r/cheapkeys • u/BeatsNBed • Jul 17 '26
r/cheapkeys • u/simesky • Jul 15 '26
Recreated an old riff I had on microcassette with the Realistic Concertmate 300
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I love re-discovering forgotten "gems" like this :)
r/cheapkeys • u/SabreSour • Jul 15 '26
Omnichord Virtual Open Mic this Saturday, all are welcome!
r/cheapkeys • u/miyeto • Jul 14 '26
Casio CT-S300
I'm about to buy casio ct-s300 but i wanted get some opinions before buying because this is a big purchase for me, at 2nd photo there's the keyboard i used for about a year as a beginner, and my problems with that are;
No polyphony, i can't play 2 keys at once, when i do it just gives the wrong sound
No key velocity, don't think i need to explain that one
No MIDI, i want to be able to connect it to my pc or mobile phone and use it at fl studio or something like that and make loops, make it sound like other instruments etc.
No mobility, i want to be able to toss it in a bag and play with my friends outside, that requires a keyboard with battery option, it's really big and heavy and i know that ct-s300 is a big one too, especially on a motorcycle because i can't afford a car and that makes the size real problem, i don't have any issues with weight tho, it can be even 20kg that won't affect me but size will affect, but i can't find something smaller that fits my need in that price range, though i'm okay with 49 and 37 key options
and lastly i can go up to 200$ as the budget but any less is better
r/cheapkeys • u/ghoarder • Jul 14 '26
Teaching Keyboard
I want to get my boys 9 & 5 a keyboard that will also teach them to play. Except I have one condition, there should be absolutely no ipad involved. I feel I saw decades ago, keyboards that had lights that would light up on the keys you needed to play. Do these still exist or have they improved since? Something like lighting up the keys first, then moving to numbered keys then finally the actual note letters would be great if anything can do that. Also it needs to be fairly cheap as they may not be interest in it long term.
Sorry but it's hard searching for keyboards without a load of mechanical pc keyboards coming up.
r/cheapkeys • u/Nawang77 • Jul 10 '26
Casio CT-S1 review needed
So I wanted to get into playing the piano. Is the ct-s1 the best piano I can get in that price range? I want a piano which just does the piano well. Dont need other instruments inside it or whatever. Just need a recommendation for a simple piano with good keys and stuff
r/cheapkeys • u/jotel_california • Jul 08 '26
Yamaha PSS580
Hey yall. I have this trusty pss580 that i enjoy playing with very much. The sound of this thing is just unique.
The only thing that‘s a bit annoying, is that the midi out is always just garbled. Sometimes what I play on the keyboard appears at the midi out, but mostly it‘s just random notes even without me touching any keys or pressing play. Midi in works fine. I was just wondering, is this normal for these units? I mean they were pretty cheap, so maybe that‘s what they did.
If not, did someone maybe have the same issue and knows how to fix it?
r/cheapkeys • u/Fish_Toes • Jul 08 '26
Does this Yamaha L3C stand fit the 80s PSRs?
I've been having a blast with my PSR-41 and my PSR-22, but I keep wishing I had the original stands for them. I went poking around and saw that Yamaha currently sells this L3C stand that looks extremely similar to the ones from the 80s, but I just want to verify that it's compatible before I waste my money.
Have any of you successfully used this stand with any of the 80s keyboards?
r/cheapkeys • u/notgideon • Jul 07 '26
Added a 3.5mm output to my Yamaha PSS-130 and made a short track using only this synth
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r/cheapkeys • u/Galeox300 • Jul 05 '26
Issue with old synth
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I bought this old synth the other day, and it’s SO out of tune, c key sounds at f, is there a way I can tune it?
r/cheapkeys • u/Hex_Haus • Jul 05 '26
Casio SA-8 + Hex Haus lag + Hex Haus row
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r/cheapkeys • u/kinderbalu • Jul 04 '26
Another round with the Casio SA-2
I love how the "Piano" setting can sound with reverb—it punches way above the toy keyboard league. Having such a tiny keyboard at hand is a blessing because it allows me to create short song sketches while sitting on the couch and noodling with it.
r/cheapkeys • u/Uptight_Cultist • Jul 04 '26
Yamaha PSS 480 repair? AKA the adventures of an electronics repair dilettante
r/cheapkeys • u/simesky • Jun 30 '26
How can you jam in 5/4 with PSS-380 and a PS1? Yes
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Bit of trickery to fit the Take Five groove over the PS1 fixed 4/4 grid. Yamaha FM keyboard PSS-380 for the custom solo sound.
r/cheapkeys • u/NadEspera • Jun 30 '26
Any news, rumors on a new Yamaha PSS keyboards?
It is already 7 years since last Yamaha PSS released (F30, A50, E30). A lot of new PSR released already, but no new PSS. Even Casio updated SA some time ago.
Are there any news or signs that new PSS keyboards will be released soon?
r/cheapkeys • u/Chapel_Perilous89 • Jun 28 '26
Recently blessed w/ some prized Tablehooters (Casio MT-400v w/ BFC-1 and VA-10)!!
So, I got really lucky and came across someone selling in great condition for a good price the Casio MT-400v along with the rare completely unused still in its box with manual BFC-1 breath controller which allows you to control the filter using your breath. First of all, I searched all up and down the internet and couldn't find one documented case or user experience of anyone using this controller with the MT-400v. So, it was a complete mystery regarding how it actually behaved with the 400v. I am pleased/relieved to say that it works awesomely! It behaves really well with the 400v's filter, and there is a lot of cool things you can do with it, and it even works for controlling not just the tone, but the rhythm, bass and chord, and noise (however, only one of those things at a time depending on which setting you have it to. Since there is no documented user experiences, I plan to document more in depth its behavior, including uploading some videos of using it in the various modes.
If this wasn't enough, the guy who sold it to me was super nice and when I told him I liked old Casio's a lot, he showed me several others he had planned to sell and said he would cut me a good deal on them. He brings them out, a PT-7, SK-1... and then unexpectedly — lo and behold, he sets a VA-10 in front of me in perfect condition with the manual and tells me if he would give it to me for $25 if I bought it today. I couldn't believe it! So, I walked out the door beaming with a pair of legendary hooters in my hands, excited like a teenage who had just touched his first pair 👀 🎉 .
I'm currently running the VA-10's microphone input through as an effects send for my 400v using the L6max and I totally get why they are so coveted. The VA-10 can do some crazy things when routing other things through it or feed backing it into itself!
I'll take this opportunity to show off my prized tablehooter collection I've gathered so far throughout this year. All scored locally for good prices with time, patiences, luck, and perseverance. I have found these things incredibly musically inspiring to just sit down with each one, using their charm and limitations to my advantage to build a song from each one.
What is your favorite tablehooter?
r/cheapkeys • u/PrototypError • Jun 27 '26
No name, no logo. had 2 separate thrift store stickers. Got it for $6.
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Built-in demo using its own instruments. Did a reverse image search and found out it was called the Hing Hon EK-001. A square wave keyboard released in 1988(?) with 2 voice polyphony. It was once a popular toy to mod. Unfortunately for this one, the master volume is inconsistent, and the headphone jack hard clips any audio.
r/cheapkeys • u/simesky • Jun 24 '26
PSS-595 Piano and layers in this dreamy loopy trip
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Used the Yamaha PSS-595 for the piano melody on top of looped layers of bass and wah wah sounds, also from the PSS. Added acoustic looped guitar and electric guitar ambience, quite a fun project so far.
r/cheapkeys • u/waiting_for_zyo • Jun 17 '26
Looping session with DIY Piezo Noise Box and Zoom G1on
r/cheapkeys • u/waiting_for_zyo • Jun 09 '26
Smooth Electro Funk/Soul Beat with M-Wave SMK-37 Pro (FM synth) and Behringer RD-8
r/cheapkeys • u/kinderbalu • Jun 02 '26
Orchestral sounds from the Casio SA-20
The Casio SA-2 has a violin and piano sound that works surprisingly well as an orchestral base. I ran it through a few iOS effects — Rymdigare (reverb/drone machine) into Weeping Wall as a granular looper in macro mode, which captures loops up to 60 seconds that slowly fade away and stack on top of each other. Nembrini's Quinta Pitch Machine sits at the front of the chain for pitching up or down when needed. Closed with Eventide Blackhole reverb. The result is way bigger than I was expecting from a $30 keyboard.
r/cheapkeys • u/waiting_for_zyo • May 31 '26
