Casio CTK-5000-STAD 61-Key Digital Music Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)we just got this a few days ago, and are very happy with it. The sound is very realistic for piano, and the action feels good. We were using an older borrowed keyboard, and were pleasantly surprised at the playablility and sound quality.
we bought from JR, because at the time it was slightly cheaper than Amazon, even with shipping, but the price has gone up.
This keyboard came with a stand, probably a $20 value, which is a bonus. It shows it in the picture, but not in the product description. We just had to get a bench and we were set.
We've just started exploring the settings. The first we adjusted was the touch sensitivity, which makes it louder the harder (technically, the faster) you hit the key, like a real piano. It has 3 setting choices: off, 1, and 2, with 2 being most sensitive. On 2 there is a pretty wide range of volume with key stroke, from very quiet on up, mimicking a real piano; not just quiet and loud.
Its still new to us, but we are very pleased with what we got for the money.


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Learning to play the piano gets even easier and, once you learn, the opportunities to play, create, and store your music becomes virtually unlimited with the Casio CTK-5000. With Casio's intuitive Step-Up Lesson system, songs are divided into short, easy-to-master phrases making it easy for just about anyone to learn to play. After you master a phrase you advance to the next one. With this new lesson function, you keep building up your collection of mastered phrases and soon you are able to play the entire song. All built-in tones, including piano and acoustic instrument tones, now sound better than ever before! 48-tone maximum polyphony provides plenty of margin to minimize the chance of notes being dropped when tones are layered and when playing with Auto Accompaniment. Touch Response let's you add delicate nuances to notes by varying how much pressure you apply to keyboard keys. Rotate the pitch-bend wheel to slide the pitch of the sound being output upwards or downwards. Sample a sound and you can play it on the keyboard, from your device connected to the audio-in jack. AC or battery powered for anywhere use and fun.152 Song Bank tunes, including 50 Exercise phrasesSong Expansion -10 songs maximum, approximately 320 KB totalMusic Preset (305 presets)Registration (8 banks x 4 sets for 32 setups)One Touch Preset (200 presets)Digital Effects -10 reverbs, 5 chorusesPreset Scale (16 scales)Scale memory (4scales)Recorder -6 tracks x 5 songs, 1 lesson song, approximately 12,000 notes totalMetronomeAuto Harmonize (12 types) Arpeggiator (90 types)Rhythm / Song Bank ControllerMusical Information System (Backlit LCD) MIDI - GM level 1 compatibleBuilt-in speakers -12cm x 2, 3cm x 2 (amplifier -6W + 6W) Comes with song book, music stand, AC AdapterPortable use requires optional Batteries -D-size x 6 (alkaline) provide up to 4 hours continuous u

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Studiologic SL-990 PRO 88-Key MIDI Controller Review

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(More customer reviews)The Studiologic SL-990 Pro (NOT THE XP, which I also had for about 2 DAYS...exchanged it back for the Pro) is the best controller I've ever used, hands down. All I needed was a great feeling controller to compose with. The SL-990 Pro is the best feeling controller on the market right now for under 1000. Get it.

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The Studiologic SL-990 PRO features an 88-key weighted, velocity-sensitive, hammer-action keyboard with beautiful ivory finished keys and constant strike force action for true piano feel. Performance controls include pitch and mod wheels; 8 zone-specific velocity curve settings; program and bank change; transpose; MIDI channel change; and 100 user memory locations. MIDI output plus sustain pedal input. Power adapter included...

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Yamaha YPT400MS Portable Electronic Keyboard with 61 Full Size Touch Sensitive Keys and Keyboard Stand Review

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(More customer reviews)I did a lot of research before ordering this piano. Even so, I was very surprised at how much was included for this price. A WONDERFUL Yamaha digital piano with many fantastic features. The stand. The AC adapter. Even free lessons on music theory on a CD to get you started. Throw in all of the voices, sounds, songs, and ability to interface with a computer, and you have an unbelievable deal.
The only down side is that the software it comes with doesn't load on my Mac :-(, but since most things don't, I wouldn't downgrade it just for that. It interfaces with Garageband, which is the software I already use, so that's enough for me.
Oh, and talk about fun. I'm got this to practice my piano lessons at home, and the first day it came I had so much fun I went to bed with sore wrists. I kept trying out practicing my scales with different voices. I guess I'll have to "space out" my fun a little bit better in the future.

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Behringer B2030A Active 2-Way Reference Studio Monitor Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased these with the assumption that I was not going to get the quality sound I wanted as opposed to KRK monitors (WAAAY overpriced) for my small studio. Boy was I wrong! The sound quality is better than expected to say the least. They're HEAVY, thus you won't be too worried about knocking them over (like the smaller KRK's or M-Audio Studiophiles I've seen). Took these over to a friends house for mixdown of video's he's been working on, and adjusted the settings for his video editing hardware and room dynamics. He then changed his mind after about some 5 hours of video editing. Not the best, but I'll be putting my money into what I can use rather than a name (KRK, JBL, Tannoy, Genlec are just TOO much. . .even for just one monitor). And it'se never about what you got, it's what you do with it.
There are going to be reviews bashing them, but when I have audio engineers telling me "good choice, cuz the KRK's are sometimes WAAY too bassy", I feel I've done my job and research into finding what I can afford.
Just a quick note. . .do give these "burn in" time. meaning give them some time to run before going all out on those mixes. Similar to tube preamps for guitar heads/cabs. . .burn em in slowly so you can get the full effect later. I haven't had these long enough, but I can say they are the best part of my studio.

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The TRUTH B2030A has all of the great features of an active TRUTH monitor packed in a compact cabinet.It's a high-resolution, active 2-way reference studio monitor that is perfect for nearfield monitoring applications: from small mixing environments to multi-channel surround setups.

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Smokers Relight Deux (WAV, REX, Reason Refills) Review

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(More customer reviews)The first Smokers collection quickly became a user-standard, filling every inch of its product with usable, well-crafted loops and loads of deconstructed hits. All of the hype for Smokers 1 was for good reason.
No surprise that this sequel gets the same media treatment, much of it deserved. But a closer look at the collection exposes a slight flaw that keeps it from a 5-star rating: the beats are too much alike over too much of the disc. Sure, the drum SOUNDS are different, but the beats from folder to folder are mostly cut from the "Keep On Movin'"/Lisa Stansfield cloth. I'd have liked more variety in the rhythms themselves, more backbeats, more play. Some people would call this kind of one-beat regimen "working within the genre." Sure...if the genre is two songs deep.
That said, they compensate a great deal by offering "dropped" variations of the main beat (notice the singular) and more one shots than you can shake your hard drive at. if you like building your beats, this collection gives you some great fodder. It's a worthy addenudum to the original collection, if not quite the classic stand-alone that the previous incarnation was.
A final note: it's horrendously overpriced considering these flaws.


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The long awaited follow up to Smokers Delight is finally here!! 7 Gb on 2 DVD ROMS - Loads of weed smoking, velvet, souly, jazzy trippin, turntablebeats and samples.5000 24 Bit Loops & Samples in 3 formats; WAV, REX2 & a huge 2 Gb Reason REFILL.WAV SECTION (24 BIT) 5012 Loops & Samples in 80, 90 & 100 Bpm. Vinylstyle Break- beats, Hiphop Loops, Hh-Rim Dub Loops, Percussion Loops, Fender Jazz Bass Loops, Rhodes Piano Riffs & Chords, Turntable Fx & Music Loops. Flute, Tenor Sax & Trumpet Riffs, Electric Piano & Vinylstyle Music Chords, HipHop Drum & Fx samples.REX2 (Stylus RMX prepared) 1163 24 Bit Rex2 Loops & Multi-Rex Files. Breakbeats, MPC Hiphop Loops, Percussion Loops, Bass Loops,Rhodes Riffs & Chords, Fx & Turntable Music Loops. Multi-Rex Flute, Tenor Sax, Trumpet Riffs, RhodesPiano Chords, Vinylstyle Music Loops.REFILL (Reason 3.0) 4755 24 Bit Rex2, Multi-Rex & Wav Samples. Vinylstyle Breaks, Hiphop Drum Loops, Hh-Rim Dub Loops,Organ Beatbox Loops, Shaker, Conga & other Percussion Loops, Fender Jazz Bass Loops, Rhodes Riffs & Chords, Fx & Turntable Music Loops, Flute, Tenor Sax, Trumpet Riffs, Rhodes Piano Chords, VinylstyleMusic Loops, HipHop Drum, Fx & Percussion samples. Combinator, Redrum, NN-XT and Effect Patches.

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Novation Xio 25 2-Octave Synthesizer and Audio USB MIDI Controller 25-Key Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the Xio Synth 25 because of its Midi controller capabilities and its onboard sounds. What also made me want to purchase this was the fact that it serves as a microphone interface with phantom power. I know I have not explored the full potential of this synthesizer with its editing features, etc, which is mainly due to me being new to synthesizers. I purchased Cubase Essentials 5, the Behringer UCA202 U-Control Audio Interface and the Behringer C-1 Studio Condenser Microphone to use with the Xio and everything works together great for my needs. The only downside I have personally experienced is that a few knobs have come off. There is one knob I don't remember ever being there and didn't realize it should have been a knob (you can still turn it) and another knob for a pan function came off. Looking at other reviews from other sites, this seems common. Overall, I would recommend it.
Edit 5-7-10:
I want to edit my review to add that my Xio no longer works well when using it as a midi controller. I don't understand why exactly, since the onboard sounds still play and sound well. When using it as a midi controller, I have to press the keys down hard just to trigger the sounds I am trying to play. Shortly after I purchased the Xio, I had purchased an M-Audio 61 Key midi controller, so that is what I primarily use for midi. I still use the Xio as a microphone interface and for its onboard sounds.

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Never before has a Novation synthesizer been so accessible! Stylish, compact, and affordable, the XioSynth offers a staggering amount of classic and cutting edge sounds, many from internationally acclaimed artists, along with a brand new X-Gator patch programmer and optional filter distortion. Furthermore, the XioSynth provides everything required for producing on the move, through its synth, audio interfacing, and MIDI controlling capabilities – all three in one keyboard.Includes Fantastic ‘Xpression' pad and pitch/mod joystick, both freely assignable in MIDI Controlling mode; allow 6 parameters to be tweaked at once!USB bus-powering is available, as well as optional battery (AA)/PSU operation, making the keyboard highly portable.

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Casio LK-90TV 61-Key Lighted Keyboard with Karaoke Function Review

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(More customer reviews)My kids got this for Xmas and its very cool. Comes with 100 songs and you can download more with your computer and pipe them over via USB or on a Smart Media card. The keys light up on the programmed songs to help you along and an LCD display tells your tempo and what fingers you should be using on which keys.
If you have kids that play piano, its very nice that they can now practice somewhere and be quiet or use headphones.
It's a little intimidating with all its buttons and features, but otherwise a very nice piece of equipment. Comes with a power adapter and microphone. Consider getting a keyboard stand and bench so you can put it wherever you want since it is portable (compared to a piano). In its most basic form, you just plug in the power, turn it on and start playing.


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Common knowledge says that if you don't practice diligently and master technique, you can't play a musical instrument. Casio, however, thinks otherwise, which is why it developed the LK-90TV lighted keyboard, which connects to users' TVs to guide them through lesson plans while individual keys light up to direct them to the proper notes. The keyboard employs a comprehensive three-step lesson system, which lets people learn as they play and grades their progress after each tutorial. The keyboard's complement of 61 illuminated keys also means folks will learn on a full keyboard, and the 100 pre-recorded songs gives them plenty of choices for accompaniment. Budding Elton Johns will appreciate the sing-along function, which lets people karaoke their way through 65 classics, with the option of loading more songs when connected to a computer through the USB interface. The karaoke option displays song lyrics across people's TV screens while they play, so both keyboard players and guests can harmonize their way through a host of favorites.
The LK-90TV owes its impressive sound to its HL dual-element sound chip, which delivers rich, crisp tones. The setup also offers an extensive repertoire of 128 general MIDI timbres, 128 tones, and eight drum sets, letting users experiment with a variety of beats and sounds. The advanced MIDI interface makes it easy to add other tones as well, all of which store via the SmartMedia medium. Additional features include an assignable pedal jack with sustain, soft, and rhythm start/stop options; 120 rhythm patterns; transpose and tuning controls; and a practice phase switch. Now stop messing around with ineffective keyboard lesson plans and get to work.

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