PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

[Guest]

I don't play keyboard and have two keyboard "words" / terms that I need to get explained to me...

I think I know what the first one means, but I'll ask just to be sure.
What does "weighted keys" mean?

More important is the second one...
What does "velocity-sensitive keys/keyboard" mean?

:burnout:

 

[zionstrat]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Weighted keys means that the keys require approximately the pressure required to push down the keys on an accoustic piano- This is important to a painist and also causes phrasing to be more 'classic' keyboard sounding. If you can get used to it, it tends to be the best for piano, organ type sounds-

The opposite is synth action which is much, much easier to depress the keys- It also makes it much easier to phrase synth and solo instruments like flute or cello- So both have their place and I like to have both when i can

Velocity sensitive is the ability for the keys to recognise that when you hit the keyboard harder, that something should happen..usually the patch plays louder and you have to have this or everything sounds the same-

But you can also assign modulation to velocity for special effects-

Dont confuse this with Aftertouch or Pressure, which is another feature that allows you to add modulation by pushing down on the key after the note has been triggered-

This enough to get you started? What are you looking at and what's the purpose?

 

[75lespaul]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

What he said.

 

[italic zero]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Weighted keyboards are also virtually always velocity sensitive. In fact, most all modern keyboards over $250 are velocity sensitive.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

I've never seen a keyboard with weighted keys that did not have touch sensitive keys. There are many k/b's with touch sensitive keys without weighted keys.

Weighted means that the keys 'feel' like acoustic piano keys in that they 'feel' like the weight of the hammer is providing resistance to the key. This actually is handy when playing "piano" music.

Most touch-sensitive only keyboards allow you to turn off that feature. It's useful for adding dynamics to your playing, so I would recommend leaving it on unless you are playing "organ."

Weighted keys are not conducive to organ playing, BTW.

 

[Guest]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Thanks for the info!

What are you looking at and what's the purpose?

Well, I'm looking into getting a simple midi keyboard and as my girlfriend also plays a little piano I thought that it might be something to consider getting weighted keys(noticed that the keys are "semi-weighted" though, and what does that in this case mean?) As you wrote the velocity-senstive is a must, but both models have that so that won't be a problem. The biggest problem is the 100€ more for the 61-note board and that the 49-note board is just 49-note

They are like the same except from semi-weighted keys and 61/49-notes.

177 EURO

M-AUDIO 61-note velocity-sensitive semi-weighted action
pitch and modulation wheels; volume/control slider
separate MIDI out jack routes MIDI signals from your computer to control external devices
powered via USB or 9VDC power adapter (sold separately)

73 EURO

M-AUDIO 49-note velocity-sensitive action
pitch bend and modulation wheels; volume/control slider
powered via USB or 9VDC power adapter (sold separately)
built-in USB MIDI interface

And btw. I don't need/want a synth with 50 thousand sounds and buttons...I have what I need in the computer so....

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

nice choice - MAudio stuff is nice

 

[zionstrat]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Looks nice!
I would go with the full keybd just because a piano player feels cramped the farther away from 88 keys they get because of the octaves and arepggios that pianists live for-
m

 

[Amateur]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Hey! Eressereca, looks like those M-Audio are just MIDI controllers, not exactly keyboards. They won't give you any sound at all. You need a sound module to go with that. Are you sure that's what you want? If you think you've got all the sounds you want in your computer, you may as well go get a cheaper Yamaha keyboard with the same capabilities but will also give you some sound.
Also, velocity sensitive keys do not react to how hard you press the keys. They actually get louder as you press the keys faster (higher velocity). You can get a loud note by pressing the key very fast but not hard.
If your girlfriend plays the piano, you may want to consider an 88 or 71 key one instead of a 61 key keyboard.

 

[Guest]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Hey! Eressereca, looks like those M-Audio are just MIDI controllers, not exactly keyboards. They won't give you any sound at all. You need a sound module to go with that. Are you sure that's what you want? If you think you've got all the sounds you want in your computer, you may as well go get a cheaper Yamaha keyboard with the same capabilities but will also give you some sound.
Also, velocity sensitive keys do not react to how hard you press the keys. They actually get louder as you press the keys faster (higher velocity). You can get a loud note by pressing the key very fast but not hard.
If your girlfriend plays the piano, you may want to consider an 88 or 71 key one instead of a 61 key keyboard.

Yup I now they're just midi controllers. I'll have what I need in the computer and really don't want a synth with 100 buttons and all whistles and bells and such... I have VST's that I'm really happy with so I'm gonna go on that for now. If I'd had the money I'd buy a good simple digital piano instead but they all cost too much.

Just so I don't misunderstood... You said that velocity-senstive keys react to how fast you press the keys. I think others meant the same thing, by "hitting the keys harder" it'll play louder, or?

71/88-keys would be great but it's a little too big, right now. 61 would be a quite good compromise though,but then the 49-keys is so much cheaper, could even buy that one for now and get a bigger in the future...(I'll have to think about this)

I have to ask again. The difference between semi-weighted and weighted keys? since the 61-notes keyboard has semi-weighted keys....

Thanks for your inputs!

 

[LesStrat]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

49 keys is too few if she plans on playing anything involving two hands.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

I believe Semi-Weighted keys are the midpoint between the two. It feels better to a piano player than the non-weighted synth keys, but it probably doesn't have the full hammer weight in there, which would make synth-playing "different". It's amazing to see inside a fully weighted keyboard, they are usually quite expensive and feel nearly the same as a real piano due to the full hammer action inside.

 

[Amateur]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Just so I don't misunderstood... You said that velocity-senstive keys react to how fast you press the keys. I think others meant the same thing, by "hitting the keys harder" it'll play louder, or?

71/88-keys would be great but it's a little too big, right now. 61 would be a quite good compromise though,but then the 49-keys is so much cheaper, could even buy that one for now and get a bigger in the future...(I'll have to think about this)

I have to ask again. The difference between semi-weighted and weighted keys? since the 61-notes keyboard has semi-weighted keys....

Thanks for your inputs!

If you play the piano long enough, you know you can play the keys very fast but not hard. This is part of a pianist's regular figner power exercise. Power and velocity are different things. You hit the keys hard to get louder sounds in a piano but you can also play fast and soft. This is not the case in a velocity sensitive keyboard. The faster you press the keys, the louder it gets. It cannot sense power, only velocity.
Hammer action keys are specially spring loaded keys trying to simulate the touch of a grand piano. I have yet to find one key board manufacturer successful in doing this. Yamaha and Kurzweil are close but with the velocity sensitive keys, they just don't feel quite right.
Weighted keys are just spring loaded keys, which give you some feel of resistance, but not with the feel of the piano keys. You'll notice the difference one when you play these two different types of key, especially if you're a piano player.
Semi-weighted keys are keys with even a lighter load than the weighted keys.
FYI, I have just received an ad from Guitar Center saying that they are having a sale on the M Audio 88 key MIDI controllers for $199. May be you can go check it out.

 

[Guest]

Re: PLEASE! Need help on keyboard terms!

Thanks, you explained it all to me there

199$ for 88 keys sounds interesting but I live in Finland...and well, no GC's around here :sad: And if I'd order one, I would have to pay import. Dammit, would be a great buy otherwise. Guess that it's the 61 keys that is what I need to get then.

Great to have you guys to discuss gear questions with :beerchug: