Apps / Tech / Gear recommendations.

MikeClarke

My digital piano current setup for learning is:

2nd display monitor on table in front linked to my computer so I can watch lessons while at the piano
Music stand to the side for lead sheets and Picnic coaching handouts
Also have a sustain pedal connect, but so far have only tried it out, not actually using as I'm still in early stages of learning to play
Have a set of headphones if need them, but lucky as I've got a practice room and my digital piano has it's own speakers which are okay for practicing.

WISHLIST:
At the moment, I've more than happy with my 88 Key Digital Piano set-up can't really think of any accessories at the moment, maybe a PA Speaker in the future if I get to play/busk at a cafe or community event? But I'd probably see if I could use my Guitar amp which might do it?

Also, I still fancy getting a Workstation/Arranger Keyboard in the future as well as my digital piano, something like a Roland Juno 61 or a Yamaha EW425 or similar.

However!! I did pop into a Store recently and very nearly put a deposit down on this little gem. Thought it was a 'Bargain' price, too good an opportunity to miss?? What do you think folks :-)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/160pOMu85otxInsOtmWZ66EABdvsnWvuZ/view?usp=sharing

RuthPower

MikeClarke hahahah WOW! GO FOR IT! And while you're at it, set up a VR headset so you can share the experience of playing it with us all!!
I recorded on an old Bluthner grand in a studio in London once for my band's album (circa 2014?). It was quite a bit older than this one though!
Really cool set up! And I love the idea of having a screen in front of your piano - why didn't I think of that? I always have to shift my laptop to and fro when teaching!
Ooh the sustain pedal is a fun journey - it makes everything sound so much nicer! But is also a bit of a trap because it encourages us to have less technique (because it sounds so good, why would we need technique?) so good idea to not start using too soon. I do have a lesson on pedalling somewhere that I did at @alexx88 's request a while ago, will see if I can find it! (Starting to lose track of where all the content is! I need a spreadsheet!)
Is your music stand a stand-alone one? Or attached to your keyboard?
And OMG - a workstation/arranger keyboard would be so amazing - the Roland Juno was about as crazy as I could go for the moment, those things are so complex - too many buttons!~

RuthPower

Here it is - Tips for pedalling through a leadsheet - complete with gold sparkly boots! https://school.pianopicnic.com/courses/748861/lectures/13623733

MikeClarke

RuthPower Thanks for the link.
Music stand is a stand-alone, at the left of the keyboard angled in. As you say, the extension monitor is handy, wasn't that expensive, a 21 inch Lenovo, got it from Officeworks I think, or Amazon, about AU$150 (PayPal pay in 4 - too easy). :-)

MikeClarke

RuthPower

My Pedal didn't come with 'gold sparkly boots', Roland short-changed me!!!!!

alexx88

I have a quiklok stand, along with an attached music rest that I have a light clipped to, an attached mic stand to the frame, a laptop shelf for my interface, & a shelf for papers, my iPad/iphone, etc. All quiklok accessories, except the 9 LED bulb light. Oh & the keyboard came with a sustain pedal. I also have 2 speakers on stands connected, as my keyboard is a stage piano & it doesn't have onboard speakers. Not sure there's anything on my wishlist list right now.

MikeClarke

alexx88 Cool set-up, just googled Quicklok, they look great gear, might have look into them, I've just got a generic stand, but it works okay for now.

RuthPower

alexx88 sponsored by Quicklok! Love it! I love the idea of the built-in laptop shelf, that sounds so handy. I'm too DIY for my own good sometimes - I use a plank of wood balanced on a stool. 😆 not very fancy!

MikeClarke oh definitely complain about that one! 😄

Lyle

Now I know Ruth has a fine printable practice planner but I appreciate the added flexibility of an app based journal. I have tried a few different one's and can now recommend Andante on the app store (yes I'm afraid Mac/iPhone/iPad only). It's easy to use, keeps track of your practice sessions, has a built in metronome and audio recorder, you can add notes to your sessions as well as create journals which I use to plan my weekly/monthly practice. What's not to like.

RuthPower

Lyle oooh that sounds very useful! I'm definitely going to check that out. Thanks for the recco!

Lyle

Ok I'm done.... with this cheap 61 key midi controller, four months is enough for me dealing with these keys uneven velocity and squishy feel, sometimes I'll hit a key and get no sound at all 😬. It's time to go for the full 88 key hammer action experience. I've been looking, a lot, got to try a few keyboards out, and did so much online research it made my head spin. Finally I made a decision on a Yamaha CK88, I tried it, it sounded good and felt so much better it was like night and day compared to what I have.
Then literally days before I handed over the cash I saw a Roland RD2000 on sale with an $1800 discount 😲.
Rolands best key action, excellent midi/vst control, loads of sounds and the V piano engine. I just have to try it.

Lyle

Damn this keyboard is sublime, the v piano sound is wonderful and the keys are insanely good, I can actually achieve dynamics when I play now. Yep, I went to the store to try it out and I just had to bring it home with me.
I'm literally just scratching the surface of it, I got it hooked up to my laptop to try my existing vst piano for a sound comparison, I was using Native Instruments The Gentleman upright piano (something always sounded a bit off to me) and the RD 2000 Stage Grand just blew it out of the water, I actually didn't want to stop playing.
I am extremely happy to own a real musical instrument, this is going to be a great journey.

RuthPower

Lyle wow the Roland RD2000 is a serious board! It makes such a difference to have an enjoyable instrument. Ahhh the excitement of getting a new piano, there's nothing quite like it! What's your favourite sound so far? Looks like there's a lot of faders to work with there!

Lyle

I like the TW organ and pads but my go to is the stage grand when I practice. I was wondering how I would use the faders as you can use them to control any combo of internal or external sounds, plus they function as organ drawbars. I wanted to play some Pink Floyd so I purchased Apple Mainstage, tracked down some vst patches and samples, set up keyboard splits figured out the midi mapping and nailed the intro to Shine on you crazy diamond up until Gilmour starts playing (I will be taking it further though, now I've found a guitar solo to use as a backing track). MainStage is an awesome addition and so cheap for what it's capable of. It's easy to go down the rabbit hole when you dabble with synths though, so I have to find a balance between piano practice and noodling with patches and attempting to recreate the music that I grew up with.

RuthPower

Ooh @Lyle that sounds like so much fun. I hear you on the rabbit hole of synths - I find that I'm pretty much split down the middle these days in terms of spending my time - for a while there (a few years) I was more into synths, especially for writing new music and only played piano when teaching. But probably in the last year have come back to writing on the piano too. It feels like two completely different instruments even though we can play it on the same keys - I find how I play the piano is different to how I play a epiano, is different to how I play an organ, is different to how I play a synth pad or lead.. its as if the sound tells you what it wants. I love that.

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