Music trends and solutions are changing constantly. As musicians not only do we have to be talented and proficient in our instrument(s) but also know when and how to apply your equipment to make the gig the best it can be.

Over the years, my equipment has changed and been upgraded. My current set up is versatile in that I use it primarily for live performances but it works great for my in-house studio where I design keyboard patches and tracks.

Keyboards

My primary keyboard is a Roland Juno-DS88 purchased. Not only does this keyboard have great sounds (Roland makes quality sounds for their keyboards that are default and don’t cost extra)  but it’s easily programmable. You’ll notice in the image below the 8 blue touch pads. These pads can be programmed to do almost anything from triggering sound effects to looping percussion during live performances. Same goes for pretty much all of the faders and knobs as well. Additionally, when I use this keyboard for live performances, I will trigger these through my computer.

My secondary keyboard (which I use mostly when traveling and designing) is a M-Audio Keystation 49es. One thing that I love about M-Audio products is that they don’t require the user to download and install a driver (like the Juno-DS88 above). It truly is plug and play with a MAC. I’m not sure about Windows.

There’s no right or wrong equipment in my opinion. Everyone finds the equipment that works for them and fits within in their budget. Don’t get stuck on not having the newest, shiniest piece of gear. Make your gear work for you! If you play well and are a hard worker, NO ONE is going to care what brand of instrument you’re playing.

Thanks for reading and keep playing!