Newbie question

[Richard Monroe]

I'm looking into buying an electric piano for the studio. It will be used only for recording, should have both midi and digital/analog output capabilities, and fully weighted keys. It really only needs to be *a piano*, simulating the sound of the real thing as much as possible, we don't need a B-3 with a Leslie cab. I'm prepared to commit $1000 or less to it, and will probably not consider most used units. First, is my price range realistic? Second, what would you recommend? I'd really rather move our Wurlitzer console downstairs, but the studio just isn't big enough for a real standup. Thanks in advance for your advice.-Richie

 

[RickW]

Hi Richie! I'm not a keyboard player, and also not up on the lastest keyboards available, but I do have a few in my studio. If you're just going to use it for recording, why not consider a good 88 key weighted controller and put the rest of the money towards some sample CDs and sounds. I believe there's really good controllers available for under the $500 mark, maybe by StudioLogic or Fatar. (Could be the same company...not sure). Also, why wouldn't you want a used item? There's many quality keyboards available used that would do the trick. If you bought one at a reputable store, I'm sure they'd back it up. Probably not much help to ya, but my .02.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Rick! I don't usually buy used stuff that I don't understand, and as I said my keyboard knowledge is nil. I have a number of uses for keyboard that don't involve triggered samples. Yeah, I know I could get a controller, but I need a a piano I can run through a PA for preproduction work. The paradigm here is real sound in real acoustic space. Yeah, I could just use "Grand", but it's not going to happen. BTW, whatever happened to you and your MC012?-Richie

 

[warble]

I'd check out the Yamaha line of digital pianos. I've tried three models at a local keyboard store, and was pleased with what I heard. I ended up buying a S80 synth, but recommended the P60 to a friend and she loves it. Some models to check out would be:

P90 - going for around $995 new
P120 - going for around $1195 new

You won't find digital outs on these, or any other brand in this price range that I know of. The Yamaha's I mentioned just have a few basic sounds along with awesome three-layer sampled grand piano sounds. I'm a bit of a Yamaha junkie, but seriously, they do make quality stuff with great sound. Kurzweil makes some nice stuff too, but a little overpriced IMO. The Kurzweil models in this range have more sounds built-in, which I don't know you'd find useful for what you'll be doing.

 

[mikeh]

The Yamaha P90 gets good comments more often than just about any other E-Piano I've read about. I tried one at a store and I thought the sound was very good and the feel (an important issue with "piano players") was better than most. While it does have MIDI out and naturally stereo analog out, it does not have digital out. I suspect you will have a hard time finding digital out in your price range. However, would think your priority is sound & feel more than digital out.