Miles Powerhouse wrote:There are many threads like this in this forum, but I'm pretty sure none of them are as specific as mine. If they are, they aren't recent enough for me.
I'm starting a band, and one of our members wants to learn how to play a keyboard/synth for live shows. I'm not 100% sure on his budget, but I will post it here as soon as I find out. He asked me to look for one, and I wasn't too sure what to get. Here are the requirements:
- 49 or 61 keys, synth-action
- No Romplers
- Can be bought brand new (subjected to change)
- Reliable live and in studio
I was thinking of a Casio XW-P1, but I would like your input. Thanks in advance
Analog, VA, Digital, Sampler, or "all of the above"? If you like your softsynths, why not get a really nice midi controller and a Macbook Pro? Not the cheapest solution, but dependable, easily carried, and basically can be almost any synth you want. Plus, get the right rig and you can run the whole thing on batteries.
Disclaimer: I am a dyed-in-the-wool analog person. I have yet to hear a softsynth/VA that has the presence of an analog hardware synth or keyboard (Not saying they don't exist, just haven't heard one). That said, under the conditions you describe above, I would follow my own suggestion, but only after digging through a bunch of softsynths that I could at least be somewhat happy with the sound they produce. For instance, I had heard quite a few synths/keyboards that I THOUGHT had a decent Hammond Organ sound, until the day a 1956 Hammond M-3 showed up in my garage. The list of 'decent' Hammond sounds on digital gear dropped to ZERO. I know there are some good ones out there, I just haven't heard one yet. I guess what I'm saying is: If you go with something similar to my suggestion, dig around for sounds that truly please you, as opposed to something to just get by.