Help with Choppy Movement! GM8

[Echo Magnum]

Firstly I'm a complete beginner with game maker so forgive my ignorance.
Secondly I'm using Game Maker 8 pro if that even makes a difference.
Thirdly I already posted this at yo yo games but the guys their don't care.

I am making a basic rpg game and I am having issues with the movement, the movement works but the problem is that its not smooth and feels a little choppy.

Here is what I have done:

>I have made sprites for the still poses and movement ( animated ) moving up, down, left and right.
>I then made one object to represent the character, by default I made it face down.
>here is an algorithm representing the code in the object:

Key Press up> Start moving Up, Speed 4> Change Sprite Animation Up, Speed 1
Key Release up> Start moving Center, Speed 0> Change Sprite Still Up, Speed 1

Key Press left> Start moving Left, Speed 4> Change Sprite Animation Left, Speed 1
Key Release left> Start moving Center, Speed 0> Change Sprite Still Left, Speed 1

e.t.c for right, down

I suspect the "choppynes" is from the speed settings but another issue is that I HAVE to release the key and
then press another key or the sprite freezes. e.g when I press up and move up, I have to release then press
and hold right e.t.c, it feels really primitive as most games allow you to quickly interchange direction without
having to first release the key.

I am making an action rpg so this is actually a huge issue. I hope someone can help me with this... I'm slowly being lured back to rpg maker but the games mechanics would be a lot more suited to GM.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Echo Magnum]

Damn it, I think I'll get back to rpg maker, gm's a headache for novices. Plus I found a script that does exactly what I was trying to re-create in gm.

 

[RadethDart]

If you still want any help on this, just let me know. - super late bump. But I feel that I need to help people out.