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DAW (digital audio workstation) operation is a whole other world when it comes to keyboards, and there are so many choices when it comes to what is the best one to use. This blog is for all you musical producers working from a laptop. I’m going to be listing my top 5 favourite keyboards for DAW operation. This is a topic that we haven’t covered at ePianos, but there is no time like the present and being a producer myself that regularly uses a DAW; I feel like I am the perfect person to provide advice for anyone looking to buy the perfect fit.
Yamaha MOX7
Sidechain that packs a punch
There are many things about this keyboard that I like, but the one thing I was astonished at is the fact you can manipulate the sidechain from the hardware itself! I have spent countless hours fiddling with a compressor software on my laptop, and yet sometimes feel like the drums/ bass/ chords sound worse off than when I started. But having something physical in front of me just speeds up this process. I assume it’s because I’m a visual learner and having something I can actually touch make it so much easier for my brain to understand and process.
USB Connection – Easy plug in and go
Every producer knows that you must have an audio interface that uses an external sound card in order to record using things like mics, guitar, and keyboards… right? NO! The MODX7 runs on a singular USB slot meaning you can plug it right into the computer eliminating the audio interface. For someone who just starting music production and does not have much equipment. Saving £100 – £200 that you would have spent on an interface can make all the difference.
Lightweight and easy to move
The MODX6 weighs in at 14.6 lbs, the MODX7 at 16.3 lbs and the 88-note weighted Graded Hammer Action MODX8 comes in at a svelte 30.4 lbs. This makes it perfect for the travelling producer or even someone whose studio is simultaneously a bedroom (like me).
Korg Kronos 2 workstation
Keys – Weighted and realistic
This model is the only one on this list that I can truly say had realistic key action. Just how they are weighted really allows me to express what chord progressions I want to write into my DAW. Play with passion and the keyboard follow suit. This is something I value highly in music production and I’m surprised there are not more keyboards (that are suited for DAW’s) that have the same key-feel. This alone means Kronos 2 deserves a place on this list.
Synthesiser Engines – High spec and high tech
There are 9 individual synthesiser engines on this model. Each uses innovative technology that stands in its own lane. Mainly featuring Analogue and Digital Synths, as a sounds designer; you have so many tools, perimeters, effects, modulation, and assignable routing options to play with in order to make whatever you are creating, sound like you! That’s what music production is about! Find your own sound, and trust me when I say that the Kronos 2 accommodates that and so much more.
Sampling – The world is your instrument
Sampling is when you take an already existing audio from a song, speech, live performance, or just about anything else you can think of; and they digitally repurpose it to become part of a new song that you are making. The Kronos 2 has an open sampling system that makes this whole process so much easier. Just load in your file and begin playing or adding effects. It will translate the sample to the note you are playing creating a whole new sound. This is a feature I wish I had when I first started out.
Yamaha Montage 8
If you are like me, you prefer the EDM-sounding voices rather than the classical style. This is why the DM-X stands out to me. This is a fully operational synthesizer that has a powerful sound capable of producing a sound that sticks out from the rest of the market. Featuring a 128 note polyphony, the sound design capability of this synth is outstanding and is well worth trying for yourself. From the ’80s to the modern-day, you won’t be disappointed with what is on offer here.
Featured effects – Powerful emersion at your fingertips
The effects that the montage offers are incredible, to say the least. From powerful reverb to circuit modelling, montage 8 has what I think are the best sounding effects you can get your hands on. From Beat Repeat, Vinyl Break or Bit Crusher you can extend your bass patches and voices to a higher level of sound engineering.
Another thing about the effects that stand out to me is the retro feel that you can achieve with vintage effects like Analog Delay, VCM Phaser or a variety of Amp Simulators. This just shows the wide audience Yamaha had in mind when creating this model. It covers all bases and for that, I hold it in such high regard.
What is this? Why is it relevant to me? Well, let me tell you… It basically means that there are balanced outputs that boost the signal of sound after it has been converted from analogue to digital. Distorted signal is a thing of the past because of this. The number of voices and synths I’ve scrapped over the years due to poor conversion could have all been avoided if I had this asset at my disposal.
I hope this blog has been informative. It has been a pleasure to cover something that has not yet had attention here at ePianos. Music production is my life and everything I’ve put here I have researched with care and full attention. If I wouldn’t use it, I would not recommend it to you… Simple as that.
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