wassup fp fam quick question how should I determine how many keys I want on my midi keyboard? I really don't want any limitations but everyone is tellin me I dont need a full size controller. Give me some feedback pros and cons. Thanx
25 Keys: For in front of your computer monitor if you have another keyboard on the side. Good for auditioning sounds if you plan on clicking-in a majority of your notes. Good if you plan on doing DJing or mobile production (will often fit into any larger-sized backpack from Walmart along with a laptop). Excellent for producers who make sampled beats. You'll be struggling to alter your more musical ideas
(chords + melodies) to fit within the confines of the keyboard.
25 keys require very specific circumstances:
37 Keys: The bare minimum number of keys for a producer who plans on laying down chords and melodies frequently. This is the absolute minimmumm "portable-keyboard-size" for a trained musician. Slightly less portable than the 25-key units, unless you get mini keys
(i.e. Korg microKONTROL, Korg microKEY).
The smallest size musically playable, for people who need to fit a bunch of other stuff:
49 Keys: Almost the "standard" size electronic keyboard
(see description for 61-key below). You will need to use the Octave Up/Down keys to start each instrument in the right general frequency range, but once you're in the right region, you shouldn't feel cramped/restricted. This is the size where the keyboard is no longer de-facto classified as "portable" anymore; at least not in the backpack sense. It's small enough that it won't take up too much space in a car, but too big to use on a bus/at school/etc.
A 49 key is a good compromise in size for people who want a good range, but have desks that are hurting for a bit of size:
61 Keys: This is the standard electronic keyboard size -- the same key range as most cheap Casio keyboards at Walmart. There's not much to say past that; we've all played Casio keyboards at least once. If you haven't, go demo one at your local toy store. Since I built my desk to accommodate the keyboard I wanted
(and not the other way around, which would be buying a keyboard to accommodate the space I have), this is my size of choice.
A 61-key is better for those of us who have pull-out keyboard trays for our computer keyboard and mouse:
88 Keys: For people who never want to touch Octave Up/Down buttons. Same number of keys on a Grand Piano. You can reach ridiculously high and low notes that you would rarely consider using in a track. The range is important for keyswitched instruments in Kontakt, as most Kontakt instruments assign the keyswitches to very, very low keys or very, very high keys
(or both, like Electri6ity does). My brother's choice for keyboard size; he learned to play an actual piano, and he won't touch any smaller boards. Oh -- you'd better like hammer-action keys, because there's basically only one current 88-key unit out there with synth/semi-weighted keys out there
(M-Audio Keystation 88es) and its keys suck. All of the other boards in this size have weighted keys with varying levels of quality and weight. Weighted keys make timing-based expression more difficult, and volume-based expression easier.
Most 88 key units will sit off to the side, on their own stands or desks:
Long story short:
Go with with
49 or
61 keys unless you have a special situation. 49 is the small general-purpose size, 61 is the large general-purpose size.
Go with
25 or
37 keys if you have a laptop and portability is a concern, or if you have 10 or more other hardware devices that need to sit on your desktop.
Go with
88 keys if space is not an issue, you hate Octave keys, and you plan on using the keyswitches in keyswitched instruments.
