Weighted 88 note controller success

simur · Post by **simur** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:51 pm

I have a Casio Px-350 too with K61. It is the best & cheapest solution I found. I bought it for the excellent keybed and portability, but it has also small 8W speakers and line in inputs, so you could also have the chance to monitor your Kronos (never tried the result) or amp in small rooms.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:54 pm

JPROBERTLA wrote:You cannot use a cc pedal to control volume.

What do mean by this, and what relevant point are you trying to make?

Zeroesque wrote:If anyone has experience with both, how much of an upgrade in piano action and response is the PX-5S over the older PX-3?

I don't know how to quantify "how much" but I do find the PX-5S action much more enjoyable to play than the PX3. But then, I never really liked the PX3 action, and there are people who did. I seem to remember reading a post on another forum where someone liked the old action better. But most people seem to agree that the new one is much better. Still, action is such a subjective thing, and if you're going to be the one playing it, the only person whose opinion matters is yours.

JPROBERTLA · Post by **JPROBERTLA** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:48 am

Not being able to use a continuous controller pedal to control volume means that you can't assign a continuous controller function to the pedal inputs on the PX-5S. You can use some outboard midi gear to accomplish this, but IMHO, it should have been included as a basic keyboard controller function in a keyboard controller. I did a work-around and am using the PX-5S as a controller for my K61. It has a great action and a small footprint.

midinut · Post by **midinut** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 5:00 am

In the "for what it's worth" department, I have a M-Audio Keystation 88es that I picked up for 2 bills (Alesis makes a Q88 that is the same board in black) that works like a charm with a MIDI cable hooked up to my Kronos 61. I keep my pedals plugged into the Kronos. Granted, it doesn't feel as good as the PX-5S, but it does what I need it to do and I can deal with the "feel". YMMV.

gesucca · Post by **gesucca** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:58 am

midinut wrote:In the "for what it's worth" department, I have a M-Audio Keystation 88es that I picked up for 2 bills (Alesis makes a Q88 that is the same board in black) that works like a charm with a MIDI cable hooked up to my Kronos 61. I keep my pedals plugged into the Kronos. Granted, it doesn't feel as good as the PX-5S, but it does what I need it to do and I can deal with the "feel". YMMV.

I've read somewhere it haven't weighted keybed. Is it playable or does it have the dreadful 'spongy' plastic keys? I was interested in getting one for the ridicolous price I can find it used.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Tue May 27, 2014 5:14 pm

Zeroesque wrote:Also, how much realism does a half-damper really add to a piano playing experience? I've never used one extensively enough at home to know what I might be missing.

To me, half-damper makes only a slight improvement to the realism of the piano sound, and then only when playing quiet solo piano at home...proper damper pedal technique is more important: you're supposed to let up on the pedal as you play the new notes, and then push the pedal down after you've played them (at least I think that's how you're supposed to do it)...half-damper makes a huge difference in playing vibraphone sounds from a MIDI mallet controller, though...

Again to my ears, release velocity is far more important to the realism of the SGX-1 piano sound...and neither of these things makes much (if any) difference if you're playing louder or playing in a rock band...

df

pfrocha · Post by **pfrocha** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:07 pm

gesucca wrote:
midinut wrote:In the "for what it's worth" department, I have a M-Audio Keystation 88es that I picked up for 2 bills (Alesis makes a Q88 that is the same board in black) that works like a charm with a MIDI cable hooked up to my Kronos 61. I keep my pedals plugged into the Kronos. Granted, it doesn't feel as good as the PX-5S, but it does what I need it to do and I can deal with the "feel". YMMV.
I've read somewhere it haven't weighted keybed. Is it playable or does it have the dreadful 'spongy' plastic keys? I was interested in getting one for the ridicolous price I can find it used.

You are right, it does not have weighted keys, but it's playable. To me, the fact that I get more keyboard "zones" in combos is more important that the weighted keys (and my back also appreciates the lower weight!).