[sdiy] Synth Keybards and Number of Keys

ASSI Stromeko at Compuserve.DE
Thu Mar 1 19:25:27 CET 2007


On Donnerstag, 1. März 2007 06:43, R. D. Davis wrote:
> Something that puzzles me every now and then is the question of why
> so many synthesizers have been designed with less than eighty-eight
> keys.

I've been coming to synths from the piano and can offer a very simple 
explanation:  it is nigh impossible to play an 88-keys synth while 
standing up and using modwheels or levers mounted on a big keyboard 
would be very awkward.  Most synth sounds are not really made to cover 
the full range of a piano keyboard anyway.  A second register for bass 
or a different instrument is often better served by a second (or third) 
smaller keyboard like on an organ, with two or three octave keyboards 
actually preferrable in some circumstances, IMHO.  I think 61 keys just 
cover most of the common ground without becoming too unwieldy.

My dream controller station would be an 88- or even 96-key graded hammer 
action accompanied by one 61-key and two 49-key manuals and a pedal 
board.


Achim.
-- 
+<[Q+ Matrix-12 WAVE#46 Neuron microQkb Andromeda XTk sonic heaven]>+

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