Alternative keyboards

[DrJustice]

What are the different alternative keyboards available out there? Which ones do you recommend?

I'm not really a keyboard player and have been thinking that I might as well try out one of those alternative 'honeycomb ones. Not so much for microtonal applications as for just having a different keyboard that might suit me better, although if it will open up for microtonal playing that is an avenue I might want to explore eventually.

I know Seraph has an Opal one. They look very nice but I could not find any price.

DJ
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[seraph]

[DrJustice]

[xjscott]

Yeah, the price and availability are tricky to find on their site. For a long time, I thought they weren't even for public sale yet, but then someone I knew bought one.

It's listed on their contact page:

http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=contact

Currently the Axis-64 is 850 pounds. It's completely designed and built by specialists in the UK, so their prices are linked to their own currency. To order or ask questions, ask the cost of custom key colors or such, you send an email and they email you back. There was an email form to fill out, I think that's been removed and now she must send it to you by email. Then you get back an invoice pdf that you print out and sign and mail back to them (for this there's a US address that can be used) with your check, no credit cards. The dollar cost was $1700 before, but with the exchange rate that might be a bit lower now, or maybe you can save some money by converting to pounds yourself with an international money order. Shipping is extra and runs something like $150 or so, and you also should buy the custom case for it.

The Opal is considerably more expensive, but it's also a much more unique instrument. Both feature the key layout designed by the same person, Peter, but the Opal will be built by the inventor himself in his workshop and it sounds to me like no two of them are alike. They also might have a better touch response, but I am waiting to hear from Carlo what he thinks, also hoping he'll be able to track down an Axis so we can get the definitive compare and contrast article on the actions of the two instruments from a trained pianist.

There is also the 98 key Axis-49, made in the USA (Los Angeles) in a plastic case and a better value-per-key at $500, but if there's any possibility you'd use it for microtonal work, it doesn't have enough keys to do a lot of interesting things, you'd be really restricted and I think it would be a better strategy to save up for the bigger one with 192 keys, which I'll say is probably close to the minimal size that is useful for microtonality - the lengths of the diagonals is pretty important.

I know these things are a big investment, but they are all made in small quantities by non-slave labor since there's not a huge market yet, and they in some ways made-to-order because of this. Worth comparing is the cost of a larger hex layout like the two StarrLabs Wilson Microzone models U-648 (288 keys) and U-990 (810 keys), made in San Diego. These two have a lot more keys in a different orientation, are also hand made to order, and cost $3825 and $8800. Worth it? Undoubtedly - given the amount of labor, delicate machining, and precise fitting involved (6 months needed to build one), it's pretty clear to me Starr is nearly selling them at cost. Probably involves the same amount of labor as buying a custom hand built car. Microzones are velocity sensitive now too - I think the older models were not so before I was saying they weren't, but Starr clarified this for me, and he has some demo videos on youtube that show them being played expressively:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7bsYzhmdv0

Stephen Taylor is the only private party I know of who bought a U-880, and you can see how awesome it is on his channel here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJBh_tjCS4I

The Axis-64 is built like a tank, by the way, with a heavy steel case, MIDI and foot pedal sockets attached to the case and not floating, etc. The custom carrying case is solid as well.

If you were rich or had a benefactor, I would say get a U-880 and an Opal just to have them both, they have different key orientations, key spacing, and feels.

If you don't have a benefactor and want something for the studio, I would say if you have $9000, get a U-880, if you have $2000, get a Axis-64, if you have between those amounts get an Opal or a U-648.

If touring, get the Axis-64 as its the most portable of all these and the Opal is so lovely I'd be scared to ding up the finish.

If budget is under $2000, I would save until it was.

It's not so bad I think, back when minimum wage was $3.35 an hour I saved to get a DX-7 for $2000 by working a year at fast food and keeping my expenses close to nothing, eating Ramen and so forth.

[DrJustice]

Thank you for the extensive reply, xjscott!

It sounds like the Axis-64 is the right one for me. However these things are more expensive than I had hoped - understandable with the low volume.

There's no benefactor I'm afraid, I'm tempted to save up for one

DJ
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[seraph]

[seraph]

[xjscott]

Ah so at last it is publicly official about the serial number! Is Carlo cutting edge or WHAT



re: meet: maybe at some e-m thingy, or you can stop by here if you enjoy boring vacations.

[MusicScienceGuy]

[DrJustice]

[MusicScienceGuy]

[DrJustice]

[MusicScienceGuy]