Well if you want to do composing and music, it is great to have a keyboard that plugs into your computer. Here’s what you can think about getting thanks the well named musiconmypc.com:
- Decide how many keys you need. A smaller 49 key will take you well into intermediate, but if you know how to play a full sized 88 key keyboard is nice.
- A personal keyboard plays without the computer, while a less expensive controller requires a computer to play. Not having to turn it on is nice.
- Touch sensitive or weighted action. Weighted action is more like a piano. More expensive but more realistic.
The category is also confusing so here is a decoder ring:
- Controllers or MIDI keyboard. These just send to a computer and it does the sound.
- Digital piano. These are really big and sound like, well, a piano or they can be keyboard sized like those used in rock concerts.
- Portable keyboard. Sounds comes out but they are less than 88 keys usually
- Synthesizer. Make a huge range of sounds
So what are some choices? Musicradar.com reviews these things and says:
- Fender Rhodes
- Arturia Wurlitzer V. Along with the Fender, two of the big names in digital pianos
- M-Audio Axiom 49. $450 for a USB MIDI keyboard
