Good travel keyboard

[L Hall]

I'm getting a Mac Book in order to do some work while I travel. Can anyone recommend a good (piano-type) USB keyboard to pair with the MacBook? I need it to be small enough to use on an airplane, but big enough that I can play a bass line without transposing evey two bars.

 

Gotta have a pitch and mod wheel, and it would be really nice if there were some kind of third assignable controller for expression.

 

Any recommendations?

 

Big thanks

[LogicGeek]

I don't know if they have a USB version yet but I can highly recommend the Fatar midi controllers. They are the best feeling actions I have ever played, hands down. They have a lower-end series of controllers called Studio Logic and then a higher-end more midi functional line. The new models may have USB but if not you could always use something cheap like a Motu fastlane to get the midi into the computer.

 

I own Fatar Studio Logic SL990 XP and I sometimes think I prefer its action to my real Yamaha C3 conservatory grand. It's wonderful. Obviously you don't need to go with a model that is that big and weighted if you're not playing jazz piano with it on gigs as I've been.

 

Check out their site: http://www.studiologic.net/

[xpander]

If you need a controller that you can take on a plane, you're probably better off using a 25-key controller. For an ultra-thin and portable controller you should look at Edirol's PCR-M1 ($150) or PCRM30 32-key unit. I've never used an Edirol before but if compact is what you need...they've got it.

 

Another option would be a Novation ReMOTE SL 25-key controller (more expensive at $399) or the LE series ($150 for a 25-key). As a plus though, with every LE keyboard you get a free copy of Novation's Bass Station plug-in (which is available as a UB AU). I don't know how well the 'Auto-mapping' feature is but the website does say there's a template for Logic Pro 7.x as well as Reason and other plug-in synths.

 

Peace - xpander

[L Hall]

Thanks folks. I appreciate the input.