I was a keyboard player in a former life, when Yamaha DX 7s etc ruled. But I haven’t much of a notion about keyboards now.
My Covers band have started doing some songs with keys (Played by the other guitarist at the moment) He’s using a tiny little midi controller linked to some sort of module so there are limitations. Of course it’s opened up what great songs we can do. So I want to add in some keys now and am looking for a synth. I don’t really want to be editing sounds or the likes, so ideally something with truckloads of sounds to cover a wide range of songs. But I want quality. Having a quick nosey about YT and the likes, the Roland DS kind of looks like it might do the job?
Anyone got any experience of these, or recommend me something else?
Thanks
Comments
I used to have a Yamaha MX49 and then moved onto a Korg Kross 61.They both sounded quite good but on both I felt the user interface was a bit of a compromise (both have very small and basic displays). The Korg was a step up up from the Yamaha in terms of flexibility, not least due to the 16 multi-functional pads which can be assigned to patch selection, sequencer operation or triggering samples from an SD card.
A few months ago I replaced the Korg with a Yamaha MODX6 and it was a huge step up in sound quality, flexibility and ease of use. I can't really speak for full time keyboard players, but there's nothing I've needed so far that it can't handle. There are some very good sound packs available commercially (Narfsounds for example) but most of the patches I use for gigs I have been able to create myself and I wouldn't say the learning curve was particularly steep.
If I have one criticism it would be the keybed which can be a bit noisy when you hit the keys and probably won't match up to more expensive instruments. Having said that, it's no worse than the previous two keyboards I had and all of the other improvements made it more than worthwhile making the change.
Sounds like a Poundland Kraftwerk tribute!
unlike a PC DAW.. it is plug in, open app... it works. They have onscreen keyboards to play them too.
Audiokit SYNTH 1 (free)
Audiokit FM PLAYER 2 (a dx 7 alike - free)
Steinberg nanologue
korg also do their old classics in app form e.g Polysix
what usb keyboard? You need to get power to it...
I am thinking about giving Logic and Maindstage a go though, once you have Logic Main stage is about £30 and designed for live use
mainstage iOS could be killer app.
The official apple connector kit will allow the Midi-USB connection. Then it should be plug and play.
https://support.novationmusic.com/hc/en-gb/articles/206861729-My-Launchkey-Mk2-is-not-connecting-to-my-iPad
Moog minimoog is nice app too