Help choosing a Keyboard (got a few specific requirements)

wotnwhy

Hi there, I need to find a new MIDI keyboard as my M-Adio Oxygen is dying.

i'm not really up to date, or really at all knowladgable about the products around at the moment so i'm hoping some of you in your infinite wisdom can recomend somethng that ticks all the boxes on this checklist

* i don't have a lot of space, so 2 octave (MABY three)

* i nice number of control knobs/sliders. i use Reason and enjoy experimenting and playing with noise without having to fiddle around with the mouse to change paramiters. my current keyboard has 8. and i'd really like a good few more.

* USB

* Mike (with phantom power), Instrument and Line in inputs. Stereo/mono Jack and phono outputs

* I would LIKE to keep it under £200, but for the right keyboard, will be willing to wait a little longer and raise the budget.



i think thats everything. so, can you help me out?

Oh, and i should also point out that, although i liked my Ozone, it felt very cheap and not very durable. and it turned out , it WAS pretty cheap and not very durable. so want something better built and more robust.

OtisAudio

You should check this one out, It's about as inexpensive as you can get a midi-keyboard w/ audio interface

http://www.masteredmusic.com/350799/11897735.html

wotnwhy

thankyou for offering some help

i've actually found something thats more than perfect
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/...product_id/3136

but again, thanks for taking the time to reply

OtisAudio

I've played around with an x-station. Pretty cool, but the sound is a little bit plain. I'd suggest you head to a music store and play around with one in person before you make the decision. Hopefully you've got one nearby :P

wotnwhy

how do you mean the sound is plain?

i noticed you can use it as a standalone synth, but i wont be using it like that. i'll be using Reason and Massive Synth to get my sounds.

OtisAudio

What I mean by plain is that the internal synth isn't all that dynamic. It can't do much other then simple waveforms and some modulation.

BUT_ since you're planning on using software synths instead of the built in ones you're probably not going to notice that... The only question at that point is why do you need the Novation x-station?