you can find them used easily, from about $200 usd to $400 depending on seller and condition.

Personal experience, those M-Audio controllers are about as close to indestructible as a plastic controller gets.

 

Hallo @clone, yes, that's right, I recently bought a second, used Roland A-800 Pro keyboard for €190 as a backup.
The current one works perfectly, but you never know how long the keyboard and everything else will last.

This is what Edirol's first MIDI keyboard looked like, the predecessor of the Roland A-800:

Edirol - PCR 800


Cakewalk by Roland A-800 Pro


Roland A-800 Pro (without Cakewalk Logo)

 

Last edited: Nov 17, 2025

I bought that thing lately, not bad at all, certainly not AliExpress cheap as one could think:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005009628595963.html
(there are other color schemes, that one triggered the little goth kid in me)
(its not full size, its more for on the go, but it has some rompler inside)
//EDIT// oh, wrong thread, I wanted to post that in that other thread where someone is looking for a 37keys keyboards

 

Last edited: Nov 17, 2025

What about something like this even if only for the keys to input MIDI? Or maybe one of their others thats analog, like a poly. Does anyone use one of these or similar?

 

For me full 3 octaves is an absolute minimum. You cannot play with two hands on a 32-key keyboard.

 

It's a clone of the Roland SH-101 from 1983. There are several software versions of that model, and besides, 32 keys are too few. For that price, you'll only get keyboards that are too short. You'd be better off buying a proper MIDI keyboard controller with 61 keys.

Behringer MS-1 MKII Red - 269 EUR

If you save up some money or check on eBay:

Yamaha MX49 V2 Black - 569 €
https://shop.usa.yamaha.com/en/p/in...rs/synthesizers/mx49-49-key-music-synthesizer

Yamaha MX49 - EUR 356
https://www.ebay.de/itm/28689132269...boIsInz2qQZQX73c4YsIYIR2E=|tkp:Bk9SR6Sx_MTTZg

 

Last edited: Nov 19, 2025

KORG microKORG Analoger Synthesizer - € 270,00
https://www.ebay.de/p/1305042713?iid=157463706205
korg microkorg XL
https://www.ebay.de/itm/40517138597...U4bptjxqyudQ3Yt7+Zkr9yeg==|tkp:Bk9SR5aFn8XTZg
https://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/microkorg

 

I used my old trusty Yamaha sy85 (60 keys, 4CC 2 foot paddels)) and W7 (76 keys 1CC 2 paddels) for years. You could get an old second hand synth for cheap. The Sy85 has lovely pad sounds (the rest is so so).

 

Korg R3 Keyboard Synthesizer US $320,00
https://www.ebay.de/b/Korg-R3/38071/bn_7005400318

 

Last edited: Nov 19, 2025

I know it would be better to get a full scale with all the fancy stuff but I just cant bring myself to spend 4 or 5 hundred on a MIDI keyboard just for the keys to record midi with so I decided I only want a modern analog that has some keys I can use it to double as a simple dumb controller. Even if it means spending more money. Mono, duo or poly, all can be considered if it sounds great and at least works in a DAW (apparently the one I posted before doesnt or not fully?).

With trying to keep the price as low as possible which analog synth suggestions do you think I should check out?

 

nektar panomara p6.

 

When i was 14 i got a job baking cookies at the local bakery. I bought a korg r3 from a second hand music store. Every button can be mapped,not to mention it is a vocoder too). I moved past that and have a maudio oxygen pro and wouldnt look back

 

@Rolfy there are already so many plugins you can play.

You'd be better off buying a quality MIDI keyboard controller with a good keyboard.

Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 Mk3 White - 213 €
- with 61 touch-sensitive keys
www.thomann.de/de/arturia_keylab_essential_61_mk3_white.htm

Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 Mk3 Black - 224 €
- with 61 touch-sensitive keys
www.thomann.de/de/arturia_keylab_essential_61_mk3_black.htm

ebay ist your best friend:

KORG microKORG Analoger Synthesizer - € 270,00
https://www.ebay.de/p/1305042713?iid=157463706205

korg microkorg XL
https://www.ebay.de/itm/40517138597...U4bptjxqyudQ3Yt7+Zkr9yeg==|tkp:Bk9SR5aFn8XTZg
https://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/microkorg

Korg R3 Keyboard Synthesizer US $320,00
https://www.ebay.de/b/Korg-R3/38071/bn_7005400318