r/keys • u/SchemeDifferent3237 • 3d ago
Gear Keys Setup Poll?
Hi friends! I'm curious:
What kind of music do you make?
What boards do you use? Stage Keys? Synthesizers? MIDI Controllers?
If you use DAWs/VSTs, what kind of DAWs/VSTs do you use?
I'm mainly a jazz pianist (but I do pop keys using Mainstage and produce with Logic Pro on the side), rocking the Yamaha CP88, but looking into getting my next piece of equipment, so I was curious as to what setups everyone else is using!
I was eyeing getting the Expressive E Osmose... or getting Ableton Live and using the CP88 as a MIDI controller.
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u/Nickmorgan19457 3d ago
Jazz (mostly). Yamaha YC73 and a Crumar Mojo61 with the lower manual and pedals. Logic and Reason, but never live.
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u/Physical-Break6898 3d ago
How do you like all of the Crumar Mojo keyboards?
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u/smikkelhut 3d ago
Stage 3 and Mojo61 user here!
I think it’s an awesome instrument
I use it for touring as well and sofar frictionless experience. It’s super easy to adjust live1
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u/10HorsedSizedDucks 3d ago
I’m a metal keyboardist so I have the crackhead setup…
Komplete Kontrol A61 midi controller, into my laptop over usb. FL Studio as my DAW.
VSTs : Flex and Vital, along with some effects. I’m configuring them using FL Patcher.
As an interface, i just plug into my band’s IEM interface over USB. It means i can send my instruments straight to the output on the back. Easy. (Plus i have DAW control over the other instruments as a bonus)
Bonus stuff (this is where the fun begins…): Korg RK100s2 keytar.
Wireless guitar adapter to sent audio into my laptop.
Laptop running a distortion pedal and EQ to tighten it up, and kill the bass end.
And to top it off… a wah pedal being controlled from the Keytar.
Would I recommend any of it? Absolutely not. This setup is tailor mare for me specifically. It’s specifically for my music, my band and how i play it.
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u/wereMole88 3d ago edited 3d ago
2 MIDI controllers (Studiologic Numa X Piano 73 and Arturia Keylab MK2 61) and an Asus Tuf 15 gaming laptop running Reason (on Windows 11). I only use Reason and it's rack extensions for all my sounds for live. I could host VSTs but I like to keep it as uncomplicated as possible. The options with just Reason are quite extensive.
I'm also running Bone MIDI translator to handle MIDI traffic between the controllers and Reason or pretty much anything I need. It's basically a Swiss Army knife for MIDI stuff.
Lastly I have a Behringer UMC204HD audio interface. An in ear amplifier, a docking station and some other utility stuff in a small Gator laptop rack case. I have a Nektar Panorama P1 as a MIDI control surface. Pedals are sustain, expression and a Boss FS-6 double switch pedal to handle patch changes. There's also a BomeBox but currently it's unused in my setup.
Edit: forgot to add put it's for a pop-rock cover act, everybody sings, drums, bass, electric guitar, keys and lead singer.
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u/TylerEntertains 3d ago
I switch it up depending what gig I’m on.
But usually I’m running Yamaha P525 as my piano, MODX6 as a synth, and Hammond XK-C1 for my organs.
It’s rare that I run all three. But when I do it covers almost everything I need.
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u/Physical-Break6898 3d ago
Does Eli use an Osmose with Octave Cat?
I’m currently running a Yamaha CK88, Prophet Rev 2, and a Moog Minitaur controlled by an Akai Mini.
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u/Small_Dog_8699 3d ago
Im a studio rat. If im playing out im playing guitar.
Korg Kronos 88, Hammond XK3C, various VIs, i have the Korg Legacy stuff and a virtual mellotron from GSI. Been using Luna for my DAW more and more.
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u/Formal_Strike_9878 2d ago
Is this the new korg Kronos?
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u/Small_Dog_8699 2d ago
Its a gen1 but maxed on memory and oversized disk making it a bit more than a gen2. The Kronos hasn’t changed apart from trim and procesos speed and disk size.
Newer faster processor makes it boot and liad samples faster but thats it. The software is the same across all of them in terms of functionality. I upgraded to latest and get all the same sounds and features.
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u/Gondorian_Grooves 3d ago
Keyboard: Yamaha MODX M6 - would love to move to a MIDI keyboard to save some money, but can't find any with as god of keys.
DAW: Ableton
Audio Interface: Ableton Push 3
VST: Zebra 3, Repro 5, Stock Ableton Suite stuff
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u/NotoriousCFR 3d ago edited 3d ago
I have a Korg Nautilus 88 as a sort of do-everything board. I deal mostly with onboard sounds and programming splits/layers for specific songs using the workstation interface - not much of a laptop guy.
For rock gigs, my upper tier is usually my Nord Electro 73, used primarily for the organ functions (including drawbar simulator). I also like the clav and the wurly.
For wedding gigs, my upper tier is usually my old Korg Krome 73, for when there's an additional sound to be played that there simply isn't enough real estate for on the Nautilus. Most frequently I use it for horns, string sections, or synth leads, while the Nautilus holds down piano/EP/organ, or synth pad/layer sounds
I have a Kawai MP6 stage piano that is my go-to for any "acoustic piano" gig (including most classical or jazz gigs) that doesn't provide an actual piano. She's pretty old but feels better/more lifelike than any other 88 key digital I've ever played. Even on some rock gigs, if they're piano-heavy (ie one time did a Billy Joel tribute show with one of my projects) I'll put the Kawai on bottom specifically for the action feel.
I have a Deepmind 12 synth at home but I don't really use it much. Also a Korg CX3 organ (Hammond clone) that needs work which has been on the back burner for ages because the Nord organ sounds have been generally sufficient. And a Yamaha MODX8 which was my workhorse for years - the power jack came loose so it isn't currently usable, but eventually I do want to fix it up and keep it around as a spare instrument.
For musical theater, MainStage is still the industry standard. I use my Nautilus as a controller, run the software on a 2023 MBP M3 Max, and a Focusrite Scarlet interface for audio output. I only ever use MainStage for pit gigs, too complex and honestly glitchy for me to want to use on a more regular basis, also having to lug a laptop to gigs is just one more piece of highly valuable equipment that I have to worry about something happening to.
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u/Prize-Slice-1690 3d ago
I am Keyboarder in a Rock, Pop band and playing left Hand bass as well.
My Setup ist Nord Stage 4 88 for Pianos, Rhodes, Organs + Roland Fantom 7 for Everything else 🙌🏼
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u/akaAllTheHats 3d ago
I play with local bands and contemporary church bands.
I use gig performer with a behringer xtouch compact to build my patches. I mainly use keyscape and omnisphere, I use Hammond b-3x for organ, and I also have komplete (x) ultimate and the Roland cloud that I’ll use sometimes.
My preferred set up on stage is an sl88 studio with nano kontrol, and then a 61key komplete kontrol on top. The SL covers my keys and layers, while the 61 acts as my organ and leads. Currently using the nano kontrol for drawbars, but I’d like to switch to a crumar drawbar controller. I also use a cheap 25key controller for triggering drone pads.
Sometimes I bring my laptop and interface by itself, but preferably I keep it in a dj case with the xtouch and 25key to my left. Without it, my levels are set, but with it, I can watch the faders move and adjust levels on the fly without worrying about jump/catch controller actions.
In gig performer I have a template that can handle most songs - it has several pianos, several eps, organ, pad, strings, choir, and my drones. If there’s a sound specific to a song, I’ll duplicate the template and add what I need. The xtouch handles what’s turned on and levels.
With this setup, I can run scenes for individual parts of the song, see a setlist, and switch from part to part with a foot pedal.
I like to get as close as I can get to sounding like I’m running tracks.
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u/Formal_Strike_9878 2d ago edited 2d ago
Jazz, Gospel, Neo/Soul
If I’m running a midi setup I use the following on my MacBook Pro: MAudio 88 Key Grand
Omnisphere (strings/synth)
Keyscape(Aux Keyboards - Digital Eps Rhodes Wurli Clavi)
MKSensation (Main Gospel Keys Sound, Glide Prophy Synth)
Kontakt (JPop Brass patch, Fantasia Bells) from Roland Fantom G
Logic Pro (Custom Secret Sound)
If I’m running my brand new live setup
Nord Stage 4 - mains
Yamaha Montage 61 - Aux
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u/DefinitelyNotSully 2d ago
I use a Yamaha Modx M8 paired with a Crumar Classic Suitcase. The Yamaha does pretty much everything but the Hammond sounds leave a lot to be desired and a second manual is a must, hence the Crumar.
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u/Ganelo-san 2d ago
Back then, I used my Alesis Prestige as my MIDI Controller connected to my laptop using Ableton Live as my DAW. I used Pipe Organ, Orchestral Strings, Brass and Timpani. But it was so heavy lugging an 88 keys digital piano, stand and my laptop. So, I went ahead for a Yamaha PSR-SX720. Which does all the things I do. It's a bit lighter with less things to lug around and more powerful keyboard.
Although, it is still heavy and not good for my shoulders, I plan to save up for a Yamaha CK61 which is similar to SX720 just more compact, smaller speakers, significantly lighter (almost half of it), no touchscreen and accompaniment.
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u/DanMasterson 3d ago
Live rock, pop, funk, jam, disney, showtune in the context of a 4 piece band. most comfortable on piano/rhodes/wurly but trained in drawbar, theater/church organ and clav techniques. getting fluent with subtractive synthesis and gain processing are my final bosses.
Prefer yamaha or mason hamlin pianos and play yamaha cp88 and modx m7 live.
I am just starting with the M7 software instrument. Logic for DAW. Bandhelper for setlist/midi programming. I also just rolled out an old Korg keytar via shure wireless for the entertainment factor and the 1/4 club shows where we get to a dark minor jam place.
Poly after touch is on my list of future features. I have a mellotron M4000D in my home studio with it. CME like the Osmose is cool and appealing to me for its expressiveness. Eli is doing very cool things with it in Octave Cat.
I’d love to add a dedicated clone wheel but the reality is my live book doesn’t call for it often enough as a feature to warrant. if i was going full time r&b or country then hell yea.