What keyboard should I buy?

Question

Hi. Right now I own a Casio CTK-700. The main reason I want a new keyboard is for dynamics and a damper pedal (if possible) I want something affordable. At the highest $250-300. I need either MIDI or USB outputs. Remember, I need dynamics (push key light, sound is soft, push hard, sound is strong)

Please give me a brand or model. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

I went through the same problem last year.  I wanted a good, versatile keyboard with the most features in the price range you mention.  Casio's are okay,  I guess, but they're a little sluggish for me.  I do like the Yamaha's.  For Yamaha, there is the PSR or YPT series.  After that is the DGX series which starts out at nearly $600 and goes up from there.

The YPT-400 (which is the exact same thing as the PSR-E403) is the top end YPT series.  It has USB connectivity for MIDI composition and transfer, touch sensitive keys (on/off options), tempo adjust, tons of instrument samples and rhythms, arpeggios, dual instrument combinations, reverb and other sound effect controls, etc.  List price is $199.  Buy a separate pedal to plug into the Sustain connection.  Runs on D cells, but you can buy an AC power pack to run from he wall.  Combine the keyboard with stand, power pack, and pedal, and you're a little over $250 IF you can't find all that on a package discount.