Digital Piano and USB Midi Controller

Duppy03

My son has been teaching himself to play piano on an old Yamaha keyboard we were given by a friend. He's now keen to do a bit of recording too.

So rather than just get a USB Midi Controller Keyboard I was wondering if there any digital pianos that can also act as USB controller on a budget?

Any recommendations would be much appreciated

jackio

Hi yes I’m sure there are. I’ll do my best to help buuut, what’s the budget ? Does it need to be new or will 2nd hand do? What will he be using it to control? 

Best wishes

jack

oaf

Roland FP-10 perhaps? A friend bought one for his (piano beginner) wife and she was very happy with it. I'm not sure that it has MIDI in/out so you'd be relying on USB only (check this if it matters to you, it would to me). The RD range might be a good buy used too.

Musicwolf

As jackio says many, if not most, will do this.  I bought myself a Casio CDP S100 at the back end of last year which was under £300.  MIDI I/O over USB (it doesn't have any old school 5 pin MIDI connections).  Works seamlessly with Cubase.

I found that the step up from semi-weight keyboard to the Casio, which has a budget haammer action, really helped me.

Whistler

Just check that the one you buy has a MIDI out socket on the back, as that is what you need for a keyboard to be able to work as a MIDI controller. I think you will find that most keyboards made since the 1980s will have MIDI capability and a MIDI out socket.

Duppy03

Thanks for the great responses so far.

Budget is as cheap as possible, £150 and below (as that’s the price of the Casio CTS 300, which is a contender).

Preferred connectivity would be USB direct to output.

Not 100% sure which apps yet as still exploring options, but definitely Garaband for starters.

Stratavarious

Had it not got midi already? What model of Yamaha?  

It will look like one or two 5 pin DIN sockets marked in and out.

you get plug and play midi > USB cables

sweepy

You can pick up a USB Midi interface for @£7 on eBay 

Duppy03

Sorry that should have said "USB direct to laptop".

The Yamaha he has is a really basic beginners model, PSR 77. The only connectivity it has is Power and Headphones/Line Out

Duppy03

I've done a little more research and come up with these as contenders:
Yamaha PSS-A50
Fame G-400
Casio CT-S200
Yamaha NP-12 BK

Any advice would be great thanks.