Topic by RobertLloyd

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  • RobertLloyd
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Topic: Budget set up for beginner sans space

Not having anywhere in the house to have a full 88 keyboard, this is my setup in my tiny little study

M-Audio Keystation 61es (reconditioned from eBay £64.99)
JVC 2.1 soundbar with sub-woofer (Currys £79.99)
MacBook Air 2017 model
Pianoteq 6 Stage
Stagg pedal £9.99 eBay

It sounds really good; full bodied with deep bass and sparkling treble - wonderful! The keyboard isn't bad either and 61 keys is OK for now since I'm at an early stage in learning to play the piano, returning after many years away.

Apart from the MacBook, which is used for other things anyway, the set up is pretty good at just £150 ish.

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

It will be well worth moving or changing some furniture to get a full 88 in there. The entry level Casio models aren't too wide or deep for instance.  Hammer action will be much better than springs too.  You should be able to squeeze an entry level 88 into any room with a bit of effort.

I expect you are hoarding stuff that could go to make space like most of us.

Anyway have fun.

Reply by EvilDragon

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

I agree with above post. Try to move some stuff around and fit a Casio PX5S there. Much better than that M-Audio keyboard.

Hard work and guts!

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

EvilDragon wrote:

I agree with above post. Try to move some stuff around and fit a Casio PX5S there. Much better than that M-Audio keyboard.

That is obviously a nice option but in the UK that keyboard costs about 10x what he paid for his M Audio, whereas the entry level Casio DP will still be a very substantial upgrade for about £200 more than he paid at new prices, and significantly less if going for a S/hand unit or a recent predecessor.

Certainly the PX5s is going to be worth the extra layout though.

Last edited by Key Fumbler (23-10-2018 23:22)

Reply by RobertLloyd

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

You're absolutely right, the M-audio, whilst a perfect fit on my desk, did have a less than optimal action. Yesterday I took delivery of a Roland FP30 - bliss! Just managed to squeeze it in with some rearrangement of the furniture and mods to the desk. So glad I did as the action is very nice indeed. The sounds aren't too bad, but Pianoteq is noticeably superior in every respect and sounds terrific coming out of the soundbar. The Roland speakers are hampered by being downwards facing straight onto the desk but through headphones are better. The Piano Partner 2 app is pretty nifty but 99% of the time I'll be using Pianoteq via the Macbook.

The M-audio will come in handy for messing about with midi in Reaper so it hasn't been wasted.

Thanks for all your good advice!

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

RobertLloyd wrote:

You're absolutely right, the M-audio, whilst a perfect fit on my desk, did have a less than optimal action. Yesterday I took delivery of a Roland FP30 - bliss! Just managed to squeeze it in with some rearrangement of the furniture and mods to the desk. So glad I did as the action is very nice indeed. !

Looks like a nice bit of kit

The 61 key keyboard will still be useful.
You have pitch and modulation there and alternatively extra MIDI channels to use in your DAW if either keyboard allows a change of channel.

Reply by RobertLloyd

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

Thank you - yes the Keystation won't be wasted. Many years ago (around 1994) I had a Roland HP800 piano plus an MT120 GM/GS sequencer. I laboriously created 3 tunes which I entered into Keyboard Player (I think that was the title) magazine readers song competition - amazingly I won! (suspect I was the only entrant). The prize was 3 books on recording techniques written by Paul White of SoS mag. Still got the books but the tunes are long gone with the demise of 3.5 inch floppies.

These days, with Reaper and the internet, it's so much easier to record multi-track songs, but as ever the magic ingredient is having a good tune. Sadly, since 1994 I've gotten a tad rusty but the FP30 is a joy to play - nearly like having my very own Steinway thanks to Pianoteq!

Some of the playing by forum members for the Competition is outstanding, I'm so envious! They all deserve a prize I think.

All the best
Rob

Last edited by RobertLloyd (25-10-2018 14:47)

Reply by sjgcit

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

RobertLloyd wrote:

the tunes are long gone with the demise of 3.5 inch floppies

You can still get 3.5 inch "floppy" drives online.  You'll even find USB units, if you really, really want to.

StephenG

Reply by RobertLloyd

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Re: Budget set up for beginner sans space

Thanks, sounds like they'll come in handy for all the midi files I have on old discs - but the discs with the songs on are well and truly lost (probably just as well - they were awful!)