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Whether you're a solo entertainer or a party rocker – anyone who wants to get an audience in the mood and keep them there deserves a good and versatile keyboard. What belongs to that, and which are the best entertainer keyboards?
The all-rounder among musical instruments
An entertainer keyboard is a true all-rounder. It masters almost every sound, plays rhythms and percussion from every corner of the world and gives you the freedom to be creative. The sound of these versatile instruments has become increasingly varied and better over the years and decades. What was once called a “rhythm machine” has long since been replaced by a sonic experience that can be customised in minute detail.
Audio and MIDI – modern sound generation at its best
The electronic processing of data plays an ever greater role in the world of keyboards. This applies both to entry-level models and to absolute professional instruments like the Yamaha Genos. Almost all modern-generation entertainer keyboards can now send, generate and convert MIDI data into audio. The handling of MIDI files is particularly advantageous for singers. These fully arranged songs are loaded into the instrument via USB stick or disk and played back from there. These are semi-playbacks whose sound is reproduced directly by the keyboard.
What must a good entertainer keyboard be able to do?
Keyboards are available in a wide range of price classes between €300 and €4,000. The minimum requirements for a good keyboard are 61 full-size standard keys, sufficient polyphony and a good selection of rhythms and drums. Today a good device, for example from the manufacturer Korg, should also have a MIDI In and a MIDI Out socket. The ability to record ensembles is of course part of a good electronic keyboard, as are headphones, a USB port and a backlit display.
If you've learnt a classic keyboard instrument, it's worth buying a keyboard with velocity sensitivity. True “solo entertainers” – those who also have to set up and strike down on their own – should also pay attention to the instrument's weight and dimensions. After all, it should fit in the car and be quick to set up with just a few moves.
Beginners and pros – what's the difference?
With this wide range of keyboards and prices, the question arises where the difference between the instruments lies. The positive answer: “With the big manufacturers like Yamaha or Roland, it is usually not the sound but solely the features.” So you can produce high-quality sounds even with a cheaper instrument. In the lower price classes you'll find 61-key keyboards with hundreds of sounds and styles and various registrations. From around the €500 mark you can already find 76-key keyboards with significantly higher polyphony. The upper mid-range then starts at around €2,000. Here you can already see various differences externally in the keyboard's construction. There are more connection options and more powerful dual sequencers. But the differences now become larger and the right choice depends heavily on how you intend to use the instrument.