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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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?
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...
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.