Digital Piano?

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TelePaul

TelePaul

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Could someone suggest a good digital piano? I wish I could be more specific, but I know nothing about them and would jsut be starting to learn to play. Requirements would be decent samples, headphone out and line out. And I'm on a budget, less than a thousand bucks if possible.
 
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if you really want to learn the thing at $1k there are lotsa choices it seems ... i dont have a specific recommendation but the action is the most important thing IMO... before trying any out go to a real piano store and play around on a big one... close your eyes and concentrate on the feel... how much "resistence" how far did it "drop" before triggering that sort of thing...
 
dementedchord said:
if you really want to learn the thing at $1k there are lotsa choices it seems ... i dont have a specific recommendation but the action is the most important thing IMO... before trying any out go to a real piano store and play around on a big one... close your eyes and concentrate on the feel... how much "resistence" how far did it "drop" before triggering that sort of thing...
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There's a difference between weighted and hammered keys right? Do Yamaha and Roland do good gear?
 
TelePaul said:
There's a difference between weighted and hammered keys right? Do Yamaha and Roland do good gear?
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I'm in the same boat as you are--almost. I've got a couple keyboards, and I already play a bit, but I'm looking for digital piano. I'm only concerned about three things 1) Midi capable (they virtually all are) 2) The piano sound 3) and keyboard feel.

In spite of the fact that I have tons of beautiful samples in my rig, I find myself just wanting to sit down and play--without having to fire everthing else up. So I'm looking for a simple digital piano. I haven't bought yet, but I've shopped a lot--and the Yamaha's definitely are on the list.

I'll be following this thread and learning along with you! :)
 
This question comes up often and if you search you will find plenty of threads.

Weighted feel and sound are normally the two primary factors. The Yamaha pianos always rate high both for feel and sound. Casio makes some very decent sounding pianos with good feel.

A couple of years ago I must have tried close to a dozen models (Roland, Yamaha, Korg, General Music, M-Audio, Casio - and a couple of brands I don't even remember).

I was very surprised that I decided on a Casio Privia 310 - for the price (well under $1,000) I thought it was a very good value. The 110 has most of the same features - same paino sounds and same feel (but not the set of MIDI instrument sounds)
 
mikeh said:
This question comes up often and if you search you will find plenty of threads.

Weighted feel and sound are normally the two primary factors. The Yamaha pianos always rate high both for feel and sound. Casio makes some very decent sounding pianos with good feel.

A couple of years ago I must have tried close to a dozen models (Roland, Yamaha, Korg, General Music, M-Audio, Casio - and a couple of brands I don't even remember).

I was very surprised that I decided on a Casio Privia 310 - for the price (well under $1,000) I thought it was a very good value. The 110 has most of the same features - same paino sounds and same feel (but not the set of MIDI instrument sounds)
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Thanks alot, I'll check that model.
 
WhiteStrat said:
I'm in the same boat as you are--almost. I've got a couple keyboards, and I already play a bit, but I'm looking for digital piano. I'm only concerned about three things 1) Midi capable (they virtually all are) 2) The piano sound 3) and keyboard feel.

In spite of the fact that I have tons of beautiful samples in my rig, I find myself just wanting to sit down and play--without having to fire everthing else up. So I'm looking for a simple digital piano. I haven't bought yet, but I've shopped a lot--and the Yamaha's definitely are on the list.

I'll be following this thread and learning along with you! :)
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Cool cool. I use this site for most of my music purchases, and they seem to have a decent range of pianos.

http://www.thomann.de/index.html?partner_id=97926&page=ie/digital_pianos_dp.html
 
I own a Yamaha digital piano. but it's probably out of your price range. However, I will say this: yamaha's simply have the best piano sound available. The privia isn't bad either, but yamaha's samples are really nice, no matter what price you pay. They're always above the rest in their samples.
 
MadHatterTCM said:
I own a Yamaha digital piano. but it's probably out of your price range. However, I will say this: yamaha's simply have the best piano sound available. The privia isn't bad either, but yamaha's samples are really nice, no matter what price you pay. They're always above the rest in their samples.
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Which Yamaha do you have?
 
IMO... i'ld steer clear of the casios... sure seems like lotta bang for the buck but i usde to do service work for them and ya could'nt give me one... YMMV...

if ya check the keyboard mag site the rolands are considered the ones to beat in most respects...

i own a kurzweil... love them their actions are made by fatar( the prefered co)

if ya get a great action and so-so sounds you can always use vsti's for recording...
 
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dementedchord said:
IMO... i'ld steer clear of the casios... sure seems like lotta bang for the buck but i usde to do service work for them and ya could'nt give me one... YMMV...

if ya check the keyboard mag site the rolands are considered the ones to beat in most respects...

i own a kurzweil... love them their actions are made by fatar( the prefered co)

if ya get a great action and so-so sounds you can always use vsti's for recording...
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I've always loved Kurzweil's too (just played 'em, haven't owned one). Do you have any personal knowledge or experience with either the SP2 76 Key Semi-Weighted or the SP2X 88 Key?

(Sorry to hijack the thread into $1000+ territory!)
 
WhiteStrat said:
Do you have any personal knowledge or experience with either the SP2 76 Key Semi-Weighted or the SP2X 88 Key?
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not enough to argue about... good luck with the 1k post your gettin close... but my question is who did you blow to get that rep so quick???? lmao...
 
dementedchord said:
not enough to argue about... good luck with the 1k post your gettin close... but my question is who did you blow to get that rep so quick???? lmao...
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No way brother! I'm a very helpful guy!

Seriously, I spend a good deal of time in the clinic--folks there seem to appreciate the feedback (no pun intended). And I've posted a number of things (mic shootouts, mixes of my own, etc.) that seemed to strike a chord with folks (okay, pun intended!).
 
I use a Motif in my studio but I have a Korg SP250 in my living room to practice on and I really do like it. The piano sound and the feel are both really very good. I think it's a great value for $900.
 
hi there,

FWIW i have had a yamaha clavinova clp840 for about 10 years now, and i have never had any trouble with it.

i love the sound and the feel of it,,and i record it using stereo line outs, and have always been happy.(also has midi in/out/thru, 2 line ins and 2 headphone outs.)

it was very very dear at the time,, but i think you can get the same model (or similar) in used condition for a few hundred pounds now.

personally i never liked the touch of rolands as much,,,but they have a great rep in general,,,,,and as a last note,,

probably best to avoid casio.

hope that helps :)


<all the piano on pete gardiners album is my clav @ www.webforni.com/steen>
 
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This is certainly not meant to discredit this forum or its members in any way, but go to the forums over at pianoworld.com and go to the "Digital Pianos - Synths & Keyboards" section. There you'll find page after page, thread after thread, of people in the exact same circumstance as you (trust me, I was one of those people until two days ago).

While I highly recommend you visit the site I mentioned above (do a search if you have a specific model in mind), I'll give you a quick summary of the consensus over there: In the sub-$1000 range, you're basiclly looking at Casios and Yamaha's. As for which of these two sounds and feels better, this is extremely subjective. But I'll say that I just bought a Casio PX-320 two days ago if that gives you an idea of how I feel (the 320 and 120 replaced the 310 and 110). Keyboard Mag just did a review of the PX-320. You can check it out on their website (I'm pretty sure that they've done some Yamaha reviews too). Yamaha digital pianos (and acoustics for that matter) are a bit too bright for my tastes. But if you like the Yamaha sound, the go for it: they are by far the most popular seller of pianos/keyboards, which means that they probably do indeed have a longer lifespan and/or better service than the Casios. But the biggest weakness that the Casio has is its brand name. Many people just can't kick the image of those cheap toy keyboards with about 50 keys (which may even light up :p) , crappy drum beats, and a full arsenal of sound effects such as barking dogs (I use to own a Casio like this when I was a kid :D). But the Casio line of digital pianos (Privia is the name of the line [PX-###]) is truly a different animal, no pun intended. The newer ones (such as the 320) have features (such as 128 notes of polyphony, and line inputs) that rival keyboards 2-3 times the price.

Note that if you increase your budget by $300-700, then the options really open up. At this price point, Roland's seemed to be preffered (again, highly subjective). The Roland FP-7 for instance has a very big following over there (it is probably one of the most popular/recommended digital piano over there). Kawai also becomes a contender at this price point.
 
seanakaforty--

thanks for dropping in and giving us the lowdown on some other opinions. Your definitely spot on about going to the piano specific forum. I'd guess that lots of folks here are members (or lurkers at least) at other more specialized BBS's. I am--for guitars (own a bunch), lap steels (just bought my first), banjos (researching), my pickup truck, and my tractor.

I think since this is home base we feel more comfortable talking to our "friends" in the comfort zone. But your point is well taken. I'm gonna check it out and learn some more before I buy one.
 
Reality check

TelePaul said:
Could someone suggest a good digital piano? I wish I could be more specific, but I know nothing about them and would jsut be starting to learn to play. Requirements would be decent samples, headphone out and line out. And I'm on a budget, less than a thousand bucks if possible.
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I think the key to this issue is what you wrote "...just starting to learn to play."


I think that says a lot.


And I think I can speak with no little authority on this subject:


Get a real piano!!!


My Kurzweil K2500XS has the best piano samples on it, possible. I also own a Steinway console piano.


After decades of playing both real and electronic keyboards, it's not even a competition - sit at a real piano, and you are in heaven, by comparison.

Let me explain the problems with digital keyboards (and I have close to $20,000 in electronic equipment wrapped up in this issue!):

*The sound of a digital sample will never approximate the wonderful tone of a real acoustic, regardless of the technology for decades to come. Do yourself a favor. Read my opening thread here https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=198596

*You will never feel an affinity for an electronic keyboard that you will with real wood, real strings, hammers and sounding board. When you get the desire to play, you sit at the bench and let your fingers move on the ivory, and sounds far superior to samples, will soothe your ears. I often do not play my Kurzweil because it means having to turn on 4 on/off switches (the Kurzweil, my Mackie Mixer, my EV EQ, and my JBL amplifier).

*After you have begun to learn to play a digital keyboard, and have developed your ear and love of sound, you will then want to dump the $1,000 keyboard, and get something better. It is inevitable. Just get a good used piano to start, and learn to play it. TRUST ME - you will spend many, many more hours in front of a real piano, than an electronic toy. You will feel like you are touching nature, and sometimes heaven.


I just wrote all this off the top of my head, and it is not very eloquent. I'm sure there will be replies that I can address as they come. But I say it again, if you are wishing to take up an instrument (i.e. keys), and learn how to play... by all means, get a real piano. The electronic stuff can supplement later.

You can always find a good, used piano for $1,000.

Todd
 
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Assumption

I wrote what I did, believing piano is your main desire.

But, even if you are wishing to play around with digital sample sounds of other instruments (i.e. flutes, clarinets, organs, etc.), you are not yet a master of any of the basics of music, so my post (above) still stands.

If you are not serious about music, and just want to fiddle about with various sounds, then the digital keyboard is a way to go. But I would still caution against it.

I also say this based on those things you hear about studies of children who learn to play music at a young age, tend to do better in life than those who do not (i.e. do better in math, logic, alertness). There is something to be said for studying and learning MUSIC.

The piano is the easiest way to begin. And take lessons from somebody!
 
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