This guide is for those who don't know where to start or have limited budget but need quality product with good features to start learning
or to get a general idea for learning music with a Keyboard/Piano/MIDI controllers
Which Keyboard is most suitable for learning properly ?
Though keyboards price starts from range 3,500 Indian Rupees (INR) (Casio SA series , 44-49 Key ones) and 7,500-8,500 INR (no touch response 61 keys) for the purpose of learning to play a piano/keyboard properly it's highly recommended that you start with atleast a 61 key entry level keyboard with Touch response ( velocity sensitive ) (for giving dynamic (changing) volume to the playing)
also if you want to connect the keyboard to your computer for recording/composing, a USB to Host MIDI port is necessary, 61 key gives proper playability with both hands compared to 49 key keyboard, most of the Trinity graded / popular songs can be played with a 61 key instrument, So features to look for is, Touch response,61 Keys, USB to HOST or USB MIDI and Good sound,
Here's a list of CASIO and Yamaha keyboard ( I like CASIO because of it's piano style keys)
Recommended Budget Keyboards
CASIO CT-S300 (Around INR 10,000 ) (my recommended budget keyboard)
Pros: Sleek Design, sustain button, around same price of CT-X 3500, 61 Keys, Touch Response, USB MIDI, good quality textured no plastic sound keys
Cons: no AiX sound, less volume other features like split, layers, recording not included
CASIO CT-S400 (INR 15,000 range) ( New Arrival) (My recomendation for medium range cause it has Good Keys compared to CTX series below this range)
Pros : AiX sound source ( quality sound ), quality keys, good volume, 61 keys, Touch Response, Pitch bend wheel, Sustain button, MIDI, Recording, Tone Layering, Split, no plastic key sound etc
Cons: CT-S series features are little less accessible than CT-X series
Yamaha PSR E 373 (INR 16,000 range)
Pros : Build Quality and Key Quality is good, Pros:61 keys, Touch Response, USB MIDI
(btw, Organ style keys have a slight speed advantage over Piano style keys, but the hitting points in keybed is different hence different feel)
This is the starting model from Yamaha with above 3 required features
Cons: No pitch bend wheel, Keys are Organ Style with cut under, Piano sound is better in CASIO of this price range
Yamaha i300 (INR 16,000 range) (My Recommendation for those who wants/like Organ Style Keys)
Pros : Build Quality and Key Quality is good, has pitch bend wheel
Cons: Keys are Organ Style with cut under, Piano sound is better in CASIO of this price range
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OTHER CASIO MODELS WITH TOUCH RESPONSE , BUT WILL GET PLASTIC KEY SOUND AFTER A WHILE
CASIO CTK 3500 ( Around INR 10,000 )
Pros: 61 keys, Touch Response, USB MIDI, Pitch bend wheel if you want to incorporate Indian classial playing, and the lowest price
Cons: Sound quality and volume is not good compared to CT-X700, Plastic key sound will develop later
CASIO CT-X700 (INR 11-12,000 Range)
Pros: AiX sound source ( quality sound ), good volume, 61 keys, Touch Response, USB MIDI, Recording, Tone Layering, Split, etc
Cons: Doesn't have pitch bend wheel, but if not aiming for Indian classical style playing or creating electronic music with bending sound , it's not needed, plastic key sound will develop later
* There's a new model CT-X800 with pitch bend wheel, but is not available in India
CASIO CT-X870IN ( INR 13-14,000 range)
Pros: AiX sound source ( quality sound ), good volume, Indian Tones, 61 keys, Touch Response, Pitch bend wheel, Pendrive Support, USB MIDI, Recording, Tone Layering, Split, etc
Cons: bad plastic key sound after a while
CASIO CT-X8000IN / 9000IN (INR 18-22,000 Range )
Pros: 61 keys, then all of above written features with sequencer, 10 song recording, effects, tone edit, track mixer etc
Cons: Plastic key sound will come later
There's a wide range of keyboards from Yamaha starting up from here, like i400, i500 etc which also has pitch bend wheel please do look their website to know more
I prefer Casio for Piano Style Keys, but Yamaha build quality is better than Casio
DIGITAL PIANOS
CASIO CDP-S110 BK (INR 35,000 Range)
Features: 88 Keys, Touch Response, Graded Hammer Action, USB MIDI
CASIO CDP-S150BK (INR 38,000 Range )
Features: 88 Keys, Touch Response, Graded Hammer Action, around 16 Scale tuning modes, USB MIDI , Recording
YAMAHA P 45 (INR 38,000 Range)
Features: 88 Keys, Touch Response, Graded Hammer Action, USB MIDI
(above section models are not updated)
CASIO Privia and Celviano Digital Piano Series ( INR 50,000 to INR 1 Lakh )
At Digital 88 Keys Graded Pianos, Yamaha and Roland has some amazing produts, do check those out if planning to buy
and the REAL Deal, upright Piano's from Yamaha will Cost you from INR 3 Lakhs and above and Compact Grandpianos from around INR 9 Lakh and upwards, and Steinway Concert Grands upwards of 50 Lakhs
Choosing a Keyboard:
Types of Keyboards:
Standard Keyboard: This is the most common type of keyboard you'll find. 61 Keys, Touch Response ones
Digital Piano: Designed to replicate acoustic pianos. They typically have 88 weighted keys that mimic the feel of pressing piano keys (heavier in the lower notes, lighter in the higher notes). This allows for more dynamic playing, with softer notes for lighter touches and louder notes for harder strikes. They also have built-in sounds and speakers, so you can play them without needing additional equipment. Standard 88-key digital pianos from CASIO and Yamaha start around 35,000 and upwards. Explore their websites or music stores for details.
MIDI Controller Keyboard: These keyboards don't produce their own sound but instead send MIDI data (a musical instrument communication protocol) to a computer for music production. This allows you to play virtual instruments and record your performances. They often have fewer keys (starting from 25 keys) and may have additional controls like knobs and faders for manipulating sounds within your music software. Budget options start around 5K to 12K (Nektar Impact GX, Nektar LX 25+, AKAI mpk mini 25,Akai Professional LPK25, Arturia minilab, Samson Graphite M25 Mini, Alesis V25 MKII 25 Key etc). Smaller and more portable options are available, while options with more keys and functions come at a higher price
61 KEYs MIDI controllers
Nektar Technology SE61 ----------- 10,000 INR
Nektar Impact GX61 ----------13,000 INR
Novation Launchkey 61 --------14,000 INR
M-Audio Keystation 61 ----------16,000 INR
Nektar Impact LX61 -------------22,000 INR
M-Audio Oxygen 61 ------------ 27,000 INR
Novation Launchkey ---------- 27,000 INR
Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 ----------- 28,000 INR
Nektar Panorama T6 61-Key ------ 37,000 INR (WIth Aftertouch function)
(do look for potentiometers knobs, some cheap models wont have that )
What all things are needed to learn electronic music production ?
a) A PC/Laptop with minimum 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended), Windows OS/ Mac, Linux or even Android
b) A USB to Host MIDI Keyboard (optional), minimum 25 keys (61 keys for proper playability)
( if the MIDI keyboard have controls like knobs/faders it's added benefit, look from AKAI, Novation, Nektar, M-Audio etc )
( please note, unlike a normal keyboard/piano which contains inbuilt sounds and speakers, a midi controller keyboard
doesn't produce any sounds by itself, they only sends MIDI data and need a computer software to work)
Actually you don't need a MIDI keyboard at all, as notes can be created with a mouse or played with virtual keyboard, only problem will be realtime velocity variation won't be recorded as these methods register full volume for every notes, ofcourse you can manually edit velocity information for all notes in MIDI editor later
c) Optional, not necessary : Audio Interface, Microphone, Studio Headphones, Studio Monitors, Room Acoustic Treatments etc.
above things are costly options, so it's upto you to decide how much you want to spent, just for learning purpose, onboard sound of your PC and a decent 2.1 Speakers or decent Headphones will do..
more doubts ? please give Adarsh a call at 974 62 62 836, thanks :)
(be sure to check online stores too as there will be offers, and compare the price with local shop and bargain for accessories or price reduction )
