"Also, any real keyboard player is not going to be happy with 61 keys. That shit is for people who either suck or can't play at all. You can't really get off with 61 keys. Too limiting."
This is a matter of opinion based on your opinion (does that make any sense?)
1. I know SEVERAL "REAL" keyboard players who are happy with 61 keys. They don't suck and each of them (3 in all) have more experience than YOU and EVERYONE on this board (in regards to playing time, units sold, album credits etc etc etc.) These are O.G. cats who get down with THE GREATS and have TOURED all around the world.
2.Go to a George Clinton concert. He will throw a concert in the bay area every now and then.
3. If you are a SERIOUS/GIGGING piano OR keyboard player 88 (full scale) and WEIGHTED keys will probably be more suited. For studio use (especially hip hop/rap) its a matter of preference.
4.Have you been to RIC ROC'S studio (The Compound)? If so did you see a 88 key workstation? When I was at his spot on my B-day I sure as hell didn't see one. I guess he sucks, can't play at all, can't get off and uses a limited workstation.....yeah all of that but he is CONSTANTLY on the radio and has GOLD and PLATINUM albums...I guess he sucks huh??????
5.Some keyboard/workstations/synths DON'T come in 88 key versions. Roland xp-60, xp-80 and Fantom come to mind. The MAJORITY of your SYNTHS (like the nords and novation) are 61 or 49 keys while the majority of your STAGE/DIGITAL pianos are 88 key.
6.Price plays a factor in purchasing. When I purchased my ES I saw NO reason to purchase an 88 key version for 3 grand. I could take that 3 grand max my ram out, install plg boards and get the mlan option. Why pass up a fully blown 61 key (with octave up/down buttons that can also be used for transpose) for a stock 88 key version? WEIGHTED KEYS? WOW!!!!!!!!!! Full scale and no need for octave buttons????? YIPPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!
7.for people running sound modules what type of midi controller are they using? Direct me to five 88 key midi controllers. I know of 2 or 3. The majority of controllers are 61 and 49 key. I'm sure the people who use VST's and make a lot of money by using them suck.....
8.The majority of rap/hip hop does NOT call for LIVE playing and moving up and down the scale. It calls for playing a loop over and over and over. If you want to add more shit to it a process called OVERDUBBING (you can even use step recording) will make it a tad easier. It can be used for playing arpeggios, C MINOR SEVENTH, FLAT FIFTH and even the Lorican scale.
9.It doesnt matter if you have 999 keys or 7. If you don't understand whole step, whole step, half step,whole step,whole step,whole step, half step NO amount of keys will be useful to you.
@The original poster if I ONLY had 2 options (triton or mpc) I would go with the triton. You can do more with it. If my options were NOT limited I would take that 3 grand and purchase a fully blown 61 key motif OR 61 key fantom. I would also consider a karma and a couple of modules.
:HGK:
ps 10.I'm going to bed.