Akai Professional MPK261 for sure. I wish they would release a MPK288 but this is the best they got right now

 

The K-Board Pro 4 looks very interesting and do not have a battery like the Roli Seaboard, the battery
will fail someday...

 

dont forget to buy a table hammer action e piano for keyboard sound, all of those digital keyboard cant capable with keys playing.

 

own the novation sl 61 mkI and love its keys ( knobs/faders are crappy - mkII might be an better option) the keys are made by fatar as far i remember , i know the roland a800 has great keys aswell - didnt check the ni keys as i tend to ignore overpriced stuff thats made in china - but its really a matter of personal preferrence - if you need a great va synth get the access virus kb, it has an excellent keyboard and a very versatile synth onboard.

 

Last edited: Jan 16, 2018

MPK261, I went to buy the Novation and went home with Akai. It is much much better, I use Ableton too

 

Not necessarily. Automapping plugins is an optional feature. Many people like myself just use it as a regular midi keyboard and don't bother wrapping plugins. That said, I never saw any "conflicts" with cracked plugins when I tested it. I'm currently using a Nocturn (among other keyboards...)

 

I've heard that Novation have discontinued itself. That's really sad because I still cannot think of a better MIDI keyboard controller than the Novation Remote SL line. And Akai MPK, too, although I settled for Novation.

edit: but I play keyboards as good as Brian Eno.

 

Last edited: Jan 16, 2018

I have a Novation SL61mk2 which I love, but do not use the automap features. I tried it at first and hated that it re creates a 2nd DLL file for each plugin. Also didnt give it much of a chance either...but the feel is amazing...Im currently looking for a new keyboard myself and leaning towards the NI 61 key, but i stumbled across this one, Behringer's Motor61 MIDI keyboard, which looks interesting but have no experience with there products. Has anyone tried this one yet?

 

do you have a roli yet? I just have this feeling that the expression you can dial with brass, pedal steel guitars - - ..the players definition you can capture seems so plausible with this. I'm especially interested for trumpet, saxophones- Jesus I gotta check one out already

 

It's not as intuitive as you would think and results really vary by how well the sampler on the other side responds. Equator is a pleasant surprise as far as bundled synths go. The 1/4 tonal capabilities of the seaboard work a lot better than the micro-expression part. Takes a lot longer to get used to it than you would expect, especially if you have not focused on proper technique for a long time - fighting muscle memory is a bitch.

 

@OP

-are weighted keys of importance to you? do you play? lot of 'xx..88' suggested here but it doesn't sound like that's a necessity for you-

that said I've always loved roland keyboards

 

But if specific Genre's are important, you could always try to get that piano most *New age trap/hiphop" producers are using for their "hits" these days!!

 

Hello.
I learned to play the piano on a... piano, so I always searched the piano keyboard feeling in any midi keyboard. Spring-mounted keyboards are a nightmare to play, with their slick keys, curved, narrow black keys; the weighted ones the same; hammer-action kb's from Roland, Korg and Yamaha are somewhat better - but they all make a lot of noise when releasing the keys, and most of them do not allow the black keys to be pressed down to the ivories' level. I tried dozens of kb's, none was identical to a real piano. Until I tried the Casio GP series (300, 500, 700). It had all the gentleness, balance, and quietness of a piano. Satin finished keys, wide blacks. It looks like a small upright and has a full piano mechanism inside - including the hammers, that you can see when opening the upper lid. The mechanism is an original Bechstein one. I was, and still am, fascinated by this fantastic instrument. It is not cheap, but it really is the only one worth the money. Once you try it, you won't need another keyboard ever again. I highly recommend it.

 

Last edited: Jan 17, 2018

I'm not really looking for a fully weighted key.

I want to be able to play pianos, vintage keys and synths with a key that gets me a good feel for both. if possible.

 

I'm using the Akai MPK2xx (I have the 61) Solid controller, lots of smooth controls that don't feel like they might fall off. Great pads, far better than on the original, no replacement needed. The keys were a bit stiff when I first got it but they loosened up, or my fingers got stronger. I'm getting really good on those pads using my own system based off of the XpressPads Technique and watching Drum Rudiment videos, mostly the later.

It works as expected in Ableton but it really opens up nice in Bitwig. Those scripts are seriously awesome, turning the controller in a multi mode controller. Launch pads, Mixer/device controller and Drum Machine/Instrument controller. Plus more, I'm still learning it. If only I knew Java so I can add my own ideas and work out a couple of kinks I don't like.

Anyways, If I wanted something a bit more real feeling without spending a couple grand (Kawai), I'd go for something @ http://www.studiologic-music.com/

Oh, you get that VIP software with it, I downloaded it but honestly Bitwig has me covered so I haven't bothered with it, along with 3 or 4 more instruments you may like. A piano is one of them if memory serves.

Good Luck.

 

1 or 2 octave of Touchkeys + Novation Lunchkey 61 will be 190$ or 332$+ 250$
http://touchkeys.co.uk/product/touchkeys-diy-kit/
or
if money doesn't matter 950$ touchkeys + novation impulse 61:
http://touchkeys.co.uk/product/touchkeys-novation-impulse/

you can reduce the number of keys for reducing expense. 49 is also very good and enough.

In comparison to Rolli seaboard 25 that is 700$ this is much resonable

 

Last edited: Jan 17, 2018

i have one. i had to trust that the keybed would be good because i could not find one anywhere to try out. in my opinion, the keys have a better feel than just about anything else i've tried (for semi-weighted action). and the keys are pretty quiet - not clacky or clunky. obviously if you want a weighted,hammer-action, piano-style action, you need to look elsewhere. for the most part i have been very happy with this keyboard. i was going to buy the mpk261, which i liked a lot. but then i saw a very good sale price on the motor61 and i jumped at it. i've never seen it priced that low again. the motorized faders are nice. not as noisy as the bcf2000. but they do have a shorter throw (60mm vs 100mm on the xtouch), so if that is important to you think seriously.

 

Thanks man, How are the keys on the motor61 ?

 

in my opinion, the keys have a better feel than just about anything else i've tried (for semi-weighted action). and the keys are pretty quiet - not clacky or clunky. obviously if you want a weighted,hammer-action, piano-style action, you need to look elsewhere.