Options for expanding to 88 keys

Slide911 · Post by **Slide911** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:52 pm

I have an M3 with 61 keys and I want to expand to a full 88 key keyboard. I'm curious what my options are. I understand that Korg does not sell the keyboards separately and I wonder if something like a Roland A-88 work work as an external keyboard that could be hooked up to the M3.

Sorry if this has been discussed before.

apex · Post by **apex** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:01 pm

i actually have an 88 key m3 keybed that I am trying to sell locally...

inbox me your email address or your phone number and I'll contact you. we can work out something

Slide911 · Post by **Slide911** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:06 pm

sent you a PM>

_joe_ · Post by **_joe_** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:19 pm

Hey Apex, i know you've been trying to sell your keybed since 2011.

If you see 2 threads before, i JUST posted one asking for 88 keybeds, so please let me know too.

apex · Post by **apex** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:16 pm

_joe_ wrote:Hey Apex, i know you've been trying to sell your keybed since 2011.

If you see 2 threads before, i JUST posted one asking for 88 keybeds, so please let me know too.

I actually did sell the first keybed during the 2011 time frame... This is another one. I have one set up at my church and another one in my living room....

I need to move the one in the living room QUICK!!!! Taking up too much space and Christmas tree time is here!!!

It needs to go before the middle of next week.

billbaker · Post by **billbaker** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:23 pm

Since the heart of the M3 is a module, you can drive it pretty much from any 88 key midi controller or keyboard.

You might be surprised by how affordable some outdated flagship synths are used - Alesis QS8's for example are regularly listed in the $300-$400 range. The QS is no great shakes for sound compared to the M3, but the action is first rate. Roland XV-88's, stage pianos from Roland and Yamaha are all getting pretty reasonable in the used market, it's only the limitations of their internal sounds or lack of polyphony that's holding them back and MIDI has no transmission limitation -- even a paltry 32 voice synth like Kurzweil K2500 can transmit more notes than it can play internally.

And who knows? You might actually like the lo-fi sounds.

BB

apex · Post by **apex** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 4:35 am

billbaker wrote:Since the heart of the M3 is a module, you can drive it pretty much from any 88 key midi controller or keyboard.

You might be surprised by how affordable some outdated flagship synths are used - Alesis QS8's for example are regularly listed in the $300-$400 range. The QS is no great shakes for sound compared to the M3, but the action is first rate. Roland XV-88's, stage pianos from Roland and Yamaha are all getting pretty reasonable in the used market, it's only the limitations of their internal sounds or lack of polyphony that's holding them back and MIDI has no transmission limitation -- even a paltry 32 voice synth like Kurzweil K2500 can transmit more notes than it can play internally.

And who knows? You might actually like the lo-fi sounds.

BB

But you do lose acces to the 2 switches, joystick, and ribbon.

billbaker · Post by **billbaker** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 11:28 am

Joystick or at least modwheels, probably not lost as most synths have 'em.

Ribbon, depends on model - how crucial is it to you? Would you truly miss it? Me, not at all. It's the absolute last controller I'd grab for while playing.

Switches? You may actually gain more assignable controls (sliderss, knobs, switches) on some synths.

BB

Slide911 · Post by **Slide911** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:39 pm

Does anyone have any recommendations on a 88 keyboard that has a good piano like feel that would work well with the M3? The reason I bought the M3 in the first place was that I liked the way the keys felt.

Oldfield · Post by **Oldfield** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 3:34 pm

Where are you based? Have you had a play on the RH3 keyboard that's on the M3-88? (is that what you meant)

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:21 pm

The way the joystick works is pretty unique, it's like having two modwheels. I much prefer this over many other implementations.
Although actually having two modwheels would be best if we could have it so they both were not sprung perhaps.

You'll also find additional headaches if you plan to input data into sequencer mode using an external MIDI keyboard.

djcactus · Post by **djcactus** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:32 pm

apex wrote:
billbaker wrote:Since the heart of the M3 is a module, you can drive it pretty much from any 88 key midi controller or keyboard.

You might be surprised by how affordable some outdated flagship synths are used - Alesis QS8's for example are regularly listed in the $300-$400 range. The QS is no great shakes for sound compared to the M3, but the action is first rate. Roland XV-88's, stage pianos from Roland and Yamaha are all getting pretty reasonable in the used market, it's only the limitations of their internal sounds or lack of polyphony that's holding them back and MIDI has no transmission limitation -- even a paltry 32 voice synth like Kurzweil K2500 can transmit more notes than it can play internally.

And who knows? You might actually like the lo-fi sounds.

BB
But you do lose acces to the 2 switches, joystick, and ribbon.

there are tons of midi controllers out there but used kurz stations are some of the best out there. Personally ive been looking around for a decent conditioned kurz midiboard myself. Last time i saw one on craigslist i was pressed for the money.

Slide911 · Post by **Slide911** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 10:03 pm

Oldfield, I've played the keyboard that comes with the M3 61 if that is the RH3 keyboard. I liked the feel of the keyboard a lot, which is one of the reasons I bought it. I'm new to synths, and bought it based on the feel of the keyboard.

X-Trade, I haven't been using the joystick.

WayneEarl · Post by **WayneEarl** » Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:18 am

billbaker wrote:Joystick or at least modwheels, probably not lost as most synths have 'em.

Ribbon, depends on model - how crucial is it to you? Would you truly miss it? Me, not at all. It's the absolute last controller I'd grab for while playing.

Switches? You may actually gain more assignable controls (sliderss, knobs, switches) on some synths.

BB

Korg M3M owner here, who recently purchased a M3 73-key keybed off of ebay. Previous to this, I used two different midi controllers for my M3M - An Akai MPK88 and an M-Audio Axiom 61 mkII. I picked up the M3M in march of this year, and only didnt get the full keybed et all for financial reasons, and because I didnt google well enough - I erroniously believed that Korg was actually taking their Komponent marketing campaign seriously.

It is a night and day difference with having the M3's keybed in place - its like I have the M3 new again for the first time. A MUCH better playing experience. The fact that just about every default program and combi on the thing makes use of the joystick, sw1 & 2, and the ribbon should clue you in as to how important they are. The ribbon especially for more expressive parts. I'm loving this thing all over again.

This is my first hardware synth, and I am SOLD on them. There is definately something to be said for hardware integration, things just seem to "flow" much better. Certain patches that I didnt like so much make sense within the context of the M3's "native UI". I don't think I would have had this opinion had I not been gigging and writing with the M3M for 6 months prior to looking into adding a native keybed - the old back just couldnt handle the damn weight of the MPK88 luggging it to gigs

(Now, take M3, take a new flat panel "All In One" system with SSD drives and 16GB of memory, and I have a solid hardware synth with a digital sheet music stand that doubles as a more powerful receptor, and.....profit!!!

)

apex · Post by **apex** » Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:57 pm

what's up Wayne!!!! I am the guy that you purchased your m3 73 key from. LOL. it's a small world. Maybe you can vouch for me and my services here... so that someone else will feel comfortable making a purchase from me!

Glad to see that you are liking the board.