Do you guys all have your own keyboards? Solutions for keyboardist without keyboard?

[Composer of Requiems]

Hey a quick question to all you keyboardists out there-

Do you guys own your own keyboards?

As compared to practicing at home with a classical piano and using jamming studios all the time?

I'm asking this because the current keyboardist in my band is a classically trained pianist, and does not own a keyboard (uses piano to practice his parts). This hasn't been a problem so far, because we jam in studios with keyboards. But I foresee this to be a problem when performing since many venues will NOT have keyboards.

I doubt that he will be buying a keyboard. This is understandable since he's primarily a classical pianist and keyboards arn't as cheap as guitars, where you can just pick up a crappy beginner guitar second hand for under a hundred and still get a full range of sounds (albeit with crappy tones) out of it...

Are there any solutions to this? I want to avoid kicking him on account of not having equipment. However, I mean to step up the intensity of this band now, working on more complex originals, cover songs that need synth, and start gigging with this band.

How much does it usually cost to rent a keyboard for several hours to bring to a gig? I understand it's rather expensive to rent equipment. When I started off this band, I didn't realize this problem since I've never worked in a band with keyboards before.

Please do give whatever suggestions you guys have!

 

[soft]

Can consider getting a Casio keyboard. Cost below $300.

 

[Indigo_blues]

+1.. get a cheap Casio keyboard.

 

[theliverevolution]

it depends on what sort of sound that your band wishes to have. if you're into emulation of other sounds, then you would have to shell out a lot for a proper Korg keyboard, which can rack up into thousands.

If you're into synthesizing new sounds, then what you can do is get a cheap keyboard with crappy sounds, then use quarter-inch jacks to drive the sound through guitar pedals and get new tones. It's weird, but hey, it works and you get really interesting sounds at the right settings. You won't really need to get expensive pedals, since what you're doing is completely unorthodox and there is no way you can forsee what the end result will be. The keyboard tones probably won't stay through to the orignal tone after it runs through the pedals anyway. Cheaper alternative

Or alternatively, you can shell out for a proper keyboard that already can emulate by itself. But that still is a couple of thousands

Or you can do my method: Use a Mac and a midi-keyboard, and run all the sounds via Garageband, or any soft synth. That would be able to set up all the tones you need, but its largely dependant on the soft synth you use as well.

 

[Composer of Requiems]

Or you can do my method: Use a Mac and a midi-keyboard, and run all the sounds via Garageband, or any soft synth. That would be able to set up all the tones you need, but its largely dependant on the soft synth you use as well.

That sounds like a good idea. Any weighted midi keyboards you can recommend? Then, from laptop, line out to PA via speaker jack...?

 

[soft]

Composer of Requiems, that would be too much trouble.

computer + midi controller + audio interface

A stand-a-lone keyboard like Casio will be more than enough.

 

[Cheez]

Agree with James. Your keyboardist is a classically trained pianist - so probably picky about touch, sound etc. And he probably wants to keep it simple (ie turn on the power and play it). Otherwise, he would have gotten a keyboard by now.

 

[theliverevolution]

That sounds like a good idea. Any weighted midi keyboards you can recommend? Then, from laptop, line out to PA via speaker jack...?

That one, I'm not sure, cause I play around with a lot of electronical sounds. It really depends on what your band needs. If you're into synthing new sounds, then the current set-up would be more than enough since you're on a budget. But as what James and Cheez has said, it's too much of a hassle at times. Every performance I get hired to do requires me to carry a lot of equipment - My Mac, the keyboard (semi-weighted though), the relevant wires and adaptors, along with the pedals I use to synth new sounds with. I tell you, it's heavy and bulky!
(but its worth it for me, at least. Plus, NS has trained me to carry crazy, bulky, and heavy equipment. So it's only a hassle if I have to walk a lot on that day)
If your pianist wants to play piano, then as what James/Cheez has already mentioned, get a cheap keyboard. Emulation of a piano sound on any keyboard, well, never really matched up to the actual piano. The closest you can get to getting the same feel of the piano would still cost about... 3 or 4K, last checked.

 

[reeves]

Just a question, have u talked to ur keyboardist about all this.? I mean sometimes for classically trained pianist they might not understand the need for a synthesizer. From ur post u mentioned u doubt he'll be getting a keyboard seems like u haven really talk to him. Try talkin to him first, who knows he might appear with a keyboard the next session.

If he's having a budget, u might want to try out yamaha psr-e323, it's pretty decent and have some syn soundings. Of course it wont be as "syn" as synthesizer but for a start maybe?

All the best. =)

 

[waterflute]

Ya, talk to your keyboardist. I'm a classically trained pianist too. And I find it difficult to switch between piano and keyboard since most of them are so light weighted on the keys. I got my own keyboard recently, but it has weighted keys so its not that bad for me.

Everyone in a band should own their own gear. True, its costly, but slowly saving up should be fine too. And its always own band, own sound. If you do not need so many functions on your keyboard, then I suggest just getting a cheaper and simpler one, instead of being lured by all the extra programs with it, which you pay more for, and might not even use.

 

[tangcw00]

buy a used sound module and midi controller < S$500