A Pianist's Keyboard

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mozart623

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I'm looking to upgrade my keyboard (which is currently a Kawai CN290), and so far the stores I've gone to all try to sell me something that has a lot of sounds, effects, and instruments. I'm primarily a pianist (classically trained) and so I'm very picky about the sound, key weight, and polyphony of the instrument. I need something that sounds and feels like a real piano. Are there any pianists out there that can recommend a good keyboard? Any opinions on Yamaha vs. Kursweil?
 
The best way to find out what you like is to try out as many as you can. It also depends on your price range. I recommend looking into some Roland digital pianos...excellent quality and reasonably priced. Yamahas are very nice too, but I'm primarly a Roland user :D .

Stay away from getting a digital piano with a built in cabinet, if you can, because they add on at least $1,000 to the price. You can have two of the same keyboard, thousands of dollars apart because one has cabinet. Sure, it can enhance the sound quality a little bit, but if you're just doing studio work, it really makes no difference (except it looks kind of nice :) )

Yamaha, Roland, Korg...the three major brands, all have some great-sounding keyboards. I'm not too sure about Kursweil, again, you really have to try them out for yourself.
 
mozart623 said:
I'm looking to upgrade my keyboard (which is currently a Kawai CN290), and so far the stores I've gone to all try to sell me something that has a lot of sounds, effects, and instruments. I'm primarily a pianist (classically trained) and so I'm very picky about the sound, key weight, and polyphony of the instrument. I need something that sounds and feels like a real piano. Are there any pianists out there that can recommend a good keyboard? Any opinions on Yamaha vs. Kursweil?
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Another optuion of course is to get a controller and a soft synth.
Kurzweil keyboards are made by fatar (now Studiologic). Take your pick:
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/cat--3068
I use a Fatar, fwiw (not much).

I have heard good things about the CME UF8, but I have not tried one personally:
http://www.musiciansbuy.com/cme_keyboard_controllers_cme_keyboard_controller_uf8_uf7_kcscm.html

A soft synth I'd recommend, the Ilio Ivory Grand:
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=1296
http://www.ilio.com/synthogy/ivory/
 
I don't think the controller/module route is going to be what you are looking for. that's what I use, but ultimately it is not satisfying regarding the touch and response.

If you are looking for something that's as close to the real thing as possible I think you'll need to look at the various dedicated electronic piano keyboards that are out there. Some of the higher end models by Yamaha or Kawai might be what you are looking for. Maybe Roland, but I kind of doubt it.

Some models have weighted actions that are designed to be similar to piano actions. By that I mean by that is they are not spring loaded like virtually every synth and keyboard controller is. As classically trained pianists the spring loaded keyboards never feel right to us, even though the keys may be weighted.

I played a Yamaha electronic piano a few years ago that had a nice touch, but I think it would be spendy, as the whole instrument was in the shape of a very small grand. Maybe you could locate one of those.
 
mozart,

For what it's worth, I am a amateur pianist and I too was looking for the feel and sound (without breaking the bank.) I went with a Yamaha P80 stage piano. It's compact, has excellent weighted keys and aftertouch and the samples are good, considering the $850 I spent.
Now, it has been replaced by the P90 which, someone told me, doesn't sound quite as real in the piano department, but you'll have to try for yourself.
A good used P80 could be an option, depending on how much you wish to spend.

Best,

C.
 
CyanJaguar said:
I love the kurzweil pc88. It sounds AWESOME[/url]
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I second that. Specially if you get it with the Triple Strike Piano ROM (I think it's called Dynamic Piano ROM).

Like you I am a classically trained pianist, and find the Kurzweil keyboards and pianos one of the most playable. They're not for everyone, so you might want to give one a try if you can locate one at a local store.
 
noisewreck said:
I second that. Specially if you get it with the Triple Strike Piano ROM (I think it's called Dynamic Piano ROM).

Like you I am a classically trained pianist, and find the Kurzweil keyboards and pianos one of the most playable. They're not for everyone, so you might want to give one a try if you can locate one at a local store.
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The Kurzweils are Fatar keyboards (Studiologic now).
 
Yes, but it's more than just about the action. I'm talking about the sounds as well.
 
fraserhutch said:
The Kurzweils are Fatar keyboards (Studiologic now).
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I've been playing real pianos since 1953. If you can get a Fatar 88 key weighted action controller and an XV series Roland module, the sound and feel IMO, is the closest there is. I couldn't find the Fatar controller so I went with an M-Audio Pro 88 keyStation. You can buy additional sampled piano sounds (patches) to install to the XV. However I've not needed to do that. The piano patches in the XV-2020 are all I need at this time. The novelty has not worn off even after a year of playing every day. :cool:

That said, as I'm sure you know, piano feels and sounds are subjective and every keyboard player has their oun personal preference. So, I will echo that you should try as many as possible.

First thing I would look for is the right touch and feel for you. Then, go for the sound. It's not a perfect science but electronic keyboard manufactorers have come a long way in their efforts to satisfy we, the pianist's need for authenticity.
 
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Thanks everyone so far for your very helpful responses - I really appreciate it. If it helps at all, a few of you mentioned that it depends a great deal on what sort of 'feel' I like. Generally, I like to play on a light-touch brighter piano, and I like the bass notes to really sound out. My mother (who has a home studio of her own) is partial to the Kursweil PC-88. I've played on this keyboard and yes it does have a good sound, but I'm not so much impressed with the touch. It still feels very "keyboard-y" to me. However, her instrument is at least 5 years old. On many of the new keyboards I've tried, they've made the keys out of actual wood in order to increase the quality of the keyweight and touch.

I've been playing on 9 foot grand pianos my entire life and only recently decided to build a home studio to record with. I could give a person any type of advice on a real piano, but when it comes to keyboards/equipment, I'm just starting out and learning as I go. So I really do appreciate the valuable feedback I'm receiving here. Thanks! :)
 
noisewreck said:
Yes, but it's more than just about the action. I'm talking about the sounds as well.
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That is why I suggested the Ilio Ivory pianos. As much as I love the triple strike (which I have), this is better.
 
BMWerks said:
I've been playing real pianos since 1953. If you can get a Fatar 88 key weighted action controller and an XV series Roland module, the sound and feel IMO, is the closest there is. I couldn't find the Fatar controller so I went with an M-Audio Pro 88 keyStation. You can buy additional sampled piano sounds (patches) to install to the XV. However I've not needed to do that. The piano patches in the XV-2020 are all I need at this time. The novelty has not worn off even after a year of playing every day. :cool:

That said, as I'm sure you know, piano feels and sounds are subjective and every keyboard player has their oun personal preference. So, I will echo that you should try as many as possible.

First thing I would look for is the right touch and feel for you. Then, go for the sound. It's not a perfect science but electronic keyboard manufactorers have come a long way in their efforts to satisfy we, the pianist's need for authenticity.
Click to expand...


Fatar is now Studiologic. See the links I posted above.
 
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