08th Sep 2009
Music Keyboards – Finding the Need
Music keyboards come in a wide variety of brands, models, configurations, and price ranges. Often it’s challenging to figure out which one has everything you need without knowing a bit about what’s available in the market. Figuring out what to look for is the first step in choosing the right instrument.
What is it you’re looking for in a music keyboard? Are you looking for something just to be able to plunk out ideas for compositions? Is MIDI important to have so that you can connect your keyboard to the computer? Are you looking for a professional-level instrument with realistic sound for performance? You can have a keyboard with only 25 keys if you want it portable or a full size 88 key music keyboard. Many electronic music keyboards will have built-in speakers and the sound quality of the speakers will vary from model to model but are usually fairly similar. There are musical keyboards that don’t have built in speakers so you’ll need to buy a separate speaker for it.
Don’t forget the pedal! If you’re looking for a music keyboard instrument that you’ll be performing with, you’ll probably want to get a sustain pedal, which is not always included with the keyboard. If you’re looking to use your keyboard to enter music into a sequencing program, the pedal can serve several useful functions that will make the entry of music onto your computer easier.
Some music keyboards are designed for specific music production purposes. You will see music keyboards that also work as a control for a digital audio workstation (DAW). These more professional music keyboards will have additional functionality to control levels, panning, and channel selection in audio recording and mixing programs on computers. This kind of keyboard, often called a workstation or “synth” keyboard, allows you create your own sounds and polish up a sequence of music you can play over at a performance. Synths can also interface seamlessly with programs for composing music and creating MIDI sequences.
Another type of music keyboard is known as an “arranger.” These will usually have a standard set of instrument sounds and a collection of rhythms included in their sound library. The majority of these keyboards will usually have additional features that allow the player more musical possibilities but primarily give the player the ability to be an “instant” one-man band.
One type of music keyboard that is usually found in the lower price range is the “educational” keyboard that is designed to make it easier to learn to play the piano. These keyboards have pre-installed programs and components that essentially teach how to play the piano and learn some songs. Some even have keys that light up to guide the student in which keys to press. Although these won’t replace a “real” teacher, they can be used to learn a few simple songs built-in to the keyboard program.
When you know what you need the music keyboard instrument for, it will be easier to search for the one that best fits your needs. You will find that certain types of keyboards will fall into certain price ranges. The music keyboards with the built-in speaker and built-in library of sounds will be in the lower price range, whereas the music keyboards with MIDI or DAW functionality will be “the next step up.” The music keyboards designed solely as an electronic piano (and produce the most realistic piano sound) will usually be in the upper price range. Decide what you need it for first, and then go try out the musical keyboards at your local music store and pick one out.
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