Post by Admin on May 15, 2013 13:33:16 GMT -5
How do you feel?
Piano or Keyboard – What’s the Difference?
The first question is whether to buy an acoustic piano or an electronic or digital keyboard.
A good acoustic piano, in most ways, is the best instrument to learn on. The feel of a real
piano cannot be fully duplicated on any digital replica. You can actually feel the
vibrations of the strings in your hands and body as you play, and the sound you get back
is more alive than on digital versions.
There are, however, many drawbacks to acoustic pianos. First, getting a good piano can
be expensive. A good used upright can be $1500 and up, a good new piano, $4000 and
up.
Pianos only make one type of sound, albeit a very expressive one. If you are interested in
working with all different types of sounds, you will want an instrument more like a
synthesizer.
Pianos are relatively big and take up more space than their digital counterparts. They
need to be tuned regularly, and they are loud – sometimes causing problems with
neighbors, especially late at night.
So, if you can afford it, have the space, and don’t think you will have problems with
neighbors, get a real acoustic piano – the best one you can afford. If you want to buy a
new or used acoustic piano, get The Piano Book by Larry Fine. It will give you all the
information you need to make an intelligent purchase. There are also several websites
with information on buying a piano. If you’ve decided that an acoustic piano is not for
you, read on…
Which Keyboard to Buy?
There are literally hundreds of keyboards on the market at prices ranging from
$100 $5000. What are the differences?
Where’s the Action?
There are two main things to consider here: the feel (“action”) of the keyboard and the
types and amount of sounds. There are three types of keyboard action: weighted, semiweighted
and unweighted.
A weighted action, also called hammeraction,has a mechanism similar to a real
piano, with moving parts like a real piano. It offers good resistance for the fingers so they
can build strength, and allows the player to play a broad range of dynamics. It is similar
to the feel of a real piano, and students who learn on weighted keyboards can make the
transition to playing a real piano with no trouble.
A semiweighted action works with a spring resistance rather than a mechanism of
moving parts. It offers some resistance for finger strength, but less like the feel of an
acoustic piano.
An unweighted action (or synth action) also works with springs and offers even less
resistance. It is the least desirable on an instrument for learning.
How Many Keys?
Besides the action, keyboards come in different sizes according to the number of keys.
The main three sizes are 88 keys, 76 keys, and 60 keys, although some synths and
keyboards actually have less than 60 keys.
88 keys are the same as an acoustic piano, and is the best choice. 76 keys will work for
most kinds of music, but at some point you may run out of notes. 60 keys is least
desirable, but can still be useable for beginners, lead playing or comping.
Even if you get a 60note, unweighted keyboard, make sure it is velocitysensitive,
which means it will respond to how hard you hit the keys and play dynamics (loud and soft).
If you are interested in using other sounds besides piano, it is important that your
keyboard has a pitch wheel and mod wheel. Many digital pianos do not have these.
These are very important when using nonpianosounds to make them more realistic and
expressive. Aftertouch is another feature that allows you to change the quality of sounds
by holding the keys down and pressing them into the keybed. This feature is nice, but not
essential.
Make sure you get a keyboard that will take a sustainpedal,and you may as well buy
the sustain pedal along with the keyboard. Get a heavyduty, pianostyle pedal, not the
square switch type.
Digital Piano V.S. Synthesizer
Some keyboards are called digital pianos and meant to replace acoustic pianos. These
instruments have mostly piano sounds, with perhaps a few others like organs, strings, etc.
These keyboards are not true synthesizers – instruments that are programmable, allowing
you to create and change the sounds. Synthesizers usually come with hundreds or even
thousands of preset sounds.
Other keyboards are true synthesizers as well as being digital pianos. These are more
versatile in a studio setting as there is a huge array of sounds available, and can act as an
entire orchestra in a studio recording. Some keyboards are full workstations, which
mean that they have onboard sequencers (recording software) that will allow the
keyboard to function as a standalonerecording studio. The onboard sequencer is less
important if you have a computer, which, with the appropriate software, will be more
powerful, versatile, and easier to use.
Remember, whatever keyboard you buy, it is not the endall of your decision. You can
always add other synth modules later, which will provide you with other sounds. You
can, in fact, add on virtual synths or virtual samplers which are comprised of software
which resides in your computer. Some synthesizers have card slots that allow you to add
more sounds with sound cards. Most keyboard pros have many synths and modules as
part of their setup. One keyboard cannot always do everything you’ll need in a studio.
Amplification
While some keyboards have builtinspeakers, many pro keyboards do not, allowing the
owner to decide how to amplify the instrument. The easiest way is to plug in a pair of
headphones, which is great for latenight playing. Head phones can fatigue the ears,
however, and it is best to have a way of using loudspeakers as well.You can use your
home stereo system to do this, provided it is in the same place as the keyboard.
Another option is to buy an amp and speakers specifically meant for home studios, or
speakers with builtin amplifiers, called powered speakers. These come in all different
price ranges. In general, the more you pay, the better the sound quality. Keyboard stand and seat
Don’t forget about buying a good stand and seat. Do not put the keyboard on a desk – it
will be too high. A stand should be adjustable, to make sure you get the height that is
right. An “AFrame” type stand is very versatile, as you can always add to it for other
music peripherals like more keyboards, mixers, speakers, etc. Also, get a piano bench or
a good office chair with back support and adjustable height.
Piano or Keyboard – What’s the Difference?
The first question is whether to buy an acoustic piano or an electronic or digital keyboard.
A good acoustic piano, in most ways, is the best instrument to learn on. The feel of a real
piano cannot be fully duplicated on any digital replica. You can actually feel the
vibrations of the strings in your hands and body as you play, and the sound you get back
is more alive than on digital versions.
There are, however, many drawbacks to acoustic pianos. First, getting a good piano can
be expensive. A good used upright can be $1500 and up, a good new piano, $4000 and
up.
Pianos only make one type of sound, albeit a very expressive one. If you are interested in
working with all different types of sounds, you will want an instrument more like a
synthesizer.
Pianos are relatively big and take up more space than their digital counterparts. They
need to be tuned regularly, and they are loud – sometimes causing problems with
neighbors, especially late at night.
So, if you can afford it, have the space, and don’t think you will have problems with
neighbors, get a real acoustic piano – the best one you can afford. If you want to buy a
new or used acoustic piano, get The Piano Book by Larry Fine. It will give you all the
information you need to make an intelligent purchase. There are also several websites
with information on buying a piano. If you’ve decided that an acoustic piano is not for
you, read on…
Which Keyboard to Buy?
There are literally hundreds of keyboards on the market at prices ranging from
$100 $5000. What are the differences?
Where’s the Action?
There are two main things to consider here: the feel (“action”) of the keyboard and the
types and amount of sounds. There are three types of keyboard action: weighted, semiweighted
and unweighted.
A weighted action, also called hammeraction,has a mechanism similar to a real
piano, with moving parts like a real piano. It offers good resistance for the fingers so they
can build strength, and allows the player to play a broad range of dynamics. It is similar
to the feel of a real piano, and students who learn on weighted keyboards can make the
transition to playing a real piano with no trouble.
A semiweighted action works with a spring resistance rather than a mechanism of
moving parts. It offers some resistance for finger strength, but less like the feel of an
acoustic piano.
An unweighted action (or synth action) also works with springs and offers even less
resistance. It is the least desirable on an instrument for learning.
How Many Keys?
Besides the action, keyboards come in different sizes according to the number of keys.
The main three sizes are 88 keys, 76 keys, and 60 keys, although some synths and
keyboards actually have less than 60 keys.
88 keys are the same as an acoustic piano, and is the best choice. 76 keys will work for
most kinds of music, but at some point you may run out of notes. 60 keys is least
desirable, but can still be useable for beginners, lead playing or comping.
Even if you get a 60note, unweighted keyboard, make sure it is velocitysensitive,
which means it will respond to how hard you hit the keys and play dynamics (loud and soft).
If you are interested in using other sounds besides piano, it is important that your
keyboard has a pitch wheel and mod wheel. Many digital pianos do not have these.
These are very important when using nonpianosounds to make them more realistic and
expressive. Aftertouch is another feature that allows you to change the quality of sounds
by holding the keys down and pressing them into the keybed. This feature is nice, but not
essential.
Make sure you get a keyboard that will take a sustainpedal,and you may as well buy
the sustain pedal along with the keyboard. Get a heavyduty, pianostyle pedal, not the
square switch type.
Digital Piano V.S. Synthesizer
Some keyboards are called digital pianos and meant to replace acoustic pianos. These
instruments have mostly piano sounds, with perhaps a few others like organs, strings, etc.
These keyboards are not true synthesizers – instruments that are programmable, allowing
you to create and change the sounds. Synthesizers usually come with hundreds or even
thousands of preset sounds.
Other keyboards are true synthesizers as well as being digital pianos. These are more
versatile in a studio setting as there is a huge array of sounds available, and can act as an
entire orchestra in a studio recording. Some keyboards are full workstations, which
mean that they have onboard sequencers (recording software) that will allow the
keyboard to function as a standalonerecording studio. The onboard sequencer is less
important if you have a computer, which, with the appropriate software, will be more
powerful, versatile, and easier to use.
Remember, whatever keyboard you buy, it is not the endall of your decision. You can
always add other synth modules later, which will provide you with other sounds. You
can, in fact, add on virtual synths or virtual samplers which are comprised of software
which resides in your computer. Some synthesizers have card slots that allow you to add
more sounds with sound cards. Most keyboard pros have many synths and modules as
part of their setup. One keyboard cannot always do everything you’ll need in a studio.
Amplification
While some keyboards have builtinspeakers, many pro keyboards do not, allowing the
owner to decide how to amplify the instrument. The easiest way is to plug in a pair of
headphones, which is great for latenight playing. Head phones can fatigue the ears,
however, and it is best to have a way of using loudspeakers as well.You can use your
home stereo system to do this, provided it is in the same place as the keyboard.
Another option is to buy an amp and speakers specifically meant for home studios, or
speakers with builtin amplifiers, called powered speakers. These come in all different
price ranges. In general, the more you pay, the better the sound quality. Keyboard stand and seat
Don’t forget about buying a good stand and seat. Do not put the keyboard on a desk – it
will be too high. A stand should be adjustable, to make sure you get the height that is
right. An “AFrame” type stand is very versatile, as you can always add to it for other
music peripherals like more keyboards, mixers, speakers, etc. Also, get a piano bench or
a good office chair with back support and adjustable height.