[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/jp/ - Otaku Culture

View post   
  [?]In ghost mode, only threads with non-archived posts will be shown
File: 34 KB, 500x205, ypt410_medium_jpg.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
3092680 No.3092680 [Reply] [Original]

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YPT410-Full-Size-Sensitive-Bundle/dp/B001FSJC50

Been feelings left out of all these beautiful Touhou music threads lately, due to not having a printer to print the sheet music, nor a keyboard to use the midis with. I was just going to give up, and maybe print some stuff out when I went back to university, but hen I saw an ad in the paper that was practically divine intervention.
Thinking of getting myself this, as it's on sale for E250, headphones and stand not included.
I've never used a keyboard before, only pianos, but I love the idea of being able to put midis on the keyboard as an aid while learning.
I'm not very good at the piano (I'd hesitate to say average), and I've been forced to leave my piano at home while I attended university for the last year, so I've been thinking of getting a keyboard for a while.

Just looking for some opinions/recommendations, as I have no clue about keyboards.
Thanks in advance.

>> No.3092714

It's not bad for an entry level arranger keyboard, but you might be wanting for better touch response compared to a real piano since it doesn't appear to have any hammer action at all.

>> No.3092756

>>3092714
Any recommendations?
The place that the sale is on is like the only shop in the area that has prices that aren't ridiculous, so everyone floods the place for their special offers.

If I want this, I'll have to buy it tomorrow, hence the desperate post.

>> No.3092806

Bump?

>> No.3092821

Well, speaking as a mediocre piano player, relatively cheap keyboards with fewer than 88 keys always bother me, even though I learned to play several Touhou songs on one.

In all honesty, I'd rather shoot for a $600 digital piano than any keyboard, but that is probably out of your budget.

>> No.3092853

Get a cheap keyboard and pirate software instead of buying a stand-alone thing that will sound like shit.

>> No.3092864

>>3092821
It most certainly is.

My budget is about E350, if that's any help.

>> No.3092880

>>3092853
Will you elaborate a bit on that? I'm afraid I'm not following.

>> No.3092972

Question: Is the software installed on the keyboard the most important factor in sound, or the hardware?

I'd have always assumed it to be the hardware, but I don't know now, after >>3092853.

>> No.3093055

>>3092880
You're confused about the difference between arranger keyboards and master keyboards.

I own this thing which costs asbout the same as OP's product ($250) : http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Advanced-Semi-Weighted-Controller-9900-51413-10/dp/B000EMB3HS/ref=sr_1
_3?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1249858620&sr=1-3

It won't do anything unless I plug it into a computer, because it is not loaded with sounds and has no speakers. But it ends up sounding much better than the yamaha would, because I can use it with any software I want and I can plug it into the computer better speakers.
Of course you can do the same with the Yamaha (maybe you'll need a MIDI-to-USB device).

But there are many master keyboards way cheaper than that. For the difference in price you could buy some great speakers if you don't have good ones yet.
That's what I recommend you use if you're not afraid to learn the basics of some music software such as Reason or the like.

Especially if you'd like to do some recording, arranging, or composing someday.

>> No.3093066

For a lower-end keyboard, it doesn't look bad.
One issue might be that you can't change the sounds on this one without some XG MIDI wizardry, and the Yamaha software included to do it with is generally terrible bullshit, unfortunately.
If you don't like how the voices sound, you're pretty much SOL.

>> No.3093097

> For the difference in price you could buy some great speakers if you don't have good ones yet

Before some audiophile calls me on this one, I should have added "entry-level" in this sentence.

>> No.3093104

My apologies if I am hijacking, but are there any recommendations for a keyboard for learning? I've never played before and only know very basic music theory but I would like to learn; I have lots of free time after all.

>> No.3093123

>>3093055
If you don't mind having to connect it to your computer, you might be better off with a fancy MIDI controller keyboard like this guy said.
Alternatively you could find a standalone keyboard that has a USB MIDI interface and do both.
Regular MIDI ports need a MIDI to USB converter cable, which is usually lousy.

I use the Korg TR-61, personally.
http://www.amazon.com/Korg-TR61-Key-Synthesizer-Workstation/dp/B000Q8SC1A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid
=1249859550&sr=8-2

>> No.3093135

>>3093055
So it's solely for computer MIDI input, and won't work by itself? Then I can load a up a program that uses VSTs, or something like that to get sound?

>> No.3093144
File: 20 KB, 158x183, fascinating.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
3093144

>>3093055
>arranger keyboards

>> No.3093150

>>3093104
So long as the keys are the standard size and hitting them produces the correct pitch, the only thing that matters for a beginner is that you have enough keys. 88 is nice to have, 61 is enough, 25 is useless.

>> No.3093175

OP here. Thanks for the responses.

The reason I'm thinking about it so seriously is that I'd thought Yamaha is about as safe as you can get.

>>3093055
I'd rather be able to use it without a computer nearby, due to not being able to move my computer without a lot of fuss, and because both of the rooms it usually calls home is so piled full of rubbish, I wouldn't be able to use a keyboard in there.

>>3093066
Is the software THAT bad? Could I not just pirate some different software and put that on instead?

Voices and all this mean sweet fuck-all to me. What I pretty much want is a portable piano that I can mess with midis with. This thing can apparently teach you using midis, and that sounds exactly like what I want, but if the software's a hames, I'd love some alternatives.

>> No.3093182

>>3093104
Depends on how you want to learn.

If you just want to plink out something you could buy one of the cheapo Yamahas that have lights you can follow to "learn" a song.

If you want to actually learn to play the piano, pretty much anything with a sustain pedal, touch response, and 88 keys will do. You might want something hammer-weighted to feel like a real piano.

The next step is really just to sit down with the sheet music to a song you're determined to learn to play, and grind piano skills until you're good enough to play it. There is really nothing to it other than sitting there and saying "Okay, I'm going to learn to play this song," and then you just practice. It helps a lot to pick a song you like, it's a bit soul-crushing to sit there with a piano lesson book and practice "Frere Jacques" for an hour.

>> No.3093199

>>3093182
I'll probably go for the latter option then. Thank you for the advice; you too, >>3093150

>> No.3093209

>>3093135
Yeah, that's the idea. If you consider this option you don't have to go for expensive stuff with tons of features.
If you don't mind setting up the software with your mouse instead of knobs, this $140 keyboard would be enough: http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Keystation-61es-61-Key-Keyboard/dp/B0002H0GF0/ref=pd_cp_MI_1

>> No.3093227

>>3093175
It'll play MIDIs, but good luck getting them on there. I have my TR-61 and then there's my dad's oldish Yamaha that looks something like yours.
The TR has an SD card slot that I just have to put a MIDI file for a song or a PSG file for a voice.
The Yamaha has this ridiculous cable and software that feels like it was made for Windows 98. I'm not sure what third-party alternatives there are for it at the moment, though.

Once you get the MIDIs on there, it's not that bad an experience with your chosen keyboard.

>> No.3093233

>>3093182
OP again.

I've been using those Hanon "Virtuoso Pianist" exercises along with grinding, but because of pianos lacking volume control, I'm unable to practice anything 95% of the time I even have access to my computer, hence the keyboard.

Are the 88 keys of a high priority?

And are those Hanon exercises any good? I mean, jesus, they kill me.

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for all the answers.

>> No.3093239

>>3093233
61 keys is enough. No less.

>> No.3093244

If you've got or want to buy a keyboard you can plug into your computer (built-in USB output, or a separate MIDI to USB device), you should check out Synthesia (http://www.synthesiagame.com/).). This game was formerly called "Piano Hero" and plays exactly as you'd expect from the title, using the midis you want.

>> No.3093278

>>3093233
You can only pick two among "88 keys", "lots of features", and "affordable".

You'll have to figure out what matters to you.

Just because you don't have all the keys don't mean you can't produce all the pitches - your range is only limited while you perform.

>> No.3093282

OP here.

Thanks again for all the help. I'll take a look around town tomorrow and get some idea of prices, but I think I'll let the deal pass on by.

I asked /mu/ initially, seeing as how this isn't really the board for talking about keyboards, and didn't get a single response.

You guys rock.

>> No.3093290

>>3093282
yeah, /mu/ is full of arrogant pricks

>> No.3093307

> I'll take a look around town tomorrow

When you do, even if they are unplugged, make sure to push the keys of everything you can sight to feel the difference between weighted and unweighted keys.

>> No.3093318

>>3093307
This.
Voices are more important to me, personally, but if you don't care as much about voices then I'd go for features and what the keys feel like.
If you want to play mostly PIANO, get something with at least semi-weighted keys. I play mostly synth stuff, so I prefer a non-weighted synth feel to keep me from getting tired quickly.

>> No.3094534

>>3093233
Hanon is really not that great cause it tends to lead to stiffness, and could lead to damage in the long term if you ''overgrind.' If you really want a technique book, I guess Dohnanyi's Essential Finger Exercises is pretty decent. But ideally you'd just practice the technique within the scope of the song. Or at least go with more musical etudes such as Chopin's Op. 10 and 25

>> No.3094592

M-Audio Oxygen 61 user here, how good is it?

>> No.3094633

buy M-audio

>> No.3094713

any good software to learn piano? the only good one was that old one called "miracle piano" for pc, I got others but they suck

>> No.3094758

>>3094713
There seems to be a bunch of links in that Synthesia site's forum.

To be honest, Synthesia itself looks pretty impressive. Think I'll buy myself the learner pack.

>> No.3094770

>>3094713
I learn by using midis with MidiIllustrator

>> No.3094779

>>3094758
How much is it anyway?

>> No.3094832

>>3094779
Says it on the front page. $16. That includes all future updates as well.

Seems reasonable enough to me.

>> No.3094971

>>3094832
Hmmmm, I don't see me buying software

>> No.3095171

Can't seem to be able to download Synthesia, always stopping at 33%

>> No.3096253

Nyaa~

>> No.3098520

>>3096253
Is that supposed to be a bump?

>> No.3099748

>>3098520
Uryuu~

>> No.3101908

Not letting this die until my question is answered

>> No.3101967

>>3101908
M-Audio Oxygen is quite good as a Midi-in device, so you can just use VSTs or whatever the hell you want, many do this, but Oxygen is particularly economic.

>> No.3102891

bump

>> No.3103234

>>3101967
Does it have a built-in audio interface?

>> No.3103252

>>3103234
No, only USB Midi and Midi, since it's USB powered.

>> No.3103977

>>3103234
Oh wait, I confused it with the M-Audio Ozonic. How is the latency with the USB by the way?

>> No.3104722

>>3103977
Almost none

>>
Reply to thread [?]Don't expect anything heroic. Your post will not be uploaded to the original board.
Name
E-mail
Subject
Comment
Action