Help me find the keyboard of my dreams

[ChetMagongalo]

hey guys, i'm wanting to get some ideas from y'all. I have a Pocket Piano and I love how it sounds and I have a lot of fun playing it, but I'm wanting more out of it. I need more keys for chord voicings, and perhaps more flexibility with patches. Now I realize I could get a midi controller for it because I do have a midi version, however with the money I put into that combo ($275 for the PP + $100-$200 for a controller) I think I could get something more modular (not two units connected via midi) and better sounding. I like the sounds for the pocket piano, but I definitely notice some carrier noise or something of the such in it. It's like I can hear the circuitry inside it moving around to generate the sounds. I've played a couple casio keyboards that I've liked, so maybe you guys can turn me on to which ones are dope and aren't.

What i'm looking for:
-smallish
-normal key size
-nostalgic sounds (video games, old TV commercials, you know what I mean)
-arpeggiator
-works well with pedals
-less than 40 lbs.
-0 to 500 used budget
-ability to save custom patches

stuff that would be cool but not a deal breaker
-pitch bending or modulation of some sort
-midi capability
-looks dope

thanks

[rfurtkamp]

Smallish and normal key size? How many keys?

[ChetMagongalo]

I think like 37-49 would be ideal. I think that's the standard ranges right? full size would be okay too, but it would be nice to have something portable/not huge.

[rfurtkamp]

For a fullsize board, it's 49/61/76/88 IIRC.

The 88s are not small nor cheap.

I'm partial to the 61 or 76s.

I'm not much of a keys guy though, I buy last gen Roland stuff and call it good, it's enough to make me happy!

[BoatRich]

MS20 Mini might do a lot of that for you? Also a Microkorg? Arturia Minibrute also.

[spacelordmother]

MS20 Mini might do a lot of that for you? Also a Microkorg? Arturia Minibrute also.

Mini/Microbrute disqualified by being monophonic = no "chord voicings."

MS20 disqualified by monophonic and mini-keys. Microkorg disqualified by mini keys.

Korg MS2000 would work a treat, except for it's not really "smallish."

[youtube][/youtube]

I know there's more options out there...

[paulandpaul]

The pocket piano sounds really great through a large midi controller. Just saying.

[fever606]

Casio CZ-101

[oscillateur]

If you can find an Alesis Micron / Akai MiniAk (same thing with a different name basically) for cheap enough, that could be a valid option. They sound great and have all you ask for but programming them is a bit more involved than with synths with tons of knobs. But it's a good and deep synth engine, you can make awesome things with it and there are enough assignable controllers for live use. I had one for a while but sold it as I focused on my modular.

Otherwise, for new stuff : the Novation Mininova fits your requirements except fulls-ize keys too.
The Roland System 1 (Keyboard version) fits in the higher end of your budget, too. I haven't tried it but heard good things about it.

[Warpsmasher]

Korg R3 or Novation Ultranova if you want a step up from the entry level. I had an R3 for a few years and it was nice. The stock sounds are boring, but there are lots of great sounds available online in the korg forums if you want to give it a quick custom reload, and it's much easier to edit than a micron or microkorg. It also has the simplest vocoder I've ever used.

[ChetMagongalo]

MS20 Mini might do a lot of that for you? Also a Microkorg? Arturia Minibrute also.

Having played all these I know they're not what i'm looking for, the biggest reason is polyphony, the second being the MS20 doesn't save patches, something else that's important to me, that I probably should have mentioned in the OP haha. Also the reasons spacelord mentioned I was aware of and are also problematic.

Korg MS2000 would work a treat, except for it's not really "smallish."

yeah! I've played an MS2000 and it was cool, I see them pop up from time to time for a decent price, the layout seems like something I would need to learn, but i'm okay with that. I'm pretty sure I can save my own patches right?

i was in the same boat, got the microkorg. still play the pocket piano more though, it's so simple that it's just "easier" to start playing it casually, which ends up with me playing it way more often.

yeah this is a good point and it's something I also enjoy about the pocket piano. I might pick up a non midi one someday because I don't believe I will be ever using the functionality.

Korg R3 or Novation Ultranova if you want a step up from the entry level. I had an R3 for a few years and it was nice. The stock sounds are boring, but there are lots of great sounds available online in the korg forums if you want to give it a quick custom reload, and it's much easier to edit than a micron or microkorg. It also has the simplest vocoder I've ever used.

Nice, my mom has an R3, I'll have to try hers out. Haven't checked out the Ultranova, will do. I'm wondering if it can do some cool older sounds, I have a harder time getting excited about a lot of more recent keyboard sounds, but maybe people aren't using them the same way I would. Is loading sounds from and navigating the korg forums easy? having a convenient and fast workflow is important to me.

[kbit]

Im pretty sure the MicroKorg is basically a mini MS2000? Not sure if that sways you. Programing on the Microkorg does kinda suck.

[spacelordmother]

Im pretty sure the MicroKorg is basically a mini MS2000? Not sure if that sways you. Programing on the Microkorg does kinda suck.

Yup - was going to say that if the polyphony on the MK is too low (4) than you won't be happy with the MS2000 either. I'm all about pads and soundscapes so if I had realized when I got my MK I never would have bought it, but it actually hasn't been a problem 95% of the time.

Strangely enough I kinda dig programming on the MK (the concept isn't hard, it's just remembering/reading which knobs are under each section) and have wondered if I would like programming an MS2000 as much...

[ancientbones]

Casio CZ-101

The 101 has mini keys. The CZ-1000 might be better. Full size keys.

I'd look into the Alesis Ion instead of the Micron. Micron is really annoying to work with.

[fever606]

Casio CZ-101

The 101 has mini keys. The CZ-1000 might be better. Full size keys.

Shit, you're right... I actually intended to put down the -1000 but my brain hijacked itself... Thanks!