if i was to have any keyboard out there it would be
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keybo...ard-controller
the only problem with that is if you're dropping 1000 on that keyboard, you should drop 1000 on KOMPLETE, which it syncs too completely. you basically control the whole software with the keyboard, similair to native instruments maschine, just with keys not pads. that said you can find versions of KOMPLETE on torrent sites, its just hundreds of GB's, so you basically need to set aside an entire hard drive for it, and i'm not sure if its compatible with older versions of komplete, you might need the newest one. either way it still functions as a regular midi controller so you don't need komplete but if you have that and don't have komplete its a waste of a few hundred bucks
that said, if i was to get just a regular keyboard, with my own software and sounds provided, and i wanted 88 keys with dope action
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keybo...Oxygen&index=4
the keys feel great on that^ thats the one i messed with last time at guitar center, just lightly hitting a chord on the stock rhodes sample it was hooked up too was like whatttttttttt. the keys felt great. so thats 600.
so in summary if i was you, and i was looking to spend a smaller amount of money assuming you want a giant keyboard i'd get the alesis q88 or the m-audio keystation 88 or whatever there cheap versions called now. both have full sized velocity sensitive keys. both function exactly the same, both around 200 dollars.
if i wanted to go all out mid range i'd get the m-audio oxygen 88. only the 88 key version has the dope hammer action keys though. the oxygen 25/49/61 try to make up for it with janky pads that make no sense. only the 88 is worth it, otherwise get one of the cheaper options. but word for 600 gets you as good of a midi keyboard as money can buy
now if you want the top of the line type shit, there are other high end midi keyboards, but they will be that, midi keyboards, like controllers, that you will have to manually assign knobs and sliders and etc too, OR you can get that native instruments komplete kontrol 88 key for 1000, and i think komplete is somewhere between 600 and 1000, depending on the version. so 1600-2000.
so after another long winded post, if i was to buy one today i'd go mid range and grab the m-audio oxygen 88 for 600. (if i didnt have the 600, i'd get one of the 200 dollar models mentioned above.)
then buy another desk or stand to put the giant thing on lol