/r/cheapkeys

Photograph via snooOG

A subreddit for sharing images, videos, soundclips, and anything else related to cheap or low end musical instruments.

Welcome to r/cheapkeys!

From the keyboard Grandma got you for Christmas in 1990 to the $75 dollar drum machine you purchased at a pawn shop. r/cheapkeys is dedicated to the discussion of cheap music machines and the sounds that come from them.

These instruments can be found in places like your attic, your moms basement, garage sales, thrift stores, craigslist, ebay, flea markets, and sometimes even the dollar store. They're extremely varied, widely available, and relatively cheap, making them very interesting and highly collectible.

We're a small and niche community so feel free to post anything at all related to cheap instruments. Videos, audio links, blogs, pictures, questions, stories, ebay/craigslist or other sales links, personal music, or anything at all related to low cost music is welcome here.

As a general guideline, if it costs more than about $300 on an average ebay listing, then it probably isn't cheapkeys material.

Related subreddits

r/circuitbending

r/synthesizers

r/casio

r/lofi

/r/cheapkeys

4,698 Subscribers

21

Casio pt-30 x monotron delay x tascam 4 tracks jam

4 Comments
2024/11/30
22:15 UTC

1

Anyone own a Yamaha MK100?

It seems like it had a few options to change the sound with different sound wave types. I imagine putting it through some reverb would yield quite interesting results.

4 Comments
2024/11/24
13:59 UTC

3

keyboard + microphone for a 5 years old

Hi,

We have a piano at home but my 5 yeasr old wants to sing in a microphone and maybe loop it. And can be fun if she can explore more electronic sounds.

It should be a toy with little amount of keys.
Cheap but sturdy :)
Second hand

Any recommendations?

18 Comments
2024/11/16
08:01 UTC

2

does anyone have any better photos of his chinese made superb sound keyboard, Possibly rebadged in Finland as the "Robin" studio Ek-280 and maybe "omegasound" judging by the text in this photo

https://www.harmonycentral.com/forums/topic/149772-robin-studio-model-ek-280-quotsuperb-soundquot-anyone-heard-about-this-year-made-in/

https://preview.redd.it/n5v38osetz0e1.jpg?width=730&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f984eb5641ea0b30b9a073a07724037a347ccbf

anyone have any more info about this ek-280 keyboardarchive dot org didn't save an old enough copy of the post to save the demo song, samples and photos by the original uploader "Analog Guy" from Finland in 2009 #lostmedia #SuperbSound

0 Comments
2024/11/15
04:29 UTC

0

***NEW KORG MicroKORG 2 UNBOXING/First Explorations without the manual/V...

1 Comment
2024/11/12
00:20 UTC

5

A classic played on a classic.

12th Street Rag

Couldn't resist trying this. Never played it before so i picked an easy key.

0 Comments
2024/11/07
18:25 UTC

6

Help me choose FB marketplace keyboards

I know nothing about synthesizers. I am not a composer, I mostly recreate other people's music for my own enjoyment. I would like to be able to record multiple parts of a song so that they can all be played together.

Would any of these fit the bill? Yamaha PSR 12 Yamaha PSS 480 Casio CTK 2090

Are there others I should lookout for on FB marketplace?

I am willing to get a looper pedal or very minimal software to make what I want possible, but I want to keep things as simple and easy as I can.

I don't really care about sound quality

9 Comments
2024/11/05
00:01 UTC

3

Monotron Delay to Add Character to Cheap Keys?

I've seen a few folks mentioning that running Casios and other cheap keys through the Korg Monotron Delay for its filter and effects adds a lot of character, but I haven't been able to find any examples where folks are using it in that way without just making absolute noise or layering on lots of other effects. Do any of y'all have an example? Thanks!

9 Comments
2024/11/04
22:11 UTC

5

Playing with the Grand Piano preset of the Farfisa.

I always like Grand Piano sounds to be fair. And eventhough this Farfisa TK-88 sounds pretty bad overall, the piano sound has certain charm. Thought it would be nice to demonstrate it with the song Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.

Grand Piano Demonstration.

6 Comments
2024/11/03
13:47 UTC

4

TableHooters website is gone :(

Really bad news, this german site (weltenschule.de) was the best source of information about cheap synths. Will miss it

8 Comments
2024/11/02
11:43 UTC

30

Not bad for $20

Presumably a very rare Farfisa Keyboard! TK88! In great working order. Will post clips on my YouTube channel soon

5 Comments
2024/11/01
14:15 UTC

1

Where to get a ROM Pack zebra strip replacement?

The zebra strip (little white/black/white rubber connector thingee on the back of a ROM pack that touches the keyboard contacts) on my ROM pack is all busted, like someone chewed on it and broke of bits. Has anyone ever installed a replacement before and where did they get the strip? I'd rather just make a new one then cannibalize another pack.

5 Comments
2024/10/28
21:31 UTC

4

Casio SA-20 buttons not working

So I just thrifted Casio sa20 and it turns on, keys work but buttons that are responsible for changing tone won’t work, does anybody know what can I do to fix that?

8 Comments
2024/10/27
17:52 UTC

1

yamaha PSR-520 spare part

https://preview.redd.it/71n3ry4cb9xd1.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e480e4ce9c2c2fecdf54c8600a0c9e7d73aff625

i just drop my PSR-520 and the board crack im looking to find spare part for it for cheap price, where can i find one?

0 Comments
2024/10/27
08:09 UTC

1

Affordable, Force Sensitive, Fully Open-Sourced, and Wireless Grid Controller

https://preview.redd.it/bsvwsjzl0zwd1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=1dfa8ce5aaa70c54770012d3c0a5a9e5658cb9a4

I made a grid controller called Mystrix 203 System

It is a feature-rich, open-source, and very high-quality grid controller with an in-house OS for a lot of smart and standalone features. On top of that, I worked hard to make it into scaled production and made the price very affordable (compared to other small-scale controllers)
I want to build a community around this project. People have been building a lot of cool apps, features, or even their own hardware based on the project already. I think people here will be very interested.

You can learn more about the device at the 203 System site

There's a new Project Matrix wiki for feature and development (Still a work in progress and I need your feedback) Project Matrix Wiki

2 Comments
2024/10/25
21:30 UTC

5

How to hook up guitar pedals to old casio keyboard?

Hello! Happy to see this reddit exists. I just picked up a Casio CT-670 and am excited to mess with the tone editing that is built in. But i also want to run it through some guitar pedals i have to further mess with the sounds.

In your experience what cables and amps or audio interfaces would i need to do this...if possible?

11 Comments
2024/10/19
18:46 UTC

1

Trying to connect my Casio WK to an Electron Syntakt for midi control

The Syntakt has both 5-din and USB type B, the Casio has USB type B out only. Can I use a male-to-male type B usb cord to use the keys for midi with the Syntakt? Or do I need to buy one of those expensive USB midi boxes?

Or is there a better/more obvious way that I’m missing?

3 Comments
2024/10/15
13:22 UTC

1

Buying advice for beginner

Hey peeps! I am getting following pianos on FB Marketplace. I am a complete beginner and need advice on which one would be right to buy.

Yamaha PSR 500 - $70

Roland KR-33 - $110

Casio LK 43 - $50

Yamaha YPT 260 - $60

Casio LK 265 - $100

Yamaha EZ-20 - $50

Casio CTK 2500 - $75

Thanks

2 Comments
2024/10/14
18:05 UTC

2

Best (cheapest) generic midi keys to learn how to play?

Looking for a 49-key controller. Best price/performance ratio possible. Just wanting to practice and play.

EDIT: even a dirt cheap Casio with midi capabilities would be cool

Thanks

9 Comments
2024/10/12
15:30 UTC

1

Non-circuit bending solutions for audio splitting and sync

I have a Casio SA-21 that I'm running into a Roland Microcube. Lots of fun, but it has no mixer controls, so volume balance between accompaniment, pads, and the main voice is problematic. I'm looking for a compact hardware solution. I would prefer using something old and cheap, but will settle for something new and tiny. I don't have MIDI or sync on this keyboard, so the solution has to work on raw audio. I'm not interested in using a DAW/laptop/tablet for this, I want to sit in my living room and nerd out. Ideas so far are:

  • A looper pedal. This is a simple and easy solution, but seems like it would be limited to a real time workflow.
  • A sampler. Basically the same thing as a looper, but would allow editing/reusing sounds, so much more flexible.
  • A multitrack recorder of some kind. This could be audio or digital, would essentially be used similar to a looper/sampler. Probably less editing control, but maybe would allow for much longer loops or making a full song.
  • Something with stem separation. This get's into MPC level stuff or a DAW, so not what I want to do unless there's something purpose built I haven't heard of. A small multi-channel real-time stem separator would be dope tho.
  • Another keyboard. This might be the easiest and cheapest solution, but it's bulky and means generally only using half of each keyboard. A cheap sampling keyboard (if there even are still such things) would fit the bill here.

Is anyone out there doing anything like this and what are you using/what's your workflow?

2 Comments
2024/10/08
15:01 UTC

1

The Northern Lights

Thought you might want to see some pics of the mighty Aurora Borealis, shining down on Trondheim, Norway in March this year. The music is an improvisation on a Casio SA-77.

2 Comments
2024/10/07
21:10 UTC

1

can someone PLEASE help identify the three synths used by Lido here?

2 Comments
2024/10/07
18:10 UTC

2

looking for cheap ambient/experimental synth

really any size but looking for anything $100-275 that can make some weird noises and/or lush pad sounds. any feedback is welcome.

6 Comments
2024/10/06
11:11 UTC

0

Has anyone paired a Korg NTS3 with a small Casio keyboard?

1 Comment
2024/10/05
14:25 UTC

2

Creating a Song from Start to Finish in Logic w/Synido TempoPad Z1 & Ani...

0 Comments
2024/10/01
03:00 UTC

1

panasonic sx kc200 is it worth?

I never played piano in my life i wanna learn it so i found this old panasonic sx kc200 with chreap price do u think it good for a start or not

2 Comments
2024/09/28
11:23 UTC

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