1) The P-80 is decent, but I had action difficulties with the unit. I understand that I got a bad one, and that most aren't bad. When it came time to buy a keyboard for the synagogue where I worship (I got to pick it out as it's prime user), I bought a P-120. Same action, but this unit isn't defective.
2) After my bad experience with the P-80 (and after it got dropped in an accident), I bought a Roland RD-700. More expensive, more bells and whistles, very robust action.
3) I hope you soon outgrow MIDI Orchestrator. I liked the interface and bought this, and then bought Digital Orchestrator Pro. DOP has one feature I've yet to find in Cakewalk Home Studio (tap tempo), but other than that I don't like the Voyetra products anymore, and they are buggy (don't use ORC files in DOP or the application blows up, and don't use the mixer because it doesn't work either).
Gary (you actually asked me about 2 of the 3 things I said) Rimar
Keyboard action that is...
I would like to purchase a MIDI controller keyboard that has weighted hammer-action... I have all the software I need to record, notate (MIDI Orchestrator) and produce the sounds I want (Soundfonts)... so I'm not interested in all the 'stuff' that comes built into most keyboards like drums and pads and strings or rythym sections etc... no chorus or reverb! Just a MIDI out and good hammer-action... I don't even need to have built in speakers... I can use headphones or my computer speakers. I can't read music so I need an instrument with MIDI to input my improvisations to my music notation software.
I have the good fortune to have a Steinway grand piano available at the place where I work... and have become VERY spoiled using this terrific instrument... the feel of the keys when I play is so conducive to my writing that playing on an instrument without hammer-action is just not as productive. I don't have much space in my home so I would like to get a digital keyboard I could store in a closet when not in use.
I went to my local Music store and tried several piano keyboards... Korg, Roland, Yamaha... all of them with hammer-action that is servicable.
I guess what I am asking for is some opinions about MIDI controllers with hammer action from others that prefer to use keyboards with hammer action... how about the reliability of some of these keyboards? Is the customer service good with these companies?
Any and all comments and opinions are greatly appreciated... Thanks.
Peace...
www.Shemakhan.com
'Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.' Through the Looking-Glass Lewis Carroll
