The journey of learning about modern keyboards has continued. I’m getting a better idea of what I want (and need). Today I decided to eliminate any brand that wasn’t 100% Mac compatible. Though I don’t think I will be plugging a keyboard into my computer right away, I do want that as an option for a later date, and I don’t want to have to deal with Windows to do so or miss out on important features either because their particular midi-loading software won’t run on my computer. That’s going to be the fussiest thing, so that’s the thing all decisions must rest on.

So far, that one criteria has eliminated all Yamaha and Casio keyboards. Sort of a shame, because I like Yamaha keyboards (Casio not so much), and they both tend to have models with nice features and lower prices. Oh well, won’t work 100% on my computer? Might as well be junk, as far as I am concerned.

I’m also unwilling to have fewer than 61 keys. Even that number will eventually annoy me, but I think I can learn to live with it.

The current front runner for my love is the M-Audio ProKeys 88sx. It’s a stage piano. It does seven piano and organ voices, and it does them well. I can plug it directly into my Mac by USB, and it’s 100% OS X plug and play compliant. It will work with Garageband. Of course, it’s also pricey, and I would need an amp.

There are also some Rolands I like, but I haven’t been able to figure out whether or not there’s going to be a problem using them with a Mac or Garageband yet.

It all sort of hinges on whether or not I feel I will want hundreds of instruments and drums and accompaniment at my finger tips without being hooked into a computer. I am not sure where I stand with that yet. It’d be fun, but I can tell you, I’ll use the regular piano settings more than all that other stuff. But yeah … would be cool to have all that just in the keyboard, wouldn’t it?

Well, we are months and months and many hours of in-store fondling away from this decision being made and a keyboard being bought. Plenty of time to change my mind a thousand times.