Best keyboard tray 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]

Best keyboard tray of 2018

After carefully examining the reviews and ratings of the people who have used them earlier this listicle has been made. Like choosing clothes or cosmetics, choosing keyboard tray should be based on your purpose, favorite style, and financial condition.

There are dozens of choices for an keyboard tray these days. These are composed of modern styling with modern technology to match it. Here are some good examples. Many brands have introduced keyboard tray on the market. These brands have resulted in a variety for the user. These require that the consumers be well aware of what they are buying so as to make the best choice.

Test Results and Ratings

Rank	№1	№2	№3
Product
Total	4.8	4.5	4.3
Ease of use	5 points	5 points	4 points
Versatility	4 points	5 points	4 points
Durability	5 points	4 points	5 points
Price	5 points	4 points	4 points
Awards

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№1 – Uncaged Ergonomics Ergonomic Under Desk Keyboard Tray with Mouse Pad | Adjustable Height & Angle with Negative Tilt

Pros

• A completely adjustable & ergonomic under-desk keyboard drawer that promotes better typing posture.

• ELEVATE keyboards to any height from approximately 4.5″ below your desk to desk-height with a single adjustment lever

• TILTING keyboard angle promotes wrist health & lets you type with a neutral or negative wrist angle. 12.1 pounds.

Cons

Everything is OK.

Why did this keyboard tray win the first place?

I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! The material is stylish, but it smells for the first couple of days.

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№2 – TrenDesks Model E-1

Pros

LARGE WORK SPACE – TrenDesks™ E-1 converter standing desk 39.5” x 23” workstation holds up to 3 monitors + 2 laptops and still has ample space for more items (i.e. tablets, books, etc.).

UNIQUE DESIGNS – (1) “X” frame allows the center of gravity to always be at the center of the desk so the desk stays sturdy at any height position and fits comfortably on most standard office desks so you can work on your existing desk without compromising space. (2) Pull-out/slide-in keyboard tray for your convenience.

Cons

It rusts quite easily.

A little on the heavy side.

Why did this keyboard tray come in second place?

Managers explained me all the details about the product range, price, and delivery. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office.

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№3 – Uncaged Ergonomics WorkEZ Keyboard Tray & Mouse Pad

Pros

Holds Keyboards at the Optimal Height & Angle

Type with Your Wrists Neutral or Drooping Down Naturally

Perfect Standing Desk Keyboard Tray & Simple, Effective Way to Elevate Keyboards & Mice

Cons

It’s a lot heavier than expected.

It is hard to wash..

Why did this keyboard tray take third place?

It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. I hope that the good reputation of the manufacturer will guarantee a long-term work. This price is appropriate since the product is very well built.

keyboard tray Buyer’s Guide

How we picked and tested

For this update, we retested our top picks and brought in three additional keyboards based on new advice and research from ergonomics experts.

Few companies make ergonomic keyboards these days. We researched 2models advertised as being ergonomic and dismissed without traditional keyboard layouts like the vertical SafeType. Microsoft’s old Natural keyboard, for example, while well-loved, is 1years old and has a dealbreaking number pad that forces a right-handed mouse user too far to the right to reach the mouse.

Back in 2014, Wes Fenlon and Tested’s Will Smith and Norman Chan tried out nine keyboards for us and declared the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard the best for most people and the Kinesis Freestylethe upgrade pick. In 201we retested those two top picks against the Kinesis FreestyleBlue and the Matias Ergo Pro, and in 201we tested two more contenders.

Comfort is subjective and everyone has different postures and varying hand sizes, so I combined my testing with the opinions of five panel members to find out how much strain the keyboards placed on their bodies, how efficiently they were able to type, and how the keys felt compared to those of their current keyboards.

The Microsoft Sculpt Ergo meets all our ergonomic criteria, making it best for most people.

Pull Quote

The Microsoft Sculpt Ergo is the only keyboard we tested that offers tenting (rotating the wrists properly to avoid ulnar deviation), a negative tilt, and a supportive palm rest.

The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard offers both tenting and a negative tilt.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Microsoft Sculpt Ergo is a one-size-fits-all keyboard. You cannot adjust the angle of the negative tilt, nor the angle of the tenting, nor the distance of the split between the left and right sections. This makes the keyboard easier to set up and use for most people, but the fixed measurements also mean that the keyboard won’t help everyone. If you have broad shoulders or shoulder pain or tend to rotate your wrists more, a fully split, adjustable keyboard will be better for you.

Ergonomics

Now, most people don’t really think of ergonomics when it comes to purchasing a gaming desk, but when you’ve been hunched over in the same position for hours on end, you may want to reconsider your stance (we mean that both figuratively and literally).

Consider the height of the desk, the clearance height for your legs, and whether you can stand being seated in front of a particular desk configuration for hours at a time.

Features

Of course, features come hand-in-hand with your budget: no matter how much you drop on your gaming desk, you want to make sure that you get your money’s worth. The 1gaming desks that we reviewed are, we feel, the best value for your money.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is pretty popular because it gives a look of stylishness and elegance, while at the same time is durable and strong. It works well with both contemporary as well as traditional themed rooms, and in the case of the Lian Li DK-03, having a tempered glass case for your setup gives it a really awesome look.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is pretty much self-explanatory: the more stainless steel in the construction, the more sturdy and strong the gaming desk. So, a desk that only has stainless steel legs with no additional crossbar supports can carry less weight than a desk that’s completely made from stainless steel. However, there is one giant drawback: these babies get pretty heavy and clunky.

L-Shaped Computer Desk

There are a wide variety of different desks from which to choose. One practical type of desk is the L-shaped style.

Space is an important consideration when purchasing a computer desk. One major advantage of L-shaped computer desks is that they allow the user to position the desk in a manner that is not only convenient but also fits into the size of the room.

They can be arranged to make use of a corner, which tends to be the least utilized parts of any room.

An L-shape desk can also be used from both sides and function as a room divider as well (something that I’m contemplating). Since the desk can accommodate all peripherals, it is easily for you to multitask. For instance, some parts of the desk can have the personal computer and the other part can be a free space for any sort of desk work.

Rectangular Computer Desk

The design of your desk can be fairly simple. If all you need is a table with four legs that you can put in front of a chair, what you only need is a rectangular table. What could be more enduring than a straight desk? It could never run out of style and could survive the passage of time.

For those who prefer this kind desk, their main considerations are stability and strength.

A computer desk should have excellent load bearing capabilities since its operational life is going to be spent on the computer and its multiple components resting on top of it.

Additionally, you have to make sure that the computer desk is sturdy enough to handle the weight of the upper body since most people who use a computer end up resting their elbows on their desk, and this adds an extra weight resting on your computer desk.

A rectangular table doesn’t offer a ton of room, but they will work in about any space and you can use it as an office table, for the simple reason that the entire desktop is usable and there are practically no dead spaces. overall a rectangular desk can serve both as a computer table and write space with no distinction. You can even place them on a wall or right in the middle of the floor.

Not all non-powered USB hubs are created equal, but the one below has worked well even with multiple hard drives plugged in.

Microsoft’s Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard is lightweight, small, and, due to its split design and chiclet keyboard, extremely pleasant to type on.

The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic was my all-around favorite ergonomic keyboard out of the nine models I tested. It excelled in every criterion I tested it against. The split design kept my wrists straight, and the chiclet keys feel high-quality, like a good laptop keyboard. Also, its compact design and separate number pad means that your mousing arm will never be at an awkward angle. The Sculpt Ergonomic has a large, curved pad along the front that kept my wrists from getting sore. The curved shape of the keyboard actually kept my wrists from resting heavily on the pad, which is ideal.

Will thought it was a great keyboard, too, but didn’t like it as much as his oldMicrosoft Natural Ergonomic 4000, largely because he’s grown familiar with that keyboard over years of use. Because the Sculpt Ergonomic is a smaller, lighter keyboard with chiclet keys and a tweaked layout, I’m confident in saying the Sculpt Ergonomic is a successor to the Ergonomic 4000 and the one you should consider if you had to buy something today.

The split key design did take about two days to adjust to, but Microsoft’s research and testing helped mitigate that. Keys along the middle split (like T, G, Y, H, and N) are wider so they’ll be easier to press depending on where your fingers rest. I discovered that I actually pressed a few keys with the “wrong” fingers by default and had to relearn the proper motion to press them.

Unlike some of the other ergonomic keyboards that we tested, Microsoft preserved the typical placement and shape of keys like Ctrl and Shift. Microsoft’s keyboard also has a great range of function keys tied to the F1-F1buttons. A toggleable switch enables the Function buttons or the shortcuts for playing and pausing music, changing volume, opening the calculator, and so on.

The most important criterion I considered while using the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic was its ergonomic design—whether it followed the ergonomic principles Hedge and I discussed and whether it remained comfortable to type on after an extended period of time. The split design kept my wrists straight, rather than angled inwards. Due to the height of my desk, I typically used the keyboard without its negative tilt attachment. Ideally, that attachment would keep my wrists level, and angled slightly downward. But my desk was high enough that my hands remained level as I was typing, and in regular use over about two weeks of testing I never felt any wrist fatigue.

The average cheap keyboard may feel okay until you’ve experienced a mechanical keyboard; clicky, tactile mechanical keys feel the best to type on.

The Sculpt Ergonomic is one of the most compact keyboards we tested, since Microsoft cut off the number pad. The size of the keyboard is important, as Hedge explained above: if the keyboard is too wide, it will force your mouse arm too far to the right, which is just as bad for your arm and wrist as a downward wrist angle on a keyboard. A keyboard without a ten-key number pad is better than one with a numpad attached. Unlike most padfree keyboards, though, the Sculpt Ergonomic includes a separate wireless keypad that you can use if you need to enter a lot of numbers.

The second most important consideration was how the keys of Microsoft’s keyboard felt to type on. Many of the ergonomic keyboards I tested used squishy rubber dome membrane keys, which is the most common and inexpensive key type. The average cheap keyboard may feel okay until you’ve experienced a mechanical keyboard; clicky, tactile mechanical keys feel the best to type on. The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic uses chiclet keys like Apple’s MacBooks, which feel more tactile than typical membrane keyboards even though they use similar technology. Many of us have gotten used to the feel of laptop keyboards over the past decade, and the Sculpt Ergonomic instantly feels familiar and comfortable to type on.

I love typing on this keyboard. I prefer mechanical keys, but those are just too expensive in ergonomic designs. The Sculpt Ergonomic felt far better to type on than any of the other keyboards, except our step up pick below. After adjusting to the Sculpt Ergonomic, you’ll hate going back to old squishy membrane keys.

Will and Norm both agreed about the feel of the keys. “Love the feel of the material that they made the keys out of. Has a very satisfying texture,” Will wrote.

The Step Up

The Kinesis Freestyle is highly customizable, but it’s too pricey to be best for most people.

The Freestyleuses an even more dramatic split design than Microsoft’s keyboard. The two sides of the keyboard can be detached and angled independently to perfectly suit your hands. Most importantly, the Freestylecan be paired with Kinesis’s VIPaccessory, which adds palm rests to the front of the keyboard and feet that angle the keyboard naturally for your wrists.

The VIPis adjustable to two different heights, and the palm rests are just as comfortably padded as Microsoft’s. Because of that adjustable split, I think the Kinesis is the best keyboard, from a pure ergonomic standpoint, of any I’ve used. If your wrists need to be in a very specific position to avoid pain while typing, it may be your best choice. As Norm points out, though, it’s not quite perfect.

If your wrists need to be in a very specific position to avoid pain while typing, it may be your best choice. “Good split distance was easy to find,” he wrote, “but also easy for a side to slide away and lose your set arrangement.” Marco Arment made the same criticism of the Freestylein his review of the Sculpt Ergonomic.

The Kinesis does unfortunately use membrane keys, but they’re the most comfortable membrane keys I’ve ever typed on. They feel closer to mechanical keys than any other membrane keys I’ve touched. Norm agreed, writing that though they were soft and quiet, requiring a soft touch, they felt great after a few days of use.

How to improve your desk’s ergonomics

Buy a keyboard tray or an ergonomic keyboard that will put you in the ideal typing posture. As mentioned above, negative tilt prevents you from injuring your wrists. They shouldn’t have to be angled upwards to touch the keys, and neither should your arms–they should be relaxed at your sides, hands straight out in front of you, and angled naturally downwards.

The Competition

None of the other keyboards I tested came close to the quality of the Freestyleor the Sculpt Ergonomic. Will and Norm and I had varying opinions about a few keyboards, but we mostly agreed on the keyboards that were mediocre and the ones that were worse. You shouldn’t buy any of them.

Logitech MK550: This is the (distant) third-best keyboard I tested, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Strangely, Logitech hasn’t put out an ergonomic keyboard in years, and a modernized design on this keyboard could make it great. Unfortunately, it’s missing some of the basics. It used curved key rows instead of a split and has no negative tilt. Its feet are in the back, instead, which is a damaging keyboard design trend that needs to be killed off. It does use decent membrane keys and has a comfortable wrist rest in the front.

Microsoft Sculpt Comfort: Doesn’t use a split design but instead a wave pattern that doesn’t do as much to separate your hands. It does have feet in the front to provide a negative tilt, but the keys simply don’t feel great to type on; they’re too stiff and flat. The Sculpt Ergonomic is by far a better keyboard.

Perixx Periboard 512: Split design, but it doesn’t offer the negative tilt of the Sculpt Ergonomic. It’s raised up with a large, cheap-feeling plastic shell and is overall too large with its number pad on the right side. The membrane keys feel too soft to type on, though they aren’t the mushiest keys of the lot I tested. Its number keys are laid out in an awkward configuration. Overall, the keyboard feels cheap.

Adesso Tru-Form Media: Split design. Another large, plastic ergo keyboard. It’s actually loud and creaky to type on and feels even cheaper than the Perixx keyboard. Its split spacebar is also weirdly small to make room for an Adesso logo in the middle, a downside to an overall fine split design. Like the Perixx, it doesn’t offer any negative tilt. It’s also too large and too wide.

Multi-purpose use.

There’s a good chance that you’ll want to use the desk for more than just gaming. Make sure to consider whether you want to use you desk for other purposes like an office space or somewhere to do homework asignments. Some gamers who prefer to park out for a few hours might also need a place to eat their meals and snacks. In each case, having extra shelving for storage and an attached keyboard tray can also makes things a little more comfortable. So make sure to pick one that you can easily maneuver things without causing clutter. Essentially having a place to put or put away your stuff when you’re not using it.

Shape & Dimensions.

The size and layout of the room will play a determining factor in the type of gaming desk you can choose. Take the time to measure the dimensions of the room before purchasing. Think about where the best place to fit the desk. For example, an L-shaped desk works great in corners which open up more center space for easier movement within the room. U-Shaped desks offer panoramic access with plenty of deskspace, but also take up a fair amount of room. Foldable desks are perfect for for those who live in smaller spaces or prefer to pack it up and store when not in use.

Structure & Materials.

Most will consist of metal, wood, glass, particle board, PVC, and other plastics depending on the model, style, and price. From open rod iron to framed and boxed wood. Obviously, solid wood and metals will are more likely to last compared pressboard for example. But these also tend to be much heavier and cumbersome to move. If you plan to attach a monitor or keyboard tray, you will likely need to avoid tempered glass or pressboard, as these require drilling and can properly support of the weight of the screen.

Features of this L-shaped desk include

Mobile CPU cart allows you to place it where it suits your need.

Floor Glides to help prevent scratching while gripping the floor.

Features of this u-shape computer desk include

Wide Desk surface: offers space to spread out and have a place for everything.

Integrated grommet wire management system: for concealing and organising cables.

SITTING & STANDING DESKS  Transdesk Standing Desk

Long hours of gaming at a desk calls for an ergonomic approach to our posture and well-being. This while increasing our energy and alleviating the pain that is caused by sitting.

With its easy crank adjustment, you can set the height to match that of your chair. Feel like standing for a while? No problem. Raise the desktop to meet your best standing posture.

Abundant space for multiple monitors and plenty of room underneath for leg and foot movement.

Features of this game desk include

Easily adjusts from a sitting to a standing desk by means of its smooth crank.

Those who have recently purchased mentioned that they loved it! They also said it was very easy to assemble and the tools to build are included with the parts.

BBF Series A 72W Desk

Here is another great long desk for gaming or office use. It has been described as solid, sturdy, and great quality. Offering plenty of room for your rig, peripherals, multiple monitors, and more.

Cable management system conceals and streamlines your wiring by means of desktop and leg grommets. Solid construction with a durable scratch and stain resistant surface top.

This particular desk was designed to accommodate additional compartments and shelves that can be easily attached to your personal preferences and layout.

The greatest advantage to this desk is the amount of space you have for everything. Nearly 1square feet of desktop space to handle all of your gear and accessories.

Atlantic Gaming Desk

Made from highly durable steel and PVC laminate, which will offer many years of faithful service. Modern look and design that fits nicely into many gaming or work area.

Another cool feature to help enhance your gaming experience and reduce clutter consists of its cable management system for your wiring if needed.

Plenty of desk space for a notebook computer, keyboard, mouse and or a roomy workspace.

Spacious underneath that will accommodate your tower and still leave room for your knees and feet. Monitor stand helps eliminate the need to use up desk space for your screen.

Origami RDE-0Computer Desk

If you’re dealing with limited space like a cramped gaming room, dorm, or small apartment, this foldable desk for gaming by Origami can be neatly stored away when not in use.

It’s sturdy 2-part construction makes it easy to maneuver while maintaining a solid and reliable desk for using for your home office or game area.

Engineered with accurate measurements that ensure the most suitable distance from your eyes to your screen. Reducing fatigue.

Features of the E-Blue Gaming Desk include

Designated LED Adjustable lights up areas for each of your peripherals and gaming devices.

Materials: Built with steel and molded plastic frame for stability. The extended desktop delivers great arm and hand support.

Sculpted corners along with edge protection finishing, offering a sharp and modern look.

Bell’O Curved Computer Desk

Do you need a small computer desk that’s ideal for corners, yet has plenty of desk space? This computer office/gaming desk may be what you’re looking for.

This beautifully curved wood computer desk has an easy to clean safety glass desktop, solid steel framing, and affordable leg room. Designed with smaller spaces in mind. t’s sleek and open architecture will look sexy in just about any gaming or work area, while efficiently conserving smaller rooms with limited space.

Features of the Bell’O computer desk include

Product materials: Chrome cylinder glass supports, composite board tray with the cherry finish, clear tempered glass with black border for safety.

Height measurements: floor to keyboard= 25″ (63.5cm) – Floor to glass top = 29″ (73.6cm) Floor to monitor top = 35.4″ (90cm).

Dimensions: 2x 4x 3inches or 6x 12x 91.cen timeters

Bottom shelf: sBottom shelf: space for CPU with plenty of leg room.

Some users have mentioned that it will hold dual monitors, but to be cautious of how much weight the top shelf can hold. A clamp monitor stand is not recommended due to the fragile materials.

The majority of buyers of this game desk were quite satisfied with their purchase. The keyboard tray actually slides out far enough to allow you to use it with a relaxed, reclined seating position.

Arozzi Arena computer gaming desk.

It’s all newly designed with specifications to meet the needs of the modern gamer.

This, well thought out gaming desk provides 1square feet of gaming area that offers you a comfortable space for large monitors as well as tons of room for your mouse key bed and other devices. Attractive, easy to set up and use. Plenty of space between its legs giving you more breathing room.

This particular gaming desk took certain factors into consideration such as its use of high-density constructed materials a stable and comfortable environment for gaming as they do with their Arozzi gaming chairs.

Comes with a water resistant/machine washable micro fibre cloth mouse pad surface, and a unique cable management system, just to name a few great details about this modern desk for PC gaming.

Features of the Arozzi Arena computer desk include

1square feet of desktop space affording you to personalize your gaming layout without having to economize space.

Cable management system has three specific cutouts for a mouse pad and custom netting underneath the desk to suspend and hide your cables easily and efficiently.

Weight: 85.pounds or kilogrammes ​Many have reported that this desk was fairly easly to put together. Simple to read instructions and took some around about 4min to build. May require people to assemble. Rated 4.stars out of for overall satisfaction.

Synthesizers

Synthesizers are keyboards that for the most part just produce sounds.  Most synthesizers today use sample-based synthesis—that is, they use pre-recorded sounds as opposed to analog synths that manipulate electrical signals to create their sounds. In the past few years, analog synths have experienced a bit of a renaissance, owing to their unique sound, and (typically) knob-per-function control. AThe technology of analog synthesizers has improved greatly over the years, and they have distinct sounds that many players demand, although many digital synths emulate them with great accuracy. Sample-based synths generally provide a larger sound set, including piano, organ, horns, strings, and even digital re-creations of classic analog synths. Some synths offer basic sequencing and step-sequence functions as well.

Novation’s MiniNova performance synth gives you 25amazing sounds to tweak and twist while adding in your voice in real time.

The Novation Mini Nova synth can generate old-school sounds but also offers digital dexterity no analog synth can match.

The first thing you should do before shopping for a synthesizer is define your needs. What style of music do you play? How many keys will be sufficient for you? What sounds are most important to your style? A keyboard player in a metal band will obviously have different answers than someone in a country-western band. Sound clips for many of the synthesizers are available for online preview to help you get an idea of their soundsets. It’s also important to decide what your budget will be for your synth. Thanks to technological advances, even less-expensive synths come with quality soundsets and keyboard action. So there are plenty of synths to choose from if you don’t have tons of money to spend.

With its robust mixing section, monophonic or duo-paraphonic performance options and a fully analog sound source, the Moog Subsequent 3synthesizer will please old-school electronic musicians while delivering modern programming capability.

Synthesizers include a number of sounds built into the ROM. If you are the kind of player who just wants to plug in and start playing, then you’ll want a synth with a lot of presets. If you’d rather create your own unique sounds, be sure to select a synth with plenty of user patch locations (memory slots that allow you to save your sonic creations). Being able to expand the ROM is valuable as well, as it will allow you to update your synth with new or different sound sets.

The Sub Phatty 25-Key Analog Synth delivers genuine, vintage Moog sound while its 3knobs and 1switch controls offer a vast palette for audio creativity.

Check the ROM capacity; more is better in terms of saving and expanding sounds. As noted above, things like weighted keys, and high-polyphony counts make the synth more playable, powerful and versatile.

Envelope controls let you tailor the attack, sustain, decay, and release time of a sound. A low-frequency oscillator, or LFO, allows you to alter various parameters of a tone. For example, applying the LFO to a tone’s pitch creates a vibrato effect. A synthesizer’s filter section can be used to remove certain frequencies from a sound and change its timbre. Many synthesizers also have built-in effects like reverb, delay, chorus, and more. If you enjoy pushing the sonic boundaries with what you play, then these are features you’ll want to look for in your purchase.

The new Montage Series synths from Yamaha represent the state of the art when it comes to creating powerful and enveloping textures that are beyond the reach of ordinary synths. The cornerstone of its operation is the Motion Control Synthesis Engine—an environment in which you control two fully independent sound engines that can be zoned or layered to create huge tapestries. Using Motion Sequences technology opens up new worlds of synth control and performance possibilities.

Composers and musicians will love the enormous range of control and workflow options presented by Yamaha’s Montage 76-Key Flagship Synthesizer.

Electronic Organs

Anyone who has dragged a classic Hammond Borgan and its hefty Leslie speakers to a gig knows what a hernia-inducing experience that can be. The good news for today’s organ players is that modern electronic organs can capture the retro sound of old Hammonds and Wurlitzers without breaking your back (or wallet). The best modern organs replicate subtle nuances of old-school organs right down to the sound of their key-thunk! Most organs today use digital modeling, but incorporate drawbars like a traditional organ to change the sound. Digital organs also have features like effects, pitch bend and modulation wheels, and MIDI compatibility.

The Hammond SkOrgan conjures up the sounds and feel of the classic Bwhile also offering capabilities and voices undreamed of by old-school organists. At 1lb., it has great potential as a stage organ that won’t break your back.

Summing Up

By now you should have a pretty good idea of the important things to look for when considering a keyboard or digital piano. Armed with that information, you’re now better equipped to find the right gear to match your needs and budget.

We want you to be pleased with your keyboard purchase, and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and generous return policy so you can order with confidence.

Glossary

The following are some common terms you will encounter when shopping for your keyboard, piano, or synthesizer. Use this glossary as a reference while you browse Musician’s Friend’s huge selection of synths, workstations, MIDI controllers, portable keyboards, arrangers, and digital pianos.

A/D and D/A conversion » The process of converting an analog signal to a digital one (A/D) or a digital signal to an analog one (D/A).

Aftertouch » A control activated by pushing a key past the point where the note sounds.

Arpeggiator » A keyboard function that generates an arpeggio when a single note is played.

Assignable » The ability to have a keyboard control affect specified parameters selected by the user.

Auto-accompaniment » A keyboard feature that plays backing performances, often made up of a number of instruments.

Bit depth » The number of bits captured in one sample, or slice, of an audio signal as it is converted from analog to digital by an A/D converter. Measured in bits and represented as 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit, 48-bit, etc. Higher bit depths usually produce higher quality sound.

CompactFlash » A memory storage system developed by SanDisk that uses small cards to transfer data to and from compatible devices.

Damper pedal » A pedal that, when pressed, maintains a note’s sustain until released.

DSP » Digital signal processing. The means by which most keyboards produce effects, equalization, filters, etc. that can be applied to an audio signal.

Effects » Processes that modify a tone or tones, such as reverb, delay, vibrato, etc.

Envelope » An electronic circuit that changes a selected setting by a desired amount at certain intervals. Commonly used to alter basic waveform pitch settings.

Filter » An electronic circuit that alters a tone by removing specific frequencies.

FireWire » A high-speed connection protocol developed by Apple that is similar to USB but much faster.

Hammer action » A keybed that uses small hammers to trigger notes in an effort to re-create the feel of an acoustic piano.

Keybed » The keys of a keyboard and their underlying mechanisms.

Low-frequency oscillator (LFO) » An inaudible oscillator that alters basic settings of a waveform to create unique effects like vibrato or tremolo.

Layer » A keyboard function that lets you create a sound by layering several different tones.

MIDI » Acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A protocol that allows musical instruments and digital devices to communicate. GM is short for General MIDI, a music industry standard since 199that ensures consistent performance on all GM-compatible instruments and standardized sounds and locations. GMis an extension of GM that requires 32-voice polyphony (instead of 2for GM) and includes more programs. mLAN » A network protocol designed by Yamaha for transmitting digital audio and MIDI data among a number of devices using a FireWire cable.

Modulation wheel (mod wheel) » A keyboard controller that can alter various elements of a tone.

Multitimbrality » The ability of a keyboard to play different sounds at once, i.e. flute, drums, strings, piano, etc. Multitimbrality should not be confused with polyphony.

Oscillator » The sound-producing device in an analog synth.

Pitch bend wheel » A keyboard controller that alters the pitch of the note being played up or down.

Polyphony » The number of tones a keyboard can produce at once.

Rhythms » Beats that are built into a keyboard in various musical styles.

Sample rate » The number of times an audio signal is measured (sampled) per second as it is converted from analog to digital by an A/D converter. Measured in kHz and represented as 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88kHz, 96kHz, etc. The higher the sample the greater the musical fidelity.

Sampler » A device that records digital audio and allows it to be altered and played back in various ways.

Sequencer » A hardware or software device that records MIDI performance data and plays it back in a user-programmed sequence.

SmartMedia » A memory storage system developed by Toshiba that uses small cards to transfer data to and from compatible devices. Similar to CompactFlash, but SmartMedia cards are smaller.

Sostenuto pedal » A keyboard pedal that mimics the pedal of the same name found on grand pianos. It sustains only the notes that are being held down when the pedal is pressed.

Split » A keyboard function that allows the user to divide the keybed into different sections and assign various tones to each one.

Style » A musical passage, complete with many instruments, built into a keyboard.

Tones (waveforms) » The sounds that a synthesizer or other keyboard produces. Waveforms have different shapes that give them unique tonal properties. The most common shapes are sawtooth, square, and sine.

Touch sensitivity » The ability of a keybed to respond to various player actions, such as the velocity with which keys are pressed and the amount of pressure placed on the key. These elements are designed to replicate the feel of acoustic piano keys.

USB » Universal serial bus. A common connection protocol for computers. Many keyboards provide a USB connection to transfer data to and from a computer.

Final Word

First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.

Most important, have fun and choose your keyboard tray wisely! Good luck!

So, TOP3 of keyboard tray

• №1 — Uncaged Ergonomics Ergonomic Under Desk Keyboard Tray with Mouse Pad | Adjustable Height & Angle with Negative Tilt
• №2 — TrenDesks Model E-1
• №3 — Uncaged Ergonomics WorkEZ Keyboard Tray & Mouse Pad

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