Looking for clean, traditional piano sounds...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike BL
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Mike BL

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Hey everyone, I'm sorry to bother you with what I assume is a question that's been done to death, but I can't really find much specific information on the subject in the archives.

I'll start by saying I'm a complete newbie to the world of keyboards and synths. I don't know how to play a single chord on the piano, but I''m going to be laying some guitar/bass/drum tracks down, and I'm looking to have my girlfriend play some piano. She took lessons for years and years and can still play, but she has even less experience with keyboards than I do.

Now that I'm done babbling, I'll get to my question: What keyboards under, say, $400-$500 will give me the best clean, traditional piano sounds?

Okay, thanks in advance for you help.
 
That's a really low price range...

Try a used Alesis QS-6.1, 7.0, or 7.1 (NOT a 6.0!!!!). the Dark Classical patch is pretty convincing. She might not like the touch though. A used 8.0 or 8.1 will give her a very good touch as well, but might get you up around $6-700.

There's also a Classical Piano plug-in card for the QS series - I haven't heard it yet, but it's supposed to be very good. The cards list for $250, but often go for as low as $100-150.

Daf
 
Thanks a ton for the response.

I kind of had a feeling my budget would be a problem. I'm fine with waiting for a good Ebay deal, though, so hopefully I can get around it.

Actually, I just found an Alesis QS7.1 on Ebay with a "Buy It Now" price of $500, which seems like a pretty decent deal, right?

Unfortunately, I'm still a few weeks away from being able to make the purchase so I'll have to pass on this one.

Thanks again.
 
Go to yer local Banjo Mart and try out a 6.2 or 8.2 (they dropped the 7.x line), see what you think before you buy...

Daf
 
A piano sound that will kill the Alesis can be found in the Kurzweil K1000 series synths. Or you can get it in their 1000 series module, the PX 1000, PX Plus, or Pro 1. It was kind of the standard for a really good sounding piano. It's still good. Also, Kurzweil had a small 1/2 rack module that was just piano sounds. I forget the exact name, but it would be an excellent one for you to have, and would cost considerably under your budget. If you already have a keyboard, then adding the module would be a great way to go.

Also, Emu has a piano expansion board called the "Holy Grail", which fits into any of their current line of synths and modules. It's a pretty good sounding piano and if you shop carefully would get in around $500 or so for the module and the card.

Also, roland has an excellent piano expansion board called the SRX-02 that fits into their current line of XV modules and some of their keyboards.

I personally would take the Kurzweil, Emu, or Roland sounds over the Alesis piano any day. Just my opinion!
 
I have a cheapper Kurz and a cheaper Roland. They don't measure up. The best Alesis piano sound may not match the best Kurz sound, but it's better than the poor excuses they put into their cheap boards, and all the QS's except the 6.0 have the same soundset.

That Kurz micropiano lost a shootout with a Roland 10 years ago, and they haven't improved it since.

Roland's FP-9 (FP-8) WAS pretty good, especially their electric piano sound - it's discontinued now, so you may be able to find in your price range. Keys had more of a clavinet touch - quick action, short throw - but easy to adjust to. Don't remember if I liked the acoustic piano sound, sorry.

Yoiur best bet is going to be to try them and listen. I bought the Kurz SP-88 on a recommendation and was REALLY disappointed.

And if anyone's tried that Classical Piano Q-card, I'd love to see a review...

Daf
 
Oh yeah, and Emu's piano sounds never worked in a solo setting - they're all designed to cut through dance mixes.

Daf
 
Oof...there will be no dance mixes to cut through.

I guess I should have realized that, like with any other kind of gear, the best answer to any of those "which one should I get" questions is always, "i don't know....go try 'em out and see for yourself."

I guess I just wanted to see if anything even halfway decent could be found in my prhibitively low price range.

Thanks again.
 
Take that dance mix comment with a grain of salt. I'm not sure the poster has heard this piano, or just the stock pianos in Emu modules. The stock pianos are cheesy and cutting, as he says. However, the Holy Grail piano will stand up in an exposed setting that is not dance oriented. It got me a film scoring job once because it sounded real in a mix and so much better than any of the other piano based tracks they were getting.

I think the best "piano in a box" currently is probably the Roland SRX-02 expansion board. Either that or the stereo piano expansion for the Kurzweil K2500/2600 series.

I agree that the Kurz SP-88 (and also newer PC-88) are a bit disapointing. Don't know why they changed the piano sound when they had a real winner to begin with in the stereo piano expansion board. I also take the comment about the Kurz micro-module thing. The sustain of the piano is not great on that.

The bottom line is that no electronic sampled piano comes close to the real thing. They are all compromised. The question is just to find the one that feels natural to play and sounds relatively close. I think they often sound better to the listener than they do for the pianist playing them. After all, in an auditorium/club or wherever, even a real piano is miked and heard through a sound system.
 
True - I'm only familiar with Emus in a general sense...

Btw, my favorite piano sound is the freebie VSTi mdaPiano. Very nice little piece of software.

Assuming there's no Steinway and Harvey's not available to set up the mics:D
 
I'm pretty happy with my Yamaha P80 piano. Weighted keys with a nice action and a pretty realistic tone. They are around $800 new so you might find a used one within your budget. I used to work with a piano player who loved the older Korgs with weighted keys. Those should be getting pretty cheap now.
 
The Kurzweil Micro Ensemble, IE, the ME-1, is a half-rack module that's supposed to have the same sounds as the NEW PC2 ... which is supposed to be better than the PC-88. Haven't heard PC2 and PC-88 side by side, but I HAVE heard the PC2 and SP-88, and the PC2 kills it.

Now the filters or something-or-other are supposed to be lower resolution on the ME-1 than the PC2 and I imagine that would affect sound quality somewhat ... but it's supposed to be the same stock sounds without programming ability, retails for about $350 to $400.

If you want to hear a clip of me playing the PC2 piano in a band setting, go here:

http://www.zspmusic.com/songs.htm

Click on "Avenida del Mar" ... it's just comping in the background till you get to the piano solo ... the horns were also PC2.

I tried Kurz PC2, Roland XV, Alesis QS 8.1, and Yamaha P and S (Motif) series. I have to say I liked the Kurz and NEW Yamaha P series (out of your budget as they don't have a module of that, I don't think) the best.

Hope this helps.
 
You should wait and save more money if there is no absolute pressing need right now to have the piano sound right now. I have a Kawai MP9000which I am really ahpppy with both with the sound and the feel. These are worth about $800.00 now if you can find one because the new 9500s are out and have been.

The Kawai is a very underated piano and I must say that I have recorded some very nice tracks with it. It also sounds good as a solo piano.

Now, my wife is a classically trained pianist and we did a shoot out between the latest Kawai and Yamaha which would be the Kawai MP9500 and the Yamaha P250.

Essentially, the stage pianos retain the basic characteristics of thier pianos in that the Kawai generally has a heavier action and less bright sound. This is true in the Kawai digital stage and acoustic piano. The Yamaha has a lighter action and a brighter sound.

All in all, my wife liked the Yamaha better. I liked them both and and was very impressed with the Yamaha.

As a side note, when I bought the Kawai, I tried the Yamaha and was less than impressed. When I tried the Kawai, I immediately fell in love with the feel and sound.

All in all, I have not heard a piano sound in a synth such as the Motif etc. that matches the piano sounds in these dedicated piano instruments. The Kurzweil was never my cup of tea and Roland sounds always strike me as less than realistic although always very musical and usefull.

By the way, if you are planning to play solo piano or practice standards or, compose or play classical pieces with phones so as not to disturb the neighbors, you owe it to yourself to save for one of the above two instruments.

Also, for me, the Kawai makes a great midi controller which I use often to control other modules. The Kawai also has a very, very good Rhodes sound however, when it comes to Rhodes sounds, Yamaha I believe is the hands down winner.

Buy carefully cause it is better to save up and pay more than to just save and pay less if that means you will ultimately be dissatisfied and back in the market in less than a year looking for a sound you can actually stand listening to.
 
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