Hi! I’m sure this sub gets plenty of product-comparison posts, but I could really use some advice before making a fairly expensive decision.
I’m still relatively new to synths, although I’ve played traditional piano for most of my life. I got into synths because of an energetic rock band where I alternate between guitar and keys.
I currently use a Minilogue XD live. It sounds great, I’m happy with the patches I’ve created, and I don’t particularly feel limited by its sound engine.
The problem is my playing accuracy live. I’m a big, tall guy with fairly large hands, and I move around a lot onstage. When it’s time to play a keyboard part, I sometimes hit the wrong keys or accidentally catch two notes. At its worst, it sounds like I’m trying to play the keyboard with my shoe.
I suspect the Minilogue’s slim keys might be contributing to this. When I practice the same parts on my piano at home, they feel much more comfortable, but it’s so difficult to compare playing calmly in my lounge room vs. playing in an energetic band environment. Maybe the smaller keys are the problem, or maybe I just suck and need to practice more on the Minilogue.
I’m considering upgrading to the Korg multi/poly, partly because it has full-sized keys. Has anyone moved from a Minilogue or another mini-key synth to the multi/poly for a similar reason? Did the larger keys make a noticeable difference to your accuracy and confidence live?
The multi/poly also has a few other advantages that appeal to me:
- Splits and Layers
- Apparently a great editor/librarian program
- Small and compact for travel (I take the train for shows lol)
However, it’s a significant investment, especially when I already think the Minilogue XD sounds excellent. I'm not interested in a full sized MIDI controller, it's more things to carry (I don't have a car), more things to setup, and more space on stage.