| For those of you who play piano, it would be really | | | | many can be used with a computer. Keyboard |
| nice to put a concert grand piano in your music room, | | | | synthesizers are good for playing away from home or |
| but unless you have plenty of space and plenty of | | | | the studio when you would rather not carry a |
| money, you cannot put a grand piano in your house. | | | | computer along, and they may also produce sounds |
| Some of you would probably like to have more than | | | | that are not available in your software synthesizer. |
| one piano. I know I would. | | | | Some keyboard synthesizers also contain piano |
| Grand pianos cost tens of thousands of dollars, but | | | | sounds. too, and many can also function as MIDI |
| alternative keyboards start in the hundreds and some | | | | controllers. |
| produce remarkably good piano sounds. There are | | | | Of the three keyboard types, keyboard synthesizers |
| also some very good sampled pianos available for | | | | are the most flexible as some of them can function as |
| your computer that you can use with your keyboard | | | | synthesizers, digital pianos and MIDI controllers. |
| that will fool all but the most discriminating ear. | | | | After deciding on the type of keyboard, you must |
| So if you cannot afford an acoustic piano, what are | | | | decide what size keyboard best suits you. Ideally, you |
| the alternatives? Today there are many alternatives | | | | should select a keyboard with 88 keys so that you |
| from which to choose. The trick is to pick the right | | | | have the compass of a full size piano. However, if |
| keyboard for your purposes and your budget. Today | | | | your space is limited you can get a keyboard with |
| you can select from MIDI keyboard controllers, digital | | | | fewer keys. |
| pianos, and keyboard synthesizers. | | | | Digital pianos come in models for stage and models for |
| MIDI controllers produce no sound themselves, but | | | | home. The home digital pianos are generally not |
| send MIDI messages or instructions indicating how a | | | | portable, so if you anticipate taking your instruments on |
| note should be played. MIDI controllers must be | | | | gigs you should not consider a home digital piano. You |
| connected to a computer or synthesizer that receives | | | | should get a stand for the other keyboards. |
| the MIDI messages from the controller and produces | | | | Finally, consider the feel or action of the keyboard. If |
| the sounds. If you only want to make music through | | | | you are a pianist, then you will probably prefer the feel |
| your computer with software synthesizers, then a MIDI | | | | of a piano, so look for weighted, full sized keys. Some |
| controller will suit you. | | | | keyboards even have graded actions so that the |
| Digital pianos sound more or less like acoustic pianos. | | | | action on the lower keys is heavier than on the upper |
| How closely they sound like an acoustic piano | | | | keys. |
| depends on the quality of the sampled sounds that | | | | Oh, one more thing: If you are going to move your |
| they contain. They may also contain other sounds | | | | keyboard around a lot, you may want to consider how |
| such as electric pianos, organs, strings and | | | | much it weighs. I know that you are going to be more |
| synthesizers. Many digital pianos can also function as | | | | concerned with the performance of your keyboard, |
| MIDI controllers. | | | | but all other things being equal, you may want to go for |
| Keyboard synthesizers produce their own sounds and | | | | the lighter keyboard. |
| do not need to be connected to a computer, although | | | | |