Studiologic Sl88 Synthesizer

[19 lb] Can be used with any synthesizer/digital piano

[Download] I replaced my Casio PX-160 digital piano for this StudioLogic SL88 Studio MIDI keyboard controller. I really like the Casio PX-160 key action, however, this StudioLogic key bed with its touch action is a fine replacement to keep my fingers physically fit. This keyboard in conjunction with the lighter action Novation Launchkey 88 Mk3 MIDI keyboard makes a fine pair for alternating between touch and light action. This StudioLogic key bed is Fatar TP/100LR, a highly regarded and affordable key bed. Also this keyboard controller is Made in Italy. I am quite content with this purchase.

[Octave Shift] A couple of months ago I bought my first ever keyboard (Yamaha PSR Series 61 key). Never wanted a keyboard before as I cant read sheet music and am not a musician or artist. A couple weeks with my beginner keyboard (using Acid Pro) and soon realized you really do need the full 88 keys. Shopped around a lot before getting the SL88. The SL88 feels more like the actual Pianos at church (while I am confident our church will continue to use ACTUAL instruments, i.e. Pianos, Organs, etc.. for the remainder of time). The keyboard feels and plays very nicely after getting used to it. As a noobie to MIDI controllers I will say the included software is somewhat straight forward, but did have to watch a video on how to get it so sync with the keyboard (so easy really). Love that it is fully configurable. The gifted synths are very cool if you get them. Only thing is I would like to have had simple transport controls, as well as a simple button to allow turning off touch sensitivity for certain synths. For this you have to make a profile and switch to it, my old Yamaha just has a button right there to turn touch sensitivity on and off. Overall love this controller and will be keeping it!

[USB Cable] I bought this to replace a Studiologic SL-990, which started to have key contact problems after 15 years of use and abuse (contacts wearing out and a huge amount of accumulated dirt and grime in the switch contact areas). So that product amounted to about $50/year cost over the lifetime of the product. The new SL88 Grand has an amazingly authentic piano-touch feel. It also is very flexible in all the configuration parameters. No longer in audio/music production, I do not have need any more for all the different things it is capable of doing as a MIDI controller, so to those who may be contemplating purchasing it for more mundane purposes, I would still highly recommend it. For example, I use the keyboard to drive only the grand piano program on an Alesis Nanopiano (a late 1990's piano module with Bsendorfer samples), connecting that to powered satellite speakers and a powered bass/sub. The default velocity curve was fine, and I was easily able to disable the sticks from affecting anything (by default one caused pitch-bend and one of the non-return-to-center sticks adjusted the reverb amount). Keep in mind that today's electronics and programmable features are not expensive; you are paying the extra cost for the physical construction that affects the mechanical action. Note that the SL88 Studio is $400 less expensive than the SL88 Grand for that reason, though it has the same electronics and associated features.

[Monochrome LCD] Studiologic did an excellent job designing this keyboard. The action emulates the touch of a high-end weighted action keybed, with great piano feel. The SL Editor software works great and gives you a lot of flexibility for creating patches which leverage all of the keyboards parameters such as key splits, up to four pedal assignments, Midi CC, program change, etc. It has great features for live performance such as 3 joysticks and an LCD screen to make navigation easy in low light environments. It is light weight and easy to take to a gig. The only small negative about it is that I wish SL would have put two or three midi-configurable control/push button knobs in the area where the joy sticks are located.

[Analog] After evaluating several new synthesizer deployments I settled on the complement that best fit my needs. I think I made a wize choice.

[Potter Craft] So, I'm not a musician but I love this Synthesizer so much. It's tiny, but so powerful. All by itself it's a very robust with amazing sounding Reverb and Delay. When paired with a Midi Keyboard you can truly unlock its full potential. This machine is great to carry around with you to be able to create music on the go.

[1] I've been using this little mixer for my home editing setup and I really like it. I'm running a synthesizer and my laptop in. Then running the tape out a digital audio recorder and the main to my studio monitors. One thing to note is that it does of course require power.

[4.835 lb] I love this synthesizer! It is Moog's updated version of the Sub Phatty, which now has 2-note paraphony, making it even better. I also love its simplicity. It allows you to create custom sounds and save them as presets. The synth has 16 presets installed and lets you download many other presets through the included editor software. If you're looking for a bare-bones synth that will allow you to learn the basics of subtractive synthesis and have that classic Moog sound, this is your lucky day. Get it! You won't regret it.

[48.5 lb] I have been using Roland synthesizer since the 1980s. I am a hard to convince consumer when it comes to analog modeling and this one is probably some of the best I've heard from Roland. The ability to stack all of your different synthesizer models on top of one another is amazing. it's very convincing and is just gorgeous sounding. The keyboard feels good and the flow is incredible with all of the polyphony it sounds huge!