Mechanics
Type of mechanics used in keyboard keys.
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Hammer. The most advanced type of mechanics: provides a link between force and sound dynamics, as well as a characteristic tactile response — the same as on a classical piano with hammers (hence the name). In other words, these keys provide a feeling that is as close as possible to playing a traditional piano. However, hammer action is not cheap, so it is used mainly in top professional keyboards.
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Active (dynamic). Active keyboards are keyboards that provide a link between pressure and sound dynamics, but do not provide the tactile response characteristic of the hammer action keyboards described above. In other words, the faster and harder you press the key, the sharper and louder the sound will be, but the resistance to pressing is low, and the transition, for example, from a traditional piano to such a keyboard usually requires some getting used to (for more details, see "Rigidity"). At the same time, active keyboards allow you to use all the basic techniques for controlling the dynamics of sound, and are much cheaper than the same hammer action keyboards, which is why they are widely used in modern MIDI keyboards.
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Passive. The simplest type of mechanics: each key only “turns on and off” its note, the sound dynamics does not depend on the strength and speed of pressing. Passive keyboards are very i
...nexpensive, but this is, in fact, their only advantage; from a musical point of view, they are very inconvenient; only the simplest melodies (or parts of instruments in which the sound cannot be dynamically changed) can be played on such an instrument. As a result, this type of mechanics is used extremely rarely and only in the simplest low-cost keyboards.Rigidity
The hardness of the keys on a keyboard is the amount of resistance they provide when pressed.
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Unweighted. Very low rigidity: the keys literally "fail" under the fingers. Found mostly in entry-level keyboards; this is due to the fact that unweighted mechanics are inexpensive, but the low pressure resistance makes it difficult to select the optimal pressure and control the dynamics of the sound.
— Semi-
weighted. Keyboards with medium resistance — not as high as on weighted keys, but noticeably higher than on unweighted ones. This option is considered optimal for active keyboards (see "Mechanics"): at a low cost, it gives quite good responsiveness and, with a minimum skill, allows you to accurately control the pressing force.
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Weighted. Keyboards with high resistance, which is comparable to the resistance of classical piano keys. Note that high effort in this case is an advantage: it allows you to bring the response of the keyboard as close as possible to the response of a classical piano and makes it easier to control the pressure and dynamics of the sound. Actually, by definition, all hammer-action models are made weighted (see "Mechanics"), but among active keyboards this option is rare — due to complexity and high cost.
Keyboard split
The presence in the device of the function of splitting the keyboard.
This function, as the name suggests, allows you to divide the keyboard into two parts, each of which will have a different timbre. Thus, on one device, you can play the part of two instruments at once (for example, add the sound of a string orchestra to the violin) or accompany the part of the instrument with various effects (siren, klaxon, thunder, etc.). Some models allow you to select the position of the border between the keyboard zones.
Pads
The number of
pads provided in the design of the keyboard.
Pads are auxiliary controls in the form of characteristic pads, usually square. The pads respond to touch, each of them can be tied to a specific sound or even a sequence of sounds. One of the most popular ways to use pads is to play drums or other rhythmic instruments.
MIDI in
Input for receiving MIDI signals from an external device such as an optional keyboard or other controller, sequencer, etc. For MIDI signals, see “MIDI Out”; here we note that such signals received at the
MIDI In input can be mixed with signals from the keyboard and output via MIDI Out or another interface of a similar purpose, or they can be sent unchanged to the MIDI Thru output. It is worth looking for a device with this input if you plan to build a complex from several MIDI signal sources and intend to use the keyboard as an intermediate link in such a system.
Connectable pedals
The maximum number of pedals that can be connected to the keyboard at the same time.
Pedals are used as additional controls to change various keyboard settings. The “classic of the genre” in this sense is the sustain pedal (see “Sustain”) — if the device has
one connector for pedals, then this will almost certainly be the input for just such a pedal. Keyboards are produced, where there
are 2 or more such inputs — in addition to sustain, you can connect pedals to them for other adjustments and effects (in particular, changing the volume).
Tablet stand
Holder for a tablet computer or smartphone in the design of a MIDI keyboard. Usually, this is a device on which the gadget is installed almost vertically (with a slight tilt back).
The stand replaces the music stand for the music displayed on the screen of mobile devices, and it also provides a comfortable placement for a connected tablet or smartphone.
Laptop stand
A pad for placing a laptop, built directly into the body of a MIDI keyboard. It is a retractable shelf, often with an anti-slip surface to prevent the laptop from falling. Together with a laptop, you can always have your own electronic studio at hand.
