Casio CT-S300 PPK 61-Key Premium Keyboard Pack with Stand, Headphones & Power Supply

I have an 'ancient' Casio CT-640 that I've used for *years* and its been just plain fun to use! I just started getting back into Music Production with DAWS and needed a playable keyboard with lots of presets and yet be a trouble free MIDI compatible controller for my DAWS (Traction Waveform 12). This guy fits the bill perfectly!!Firstly, the keys are very *playable* meaning they have pressure (weighted) AND are velocity sensitive...a super big deal for keyboard players that got their chops on a real piano where key expression is vital!Let's be clear: The keys are not 'graded weighted' and do not feel like a piano would, but still offer resistance and are not 'empty/squishy' like my old Casiotone ct-640...or like many key controllers with 'hollow' keys. The velocity sensitivity is awesome and will immediately be appreciated by 'old-school' keyboardists.As to Sounds...the CT-S300 has TONS of sampled tones as well as like 70 rhythms you can jam along with! Plus this guys has this real kool Dance Music function that plays full on sampled loops that you can change in real time....great for EDM and House music creators. And the sounds are very good...maybe not like your 3000.00 full on Piano Synth but still, out-of-the box, overall pretty damn good. NOTE: I have a 240w Sound Bar with Sub-Woofer that I cable out to and so I can rok the house like its a crime!As to MIDI...As I mentioned before, I use Traction's Waveform DAW. I wanted to have keyboard I can play for regular enjoyment without the DAW and still have a functional MIDI controller when in the Waveform. The CT-S300 was immediately accessible to the DAW and I was able to lay some serious tracks down with the Casio running my TuneFish VSTi and other VST plugins!Conclusion: Without hesitation, I would RECOMMEND the Casio CT-S300 to anyone whether they be a beginner keyboardist learning music or someone that is a 'player' and needs a very capable keyboard/MIDI controller for general playing and/or music production using a DAW program.One last note: IF you are a newbie keyboardist and want to be a 'real musician', I submit that you will still need to get your 'chops' on a real piano in order to train and strengthen your hands/fingers. The HOURS/DAYS/MONTHS/YEARS you will spend at the keyboard doing your scales and practice pieces will pay off with you having gained great strength and facility in your hands and fingers...THEN you can really enjoy the cool toys available today. Sure you can skip all the 'hard work' and just let some program do all the work and still make very cool sounds but the best Musicians know how to play music just using the instrument and their talent.One last, last note: I've been playing music for close to 40 years and I am still learning all the new stuff...BUT, I still have to hit that practice room piano for a good 'workout now and then.

FIRST: IT DOES COME WITH ITS OWN AC ADAPTER.So, I'm just one step above a beginner. I've had some music training but am not a performer. I just needed a good portable keyboard that wasn't a little kid's toy. This is NOT a toy. Mind you, it's not a professional unit worth thousands of dollars. But if you're like me, you do not need that kind of a pricey keyboard. If you just need one that you can keep handy to get in as much practice in as possible (and with MIDI capability), this might just be as perfect for you as it is for me.The construction is wonderful. Even the keys have a very nice tactile feel: not shiny, but a smooth texture. Other small details are the copy stand which is a great design, slipping nicely into the handle opening; it is not a flimsy, thin plastic type like most. This copy stand has some substance to it, it is not bendable. And even the surface where the bottom of the pages sit has some grooves in it to keep them from slipping around; those are the kind of details this keyboard has.Performance-wise, the speakers are excellent; great volume and quality. The feel of the keys are not weighted, but they're not described as such. They feel like an electronic keyboard, with some bounce, but easy to get used to. Again, if you're just using for practice, they are fine. They're comfortable. And they are full size piano keys.The number of tones?! Holy cow. There really are 400! Haven’t heard all of them yet! lol But the ones I have heard sound great.And it is easily attached to a USB port for MIDI use. What I loved about it is that you can leave the audio on and connect to your DAW for MIDI at the same time, using audio from either or both, computer or keyboard speakers. THE MICRO-B/USB CABLE IS NOT INCLUDED. However, they are very inexpensive. I just bought a package of 3 different sizes for less than $10.And this keyboard has a handle!!! LOL I especially wanted one that I could carry around the house, when the whim hit me, to noodle around on the ivories, and just get better at it.I've gone through several keyboards, trying and sending each back. I was beginning to think I would never find the perfect one. But this one is the perfect one for me! Great quality. Easy to carry around. And reasonable price.Oh, one thing more: It is hard to find a keyboard like this that isn't clogged up with controls along the top, making it extra deep, front to back. This one has a nicely trimmed console along the top of the keys, so that, proportionally, the length of the keys make up about 3/5 of the depth of the keyboard. I love that. This thing is mostly just 61 full-size piano keys.PS: I only received it today, so haven’t even begun to learn all of its features. It has so many.

This keyboard is inexpensive and flexible. I use this as my practice keyboard whether I'm learning a new song or piece of music or just toying around. It is very light so it is easy to keep the keyboard close by, handy. I pick it up any time I want to and put it on my lap and play. I have a Casio Privia PX-560 but it's a full 88 key professional stage keyboard and not quite as easy for me to just play any time I want to to the Casio ST-300 is fantastic for my needs.