Where Are the New Keytars?
Image: Bombardier
Peter from Create Digital Music whacks Roland on the head for their inability to spot trends. This time they're missing the Keytar resurgence, forcing retro enthusiasts to go out and buy older models on eBay. I looked for one myself a year or so ago and couldn't believe the prices they commanded for what are essentially $30 keyboards in a fancy shell.
People love their 303, their 808, even their 909. Yet when these a whole generation of kids desperately wanted you to just re-release these things — or your Jupiter, or Juno, any of your other fantastic keyboards and sound toys of yesteryear — you’ve responded with souped-up, “modernized” versions that mainly share only the name.A Chinese crap merchant could do very well by knocking together a $99 Keytar clone with USB and MIDI out. Perhaps throw in a cheap synth and an 1/8th-inch output for live shows, too. M-Audio, I choose you.
Keytar Komeback: You Don’t Love It Until It’s Gone, An Open Letter to Roland [CreateDigitalMusic.com]
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sickb on Where Are the New Keytars?...
" yeah! i was also very angry about the high prices of used roland ax 1 and ax..."
themindfantastic on Where Are the New Keytars?...
"Ever since I saw Uncle Ghastly aka Chris 'Crackers' Cracknell of Science Big Nin..."
Simon Greenwood on Where Are the New Keytars?...
"I'll see you and raise you 'The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme' and 'Hot Dog..."
DrSchnauzer on Where Are the New Keytars?...
"I can remember Jan Hammer telling in TV that he could emulate a guitar sound and..."
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DrSchnauzer
#1 – 5:45 AM February 18, 2008
I can remember Jan Hammer telling in TV that he could emulate a guitar sound and control that with a keytar. And it was almost as good as the real thing.
...almost...
Miami vice theme anyone?
Simon Greenwood
#2 – 9:19 AM February 18, 2008
I'll see you and raise you 'The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme' and 'Hot Doggie' by Colourbox, which both have beautifully graunchy 8-bit sampled guitar solos in them, although I don't think the Colourbox boys ever made rock faces with a keytar.
It shouldn't be too hard to put an M-Audio Oxygen or similar mini keyboard into a controller module with a neck and the right holes in the back. Hmmm, I feel another crazy idea coming on...
themindfantastic
#3 – 4:41 PM February 20, 2008
Ever since I saw Uncle Ghastly aka Chris 'Crackers' Cracknell of Science Big Ninja Ten, (His 'Keytar' was once owned by Thomas Dolby) I too have been wondering if they would ever come back because seeing him rock with one really was impressive.
sickb
#4 – 2:18 AM December 28, 2008
yeah! i was also very angry about the high prices of used roland ax 1 and ax 7 keytars. roland is really missing the comeback of keytars...i mean: roland is not innovating new things anymore!!! i sold my roland fantom last year and buyed a new slick yamaha np 30...76 key classic digital piano...it is much more lighter to transport than this too heavy and too fancy roland fantom! i connect my yamaha np 30 to my slick new asus eeepc 1000h netbook ---> and i have A LOT OF great software synths to play with ! ! !
so i build a keytar on my own...you can watch and listen to my keytar-version here...
http://www.somacosma.de/see/commercial-keytar.php