Born in 1964 by Robert Moog, the modular synthesizer was the first electronic musical keyboard of the generation, followed, in 1970, by the first performance model. Since then, thanks to advances in electronics, musical keyboards have been available in a variety of sizes and configurations, with various features to meet the needs of everyone, amateurs and professional musicians. Here is a guide on how to choose a keyboard according to your needs.
Steps
Step 1. Decide the use you intend to make of the keyboard
If you are a beginner or do not have many musical aspirations, you can probably buy a cheap one, even for less than 100 euros. If you are a serious musician or plan to perform in public, you should buy a cheaper one with a lot of professional features.
Step 2. Find out about the types of keyboards available
In addition to Moog, digital keyboards are also produced by many other brands such as Alesis, Casio, Roland and Yamaha. Although they all have different characteristics, they can be divided into various categories:
Digital piano. A digital piano has 88 keys like a vertical acoustic piano, but the metal strings and hammers are replaced by digital recordings of the strings. The keys, once pressed, strike electronic contacts which emit the corresponding sound. An amplifier replaces the keyboard sound that causes the strings of the acoustic piano to resonate, making the digital piano more compact than the acoustic piano. The console models have built-in speakers, while the digital stage floors are designed to be connected to external systems
Step 3. Synthesizer
Synthesizers can reproduce the sound of many instruments electronically, although the sounds of electronically created musical instruments cannot be duplicated. Some more sophisticated synthesizers give you the ability to program your own sounds and connect to your computer via MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) or USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports. The MIDI interface also allows the connection between two keyboards to superimpose sounds.
Workstation. Also known by the lesser known name "workstation", the workstation is a more sophisticated synthesizer that offers the musical sequence and has the capability of recording, in addition to the computer interface and sound synthesis. These keyboards are best suited for digital music studios
Step 4. Assess your current musical knowledge
Some home keyboards have built-in system instructions and instruction booklets and software. These integrated systems include lessons on how to place your fingers on the keyboard as you play, the number of pre-recorded sounds that can be played, while the keys that correspond to the notes of the song are highlighted.
If you have trouble practicing in front of someone, look for a keyboard with a headphone jack, so that only you can hear the music as you play
Step 5. Pay attention to the number of keys on the keyboard
Digital keyboards can have 25 to 88 keys. Digital pianos have 88 keys, like a standard keyboard, while many workstations have at least 61 keys. Minor synthesizers have at least 25 keys, although many home-use keyboards may have 49, 61, or 76 keys.
- The more frets there are, the better the instrument. A keyboard with only 25 keys has only two octaves, while one with 49 has as many as 4. A keyboard with 61 keys has 5 octaves, one with 76 covers 6 octaves, while one with 88 has 7 octaves. and 5 black keys, or 12 color ranges. The larger the tool, the more space you will have for other features.
- However, the larger the instrument, the less portable it is. By sacrificing the seventh octave of an 88-key keyboard, for a smaller one, you'll have more chances to take it with you for a jam with friends.
Step 6. Choose a keyboard with keys to play easily
In addition to paying attention to the number, check how easy it is to play the keys and avoid causing pain in your fingers or carpal tunnel syndrome after playing. Basically, the characteristics to check when buying a keyboard are the sensitivity of the keys and the weighted keys.
- Touch sensitivity consists of the intensity of the sound based on the force with which you press the keys. If you lightly press the keys of a keyboard with sensitivity, the sound will be soft, while if you tap on the keys, the sound will be loud. Sensitivity is usually not available on budget keyboards.
- Weighted keys must be pressed to move them down, but they return to their original position faster than non-weighted ones. The weighted keys add weight to the keyboard, making it more expensive and less portable, but are more comfortable on your fingers if you play for a long time.
Step 7. Evaluate the capacity of the sound
The most important skills are two: polyphony and poly timbricity. Polyphony is the extent to which some notes can be played at the same time, while poly timbrality is the extent to which how many different types of sounds an instrument can make at the same time.
- Minimal keyboards can play at least 16 tones together, while more professional synthesizers and workstations can play more than 128.
- Poly timbricity comes into play if you want to produce music with the keyboard. It is a defining feature in recording the overlapping of multiple sounds.
Step 8. Choose the keyboard based on ease of use
The programmed should be easier to play and the sounds should be logically grouped to find and remember them more easily. Additionally, the liquid crystal display, known as an LCD, should be easy to read. Good documentation is useful, but you shouldn't go through it every time you want to use the keyboard's most important features.
