Cheap used keyboard with Midi

[smallzoo]

Whats the general opinion on these used keyboards local to me

Lovely Yamaha PS 343 - £ 70

and

Donner DEP-20 - £150

Both say in superb condition

[James Perrett]

They are very different beasts - are you a piano player who needs weighted keys or are you a synth player who prefers a lighter keyboard. Are you planning on using the on-board sounds or are you just using them for Midi?

[Sam Spoons]

Are you now no longer looking for a "Digital Piano" and potentially interested in an "Electronic Keyboard" (I seem to remember you saying that you found your previous 'keyboard' too complicated and that you wanted an 88 note piano action)?

The Yamaha PS/PSRR range are 'home keyboards' with lots of 'ezy-play' features and the PS343 has a 61 synth style keyboard. The Donner is a 'proper' electronic piano but personally I'd be looking for an older Yamaha/Korg/Roland home digital piano.

[Arpangel]

Is this for "general use" or a specific application? although these days that gap is closing, and even quite modest "keyboards" can cover a lot of ground, making choices more difficult, I always try and get way with spending as little as possible, depending on what you want to do, but you will always end up with a compromise and also many things you’ll probably never use, and that applies at any price.

[smallzoo]

They are very different beasts - are you a piano player who needs weighted keys or are you a synth player who prefers a lighter keyboard. Are you planning on using the on-board sounds or are you just using them for Midi?

I guess swayed by the fact they were both local and cheap thats all..I know dumb reasons

[smallzoo]

Are you now no longer looking for a "Digital Piano" and potentially interested in an "Electronic Keyboard" (I seem to remember you saying that you found your previous 'keyboard' too complicated and that you wanted an 88 note piano action)?

The Yamaha PS/PSRR range are 'home keyboards' with lots of 'ezy-play' features and the PS343 has a 61 synth style keyboard. The Donner is a 'proper' electronic piano but personally I'd be looking for an older Yamaha/Korg/Roland home digital piano.

Same answer..swayed by very local ad price..

[smallzoo]

Is this for "general use" or a specific application? although these days that gap is closing, and even quite modest "keyboards" can cover a lot of ground, making choices more difficult, I always try and get way with spending as little as possible, depending on what you want to do, but you will always end up with a compromise and also many things you’ll probably never use, and that applies at any price.

To be honest that was my original idea.. cheap used digital keyboard as I havent used one for a while and ideally as close as piano sound as possible with midi in case I wanted to experiment..and of course local. I dont want to be driving 2 hours to see one even if I had the time which I dont..lol

[Sam Spoons]

Both good reasons IMHO but i=unless you are in a hurry the sensible way (not that I'm any authority on 'sensible') would be to decide which features you need, set a budget and keep your eye on local ebay and fb Marketplace listings.

[smallzoo]

Thanks

After the comments I saw this one alhtough it does say display light doesnt work. The reviews Ive seen on it are very good but who am I to know !

Yamaha DGX630
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 4406180257

and this one seems ridiculous cheap.. the review on this site is good ( back in 1996 ! )

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 1847198428

[James Perrett]

If you are happy with a light keyboard then the minimum that I'd go for would be a Yamaha PSR-E3x3 (where x could be any number between 0 and 8). Better still would be a Yamaha PSR-E4x3 which has a few more useful features like sound editing. These have USB Midi so they have to be used with a computer if you want to use them as a Midi controller keyboard.

We paid £50 for my son's PSR-E403 a few years ago although most of the ones I've seen advertised tend to be a little higher. However, if you are patient, you may even find one for free.

[smallzoo]

If you are happy with a light keyboard then the minimum that I'd go for would be a Yamaha PSR-E3x3 (where x could be any number between 0 and 8). Better still would be a Yamaha PSR-E4x3 which has a few more useful features like sound editing. These have USB Midi so they have to be used with a computer if you want to use them as a Midi controller keyboard.

We paid £50 for my son's PSR-E403 a few years ago although most of the ones I've seen advertised tend to be a little higher. However, if you are patient, you may even find one for free.

Thanks a lot

so you mean like these two

Yamaha PSR E363
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 9321461602

Yamaha PSR E413
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 4467294081

[James Perrett]

so you mean like these two

Yamaha PSR E363
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 9321461602

Yamaha PSR E413
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 4467294081

Yes - of the two I would go for the second one as it has a pitch wheel and two other real time control knobs which can be used, either by the keyboard itself, or to control parameters on soft synths on the computer.

[ajay_m]

Whereabouts are you?. Because I have a mint condition Alesis QS6.1 with manual that is surplus to requirements that I would part with happily for not much if someone were able to pick it up from the Maidenhead area.

[smallzoo]

What sort of price as I am in cheshire so would have to pay for postage and I understand its around 20kg !,, so will be expensive ?

[smallzoo]

Everytime I look at reviews I get so many different keyboards suggested !!

These were all given glowing reviews on different forums

Roland GO-88P
Casio px 310
Casio CDP-S110BK
Yamaha Piaggero NP31

Any experience with these ?

[The Elf]

It's no suprise that you're becoming over-faced with options, because you've not really nailed down what you want. There are hundreds, if not thousands of keyboard models out there. If you start by defining what facilities you really need/want, then it will begin to narrow down the choices.

Let's start with the basics...

How many keys?
Mini or full sized?
Weighted or synth action?
Aftertouch?
Controllers/wheels/knobs/sliders/buttons?
Pedal inputs?
USB, MIDI, or both?
Weight (if you're going to be moving it around)?
Price?

[smallzoo]

Answers to your great questions..

How many keys? - Probably prefer 81 but would consider 61

Mini or full sized? - not sure what you mean, doesn't the number of keys define the size ?. It won't be used for touring just in my room

Weighted or synth action? - love a piano so probably weighted keys

Aftertouch? - sorry no sure what that is

Controllers/wheels/knobs/sliders/buttons? - as long as I can change the sounds via midi not that bothered

Pedal inputs? - again as long as I have midi out, maybe headphone socket etc not that bothered

USB, MIDI, or both? - midi definitely, how does usb give me an advantage ?

Weight (if you're going to be moving it around)? - not moving it

Price? Ideally under £300 for a used one

Thanks

[Drew Stephenson]

Mini or full sized? - not sure what you mean, doesn't the number of keys define the size ?.

Literally the physical size of the keys. If it's a piano feel you're after the I'd suggest sticking with full size.

Aftertouch? - sorry no sure what that is

Further pressure on the key after the initial strike provides additional midi signal allowing further fun and games.
I'm sure there's a better definition in the glossary.

USB, MIDI, or both? - midi definitely, how does usb give me an advantage ?

Depending on the model, USB could be used to transmit audio and/or midi to your computer or another device.

Edit: aftertouch https://www.soundonsound.com/glossary/aftertouch

[Sam Spoons]

We are back to your original post's requirements, a digital piano with 88* weighted keys, midi (DIN at least but do you already have a midi interface?, or maybe with midi and audio over USB). So an oldish Clavinova or other dp from a better know make (Yamaha, Korg, Roland) would be the way to go. I'd add either stereo line outputs (assuming you have an audio interface already) or audio over USB. If you have an audio interface and it has DIN midi then even a pretty old digital piano should do as long as it has DIN midi and audio line outputs**.

* AFAIK 81 keys is not a thing.

** The church my wife teaches in gave one away last year...

[smallzoo]

Sorry about 81... Even getting confused on number of keys

Seem these DP's this morning all quite local

1. Clavinova £150 (I've asked for the exact model number)
https://www.facebook.com/share/15PL2EZvYh/

2. Yamaha PDP-100 £300
https://www.facebook.com/share/166PZ1u1sQ/

3. Yamaha YPT-210 £100
https://www.facebook.com/share/18avrtFr6t/

[Sam Spoons]

Both the Yamaha pianos have 76 notes which is probably enough for 98% of classical pieces, both are, I think, fairly old so I think the PDP-100 is probably a bit expensive so won't sell in a hurry. Why not go and have a look/play and see what you think?

The YPT is a different thing entirely and, if you like a weighted keyboard, would not be ideal.

[smallzoo]

If only I could play classical music

Ok.. I'll keep looking

[smallzoo]

Sorry for asking questions

what about these

Yamaha p45 - Quite a lot around
Roland FP10 - £250
Roland FP30 - £400
Roland FP3 - £100
Korg Liano - £225

[adrian_k]

Since you’re not really sure what you want, just buy something and see how you get on. Any of that last list will be fine. You’ll get a better idea of what you really need then, and if what you have doesn’t fit just sell it and get something different/better.

[smallzoo]

I was actually just thinking that

Don't know until I try