Infrasonic M49 Advanced 49 Key Midi Controller Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this controller recently and I think it's the best you can get in this price range. Here's why:
1. The feel of the keys is excellent. Much better than anything M-audio, Novation, etc. has to offer. It's firm yet not springy. There's no annoying clicking or other noise when you play. Not as good as a Roland Fantom or Yamaha Motif but in this price range far superior to any other controller.
2. I love the joystick and X/Y pad. Finally a controller which I can use with my Korg Wavestation VST. Of course, you can use the X/Y pad for any other controller or synth as you wish.
3. There are 8 more knobs which can be configured pretty much any way you please.
4. It's powered through your Computer's USB port. No external power supply needed!
5. It comes with a basic software editor in order to store your presets.
Overall rating: Look no further. Buy it.

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The M49 offers all of the features that are required for creating music in the studio and during live performances with state-of-the-art technology. All functionalities on M49 are easily created and modified by M49 editing software which allows multiple access MIDI driver (Windows only) on the fly, without browsing a tiny little LED screen.The speed sensitive 49 keys have six-velocity curves and the pad is capable of pitch bend and other modifications by simply touching and dragging with your finger. You can freely assign different functions to your software that offers suitable live performance of parameter controls such as EQ, Filter, etc and it can be switched to 4-note drum trigger pad by M49 Editing Software. Independently assign the x and y axis of the vector control joystick. Use it as a USB mouse to navigate through your software for on-the-fly computer access. A full transport panel enables you to take control of your music software (Cubase, Logic and Reason, etc) and track navigation. The M49 also comes with a jog wheel to easy access FF or REW for instant track navigation and the user can easily assign each knob multiple functions provided within the included programs. While using this function, the user may switch between different group assignments. This can conflict with the control signal transmission functionality, so we've added a special feature to our M49 product. Infrasonic's M49 comes with its own software in the packaging. In here, you can modify different options for your controller. Everything is modifiable; i.e. setting the joystick into mouse mode or joystick mode(x-y axis control). Using M49 Editing software, you can edit the parameter settings of your M49 controller through a Windows or Mac OS X computer. These parameter settings can be saved and recalled (loaded) as scene data on the computer, and then transmitted to (or received form) the M49 controller itself.

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Casio 61-Key Portable Keyboard with Stand - Black (CTK720STAD) Review

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(More customer reviews)Now, it's been ages since I have had a keybaord or piano around the house. I wanted to get myself back into the swing of things again so I thought I would low-ball it on the price and just get something to get the creative juices flowing again. Well, you get what you paid for.
The CTK-720 arrived today perfectly fine (sans a few nasty dings in the box, the unit was unscathed). I set it up, hooked it up to my own speaker system to make sure it would have the chance to produce a nice clean sound. Boy, not even my speakers could help it.
Beyond the fact that this is definitely a "Beginners" keyboard in the way that just about any instrument other than "piano" sounds like a midi file circa 1980s there is an odd issue. As a 5-octave keyboard you would want to be able to move around, but there's something odd in the mid octaves on the CTK-720.
Bear in mind, before this I had owned Korgs and Rolands, 88 weighted piano key styles. So I may be a bit spoiled. But for the first time in my life I have heard an electronic keyboard that actually needs to be tuned. The mid-range octaves on the CTK-270 produce a warble when the key is first pressed. Much like a piano that has the cord ever so slightly out of tune.
Unfortunately, my tuning key does little to help me with am electronic keyboard. It's a shame, if it weren't for the dodgy "tones" and the mysterious out-of-tune mid-range keys it would have been a nice keyboard to start out on all over again.
I will give it two stars just because it's still functional. I may just be a bit too discerning at this point.

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Portable, MIDI Interface, Volume Control Slider. It has 61 keys and has 242 tones with a 100 demo songs

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Yamaha YPT320 61-Key Portable Keyboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Very nice keyboard for a beginner or an experienced musician.
Tons of great features which I have yet to learn. Sounds very realistic, better then Casio keyboards.
The only dissapointment was that on the product discription page it does not say that keyboard comes with AC adapter. Based on the description and the suggestion from Amazon that together with the keyboard customers were buying AC adapter; I ordered AC adapter separately. Now I have 2 adapters, one of them is collecting dust and was additional expense to me for no reason. Beware! Do not order separate AC adapter with this keyboard, it already comes with one. I give 4 stars because of that, otherwise it would be 5.
I also ordered Yamaha L3C Attachable Keyboard Stand for this keyboard. Yamaha does not say it's compatible with YPT-320, but it fits nicesly. I like the fact that the stand is screwed to the bottom of the keyboard so it will not fly off the stand, like it can do from one of those X-style stands.

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The YPT-320 is a touch sensitive instrument that features 482 dynamic, authentic voices, with 361 XGlite voices, 12 drum kits and a sound effect kit. The YPT-320 also has 106 accompaniment styles and 102 built-in songs. Music database with 100 songs-for instantly setting entire instrument to match a desired music genre. Special two-track Easy Recording feature lets you record and save up to five of your original songs - great for composing and practice purposes.You can practice the preset Songs using these lesson functions: "Keys to Success", "Listening, Timing, Waiting" and "Phrase Repeat." Keys to Success helps you master a Song, whereas Listening, Timing, Waiting helps you first master the timing then playing the correct notes. Phrase Repeat lets you select and repeatedly practice a specific phrase in the Song. In the "Keys to Success" mode, you can practice individual phrase separately. Each time you finish a specific Step, your score is shown in the display. Passing one Step (with a score of 60 or better) lets you go on to next one automatically.

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Yamaha Portable Grand DGX505 Electronic Keyboard Piano Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The acoustic sounds that this keyboard produces are impressive. The grand piano, horns, guitars, and drums are excellent. The built-in songs demonstrate the sonic capabilities of the instrument very well. The keyboard touch response is adequate for all but lead-fisted pounders. The user interface is, for the most part, clear and easy to use with many short-cut procedures built-in. The display is bright, easy to read, and well organized. Of course, the built-in learning system, easy to use recorder, metronome, rhythm patterns, and accompaniments make this an excellent choice for beginning muscians. Yet, the acoustic sounds are good enough for even more advanced players and could easily be the perfect instrument for one-man-band type performers. The stereo speakers produces clean, spacious sound that gives the music a lifelike feel. Where this keyboard begins to fall short is for more experienced and technically astute players who would prefer to have more powerful and complex functions built-in. Like better, more extensive effects processing, a more robust sequencer, an arppegiator, a more versitile rhythm processor, more one-touch/twist accessible sound modifiers, more internal user memory, a more responsive, weighted keyboard, etc. Of course, all these things come with a price and adding them would bump-up the price of the keyboard - which is one of the most attractive things about it! Typically, for less than $600 you can own one ... not many instruments of this caliber can make that claim! I hope Yamaha continues this line with just a little beefier, more expandable model. In particular they need to replace the Smart Media card slot with a USB port that will allow plugging in any of the myriad of cheap USB memory devices currently available for offline storage. Also, I would add more user accessible internal memory (relatively cheap). I would beef-up the sequencer and add some additional effects / processing options. And, I would add an expansion slot for additional sound sets and/or add-on functionality. Nonetheless, for the money, the sound, and the playability, you can't beat this instrument. I liked it the first time I saw/played it and I still do (after a year of owning it). Good job Yamaha!

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Yamaha DGX505-AD DGX505 88-key Electronic Piano Keyboard - Includes AC Adapter, CD Software, Wood Stand, Sustain Pedal. Yamaha DGX505 is a piano-focused electronic keyboard with 88 piano-style keys, wooden stand and sustain pedal. Innovative features include notation display, USB for instant computer connectivity and a SmartMedia memory card slot for storing songs and styles (card optional).

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Yamaha L85 Keyboard Stand for Yamaha P95 Keyboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The instructions are pictorial so no room for confusion. You need some space for the assembly as the pieces are long, but it was all quite straightforward. And it looked short when done but the keyboard sits about on top of it, with screws to hold it in. My son remarked that it was an improvement over the x-stand previously used, this sits solidly and doesn't wobble as the other did.
I would recommend getting the stand if you have the P85, it does support it better and also looks kind of like a piano. I also got the three pedals, (LP-5), which fit across the bottom of this stand and also helps it feel/sound more like a piano.
Tip: I have seen these three (Digital piano, stand, pedals) offered together as a bundle on some sites.

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The Yamaha L85 stand is a great platform for your Yamaha P85/P95 digital piano.It's compatible with the optional LP5 pedal unit (sold separately). P85/P95 Keyboard sold separately.

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Ion IDT01 iDT01 Height Adjustable, Single Braced Drum Throne Review

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(More customer reviews)I didn't really shop around so I can't compare pricewise, but it is plenty sturdy and can take my 215lbs rockin' around on it. It does not swivel unless you loosen the seat which can then come off when you lift on it to move it, but it never came off while I (or my son) was playing. Plenty comfortable.

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built to last, the ION iDT01 drum throne is height adjustable from 20" to 24.5".Non marking sure grip feet, quickly compacts for travel, durable vinyl covering and heavy-duty double braced leg supports. Perfect for use with any acoustic or electronic drum set.

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Jazz Piano - An In-Depth Look at the Styles of the Masters - Book and CD Package Review

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(More customer reviews)Each song in this book is written "in the style" of a different jazz piano great. My only criticism is that it would be fun to have an idea of where these songs came from. The CD taht goes along with the book is quite good.

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Featuring lessons, music, historical analysis and rare photos, this book/CD pack provides a complete overview of the techniques and styles popularized by 15 of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. All the best are here: from the early ragtime stylings of Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, to the modal escapades of Bill Evans, through the '70s jazz funk of Herbie Hancock. CD contains 15 full-band tracks.

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