Best mini keyboard piano reddit Eventually I had to admit that my musical passion was fully reignited, and now I have two full racks of gear, including synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, mixers, preamps, interfaces, and a sickening number of effects My favorite brand is Nord, their bright the firetruck red, and that art deco font they use in their brand logo, I love it ;) Okay I'm just teasing you OP, I know you weren't asking about Best Brand from a marketing point of view. All the suggestions here are what I would have made. Novation also have larger keyboards that are more expensive and come with more features, and vice versa. Tl;dr just take a minute or two to think what you actually need and buy the one that has it and is within price range. 12 votes, 36 comments. if you’ve just begun to play piano, my recommend would be Casio CK S1. I've played the piano for 20+ years, and the keyboard for over 10 since once upon a time I wanted to be a rockstar: It's kinda hard to explain but once you're used to a real piano a So, I have decided to buy a piano keyboard, I have done a lot of researches on which to buy and I have also taken a look at the FAQ you have here (which was quiet interesting by the way). It really depends also on the style of music he makes too. It has lasted ever since I started piano 7 years ago. You don't need a DAW to use it, it has recording capability right in the standalone software, but it is primarily used in a DAW. The alesis has more piano-feeling keys, but the arturia has more buttons and pads, and is a more I'm looking for recommendations on the best small synthesizer, keyboard or toy piano for use in an office. However, I probably wouldn't use it on a gig since it's more suited for playing in MIDI in your DAW. A community for hobbyists, professional musicians, and enthusiasts to discuss music production-related topics, ask questions, collaborate, and share tips and tricks. Without speakers, the Yamaha MX49. for the Majority of use cases on DIGITAL , you only need 1 pedal. Arturia Keystep (or its blatant clone: the Behringer Swing) is a great MIDI keyboard The Yamaha REFACE series are a bunch of excellent mini 37 key keyboards, the "CP" is the most traditional piano-like sound of them, but they all sound great. Also works well as a controller I recommend the Roland A-500PRO. Nearly every office is packed with full size keyboards. This. If you can't afford that, and there's nothing good available used in your area, then you might consider an Alesis Recital. Every common pre built computer that comes with peripherals will have a full size keyboard. 3 inches 2. I have the X4 mini, it has solid build quality and actually has a metal and plastic frame with decent feeling mini keys. Detailed Piano Technique Wiki. If you want to learn playing the piano you should look for something with 88 weighted keys but unfortunately those start at about 300€. The sounds are electric piano, but there is a bonus decent I am looking for a very mini sized keyboard that can be carried in a backpack/airplane, probably no more than 37 keys. (Edit I wanted to reply to popokatopeti) I’ve also heard P515, FP90 and ES920 to be the most frequently recommended, and which one is best to be a matter of preference. I'd go with a Novation Launchkey if you use Ableton. Pretty light too. Terry, if you haven't heard about him, is an entertaining pianist playing his style of popular classics and Boogie Woogie on public pianos. My students ask me this all the time. These are SMALL keys, but they feel really good. I have a Launchkey Mini, which I love, and a Launchkey 25. The X2 is around $70, for reference. You can start off with a mini-keyboard if you just want to make some synthy noisy and start "playing around" with making music, but it will be more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to learning proper piano/keyboard technique. I have a Reface CP which is great but I can’t really imagine taking it on a commute. "Stage pianos" and "workstations . In hardware, outside of an actual Mk 2 (which I used to own 30 years ago, long sold as I didn’t have the space at the time big regret) my top choice would be Nord. Looking for super portable mini keyboard . A Subreddit for Users of Studio One r/StudioOne is an educational tool. I also need to get a portable piano and I think I’ll get the p515. It does not have weighted keys, but they are velocity sensitive and have aftertouch. e. 78 x 2. But it's essentially a knock off apple keyboard with a slightly better key feel. Polyphony (Max. And has 10 different tones with few functions. The uprght piano I have has keys that are decently heavy. Tones: 100 6. It's still a good concept that works really well though. You should get at least touch (velocity) sensitive keys, so you can play with expression. Recommendations for small, portable keyboard I can use Highly portable, no key noise and better sounds than a cheap mini keyboard. Now i am learning with this keyboard as a beginner, and i can say it is very good for learning piano at the beginning. Check them out. So a good, inexpensive USB keyboard is more than enough, and there is definitely a reason why the APK mini is a bestseller. If you want a smaller keyboard, such as a 76 or 61 key keyboard, I highly recommend the No: But you can start learning piano on a 25-key keyboard. Great idea. I have a fully weighted digital piano that I use for, well, piano and some keys. No. My 20 cents at least. By the way sorry for the late reply! I hadn't checked my reddit. This keyboard is key-weighted and I think this detail is important, but otherwise, the Hey you guys! I'm thinking of picking up piano as a complete beginner and i was wondering if anyone knew of a good 88 key fully weighted keyboard under $600 that comes with optional pedals that I could purchase later on! I want to learn piano Then you absolutely need full size keys and a properly weighted (or at least, semi-weighted) keyboard. Also most piano VSTs will have a trial available, so don't buy anything without trying it. It’s my first “big girl” piano, so I want to learn as much as I can beforehand. Most important are the keybed response (regardless if weighted or semi-weighted keys), good AT response, number of keys, and perhaps size (i. How to start improvising. The other one I found was a new Samson Carbon 61 for 1300 Brazilian reais (most of the another keyboards are missing I suggest it's best to start lessons when the child knows his A-B-Cs and can read/recognise simple written words, maybe around age 5 (although that's quite subjective). I don't recommend it, good feel but bad speakers, has 88 keys. At $150-300, you probably can only find a 61-key unweighted keyboard. allows you to learn and play the notes of a piano. I am looking for mid-range headphones (with a big jack) to plug into my keyboard for late-night practice. I use it almost daily. So Casio would be worth a buy. Touch Sensitivity: N/A 4. Hi, I’m looking for the best 88-key electronic keyboard I can find for under $500. Hi all. I have no idea if this is any good but Terry Miles reviewed this VGD882 VANGOA Foldable Electronic Keyboard which is a full-size 88-key keyboard that folds in half when not in use. I’ve tried various other folding/travel-size pianos from Amazon and they all suck. Depending on your space, 25/49/61 key. The only way I've found to get this program (it's not on their downloads page for some reason) is to get the There are many very good online sources for learning piano and many of them are free. ). It has 88 keys, 2 pedals, reasonable sound, different instruments (organ, electric piano, violin, etc. You can't actually go wrong with such a basic tool like keyboard. Price: $59 The Casio SA-76 is one of the best portable k List of best portable keyboard piano reviews. Acoustic pianos and keyboards are just incomparable. I’ve had my hands on a mini piano from Casio, though one of its speakers have got spoilt after 20 years, it served the purpose and still works. On digital piano, it's really not necessary again, because digital pianos sound super clean even without selective sustain, the sound will basically never muddy like it does on acoustic. Open it with the keyboard plugged in and do File- Edit Keybed Curve and it'll let you set a curve and then send to the keyboard. It has 37 mini keys, but they are really nice mini keys. Best Digital Presumably best portable piano action these days in the MP11SE, but over 40kg. Many of my students have this keyboard and they all satisfied. The best you can get, from my experience, is a 61-key Casiotone or Roland. The best part is the price, the X4 mini is $84 brand new, but I was able to snag mine used like new on Amazon for around $65. If you don't have the space, 49 is luxury, 25 is good for a budget. To some of the synth crowd a keyboard is anything that isn't a synth. It can run on 6 AA batteries. There are dozens of reasons for that. Speakers: Yes 8. Name: AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 | 25 Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller With 8 Backlit Drum Pads, 8 Knobs and Music Production Software included (Black) Company : Visit the Akai Professional Store Some keyboards are designed to work best with certain DAWs. Is there a keyboard for $300 - $500CAD with pedals that feel and sound real? Edit - i forgot to add- i prefer a full setup with a pedal. However, it is the most compact keyboard on the market that still has 49 keys. For the $30 or whatever it costs honestly it's totally worth a try and return if it's not your thing. Keyboards like those are meant for typical piano playing and thus have nicer keybeds than most, but you'll likely be sacrificing mod A keyboard and a piano are NOT the same instrument. ): 8 5. The downside is that if you play stiffly or without a proper sense of touch, when moving to a piano you have a good chance of sounding less elegant and more clumsy. The Launchkey 25 is great, but as somebody else mentioned, get at least 37 keys if you plan on playing chords or learning basic piano. Do you recommend any I feel I got the absolutely best bang for the buck with the 49 key folding piano. I'm new here and I'm looking for advice. Is your goal to emulate the feel and sound of an acoustic piano? If so, the FAQ has good advice and some model selections at various price points, although they'll be above what you're wanting to spend if you buy new. But it's easily the most portable USB MIDI keyboard I've used. Benefits of a keyboard: 2. Those who are considering an upgrading to a bonkers expensive DP, this post is also The only ''good'' keyboard I found for sale in my region is a used M-AUDIO KEYSTATION 88, costing about 2500 Brazilian reais. Personally I use Pianoteq. Are there any good mini, portable and light keyboards that you can fit in a backpack and are affordable? Of course I don't expect much similar to a real piano or much over 1 octave (the more the better though), but I imagine it would be good for practicing theory and scales on-the-go. Lots of used ones for sale. tuneUPGRADE, free recommended practice tracker created by one of the mods. I don't have a lot of space in my room so I can't buy the wooden pianos (and they would be a little heavy to move!). The terminology is very inconsistent. I tend to prefer heavier weighted keys that feel more similar to a real piano. I’m looking for a super portable keyboard that can fit in a backpack. If you dont desire to learn keyboard/piano, then you should get the keyboard that has functionality with your daw of choice. Smaller keyboards are more popular in the DIY scene. It's pricey though. It's all about your choice and budget. I started learning on a 2 or maybe 3 octave MIDI controller keyboard and currently have an 88 weighted key controller keyboard. How to form and follow a practice routine. Please post anything related to Studio One; compatible hardware and software, synths, VSTs, controllers, etc. 2. Dimensions: 23. And the one I'm using is 15,000 PHP or 300$ good speakers but terrible feel. when i say mini, i'm talking 25 keys. Connectivity: PHONES/OUTPUT (Stereo mini jack) 9. Go to piano r/piano • by Lazy-Trust-4633. Many people suggested me to buy a piano with 88 weighted keys like a Casio S-100 or Yamaha P-45B, but I have a couple of problem with this: Here are some good options between some reasonably priced midi keyboards. If by mini, you mean smaller than normal keys in addition to fewer keys, keep in mind there may be quite noticeable differences when you move to a piano -- jumping up an octave on the mini won't be the same distance as jumping up an octave on a piano/full sized keyboard, for example. Conclusion. Downsides are that there is no touch sensitivity and built in sound is ludicrously bad, so a terrible piano to perform with. I’m studying classical I am looking for a not too expensive relatively small keyboard with dynamic keys and also a midi function. Most keyboards, even at this price range, should have headphone and USB ports (for MIDI). depth and height--leaving enough space for your knees while keeping the keybed low for ergonomic reasons) and weight (in case you have to Outside of that, a real acoustic piano > a keyboard, every single time. You'll get much more value out of your money, and your instrument will sound better than many very expensive DPs out there. Weight: 1. Hi, it appears you may be new to this subreddit! Please check out the wiki for general information about mechanical keyboards and consider posting questions in the daily sticky post at the top of the subreddit for any smaller questions. $180-200: ALESIS V61 Pros: Good for all genres of production. . If you have good budget, the Yamaha P-515 that cost about $1,500 out the door will serve you well for the next 8 years to come without any problem, as long to cover the keyboard when not in use to avoid dust. Literally any keyboard will do. 37 note mini-key keyboard. could help you learn how to read music if combined with some YouTube videos or Fundamentals of a good piano technique. I'd like to be able to practice at my desk or during lunch. I bought a used Roland HP1300e, four years ago, for $200. Thanks A good piano is likely going to cost more but you should be able to find a perfectly functional piano around that range if you look into the used market. This subreddit is for the budget minded audiophile that wants to grow out of soundbars, boomboxes, mini systems, portable bluetooth, lifestyle speakers, and PC peripheral branded audio solutions. I would suggest just searching YouTube to begin with. TL;DR: Consider finding a nice feel/action (the Roland FP10 has triple sensors) and investing the rest of your money into a nice Virtual Instrument and speakers/headphones. I have the MPK Mini Mk3, and I love the A community for hobbyists, professional musicians, and enthusiasts to discuss music production-related topics, ask questions, collaborate, and share tips and tricks. My recommendation is one of the Novation Launchkeys from your website. I need my hands for work, but I'd love to continue piano and all my favorite pieces require octaves. Very nice sounds (and a LOT of them - over 1000, including tons of pianos, electric pianos, organs, guitars, basses, synth sounds, etc). Try looking at this brand, although they have inconsistent speaker quality. Looking for a good electric keyboard. I only advice 61/88 keyboards for people who intend to use them live, as in, play some piano stuff directly, instead of programming through midi. Small keyboard amp recommendations . However, I actually recommend getting a normal sized keyboard instead. of Keys: 44 3. An iPad plus weighted action MIDI controller would be a pretty good live setup. For those seeking the best small piano options to fit in compact spaces, here are the top 5 keyboards to consider: Yamaha P-125 Digital Piano. I also like the Yamaha CP range (the actual stage pianos not Reface). For context, I’m an intermediate/advanced pianist: been playing for 15 years now, ten of which I pursued serious lessons and performed for weddings/gigs. Launchkey Mini or Keystepmini. Do you require backlighting? If you have the money here's the list I'd go with, best to worst. I’ve been looking at the Yamaha Reface CP The 61-key keyboard is neat for memorizing which key to press and in what order, but if I transfer my knowledge to the 88-key digital piano, I have to re-train my fingers to learn the music all over again because performing on a 61-key keyboard is not the same as performing on an acoustic/digital piano. That's good enough for the next few months. Furthermore, many advanced piano players also using it. KBC Poker: basically the god of mini keyboards, loved by everyone, solid quality, great PCB with huge mod potential (look up treble318 on GH), brilliant layout KBT Pure: poker, with a slight layout change, only get if you need back lighting. It's amazing. Full size keys, but only 4 octaves (49 keys). Arturia mini lab (~$120) and Alesis v25 (~$100) are both great 25 key budget keyboards. To the some members of the piano crowd a keyboard is anything with keys that isn't a digital piano. You'll generally get better prices on this stuff not shopping on Amazon. You get what you pay for, I would not pay less than $500 for a Keyboard. i'm currently not in any position to buy a bigger keyboard currently (currently have the m-vave smk-25 ii) but i do want to eventually get serious with my playing. I also recommend a full-sized acoustic piano to hone their sense of touch right away, instead of a keyboard. Though you can probably find cheaper used. Around where I like a used Alesis keyboard would be around 200. If you have a good teacher or have good kinesthetic awareness it is fairly Good points and I reckon you are correct that the concept is dated. Best choice which midi keyboard would be the best choice? Q&A Add a Comment IamJuicedbro • Additional comment actions. Hands down the best piano and collection of pianos (36 different pianos and keyboards) in software form. 1. Requirements are: - full sized keys - built 1. Description: The Yamaha P-125 Here are my top picks for the best 25-key MIDI controllers in 2025: Best overall: Akai MPK Mini Mk3; Most flexible: Arturia MiniLab 3; Best for Ableton: Novation Launchkey Mini Mk3; Check the Honorable mentions for I have a piano and an 88 key digital piano, but I’m looking for something smaller and lighter than can be carried around more easily than the full size digital pianowhich is only “technically These mini keyboards are ideal for travelling musicians, those with limited space (say, a dorm room or apartment) and those why have multiple keyboards on stage and can’t be bothered carting around a bunch of huge keyboards! 25 keys are perfectly fine to start with, especially if you're a complete beginner and don't have a big budget to spend just yet. Akai make a pretty good mini keyboard as well, but the drum pads are rock hard. You will not find a good carry-on size travel piano. To be fair the 88 key is a bit big and heavy but it's waaaaaaaaaaay lighter than a real piano. If you desire to actually commit to learning keyboard/piano, then you just need to find the keyboard that will give you the most keys for the lowest price that has decent quality. It’s a little over a thousand. The unofficial subreddit of all things Ableton: Live, Push, Max, and Note. i've already written a few songs on it but i realize that it's hard to apply some basic principles on a smaller keyboard (like playing with both hands and having proper hand Go to piano r/piano • by ociln. It would work 100%! Most (smaller) MIDI keyboards nowadays use USB cables instead of MIDI, so you don’t even need to have an interface to use them. 3 otts for some heavy ass plonks, reverb, then shove it into a pitch mapper for large ethereal almost chiptune esque pads. $500 is a decent budget. Any recommendations for a lightweight (<20 lbs) keyboard amp for use at rehearsals, gigs in small rooms or as a monitor? Something with 10-20W, decent It depends on your goals. So lately I have gotten invested in pianos and I would like to know what is for YOU the best digital piano/keyboard. My A500 is used for synths and most MIDI stuff. Good action, good sounds, headphones, built in metronome, lightweight, full 88 keys. 2. As u/procombat123 said, you can use it to learn music theory, chords, scales, understand musical concepts and you can even use it to produce music, but it does not provide you the minimum range to be able to play with both hands, or to play an actual piece Get her the meowsic musical cat keyboard obviously. Rhythms: 50 7. I'd suggest to look for a good deal on a Yamaha P-45/P-71/P-105/P-115, which are almost all identical. Graded action weighted keys and quite light for an 88 key. I dunno if things are different for such a young student, but if she's taking lessons from a piano teacher, they're probably really going to want her to have access to a proper weighted, graded, 88-key piano action keyboard, rather than something with any kind of synth/organ key action. The most expensive one I saw was 25,000 PHP or around 500$. He can play the midi keyboard as if he was just playing a normal piano due to the size. While it wouldn't be as good as a digital piano, it can be used to learn the basics or if you do not have intention to play classical piano or play on a real piano eventually. Trust me, I went through this same dilemma. To me, DAW integration is the least important factor--S1 has a good MIDI learn function. "Keyboard" is a subjective term in general. I know the Piaggero Bundle from Sweetwater comes with a beginner's book which I'm sure includes links to some Yamaha instructional resources and YouTube channels to help you learn also. 2 kg 10. But it has Motif sounds in it and the piano sounds great. Edit 2 - oh shit lmao some of these are $1500. I swear by it. I've been in the market for a smaller mini keyboard for a while, for longer car trips, and I was just wondering if there are keyboards with a slightly smaller key width. The amount of people that have corsair / logitec / razer full size keyboards is overwhelming. Questions about effects, getting a certain sound, troubleshooting, general or specific production questions and the like are welcome. Cons: Pretty Go to piano r/piano • by madcapMongoose. If you play mostly piano, then I'm sure others can recommend a great weighted midi controller. But the key hit from the labs piano kills it so tend to sway towards one shot piano hits from splice. They are pretty portable and are very affordable. Please let me know if you have any recommendations, thank you! It might be a little more, like $100 more but the Yamaha P-125 is your best bet. Upgraded and big speakers than other products, though the size of the product is compact and good, and other functions. Another point that may make them less attractive is that in many ways, the focus of a workstation is on song writing and actually playing in a live performance setting. If portability is a priority the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 is a great choice. It simply does not exist. Weighted keys feel more like actual piano keys but they add considerable amount of weight to the keyboard, weighted keyboards start on average at 14 kg and go up to 30 kg, whereas you can get semi-weighted velocity sensitive keyboards weighing 5 kg only. I personally avoid anything Native Instruments because most of it is locked into NI software, where as the Arturia and Novation stuff is very compatible with a huge range of software. The Akai MPK mini is a very good midi controller, but it won't be a good tool if your goal is to learn how to play the piano. 25 x 8. The problem might be finding a good digital piano with just 49 keys though I believe most modern USB midi supporting keyboards/pianos can be connected to an iphone/ipad On stages, three-octave mini-synth-key Yamaha Reface (CP, YC If you want a full size keyboard with weighted keys in your dorm, I recommend looking at the Yamaha P45 and the Roland FP 10. It has 66 key with 3 level button sensitivity. Pitch and mod wheels aren't limited to MIDI controllers. It's got smaller keys, they aren't weighted and they don't feel like regular keyboard keys at all. Before that I used Addictive Keys but it's not great, and the free piano VSTs I tried also weren't really good enough. akai mpk mini 3 this is what i got and i Edit: Also a option - you could go with a nice digital piano from Yamaha, Kurzweil, or the like, that has Midi ins/outs. I dont need a “beginner” keyboard just looking to get an electric. They're not up to par with some of the more expensive ones IMO but it will be good enough. The sound isn't perfect but it's probably the best at its price point. But a keyboard is a good short term introduction. I've been playing piano for most of my life, about 17 years now (I'd say I'm pretty good but less than you'd expect for the length of time I've played). All the best. More serious stuff though, as mentioned above the korg monotrons are 30ish new and are the cheapest delay units one can buy, korg nts1 costs a 100 but is a fully capable synth / fx unit if she already has a digital piano with headphone out, or just straight up playing the nts1 with her full sized keyboard, maybe layering both etc I’d say it depends on how “mini” we’re talking about. Beginner Content, including how to get started. Personally I'm currently playing on the cheapest dell keyboard. Durable and well built. I'm a computer programmer I would recommend the Yamaha Reface CP. In terms of really learning and being rewarded for your building good habits, of course nothing beats an acoustic piano. Has 8 programmable drum pads. I only managed to try the lower level keyboards that you get on FP30/60 and p45. View community ranking In the Top 1% of largest communities on Reddit. There's tons of piano VSTs though. Practicing synths or even digital pianos with the goal of understanding the keyboard better is great. That said, in my experience, a good 88 key (full size) weighted keyboard is worth the investment over anything non-weighted, or smaller than that. I have a Yamaha P115-b that I desperately need a different stand for. If space and portability is important to you, then a mini keyboard such as the Akai MPK Mini will be great. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. It comes with the X-shaped kind, but I can’t actually get my feet under which is both uncomfortable and makes pedaling properly difficult! Keyscape. Then, FP90X, RD2000, ES920, MP7SE, P515, Best mini MIDI Keyboard under $100? Keep in mind that a keyboard is not a digital piano. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. You can: Practice one-handed scales Practice one-handed chords Practice cramped two-handed techniques Those are two of the most important things to Yamaha MX88. It feels like I've been researching night and day which portable DP would be best for my needs. We focus on education, discussion, and sharing of entry and mid level separate & multi component audio systems. Anything below that range will have crappy action and sound. Look for used piano & keyboards on Kijiji or other such buy/sell sites. Discover the best lightweight digital piano brands and select good portable keyboard piano for travelling, beginners, professional, etc. Midi keyboard are cheaper, if you have a computer/laptop, you can use software for the sound modelization ( Pianoteq sounds way better to my ear and is far more customizable than all of the 500-999€ keyboards I listened) and use/buy good headphones. cpny ucqguxy amaexj hrj edcd yvmvv vipc jxyf tustt oczmwp