Showing posts with label keyboard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keyboard. Show all posts

On Stage KS7150 Table Top Keyboard Stand Review

On Stage KS7150 Table Top Keyboard Stand
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I had been kicking myself for about 2 years, because I purchased an electronic keyboard with intentions of our son taking lessons in the future (he was only 2-years-old when we bought the keyboard).
I bought this stand hoping that 1. It would be sturdy enough to hold a full, 88-key, Casio Previa 100 easily and 2. Would be able to hold up to a 5-year-old, who has the tendency to kind of lean on tables and put his weight down on everything.
As soon as I opened the box, I was pleased. The stand "looked" sturdy and well made, but proved to require no assembly, just unfold, adjust the width and voila!
My one concern came to a screeching halt as soon as I put the keyboard stand in place. My one reservation was that if the angle of the legs were 45 degrees, that it might topple over easily. Keep in mind, I've got a 5-year-old running about and things get banged into. He is my live-in durability tester. However, all of my fears were put to rest in a matter of moments. I put the keyboard on the stand and noticed that the legs jet out at the sides just a bit, so there's no concern of the stand being knocked over to the side.
I do have to say that my stand is always stationary and is against a wall. I cannot really say how it would fair in another environment, but for our specific uses, it's absolutely perfect.


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Sound X Kids Electronic Smi-1340p Keyboard Dj Mixer-pink Review

Sound X Kids Electronic Smi-1340p Keyboard Dj Mixer-pink
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This toy was given to my son for his 9th Birthday and less than 2 months later it is completely broken, will not even turn on. We have tried several packs of brand new batteries and no luck. MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN!!

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Korg Kaossilator Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer Review

Korg Kaossilator Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer
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Ok, so this thing is kind of a toy, but my oh my, what a toy it is. I'm absolutely in love with. I'm kind of an acoustic musician. I play acoustic guitar (don't even own an electric) and upright bass, and any other box of sound I can get my hands on. Most synths and whatnot never seemed worth my money. I saw this little guy when I went searching for something I could use with special-needs students. I wanted something you could produce sound on without needing to know anything about playing an instrument. The price was right, so I got it, and the kids have loved it. I first thought it was a nice toy for the classroom, but then I started practicing on it myself, and I just couldn't believe how involved you can get with it. Once you unlock the little loop extender (from 8 beats to 16- you can find the trick on Korg's website) you can really get inventive. Anyway, for those thinking about it, whether or not you're experienced in music, it's a whole lot of fun and it can be very expressive. I'm feeling like I'm getting solid enough at it that I'm going to hook it up to a PA and play with a jam band. I'm even trying to scrap some cash together to get the KORG KAOSS Pad Dynamic Effects Processor so I can really get lost. You can hook the yellow guy into the red guy and get a whole new level of groove. Here are my pros and cons that might help you decide if it's for you...
PROS)
1)With the arpeggiator and the 16 beat code, mixed with sound effect parameters, you can find nearly endless amounts of new rythms to work with. If you feel like you hit the end of what you can do on it, you are just on a temporary plateau; more will come.
2) With some fancy rechargable batteries, this thing seems to just go on and on. It's so portable, I have it on me nearly at all times. I look like a geek with my studio headphones on tripping out on a campus bench all by myself, but I'm already married with a kid, so I'm more interested in my groove then looking cool.
3) With a little work, it's practically the easiest drum machine out there. You have some limits on actual drum sounds, but it is just so easy to set a groove, put it down, and pick up another instrument to play along with.
4)It's very versatile and intuitive to use. My students, who are fairly low functioning, have a great time playing along, and even my two year old likes tapping on the trackpad to a beat. It's fun for most folks.
5) The versatility of the programmed scales, ranging from arabic and mixolodeian to ragas and dorian, seem to express any, and I mean any emotion you want it to emit. With some practice, you can seemingly get any hard-to-express scence. It's like painting pastoral scences across the cultures of the world with your index finger. It's like Bob Ross' and Rick Steves' impossible love child singing you to sleep every night. (please, somebody get that joke).
Ok, now the CONS
1) The 100 loops and sounds programmed on here are mostly aggresive dance kind of sounds. I'm a ambient kind of guy, and like I said before, I like my acoustic sounds. They're are hardly any great acoustic sounds on here, and if I could reprogram it a little, I'd put on some Mellotron sounds, like flute and strings, and other more organic stuff. The strings and whatnot on here are pretty cheesy. The piano ain't bad, though, and that gets points.
2) You CANNOT program anything onto it. You got your 100 sounds and that's it. It gives the K it's own signature sound, which is fine because it's cheap and kind of a toy. If I could have uploaded new sounds or samples, I would have peed my pants with excitement. Unfortunately, I sit here continent and limited.
3) This last one is my biggest complaint, and it would have been great if Korg had thought this out. It's a small thing, too Maybe they'll read this, see my genius, and send me a corrected version of their device.
This "small thing" it lacks is the only thing that makes this device a toy for me. Otherwise I would have considered it the neatest gizmo ever. You CANNOT adjust the volume of individual sounds in your loop. Say you lay a fat drum beat and a chunky bass line. You go over to the sound effect pad to add a little hiss or sizzle, or over to the chunky lead synth pads to add a hint of a melody in the background. Often times, there is no putting it in the background. You're stuck with the volume that goes in. The Korg folks boast that you can just keep adding stuff, but I've found after 4 or 5 elements, you get really noisy loops really fast. I would have liked another button that would have let you adjust the master volume of any sound you were adding. The way around this is to use a multitrack recorder and set your loops up into that, but now your portability is gone, not to mention that instantneous groove element. Even if your multitrack is a small one, now you're running wires instead of just your headphones.
Otherwise, I think of this yellow box like the Game Boy invented for music geeks like me. It's really nice, and in the two months I've had it, it's been a nice retreat from my daily grind.
Hope this helps!

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Yamaha PSR260AD 61-Note Touch-Sensitive Portable Electronic Keyboard with AC Adapter Review

Yamaha PSR260AD 61-Note Touch-Sensitive Portable Electronic Keyboard with AC Adapter
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The PSR 260 is a sophisticated and easy to play keyboard. For its excellent price you will get a keyboard that is portable and versatile, with realistic sounds and 100 voices, among them; piano, grand piano,church organ, accordion, soft guitar, wood bass, strings, marimba, french horn, clarinet, flute, pan flute, violin, sax, banjo and many more. The PSR 260 has also 100 songs either for listening or for use or play with the Yamaha Education Suite. MIDI terminals allow interfacing with other MIDI terminals and a featured touch response lets you control the volume of the voices with your playing strength just as on an acoustic piano. A truly portable instrument this keyboard weights only 12 lbs and is less than one meter long. It comes with a song book, owner's manual and it has a large multifunction LCD backlight display, stereo speakers and auxiliary jacks. A great keyboard to enter into the fascinating world of music.

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The Yamaha PSR-260AD will encourage your hidden musical talent. In addition to a five-octave touch-response keyboard, it features the Yamaha Education Suite 2 music teaching function, bass ports, and a new DJ mode.With touch-sensitive keys, you'll have control over volume and tone. A large backlit LCD with icons and characters provides all indication for settings, and the standard MIDI interface is all you'll need to hook up to a computer or other peripherals.
It features 100 instrument voices, 100 accompaniment styles and 100 built-in songs. In addition, the Yamaha PSR-260AD includes 100 songs in a songbook for the beginning keyboard player. If you need to practice without disturbing others, a headphone jack is available, and a sustain pedal jack will enhance your control of sound.
Other useful features for encouraging creativity include four multipads with 10 banks of musical phrases, a multifingering auto-accompaniment, and a DJ button with special dance voices.
At only 11.7 pounds, the Yamaha PSR-260AD is easily portable. It operates with an included adapter.

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Yamaha PSR-170 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard Review

Yamaha PSR-170 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard
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I bought this for my wife because I didn't think she would stick with it. She is having fun with it, and it has a lot of neat extras. Great for beginners, but more advanced music needs will need more.
If you're buying a keyboard for a kid or someone that isn't a professional, this is a great deal.

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Yamaha PSR-170AD 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard with AC Adapter

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Akai Pro LPK25 Laptop Performance Keyboard Review

Akai Pro LPK25 Laptop Performance Keyboard
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Akai Pro LPK25 Laptop Performance Keyboard
OVERALL IMPRESSION: NOT A TOY! This is an excellent songwriting tool, that makes music making on the go a reality. Not intended to replace your main MIDI controller.
DISCLAIMER: I am an amateur musician making songs mostly to share with family and friends. Also, guitar is my native instrument, and my keyboard skills still leave much to be desired. That being said:
I LOVE THIS DEVICE!!
PROS:
-PORTABILITY AND SMALL FOOTPRINT. I can take this thing with me anywhere and it does not take much space in my laptop bag or work-surface. I have a 20"x20" wood board that I use as a work-surface for my laptop, mouse, LPK25, and headphones. Using that setup I composed whole songs in my bed, sofa, dinner table, backyard chair, passenger seat of my car (at work during lunch time), hotel room, in-laws house...you get the idea. I also have a room with a full size desktop piled with recording equipment in my house, but I only use that setup for recording vocals, guitars, mixing, and mastering (when I have time). Most of my music creation is done with the LPK25 and my laptop.
-PLAYABILITY. Although the keys are small they are still comfortable to play without hitting more than one note at once with each finger (and I have thick fingers). The keys also have great sinth-like action.
-BUILT-IN ARPEGIATOR. I am a novice at using arpegiators but I have found the built-in arpegiator on the LPK-25 very useful and simple to use. An excellent tool to develop ideas, particularly if you (like me) are lacking serious keyboard skills.
-USB POWERED. No power brick required, and it does not drain my laptop's battery quickly either.
-PLUG & PLAY: No drivers to download and fuss with.CONS:
-VELOCITY RANGE NOT AS WIDE AS I WOULD LIKE. The difference in loudness when you press a key fast/hard VS. soft/slow is not as noticeable as more expensive controllers I have used in the past. If you are a very expressive player you won't like it this very much.UNKNOWNS:
-QUALITY & LONGEVITY: I have only owned it for a few months so I don't know how well it will stand to the test of time. But that being said as far as I know AKAI products are pretty reliable, and well built, and this product feels solid.
FINAL NOTE: Although this will be obvious to most, I think it is worth mentioning that this is a midi controller and NOT A STAND ALONE KEYBOARD. The unit makes no sounds of its own and you need a separate computer program (i.e. virtual instrument) to use it.
UPDATE 12/08/2010: I am happy to report that as of today (12/08/2010) my Akai LPK25 is still working as good as the day I bought it.

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Create melodic and harmonic riffs in seconds, anywhere, with the Akai Pro LPK25 Laptop Performance Keyboard, a scaled-down relative to the MPK series of keyboard performance controllers. Made up of 25 miniature, velocity-sensitive keyboard keys with synth action, the LPK25 is a great choice for keyboard players who want to work with software on their computer. Measuring less than 13 inches across and weighing less than a pound, it easily fits into a laptop case, backpack or messenger bag for extreme portability.


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NEW ABLETON LIVE (AUDIO EDITING) STICKER FOR KEYBOARD Review

NEW ABLETON LIVE (AUDIO EDITING) STICKER FOR KEYBOARD
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You don't need stickers for Ableton Live, due to key-mapping!
I dove into computer audio/video recently, buying Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and Sony Vegas. I bought keyboard stickers for all three because I wanted to limit the learning curve and just get going as fast as possible.
I use the Sony Vegas stickers, but NOT THE ABLETON stickers! The reason is, Ableton Live has a key mapping function that is very intuitive to use. It allows you to assign a keyboard button to any on-screen (clickable) function within about 3 seconds: no menus, no data-chart, etc. The letters appear on-screen during mapping mode.
Ableton is a very well designed piece of software. It makes the 'immovable' shortcut keys of other software seem very 20th century. Isn't it ridiculous that as a video or software editor or musician, that you have to "relearn" how to do an edit, even if you've done it for years? (like me)
What would be useful is if someone made stickers that corresponded to the icons within the program, so you could make your own assignments on the keyboard.
I don't know why this item is cross-posted in "Office supplies", "Everything Else", and "Books" as of Wed January 26, 2011. That is why I am cross-posting my review, to save people from buying a basically unnecessary product.
Of the stickers I recevied, a GOOD MANY of them don't seem to work as defined. I think they are probably out of date. This was true of my Sony Vegas stickers as well.

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Akai MPK 49 Controller Keyboard Review

Akai MPK 49 Controller Keyboard
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First of all, the pads DO suck. MPC's are known for their pads so you'd think Akai would at least be able to put the same type of pad/contact design on their MPK line. Instead they put a bunch of pads with no play that feel like buttons and make the keyboard housing vibrate when you pound them. On top of that they placed the contacts so far away it's damn near impossible to get 127 velocity on the pads without going Full Level. Even my LPD8 feels better than this thing. And even though they look like the MPC1000 pads, the 1000 pads are twice as thick as the ones here. I would have loved for them to have put the 1000 pads on this. At least then I'd be able to play back a chopped loop without feeling like I'm dialing a phone number.
The best part of the controller is the control surface. The transport keys, knobs, and sliders feel great. The LCD screen looks great.
Something unique about the controller is that it has built in MIDI settings that mimic classic MPC functions (16 level, MPC swing, note repeat). Too bad the pads keep you from fully enjoying these features.
The keys are decent but slightly noisy because they vibrate on release. The controller is also one of the few 49 key controllers out there with aftertouch. I prefer the lever-like feel of the Axiom when it comes to using aftertouch but the keys here are not a dealbreaker.
There's also a simple arpeggiator you can use. It's fairly simple in that there are only 5 settings you can use to separate notes in a chord. If you've used a more sophisticated arp (like the one on a Yamaha KX8), you'll be disappointed though.
The MPK is a good controller but Akai could have done way better than this. If you're using this for the keys and control surface it's a decent investment. But if you're thinking of buying this for the pads so you can drum and play back chopped loops, get an MPD instead.

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More than just a USB/MIDI controller, the Akai MPK49 USB/MIDI Controller Keyboard helps you maximize your musical ideas on-stage or in the studio. It combines a high-quality, 49-key, semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch and 12 genuine MPC drum pads. It also offers 48 total accessible pads via 4 pad banks, and you can control up to 72 different parameters via 24 assignable Q-Link knobs, faders, and buttons as well as optional footswitches.


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Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys Review

Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys
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Tried this instrument out in the store and could not figure out what the difference was between this one and the 520 I previously reviewed on amazon. Sound qualities, voices, layout, display, and software all seemed identical to me to the 520. Finally, after a direct inquiry to Yamaha, I was told that the only difference between this model and the 520 was that the 530 contained 10 more rhythm sequences.
So, if you're one of those who would use this instrument heavily for recording and composition, and just could never find the right rhythmic background, you can try this one and see if one of their ten extra sequences works for you.
If you're like me, however, who use the keyboard mostly for performance purposes and only occasional composition and recording, it really isn't worth upgrading. If you're diligent enough and have the software (pretty much any layered music recording sequence will do; I happen to use Cakewalk 4), you can make and save your own rhythms anyway on either keyboard.
For a more detailed review of other features this keyboard has, check my review out on the DGX-520...aside from the extra rhythms, it's exactly the same.

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Yamaha's DGX530 Portable Grand Piano features 88 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch, a matching stand, a sustain pedal, USB storage, backlit LCD displays, notation and lyrics, and plenty more.

Piano-Centric Features The Yamaha Portable Grand, DGX530 has an easy to use panel, a wealth of piano-centric features including 88 piano-style keys, Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, and high-resolution stereo piano samples. Included are an attractive matching stand and sustain pedal.
USB Connectivity The DGX530 has 2 USB ports on the back, each with a different use. "USB TO HOST" is plug-and-play connection for recording and playing back MIDI files, as well as transferring data to and from your computer.
"USB TO DEVICE" is for connecting peripheral USB storage devices such as hard drives or portable thumb drives. You can save user songs and settings, or transfer song data downloaded from the Internet to the instrument, where it can be used with the performance assistant and Yamaha Education Suite features.
Lyric, Chord and Notation Display Have you ever played a song and wondered what it would look like as sheet music? The DGX530 can display the score to a song whether it comes from the Internet, the internal selections those you record yourself. Pages scroll automatically when a song is played back--no more page turning! For singers, the screen also displays chords and lyrics to XF compatible songs.
Easy to Use The DGX530 is a breeze to use. Dive right in with convenient tools and features:
Expandable Music Database: Complete keyboard setups by song title. The keyboard selects an appropriate voice for the right hand melody, the correct musical style and the correct tempo. Simply call up a song title and start playing.
One Touch Setting (OTS): Provides you with a recommended voice with effects for each Style. For example, on a jazz style OTS might be piano, for a Latin style it might be acoustic guitar, or for a rock style it might be a guitar with overdrive.
Registration Memory: Set the keyboard up just the way you like and take a digital snapshot for instant recall. Load and save up to 16 Registrations to User memory. The Registration buttons are conveniently located just above the keyboard.
Performance Assistant Technology: Performance assistant technology is a feature from Yamaha that guarantees that you can't play a wrong melody note or chord. Here's how it works. Select a song, press the Performance Assistant button Chord Mode and play the keyboard--any notes you like. Every note you play will fit the music!

Yamaha Education Suite: Helps you learn to play The DGX530 has 30 built-in songs (plus 70 more on the included CD-ROM) for you to learn to play using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.
Three keyboard lessons for each hand:
Waiting Mode--Stops the playback of a song until you find the correct note and then continues.
Your Tempo Mode--Learn to play the correct notes with the correct timing. Song playback tempo will vary to match the speed you are playing at. The song will slow down when you play wrong notes, so you can learn at your own pace.
Minus One Mode--Here's where you can perfect your technique. The song will play at the normal tempo, minus the part you have chosen to play. Play along while listening to the song.

Lesson Grading--Monitors your progress as you practice each lesson and gives you a grade.
Repeat and Learn--The song location will move back four measures from the point at which you pressed the button, and playback will begin after a one measure count-in. This section will repeat allowing you to practice until perfect!
Chord Dictionary--Shows you how to play chords and tells you which chords you are playing by displaying the notes and chord names on the LCD screen.

6-Track Sequencer With the DGX530, you have the equivalent of a built-in multi-track recorder. Record one or multiple instrument parts at a time and assign each part to a different track. Six tracks are provided to accommodate sophisticated melodies, chord accompaniment and rhythm parts.
Quality Sound The DGX530 sounds as good as it plays. A two-way speaker system with separate woofers and tweeters delivers clear and lifelike instrument voices. Bass Boost ports add deeper low-end impact, and true stereo sound adds spatial depth and realism.
Realistic Sounding Voices The DGX530 comes equipped with 127 panel voices, 12 drum/SFX kits, plus 361 XGlite voices. Dual and Split modes allow you to combine sounds.
Full Keyboard Mode The DGX530 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The DGX530 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.
Digital Music Notebook Digital Music Notebook is a multimedia Internet service that enables you to preview, purchase, download and print learn-to-play music books and chart-topping sheet music. From scales to chords to your favorite riffs, Digital Music Notebook is jam-packed with all the secrets you need to master your instrument. Add accompaniments, record and mix yourself, sing karaoke with friends, learn new techniques while having a blast--Digital Music Notebook delivers everything you need to bring music alive! And it's included with the DGX530.
What's in the Box DGX530 Keyboard, Music Rest, Owner's Manual, Accessory CD-ROM, Keyboard Stand, Footswitch FC5, Power Adapter

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Akai Pro MPK mini Review

Akai Pro MPK mini
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If you have spent any time reading the reviews of the LPD8 and the LPK25, rest assured you can apply them to this product as well. The MPK Mini is literally a combination of the LPD8 and LPK25; nothing less and nothing more. Which is a great thing if you've been considering both!
This is my first MPC product but I am an experienced keyboardist. The Pads are pretty nice. I enjoy how they light up when you hit them. Like others said regarding the LPD8, they aren't as sensitive as some might prefer, and I'm inclined to agree. It tends not to register some of might lighter hits, so I'm having to get used to how hard I have to hit it. No big deal. It's also nice to have the knobs. They aren't as nice as professional grade knobs, but they work nicely for such a compact unit. The keyboard has mini keys and they are very sturdy. Some complain that it feels like a toy keyboard. Of course it does, they are mini keys! The keys are fine for their purpose of capturing ideas. I do not consider them performance worthy.
For those comparing this to other 25 key midi controllers, please know what you are comparing. There's a reason this is $100. It's simply a combination of two other products. Don't complain about the lack of pitch/mod wheels. The purpose of this product is portability and to allow you to capture ideas when you don't feel like lugging around larger equipment. For these reasons, I find it to be an excellent product.
Definitely pick this product up if you're looking for something extremely portable with acceptable mini keys and very playable MPC pads.

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M-Audio Oxygen 25 25-Key USB MIDI Controller Review

M-Audio Oxygen 25 25-Key USB MIDI Controller
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Works great.The keys feel great and the keyboard is easy to set up.I just plugg it into my mac,push the power button on and start up garageband and it work great.No hassel!I recommend this product!

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Korg MICROKORG 37 Key Keyboard Synthesizer With 8 Band Vocoder Microphone Bundle Review

Korg MICROKORG 37 Key Keyboard Synthesizer With 8 Band Vocoder Microphone Bundle
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You know those reviews that say, "If it was stolen I'd buy another?" Well my MicroKorg WAS stolen! I was a proud MicroKorg owner for years when unfortunately someone pilfered it right out of my car.
And as much competition as there is in the market right now for tiny but powerful analog modelling MIDI synths, I came back to the original MicroKorg because it just feels so right.
I will spare you a review of the actual keyboard... you can check out the standalone item if you want reviews of the keyboard. This review is to focus more on the bundle itself.
Pros:
Bundled stand and bag for the same price as a standalone MicroKorg
Bag bears Korg logo, is very nice quality for a free bag
Cons:
Keyboard stand is universal X style frame, with an adjustable bracket in the center that widens the X. There are 5 different settings for height and width but 3 of them are too wide to hold the MicroKorg. The only two settings that work bring the micro korg up to belly button and then armpit level when standing so forget about using this stand and sitting in a chair.
Other thoughts:
I have owned this synth for 5 years since it was new and even today I will listen to the radio and hear a preset from this synth on a recording. Gorillaz, Mates of State, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, LCD Soundsystem, Metric, Royksopp, and lots of struggling indie bands just to name a few.
This should tell you that the sounds are not faddish! For being a digital modelling synth it comes as close to recreating a fat analog sound as any setup that costs thousands of dollars more. Plus it is small enough to slip in a backpack for shows... if you've ever had to lug around an actual vintage analog synth or organ, it's well worth the tradeoff! You lose nothing in quality and gain so much in portability and accessibility. Buy it!

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M-Audio Torq Conectiv with Control Vinyl and CDs Review

M-Audio Torq Conectiv with Control Vinyl and CDs
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What can I say other than WOW! This device exceeded all of my expectations. From the instructions to the ease of registering the product to downloading and setting up the new and improved 2.0 software.
The sound is CRYSTAL CLEAR and my tracks que up right away. The effects are awesome and being able to bind functions to keys on my keyboard and soon my midi controller, make Torq 2.0 a very indepth and functional program that is capable of blowing the socks off any audience.
DO NOT hesitate to purchase this program. The price is beyond right, almost feels like i made one installment and have 1 more to go! In other words i would have paid 2 times the price i paid for this setup. But why bother looking for a setup that really is twice the price when I can have something that is just as amazing for half. The new software LOOKS BEAUTIFUL!!!

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Akai RPM3 Review

Akai RPM3
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I have been a KRK guy for a while. These came out in NAMM 2011 and had to give them a shot. They are small...but put out huge sounds. From guitars, drums, bass, synth...you name it. These things put out accurate sound like it should be heard. Just because they are cheap doesnt mean they suck. You wont be dissapointed. (they look very nice also...in the picture it looks like shiny cheap plastic)

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Korg microSAMPLER Sampling Keyboard Review

Korg microSAMPLER Sampling Keyboard
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This sampler is the music tool I have been waiting for. finally a keyboard style sampler that you can bring anywhere and capture anything, no matter what style music you are into its a great tool for composing exactly what you want, I havent used it in a live situation yet, but it has been a great tool in my studio. Can't beat the price either.

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Yamaha PSRGX76AD 76-Note Touch-Sensitive Portable Electronic Keyboard with AC Adapter Review

Yamaha PSRGX76AD 76-Note Touch-Sensitive Portable Electronic Keyboard with AC Adapter
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I had been practicing on a 60 keys or so keyboard, that didn't have touch sensitivity, when I got into more advanced music. My left hand started running out of keys! This became very irritating very fast. So I set out to find a remedy. After sifting through almost all the keyboards , I decided on this one. The main reason was the 76 keys. When it arrived, I quickly plugged in and started playing. I was used to practicing with my other keyboard in my lap, but don't try it with this one! Get a keyboard stand as it is way too heavy! Anyway, the first thing I noticed was how realistic the sound was. And it had touch sensitivity too! The pieces I was playing sounded really good! There are also tons of different effects. You can make it sound like you are playing in a concert hall! I was really pleased with my purchase and my playing times became longer.
Then I tried taking the lessons that it includes. I was able to learn the right hand parts of songs when only one note gets played at a time. However I think someone recorded the song on the keyboard manually instead of by computer. The notes come out irregular when the pianist playes multiple notes with one hand in songs like Nocturne. I solved the problem by buying the sheet music for it. However I didn't buy the keyboard for lessons so it is a non-issue for me.
Now we come to the only thing I am really frustrated about. I have started playing really advanced pieces like Toccata & Fugue in D minor, Nocturnes, Ballades, and Sonatas. They will sometimes run off the board! Most of the time there is more than one note being pressed by the left hand so it doesn't sound quite as bad. But it unnerves me!
I don't mean to complain too much about this product as it is very good other than the lack of extra keys. For most people, 76 keys is more than enough. I'll just have to get a real piano sometime. But if you are thinking of getting a keyboard, don't even look at the others, you search has ended here.

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Work out your musical fingers on 76 full-size touch sensitive keys with the Yamaha PSRGX76AD. It features bass ports for upgraded sound quality and two-way stereo speakers. You can test your creativity with 256 instrument voices and 100 accompaniment styles, along with a DJ button for instant access to special dance voices.
Beginner and intermediate keyboard players will enjoy the Yamaha Education Suite, featuring lessons and grading. This keyboard includes 100 built-in songs to learn to play and a song book. For private practice, a headphone jack is provided. The PSRGX76AD also features a five-song, six-track sequencer for recording original songs. You can embellish using multifingering auto accompaniment, pitch bend wheel, DSP, chorus, and reverb effects. With 10 drum kits and 32-note polyphony, the PSRGX76AD provides the flexibility and basics you need in a keyboard.
It includes a music rest and a Yamaha PA3B power adapter. Alternatively, it uses six D-cell batteries.

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Yamaha YPG-235 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Premium Pack Review

Yamaha YPG-235 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Premium Pack
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I received this keyboard on 2/2/11. As always, I was impressed with how quickly I received my order from Amazon.com. However, within minutes of setting up the keyboard, I noticed that two keys on the right side of the keyboard didn't work. One key simply didn't work AT ALL, and one key seemed to have a short and would only play after pressing it like 3 or 4 times in a row. Amazon is making it easy to return/exchange this keyboard, so I'm hopeful that the replacement is decent. However, after this experience and reading other reviews online of this exact problem, I am very concerned about the build quality of this keyboard, despite having heard good things over the years about Yamaha.
I'll update this review after I receive the replacement in a week or so. Hopefully I won't have to switch to another brand, but Casio maybe the next one I look at (need to keep this purchase affordable).
UPDATE: I received a replacement keyboard in record time: less than 2 days! I was at first bummed that I wouldn't be able to test the new keyboard over the weekend, but Amazon got the replacement out immediately and it was here early Friday afternoon (I had only submitted the return early Wednesday evening). Amazon did create some confusion, however, by on the one hand telling me that UPS would be picking up the defective keyboard from my house, and then e-mailing me a label and instructions for dropping the keyboard off at a local UPS center. Then UPS added to the confusion when I called to confirm the pick-up at my house: they said that one hadn't been arranged. So then I bring the keyboard to a UPS center, and then find a UPS pick-up attempt label on my door. Whatever...I got the defective keyboard to UPS and back to Amazon.
As for the keyboard: it sounds great. I've only just begun to play around with it, but the keys feel good, and the variety of quality sounds is incredible. I'll be combining this keyboard with Ableton Live Intro to create music. I spent several hours after receiving the keyboard testing the keys (I was concerned after the defective unit) and checking out the various functions. I haven't even scratched the surface yet, but I am giving the keyboard a decent rating. I'll report back if my opinion changes over time.
The headphones that were included with this package deal are ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. It's not worth my time to return them, especially since I already went through the hassle of returning the entire first keyboard package. The right channel of the headphones didn't work AT ALL right out of the package. These no-name, god-awful headphones are already in the trash. I ordered the package to get the power adapter and the stand anyway, so it's not a big lose. Still, you don't like to feel ripped off in any way.
The stand that came with this package is quite sturdy. It certainly isn't anything fancy, but it was easy to put together and it seems strong enough to last years.

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