Keytar for the Nord Stage

[christianjwagner]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to get your opinion on the famous keytar issue.

For >25 years now, I have had a Roland AX-1 (I recently painted it matte black, including the keys, looks nice - see photo attached), which fortunately still works. But as we all suffer from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) I wonder what else is out there that makes sense, looks good, performs reliably. I sometimes play with a keytar, it is a nice feeling pulling songs like Separate Ways or Jump in front of the stage.

Screenshot 2024-11-19 at 22.49.58.png (401.14 KiB) Viewed 1056 times

There is the awesome-looking Roland AX-Edge (of course in black), however big and expensive. There is the nice KORG RK-100S which is more compact and while for sure high quality (even with wooden parts supposedly) it looks more toy-ish from outside. I exclude the Alesis Wireless or other more awkward options.

I am hesitating paying a lot of money for a keytar synth whose sounds I don't even use (you won't ever see me using a ridiculous Roland or Korg key tar sound when I have my Nord Stage), and where I could have just stuck to my AX-1, it is just for pure MIDI controlling on stage and controlling my NS4C. Still, I want the best and the question is: What is the best?

Any thoughts? Experiences?

[Schorsch]

One question came into my mind immediately: what is meant by „the best“?

If I got you right you are using the keytar just as a midi controller for your Nord Stage 3, correct? If so I think „the best“ is what you already have, since it seems to work without any issues and does not cost you anything.