<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div style="display: block;" class=""><div style="-webkit-user-select: all; -webkit-user-drag: element; display: inline-block;" class="apple-rich-link" draggable="true" role="link" data-url="https://www.dropbox.com/s/xdo0r4k88j97l30/Tennessee%20Waltz.mp3?dl=0"><a style="border-radius:10px;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;display:block;-webkit-user-select:none;width:228px;user-select:none;-webkit-user-modify:read-only;user-modify:read-only;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;" class="lp-rich-link" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/xdo0r4k88j97l30/Tennessee%20Waltz.mp3?dl=0" dir="ltr" role="button" draggable="false" width="228"><table style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;width:228px;background-color:#E9E9EB;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="lp-rich-link-emailBaseTable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="228"><tbody><tr><td vertical-align="center" align="center"><img style="width:228px;filter:brightness(0.97);height:228px;" width="228" height="228" draggable="false" class="lp-rich-link-mediaImage" alt="content-audio-large.png" src="cid:8116BA5A-DDB4-413B-B892-6CA673B5C8F6"></td></tr><tr><td vertical-align="center"><table bgcolor="#E9E9EB" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="228" style="font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;table-layout:fixed;background-color:rgba(233, 233, 235, 1);" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:8px 0px 8px 0px;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStackItem"><div style="max-width:100%;margin:0px 16px 0px 16px;overflow:hidden;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-topCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/xdo0r4k88j97l30/Tennessee%20Waltz.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#000000" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);">Tennessee Waltz.mp3</font></a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:600;font-size:11px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-bottomCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/xdo0r4k88j97l30/Tennessee%20Waltz.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#A2A2A9" style="color: rgba(60, 60, 67, 0.6);">dropbox.com</font></a></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div></div>Hello guys, I hardly ever post in this list, however, I really could use some help.<div dir="ltr"></div><div><br></div><div>I am in the market for a new keyboard, as all I have right now is a digital piano, which I have connected via usb to my macbook air.</div><div><br></div><div>I do a lot of arranging currently both with Komplete Kontrol 14 collectors, edition, as well as using a Windows 10 machine, which is running pg-music band in a box 2020 ultra edition with all the real band, and reel track accompaniment.</div><div><br></div><div>Further, on my map, I record things with ProTools 2022.4.</div><div><br></div><div>At the end of this email message, I will include a few dropbox links to a couple of arrangements I have recorded, in order to give you an idea of my style of playing, but generally speaking, it is very much the style of 60s classic country. My biggest influencer is probably Floyd Cramer. Some artists that I have covered include obviously him, Jim, reeves, Eddie, Arnold, hank Locklin, Marty Robbins, Connie Smith, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, etc.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm not here to get into a debate about why I should use a keyboard arranger over doing everything inside of a daw like proTools, logic, reaper, etc. I have my reasons. If it were my choice, and money was not an issue, I would probably go with either a Yamaha motif, or a Yamaha montage, and would obviously go for the models which had the full 88 keys. Unfortunately, with me not working, that it's just not something that is in my budget, and by the time it would take me to save up the money, there would be something newer on the market. So, as fast as music technology is progressing, it would probably, not be worthwhile, as by the time I saved up, well… You get the point. </div><div><br></div><div>The problem is, a lot of these workstation keyboards, or even more so arranger keyboards are extremely extremely menu driven, which, for us blind individuals obviously means more memorization. In addition, a lot of different models are touchscreen-based. Now, that being said, I will grant you that some of the models with touchscreens can also be interacted with with the physical hardware buttons. You take your pick, but not all of them. From what I understand, the Yamaha montage is a great example of this.</div><div><br></div><div>With me, being high risk, as far as my health, I am unable at this time to get out in public to a music store of any sort. And even if I could, the people at my local music store, Sam, Ash music, don't have even the slightest clue when it comes to working with blind individuals. Though their customer service is quite good, they just don't know how to serve us blind individuals. Trust me, I tried. I sat there once for almost 4 1/2 hours, on nothing more than a grand piano sample, playing a Yamaha motif, and not a single person, not even another customer, was willing to stop what they were doing, and sit down and answer a few questions that I had. When I talked to Sweetwater, which is probably where I would order the keyboard, all they could tell me, including my own sales representative was, I don't know. I don't know if it would be accessible enough to work for you. You could always buy it, and then return it if it doesn't work. That's more trouble than it's worth.</div><div><br></div><div>I've challenged a few people in the blind community, who claim to be very familiar with some of these keyboards. I've asked very simple questions such as, what is the button sequence used to transpose the keyboard up a half step/whole step. How do I go about selecting different? Sounds on the keyboard, And most of the time, I the people that I've spoken with in the blind community then tell me, oh, I don't know. When I said, I was familiar, I meant, I know how to sit down and turn the thing on, and play it, or hook it up to a computer. That's not what I was asking. I'm not asking to become an expert at how to navigate one of these keyboards, but if I'm going to get one, I would like to at least be able to navigate it well enough to do the basics. To me, basics means recording a very simple, multi track sequence, selecting an accompaniment style to play with, being able on that accompaniment style to set an intro, and an ending, as well as being able to navigate between the two different accompaniment variations. I also would want to be able when switching from one variation to another to have it automatically put a fill where there needs to be one. I'm not concerned about using an accompaniment browser and selecting a category, or doing the same thing with selecting an instrument. I'm willing to simply use the plus and minus buttons and scroll through things. Now, obviously, if the other method is somewhat accessible, I would try it, but if not, that is definitely not a dealbreaker for me, just as long as though maybe, tedious, I could still do it. It's important that I mention, though, my old in nature, I do have very, very high, spectrum autism, so memorizing, tons upon tons upon tons of key presses is something that does slightly intimidate me. Although, I would be willing to type up my own cheat sheets for different tasks as long as somebody would sit down with me and at least initially Either show me, or if they don't know themselves, at least look at my screen on the keyboard, and help me map things out initially. By the way, yes. I do have. Aira.</div><div><br></div><div>My biggest thing is, I don't want to get something that people in the blind community are not familiar with, as I'm going to definitely have to have somebody who is familiar enough with the keyboard that they would be able to teach me the basics. One keyboard I saw which in the next couple of months would be right in my price range going for $999 is the. Roland FP-E50 arranger, and I really like what I've heard of it so far. Again, I just don't know how much of it would be navigating menus, loan, key press, sequences, no pun intended, etc. Again. I'm willing to learn and memorize a little bit here and there. I'm not saying I won't do any of that. I just don't want it to be something where to do. One task requires 50 to 100 key presses. I definitely would prefer more of an arranger type keyboard than a workstation, although, I would definitely be willing to possibly look into a workstation the last actual keyboard, it was not a digital piano that I owned was a Yamaha dgx500 portable grand, but that thing was a little bit too basic for what I need. I've also seen some of the more intermediate keyboards such as things made by Casio. Basically, I'm talking about the keyboards that have semi weighted keys, if even that, maybe 100 to 120 different sounds, about 99 accompaniment styles, and maybe a five or six track sequencer. And hardly may I add any memory on board. And there was no way to connect a flash drive to expand the memory. Those type keyboards are not what I'm looking for. I need something a bit more professional than that.</div><div><br></div><div>OK. Here are a few dropbox links to a few things. I've recorded in my home studio, which will give you kind of an idea of my level of playing. Realized, I did not use any accompaniment styles on any of these. This is all me playing completely by hand.</div><div><br></div><div style="display: block;" class=""><div style="-webkit-user-select: all; -webkit-user-drag: element; display: inline-block;" class="apple-rich-link" draggable="true" role="link" data-url="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcz69xfyevg9ybf/Crazy%20Arms.mp3?dl=0"><a style="border-radius:10px;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;display:block;-webkit-user-select:none;width:228px;user-select:none;-webkit-user-modify:read-only;user-modify:read-only;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;" class="lp-rich-link" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcz69xfyevg9ybf/Crazy%20Arms.mp3?dl=0" dir="ltr" role="button" draggable="false" width="228"><table style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;width:228px;background-color:#E9E9EB;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="lp-rich-link-emailBaseTable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="228"><tbody><tr><td vertical-align="center" align="center"><img style="width:228px;filter:brightness(0.97);height:228px;" width="228" height="228" draggable="false" class="lp-rich-link-mediaImage" alt="content-audio-large.png" src="cid:E9642191-D7AD-428A-B36E-0A4916355B05"></td></tr><tr><td vertical-align="center"><table bgcolor="#E9E9EB" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="228" style="font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;table-layout:fixed;background-color:rgba(233, 233, 235, 1);" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:8px 0px 8px 0px;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStackItem"><div style="max-width:100%;margin:0px 16px 0px 16px;overflow:hidden;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-topCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcz69xfyevg9ybf/Crazy%20Arms.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#000000" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);">Crazy Arms.mp3</font></a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:600;font-size:11px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-bottomCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcz69xfyevg9ybf/Crazy%20Arms.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#A2A2A9" style="color: rgba(60, 60, 67, 0.6);">dropbox.com</font></a></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="display: block;" class=""><div style="-webkit-user-select: all; -webkit-user-drag: element; display: inline-block;" class="apple-rich-link" draggable="true" role="link" data-url="https://www.dropbox.com/s/aruxm3s8nd83sfr/Last%20Date.mp3?dl=0"><a style="border-radius:10px;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;display:block;-webkit-user-select:none;width:228px;user-select:none;-webkit-user-modify:read-only;user-modify:read-only;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;" class="lp-rich-link" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/aruxm3s8nd83sfr/Last%20Date.mp3?dl=0" dir="ltr" role="button" draggable="false" width="228"><table style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;width:228px;background-color:#E9E9EB;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="lp-rich-link-emailBaseTable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="228"><tbody><tr><td vertical-align="center" align="center"><img style="width:228px;filter:brightness(0.97);height:228px;" width="228" height="228" draggable="false" class="lp-rich-link-mediaImage" alt="content-audio-large.png" src="cid:DB5EA58A-2878-4EEA-96FA-067851BCC490"></td></tr><tr><td vertical-align="center"><table bgcolor="#E9E9EB" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="228" style="font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;table-layout:fixed;background-color:rgba(233, 233, 235, 1);" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:8px 0px 8px 0px;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStackItem"><div style="max-width:100%;margin:0px 16px 0px 16px;overflow:hidden;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-topCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/aruxm3s8nd83sfr/Last%20Date.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#000000" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);">Last Date.mp3</font></a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:600;font-size:11px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-bottomCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/aruxm3s8nd83sfr/Last%20Date.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#A2A2A9" style="color: rgba(60, 60, 67, 0.6);">dropbox.com</font></a></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="display: block;" class=""><div style="-webkit-user-select: all; -webkit-user-drag: element; display: inline-block;" class="apple-rich-link" draggable="true" role="link" data-url="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmpoxg1tni5wlmj/Please%20Help%20Me%20I%27m%20Falling.mp3?dl=0"><a style="border-radius:10px;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;display:block;-webkit-user-select:none;width:228px;user-select:none;-webkit-user-modify:read-only;user-modify:read-only;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;" class="lp-rich-link" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmpoxg1tni5wlmj/Please%20Help%20Me%20I%27m%20Falling.mp3?dl=0" dir="ltr" role="button" draggable="false" width="228"><table style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;width:228px;background-color:#E9E9EB;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="lp-rich-link-emailBaseTable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="228"><tbody><tr><td vertical-align="center" align="center"><img style="width:228px;filter:brightness(0.97);height:228px;" width="228" height="228" draggable="false" class="lp-rich-link-mediaImage" alt="content-audio-large.png" src="cid:9843F5DE-C253-4B02-A6D5-7F59AAB15724"></td></tr><tr><td vertical-align="center"><table bgcolor="#E9E9EB" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="228" style="font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;table-layout:fixed;background-color:rgba(233, 233, 235, 1);" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:8px 0px 8px 0px;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStackItem"><div style="max-width:100%;margin:0px 16px 0px 16px;overflow:hidden;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-topCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmpoxg1tni5wlmj/Please%20Help%20Me%20I%27m%20Falling.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#000000" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);">Please Help Me I'm Falling.mp3</font></a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:600;font-size:11px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-bottomCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmpoxg1tni5wlmj/Please%20Help%20Me%20I%27m%20Falling.mp3?dl=0" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#A2A2A9" style="color: rgba(60, 60, 67, 0.6);">dropbox.com</font></a></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for any help. If anyone knows of any keyboard, that might fit for what I'm trying to do, let me know. By the way, I'm sorry for this message being a bit messy, as far as the formatting. I'm doing this with voice, dictation on my phone, as I'm not near my computer right now. I swear, sometimes, I absolutely hate iOS. </div><div><br></div><div>Chris.</div></body></html>