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Can anyone recommend any really cheap midi keyboards? My main instrument is guitar and I only want to use the synths for some additional colors here and there in the songs. Are there any affordable ones that will get the job done?

Roland/Edirol PC-180?

This might sound silly but I got a mint-condition Yamaha DX7s from a Pawn Shop at a ridiculous price.

I think Paul has the right idea. You may want to look for a barebones midi controler but, it might be cheaper to look for a used synth instead. It does the same job and you get extra sounds as a bonus!

Hey Paul! You know, you can really have fun by sending your DX7 output to a Mod2 filter bank.



RedSun .:.

_________________
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music."

Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RedSun on 2002-07-08 11:02 ]</font>

Kawai K4,K1 and K11 have the same keyboard mechanic. Excellent hardware, you can really pound on them. From 60-180 bucks 2nd hand.
A goody for a small keyboard with controller knobs might be Novation Bass Station. Around 100-200, but more plastics than Kawai.

cheers, Tom

Can someone give more details about the Roland/Edirol PC180A? How much should I pay for a new one and how good it actually is?

Thanks!

Roland 180 a is 150 Euro catalog price.
I haven't had my hands on one but generally there are 2 different mechanical designs for those elcheapos:
one is complete plastic, the keys are like combs,
the other layout uses metal springs.
While the latter one is more reliable, the first one sooner or later may break.
Beware, even 'quality names' use that design.
Another thing to test is the (full) velocity range from 0-127 and if there are different curves available.

cheers, Tom