb.
 
Will be waiting for user reports on this - https://www.nektartech.com/Impact-LX88-News . No aftertouch though. Would prefer none of the bells and whistles and like you I'd put the wheels on the LHS, but if the keyboard is better quality I might have to get it anyway. The M Audio is depressing.

Arrgghh. So my M Audio KSP 88 is finally dying, and I like the look and price of the LX-88, plan to go and try one, UNTIL I realize- it has one pedal input. One. How much could it have cost to add one more so that one could have both a sustain pedal and an expression pedal ?? Just dumb.

Yeah-saw that as well. baffling.
There's this- https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigblueboard/
 
Will be waiting for user reports on this - https://www.nektartech.com/Impact-LX88-News . No aftertouch though. Would prefer none of the bells and whistles and like you I'd put the wheels on the LHS, but if the keyboard is better quality I might have to get it anyway. The M Audio is depressing.

Arrgghh. So my M Audio KSP 88 is finally dying, and I like the look and price of the LX-88, plan to go and try one, UNTIL I realize- it has one pedal input. One. How much could it have cost to add one more so that one could have both a sustain pedal and an expression pedal ?? Just dumb.

Yeah-saw that as well. baffling.
There's this- https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigblueboard/

That's interesting, Art. Thanks for bringing it up. So in theory, it'll take two pedal inputs, yes?
 
Yes- 2 inputs. So for another bill, that makes the nektar still reasonably priced IF the board does what we hope. For me it's the keybed and the dimensions that appeal to me the most.
Still think, however, that the casio privia etc line has the kind of keybed that feels great. It's somewhere between a weighted and semi weighted. Thats my sweet spot and the casios have it . Im surprised more dont seem interested in them.
Still waiting for the right board.....
 
Thanks Artsoundz, for the tip on the Casio Privia line. As I noted in my original post, aftertouch means a lot to me. I'm not really looking for weighted keys, but if what you say is true about the Privia line feeling between semi-weighted and weighted, it may be what I need.

The only other option I could find out there is the older StudioLogic VMK88, which no one seems to carry, and the newer version has full hammer-action weighted keys.
 
The StudioLogic VMK88 is much, much better than anything else I've had a chance to try. Keyboard feels just right to me (I already have an actual piano, and am not looking for that exact feel, seeking instead something in between the real thing and a simple plastic keyboard, a bit like the OP).

I would have bought the StudioLogic on the spot except the old one substitutes a weird joystick for both modwheel and pitch bend...

https://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/n ... -20038.jpg

...and the new one has a sort of toggle thing instead of a pitch wheel, and (as far as I can see in the picture) no modwheel at all (although there are a lot of programmable knobs and sliders).

https://www.studiologic-music.com/pictures-vmk-88-plus.html (https://www.studiologic-music.com/pictur ... -plus.html)

The specs indicate "Modulation Wheel," but I don't actually see it on the instrument anywhere in the pictures. Going to write to them. [edit: wrote to them and their website is incorrect -- there is no modwheel]

Other good stuff: I can't follow all the German on their video, but it does look as though it has an excellent setup for sliders (on the right), which are assignable in three different ways, depending on which selector you choose.

Also, there are at least two assignable foot pedal inputs in the back, so I guess one could buy a separate modwheel or use a pedal instead (for cc1).

Still waiting to try a Doepfer.
 
John, I had this Fatar board for a while and found the sliders to send random CC signals out occasionally. Wasn't too cool. I did like the action on the board.
 
Hi David,

Do you remember how long ago? And which manufacturer?

I'm hearing that virtually all the main-line 88-key keyboards are made by Fatar nowadays, so problems like your random cc info (really must have been maddening) must be attended to by the assemblers.

I don't know if this is really correct, but from what I've heard Fatar is the base for just about everyone (Studiologic, Akai, Doepfer -- all of them from what I hear).
 
99% sure my dying Kurzweil is a Fatar. Really nice feel to the keys, problems not-withstanding.

Thanks for the feedback in the StudioLogic VMK88, JohnG. Much appreciated. I'm still trying to find the model below, or something that has these same features. Sadly, it seems to be either no longer made, or no one makes anything like it. Which is why I posted here. But as I said before, if someone can steer me to a full weighted board that has enough of a response for synth sounds, I'm all ears. I just find them all to be directly aimed at piano playing (and piano-like/percussive sounds). That's great for pianos, drums and such. And not so great for thigns like pads, strings, swells, choirs, etc. etc. etc.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ic_VMK_88_PLUS_VMK88_Keyboard_Controller.html
 
99% sure my dying Kurzweil is a Fatar. Really nice feel to the keys, problems not-withstanding.

Thanks for the feedback in the StudioLogic VMK88, JohnG. Much appreciated. I'm still trying to find the model below, or something that has these same features. Sadly, it seems to be either no longer made, or no one makes anything like it. Which is why I posted here. But as I said before, if someone can steer me to a full weighted board that has enough of a response for synth sounds, I'm all ears. I just find them all to be directly aimed at piano playing (and piano-like/percussive sounds). That's great for pianos, drums and such. And not so great for thigns like pads, strings, swells, choirs, etc. etc. etc.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ic_VMK_88_PLUS_VMK88_Keyboard_Controller.html

I would caution you against the vmk. I had one although it was the first version. The keybed wasnt bad but felt spongy. But the worst part was the case . Polypropolene- soft, pliable plastic. Super light but, for me, earned the moniker of "the tupperware of keyboards." Very strange board.

At least the music would be fresh. Hahahaha......(slap!) thanks, I needed that.
 
Hey artsoundz and snowleopard,

1. artsoundz -- Definitely the VMK has more than one model. I am trying to figure out exactly which one I tried -- the keyboard feel was awesome. I suspect it was actually the VMK188 or VMK188 Plus, not the VMK88. I do appreciate your cautionary note, though. Spongey is not welcome.

2. snowleopard -- Fully weighted electronic keyboards do, as far as I can tell, seem to arrive with the goal of emulating a real piano. One I've heard praised but not tried is the Kawai VPC1, which does sound great if that's what you want. However, like others with fully-weighted keyboards, it's not a midi controller but a would-be piano.

Holy Grail?

On Studiologic's website, it says that the VMK188Plus has the same keyboard as their SL990Pro, which DOES have a modwheel, though the website has no information about how to use a foot pedal for cc11 information. Even the manual doesn't say exactly what's on the back panel as far as inputs, and the pictures are too far away to interpret. Have another email in to them about this but with time zones probably won't hear until at least tomorrow. Will share.

Last But Maybe Not Least

There's also this, the "Numa Concert," which I haven't tried but their website says it's, "a professional live performance digital piano and a high definition keyboard controller, with 88 keys Graded Hammer Action, solid wood key body and Ivory touch on the top surface of the white keys. The key action of the Numa Concert provides an absolute authentic touch of a Concert Piano and the triple switch contact system allows a fast repeating rate and a total dynamic control." [from studiologic website]

https://www.studiologic-music.com/numaconcert.html
 
John,
To be clear, I did like the vmk keybed. Wayyyyy better than maudio. So...spongy not really a great adjective.
The sl990 . Had one and just loved that keybed. It's very much like the casio line I mentioned- just about in between the heavy fatar we know and the semi weighted synth feel. I just think casio's bed is just a smidgeon lighter but both very close. Casio is so inexpensive.
In the end, my sl990 just got worn out and I dont like the heavy weight.( both keybed feel and weight of the board)
I've always wanted to try the newer vmk88's though. I thought they were close but when I opened up mine to do a fix, I was sorta appalled that the case hinge was actually just thinner poly all one piece with the case. Thus...tupperware. But, super light and, now I read, 4 pedal inputs? Sweet.
 
John,
Sorry...just dont remember as it was probably 8 years ago or more. But almost certain it did. Just loved that keybed, though. As an aside, What i like about Fatar is that it is dead simple to open up and clean the contacts which seems inevitable in the long run.

Please check out a casio. Lot's of things missing, of course, like sliders etc. but that keybed...It's counterintuitive but it might surprise you.
Edit- one very cool handy thing about sl 990 - lots of space on the keyboard top to set stuff on. Perfect board if one uses ancillary devices for cc control.
 
I just heard back from Studiologic and they wrote:

1. The SL990 Pro and VMK188plus do have the same keyboard (TP40GH)

2. The SL990 Pro has a Sustain Pedal jack input; your EV-5 cannot be connected.

3. The SL990 (as mentioned above and in the site's specification) can accept a sustain pedal (switch) and not a continuos control

Thanks and regards,


GG by Studiologic


So I'm checking back with them to see if they sell a keyboard with what I (and I suspect others) would like.

[edit -- the Fatar site says 40GH stands for "TP/40GH: Four Zones Graded Hammer Action"]
 
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