Keyboard Buying Guide - Overview
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Keyboards are great way of learning to play a variety of music styles and are packed with all sorts of rhythms and effects for
you to experiment with. Here at Nevada Music we stock a wide range of keyboards from all of the top manufacturers including
Yamaha, Roland and Korg.
Setting Up A Keyboard
Whether you are learning to play the keyboard for the first time or are an experienced pianist, we have produced a selection
of information guides, providing practical guidance with various keyboard features, from tips on how to set up your new
keyboard to learning how to record the music you make.
Play & Record Your Own Music
We are committed to helping musicians of all ages and ability discover the pleasures of performing and composing music so
check out our buyers guides and find the keyboard that is right for you.
How to set up your keyboard
So, you've spent your money and picked out a shiny new keyboard and now it's home you need to think about how to set it up.
So, the first thing you need to think about is location – where will it sit, will it be a permanent fixture or will it need
to be packed away after each use?
Keyboard Sound Insulation
If the keyboard is one of the "home-style" range of piano's – i.e. the type of instrument that would not look out of place
in a lounge, then you merely need to position it so that you can sit and play whenever the mood takes you. However, be
careful about locating against a wall, particularly if you live next to an adjoining house or building, as the wall will
amplify the sound and you may start to annoy the neighbours...
Music Power Leads
If it's a portable keyboard, either with or without speakers, then you just need to locate it nearby of a 13 amp plug socket to
power up. If the keyboard has built-in speakers then you're pretty much ready to go as soon as you switch it on. However, if it
does not have speakers, then you have a few options:
- Play your keyboard using headphones (almost all keyboards have an onboard headphone socket).
- Use a keyboard amp or combo to play the keyboard through (this works well but takes up a little bit more space).
- Connect your keyboard to your home hi-fi via jack-to-phono leads.
Playing back through your stereo
As most people have a domestic hi-fi system at home you may be able to play your keyboard back through your stereo. To do this
you'll need to purchase a special connecting cable which is a jack-to-phono configuration. The connectivity method requires
this cable as on the back of your domestic hi-fi amplifier there is a series of phono inputs which are usually coloured white
for the left channel and red for the right hand channel.
By using a cable with a phono plug on one end and a jack plug on the other, you'll be able to connect the phono plugs into an
input on the rear of the hi-fi amp marked 'auxiliary' and connect the other end with the jack socket(s) into the stereo left
& right outputs of your keyboard. You'll probably want to hear the sound in stereo so you’ll need two of these cables, one
for the left and another for the right channel.
Switch the keyboard on and slowly increase the volume on the hi-fi amp until it reaches the desired level of volume; be careful
not to have the level too high as the dynamic frequency range of the keyboard may damage your hi-fi speakers. Now you're ready
to go and practice to your heart's content...
MIDI Keyboard Connections
Almost all keyboards now have on-board MIDI interfaces (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). The point of midi is to enable
the transfer of digital data between instruments and to allow connectivity to computers, sequencers and other external devices
such as electronic drum machines. Unless you are familiar with midi and how it works you may prefer to let sleeping dogs lie as
far as midi is concerned, for although it can be learned quite easily it is a comprehensive subject and you may wish to invest
in a tutorial book. MIDI instruments are connected via five-pin midi cables and for complex midi set-ups a dedicated MIDI patch
bay can be deployed to make the system more user friendly.
Compact Electronic Piano Storage
When it's not being used you need to think about where to store your keyboard, I'd recommend that you purchase a gig-bag or some
kind of protective cover to store it in so that it doesn't collect to much dust or wear and tear. The more expensive digital
workstation keyboards may warrant a fully fledged flight-case – particularly if they are being used out on the road.
Instrument Tuition & Instruction
For those of you who are learning to play the keyboard you may want to think about purchasing an instructional DVD to help you
to master the art of keyboard playing. Nevada has an extensive range of instructional DVDs and CDs that may be able to help your
cause.
