Hello collective wisdom, I am looking into purchasing replacement keyboards for my small college's shared "arts" lab (iMac computers). This is not for piano practice, nor for basic theory learning, but rather, for use with programs like Finale and Logic Pro. The shared nature of the lab and the configuration of the workstations means that the keyboards need to be checked out to students, stored in their lockers.
I've been using Garage Key 37 key keyboards. The benefit of those is full-sized keys, plus the plastic risers that attach to the sides to raise the keyboard a few inches. The keyboard then sits above and behind the computer keyboard, between the computer keyboard and the monitor. This means it does not need to be to the right or to the left. I use one myself, primarily and nearly exclusively for Finale note entry. The disadvantages of the Garage Key are that it has no mod/pitch wheels, and is a bit flimsy (keys get knocked out of alignment and stop working, the octave change keys go bad, the plastic risers break). The problems don't occur with my own Garage Key because I don't move it around. The students wrap usb cords around the keyboard and put it in their backpacks to carry to a locker. I'd like 37 keys and the mod/pitch wheels. I want something that takes a minimum of space (so no big space behind the keys with knobs the students won't use -- these are not for live performing). Most important, though, is sturdiness for keyboards that might get bumped around a bit. The budget is sort-of in the $100 per keyboard range. I'm looking at the Korg 37 microKEY. Does anyone use this? If so, can you vouch for its playability and sturdiness? Or does anyone have any suggestions for other keyboards I should be considering? Thank's in advance, David Froom _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] https://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale To unsubscribe from finale send a message to: [email protected]
