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The Arturia Keylab Essentials 88 is a fantastic choice if you don’t mind having semi-weighted keys. On the whole, Arturia is a brand that I trust deeply. All of their products, ranging from Plug-in instruments to keyboards, synthesizers, to MIDI controllers are of the highest quality. I have found their support to be exceptional, and overall enjoy using their products. The nice thing about going with the Keylab essentials (Or the fully weighted version) is that there are a good amount of knobs and faders, so you can get started playing keys without the need for a separate MIDI controller. It also has a dedicated spot for your laptop, which can be helpful if you need a place to put your computer while you are playing.
The M-Audio Hammer 88 feels amazing to play, and that, in my opinion, is the biggest selling point of this keyboard. It has 88 fully weighted keys, and the connection between my fingers and my ears is the closest with this keyboard that it has ever been with any other keyboard. There are no additional knobs and faders on this model, but if I were starting all over again, I would probably choose this keyboard and pair it with a separate MIDI controller.
The Novation Launch Control XL has been my go-to MIDI controller for years. It feels sturdy, and it works well. The real reason that I like this product is that the knobs and faders are laid out vertically. This allows me to use each column as a category of sound so I can easily alter the sounds of a particular group without too much thought. There are also buttons along the bottom that I use for turning sounds on and off. It works really well for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is altering sounds while they are playing. It has become an extension of my instrument.
The MIDI fighter twister is a powerhouse. This is the type of tool that you will have to really learn how to use, but the potential use cases are very large. Each knob is able to send multiple messages depending on how you interact with it and there are 4 pages or “banks” for the knobs. You are able to configure how sensitive each knob is, and configure certain knobs to be “super knobs” sending more than one value out for a certain percentage of the range. This tool is a bit more advanced, but if you plan on doing a lot of sound alteration during your playing manually, this is a worthwhile investment.
The MOTU m4 is a fantastic audio interface. All of MOTU’s products are extremely high quality, and I think you get more than you pay for. The audio coming in sounds clear and present, and the audio coming out is the same (or better). It has a nice digital front panel that shows you your levels, and a great loopback feature, which is helpful if you ever need send audio between applications, or get the sound of your outputs into a live stream or zoom meeting. The knobs on the front are really easy to use and feel nice. there is also a headphone know on the front with a separate volume level which can be great for monitoring. Price for value, this is the best option on the market for something with 4 outputs.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo is a no-frills powerhouse. It is the perfect audio interface to use if you aren’t doing a lot of recording audio, and if you just need to send a stereo output of your sound to some speakers. If you just need a way to get the sound out of your laptop, and would rather put your money into a different part of your gear, this is a fantastic purchase. It is solid, and does the job.
I can’t say enough good things about these speakers. They sound fantastic and give me a really clear idea of what I am going to hear when I go to play sounds live. I have worked with them for a long time, and have no plans of replacing them. I don’t mix music, and I think if I was going to start, I would probably upgrade these speakers, but as a tool for designing sounds, and practice keyboard parts, these are fantastic. I highly recommend you invest in good speakers or headphones to make the playing and practicing experience more enjoyable.
The Presonus Eris speakers are good speakers. They are a fantastic option if you need something that is more reasonably priced than the Yamaha HS5s. You may need to put in a little more time with these to get an accurate reflection of what you will sound like in the house, but these will do a good job for practicing your keyboard parts, and do have a good amount of volume for the size of the speaker.
These cables are not super special. They are reasonably priced and will get the job done. At some point, investing in good cables is a great idea, but when you are getting started, and especially when your cables are primarily for rehearsal and at-home practice, something sturdy and inexpensive is a great way to go. These fit that bill and have XLR to quarter inch tips which pairs well with the HS5s.
The Caldigit TS4 is the best audio interface I have ever owned. It is a bit bulkier than the ones I have used in the past, but all my devices stay connected, and I never have any issues with not having enough power. Your USB hub is very important because it keeps all of your devices sending information to and from your computer, and in some cases also keeps your devices powered on. Your USB hub is not a place to go budget. The Caldigit is a great option.