Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts

7/14/2012

M-Audio ProKeys Premium Stage Piano Review

M-Audio ProKeys Premium Stage Piano
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The Piano sound is truly the best sound you can find for even under $1000, and this is only $500.
Thats the good news.
The other sounds are ok, the organ sounds being the worst, and the electric piano being the best non-piano sounds. The worst part (and the reason i wouldnt buy it again) is the touch. If you plan on just pounding out chords, itll be fine, but if you play classical, jazz, or even most pop-styles that require a bit of touch, you will hate this piano. They say it is "Hammer-Action" but really they should be called "way-over-weighted". These are the heaviest keys i have ever played, and I wish i would have played it before i bought it online.

Click Here to see more reviews about: M-Audio ProKeys Premium Stage Piano

The ProKeys 88 is the premium digital stage piano that doubles as a great MIDI controller. It's loaded with large, realistic samples 14 world-class instruments in all, including split/layer capabilities. We paired those great sounds with an 88-key hammer-action keyboard, delivering a realistic feel to satisfy the most demanding pro. The ProKeys 88 is also a great master controller keyboard, including a built-in USB MIDI interface for easy direct connection to your PC or Mac, MIDI In and Out jacks to communicate with other MIDI gear, pitch and modulation wheels, sequencer controls and more. ProKeys 88 pulls out all the stops in creating the ultimate playing experience in an affordable digital stage piano.


Ultra-Realistic Piano Our goal in designing the ProKeys 88 was to create an extremely musical and realistic piano experience. The caliber of a digital piano is greatly influenced by the quality and the size of the samples, so we started by giving the ProKeys 88 a generous amount of memory. Then, rather than dividing it up amongst a bunch of sounds you're not likely to use, we focused on the 14 sounds that are the bread and butter for many keyboardists--paying special attention to the stereo grand piano.

More Than a Stage Piano The ProKeys 88 delivers all the staple keyboard sounds needed by many musicians. Its flagship stereo grand is supplemented by an alternate grand designed to really cut through in popular music. The ProKeys 88 has electric pianos covered too. And the Clavinet brings one word to mind: "funky." Acoustic and electric basses give you the option of layering a ride cymbal for jazz tunes. Vibes, ensemble strings and an inspiring warm, lush synth pad round out a great sonic palette for the gigging keyboardist.
88-Key Hammer Action Of course, a realistic digital stage piano must have a full 88 keys that are properly weighted. The ProKeys 88's full-range clavier features hammer action that feels just like the real thing. It features three velocity curves tailored to different touches, as well as a fixed velocity for synth work.
Splits and Layers The ProKeys 88 keyboard also features split and layer capabilities. Put a bass in your left hand and keys in your right. Chord with an organ while playing a piano lead. Layer lush strings over a piano. You can even have a split and layer simultaneously for a total of three sounds at once.
Control Your DAW When it comes to communicating with the outside world, most digital stage pianos offer little more than a MIDI jack. In sharp contrast, the ProKeys 88 inherits much from M-Audio's years of experience pioneering mobile MIDI controllers. It incorporates a full USB MIDI interface that communicates with your PC or Mac via a single, simple USB connection--perfect for recording with virtually all MIDI sequencer software on the market. (The instrument features class compliancy with Windows XP and Mac OS X without installation of additional drivers.) You can even control your sequencer remotely via front-panel Start, Stop and Tempo buttons.
MIDI In and Out jacks allow full communication with all standard MIDI gear as well. The ProKeys 88 also features performance controls that are rare on digital stage pianos, including pitch wheel, modulation wheel, two footswitch inputs, and expression pedal input. The three different ranges available via the ProKeys 88's combined split and layer functions can each transmit on a separate MIDI channel as well. You also get dedicated front-panel buttons for program change, channel, bank MSB, bank LSB and local on/off.
Built-in Effects There's no need to mess around with additional gear to add basic effects to your ProKeys 88. On-board EQ lets you easily tweak the tone on the fly. You also get three different built-in reverb spaces that simulate different acoustic environments. Chorus fattens up sounds like the electric pianos and basses. And what's a vintage Wurlitzer electric piano without tremolo? Experiment with different effects on the ProKeys 88 to create signature sounds of your own.
Full Pedal Complement Every digital piano has a sustain pedal jack. But what about the sostenuto pedal (the middle pedal on an acoustic piano)? ProKeys 88 has it. There's also an expression pedal for foot-control of volume. And all three of these pedals serve as MIDI controllers for outboard gear as well.
Headphones and Pro Audio Outputs Ever need to practice privately? ProKeys 88 includes a 1/4-inch stereo headphone jack so you can play without anyone else hearing you--at home or at a sound check. Of course, it wouldn't be an M-Audio product without high-fidelity 1/4-inch unbalanced audio output with specs like 20Hz-20kHz frequency response and 108dB dynamic range.
What's in the Box ProKeys 88, Software Driver CD (drivers and applications), USB cable, Printed User Manual, Power supply (12V DC), Sustain Pedal

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7/12/2012

Casio PX3 Digital Stage Piano Review

Casio PX3 Digital Stage Piano
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Received my PX-3 from JR Music through Amazon a little over a month ago. It arrived on the date promised with no problems with the packaging or the setup. The PX-3 is what it is; a lightweight, small footprint, digital piano and midi controller. That is what I wanted and I am very happy with it.
It fits on my desk, it is easy to move around, and it is not flimsy. I'm big and play rather heavily and it seems stout enough.
I like the feel of the matte keys and the piano action. The piano samples are good, I don't use the EP tones much but they sound fine to me.
It works my JV-1010, "Band-in- a-Box" and "Power-Tracks" with no problems. Setting up the layers for internal tones and external controls is easy after reading the manual. On the controller side I would have liked knobs, sliders and after-touch. It is possible to change the volume of an individual zone on the fly, but it takes a lot of coordination if I'm playing at the same time. Even given that, as a controller it is a lot easier to set things up on it than my old SL161 and it has the nice piano action.
I received the free gig bag for registering the piano from Casio within a month, it is very nice.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio PX3 Digital Stage Piano

The new Privia PX3 redefines the stage digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance features in a lightweight design that is supremely portable. Featuring tone editing, insert effects, MIDI controller capabilities, an Ivory Touch 88 note scaled hammer action keyboard and weighing only 23.6 lbs., the Privia PX3 is ready to take stage. Casio PX3 Digital Stage Piano Features Ivory Touch 88 key scaled hammer action for supreme feel 64 insert effects give you added flexibility and versatility USB MIDI interface for connection to your computer without the need to install drivers Authentic sounding piano tones are sure to impress Backlit LCD screen is viewable even on a dark stage Piano Sounds The grand piano sounds in the PX3 deliver an unprecedented level of realism and expression. Four dynamic levels of stereo piano samples are integrated with Casio's proprietary Linear Morphing System, for a grand piano sound with seamless transitions and a superior dynamic range. For added realism, the PX3 simulates the sound of open strings when the dampers are raised by the pedal using Acoustic Resonance DSP. Performance Control The PX3 was designed to be the heart of your live performance rig. Its controller features allow you to control two upper and two lower zones. Each zone can be one of the PX3's sounds, control an external MIDI device or both simultaneously. The PX3's internal tones can be customized to meet your needs with 64 insert effects, adjustable filters, envelopes and more. All of your changes can be stored and instantly recalled from the PX3's 64 registration locations. Ivory Touch The new PX3 features a new Ivory Touch, Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard. Casio's superior engi

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6/30/2012

Yamaha P155S Contemporary Piano with Cherry Top Board, Silver Review

Yamaha P155S Contemporary Piano with Cherry Top Board, Silver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We got this piano for our daughter.
it sounds great and it looks good too.

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Whether you're practicing at home, playing with the band, or doing alive solo performance, the P155 series offers professional quality sound with our legendary touch. Thanks to top-shelf Yamaha digital piano technologies, musicians don't have to choose between portability and piano quality- the quality you expect from a company that's been building world-class acoustic pianos for over a century.

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6/29/2012

Yamaha YDP161 Digital Piano with Bench Review

Yamaha YDP161 Digital Piano with Bench
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I am absolute newbie with sight-reading experience from my former choir signing days! I wanted to learn to play a piano but did not want the tuning and expense of owning the real McCoy and then find i didn't want to play it. Especially living in an apartment there were the neighbors to consider as well as the premium floor space. Then I came upon the digital piano and this form solved all my problems in one quiet swoop. You get what you pay for, so do some research on your must have and budget. I just knew that i wanted a brand name in the world of music so the yamaha was a given. Now I was deciding between the 161 and the 141, both new models released on 2010. I finally went with the 161 for the better hammer action and that it offered the 128 notes polyphony. These might be minor issues for you, but my passion to learn made me decide that rather than upgrade later, I would splash out a little bit more now and have the piano for a lot longer. If you live in an apartment like me, the bigger speaker offered by the 161 was not a huge selling point as I practice most of time with the head phones. Only when I wanted to show piece a well practiced piece do I unplug the headphones. The size of this piano is awesome and compact in depth and with the 88 keys, you have the grand piano sound without taking up a lot of space.
Other features include a metronome than can adjust for different time signature like 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, etc; 50 preset songs were you can mute either the right or left hand and you can practice with it (this is really for the intermediate player, but nice to look foreword to! The piano defaults to the grand piano output, but you can switch to outputs that include the organ sound, harpsichord, strings. Also nice are the options to set various digital reverb ranging from hall, room, stage or off, which is the default setting. You could also manually set the reverb effect, which is worth doing as it does change the output quite considerably.
The piano also records up to two tracks, which for a beginner is a great way to learn which part of the score that you need to practice the timing a bit more!
The 161 has two headphone plug INS to allow for a second listener. There is midi that allows you to record more of your own music onto a computer (for composition) or you can down load music to the piano too.
The weights of the keys are superb and I am loving the experience, the sound and the accessibility the digital format offer me.
For the price it is reasonable. It is worth shopping around for competitive bundles. I did not end up buying my piano here. But I am so happy with my experience that I really highly recommend this model for beginners who are looking to progress to play full scores. For beginners, I recommend the Alfred's adult all in one course. It is by far the best series out there. For a novice in the world of music theory, My husband is really impressed with the progress that I have made in less than one week.
For those who have wanted to fulfill a dream, don't hesitate any more, this is the best option and you will love yourself for buying it. Happy playing.
Update: September 2010: Try the piano and keyboard software! it is another fabulous tool for those who are teaching themselves to play the paino. It is a great supplement to the Alfred's all in one adult course. read my review on the software. I even more happy with the purchase of this piano!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha YDP161 Digital Piano with Bench

Stepping up to the YDP-161provides true piano sound and feel. The Graded Hammer keyboard and 128-note polyphony responds to the beginner and experienced player, both in practice and in performance. The 3-level AWM Dynamic Stereo Sampling Voices deliver remarkably authentic and responsive sound.

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6/19/2012

Casio CDP-100 88-Note Weighted Hammer Action Digital Piano Review

Casio CDP-100 88-Note Weighted Hammer Action Digital Piano
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased a used version of this based off the previous reviews. I definitely agree the weighted keyboard has a nice feel to it (this is coming from someone who's used acoustic pianos in the past) and the keyboard itself is very slim & not too heavy...easy to carry around.
What was really disappointing was the sound...it sounds a little masked, not sharp/crisp. I'm not very picky, I just wanted a full keyboard to practice on, but this was something that bothered me. I actually was able compare it to a Casio WK-200 (which is a cheaper keyboard) & surprisingly the CDP-100 sounded worse than it's cheaper counterpart.
I brushed off someone's previous comment about the sound because I figured it couldn't be that bad. It is that bad, so take this into consideration if you're planning to purchase.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio CDP-100 88-Note Weighted Hammer Action Digital Piano

It all starts with the sound and feel, and thanks to the carefully sampled grand piano sound and scaled hammer action, the Casio CDP-100 Digital Piano gives you both. The HL Sound Source and 88-key, naturally scaled hammer action with three levels of touch sensitivity give you a realistic and satisfying piano experience in a portable, affordable digital piano. The Casio keyboard has five sounds including stereo grand piano, 32-note polyphony, eight digital effects, five demo songs, layer and transpose function, speaker system, MIDI I/O, plus headphone and sustain pedal jacks. The Casio CDP-100 digital piano comes with a sustain pedal.

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6/14/2012

Yamaha YDPS31 Arius Console Piano with Folding Key Cover, 3-Pedal Cabinet Review

Yamaha YDPS31 Arius Console Piano with Folding Key Cover, 3-Pedal Cabinet
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I've had the digital piano for about 1 year already and still loving it. Totally converted to a believer in digital piano. Even though it is in the lower end of the line, it doens't feel that way. The weighted keys have a real acoustic piano feel to it, and it is very sensitive to touch. The sounds are beautiful. It actually sounds better and feel better than the 15 year old acoustic piano that I had when I started learning piano as a kid. The most beautiful part of it is that I can play it in the middle of the night without waking anyone up.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha YDPS31 Arius Console Piano with Folding Key Cover, 3-Pedal Cabinet


Drawing on over a hundred years of experience and craftsmanship in making world class acoustic pianos, Yamaha's YDPS31 Arius digital piano offers an exceptionally natural key touch that virtually replicates that of an actual grand piano. It features a Graded Hammer Standard keyboard with realistic matte black finish key tops, and a damper pedal that includes an authentic Half Damper effect, giving you nuanced expressive control over the sustained sound--far more realistic than a simple on/off footswitch.
The Yamaha YDPS31 digital piano. Click here for a larger image.

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6/13/2012

Yamaha P155 Contemporary Piano with Mahogany Top Board, Black Review

Yamaha P155 Contemporary Piano with Mahogany Top Board, Black
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I recently did an exhaustive review of the digital piano world as I am trying to teach my children to play the piano. Accoustic pianos are not a choice due to the size, weight, cost, and tuning requirements. I love the idea of a piano that is always in tune (and can move if we move), but I wanted to be sure I was teaching my kids in a way that they could easily play a grand piano if presented with one. The biggest concern is muscle memory, and making sure their fingers are used to the feel of a real key.
Roland makes some of the top-of-the-line pianos, but they also come with a high cost. I am sure the sound might be a bit better, but I could not justify the expense. I tried out some of the higher-end Yamaha pianos, and while I was impressed, still was shocked at the cost. The P85 was the lowest cost Yamaha piano I tried that seemed it could be good for teaching. It sounded nice, feature the weighted keys with "graded hammer standard" (GHS), and was reasonably portable. However, I felt the P85 keys were a little hard to push with a little too much return. I had a higher-end Yamaha nearby (non-portable) and found the keys much better. The store also had a grand piano, and the higher-end Yamaha was much closer than the P85.
With a little research, I discovered that the high-end Yamaha pianos (the ones that cost $2k and up) use "graded hammer effect" (GHE), a step up from GHS. Since the discontinuation of the P-140, the P-155 is the least expensive piano to support GHE. It also has 128 note polyphony, 14 voices with 4 tonal varieties, and support for a sustain pedal (you only need 1 pedal for most playing).
What are the downsides to the P-155? Some other digital pianos have far more voices, more recording capability, and louder speakers. The P-140 only had 6-watt speakers. This was improved with the P-155 (12W speakers), but it is still not the best.
For the class of piano that this is, the improvements do not justify the price upgrade from the P-140 to the P-155, but if you are just starting out, there's no better piano for the price. And if you can get a good used deal on a P-140, it will be just as good.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha P155 Contemporary Piano with Mahogany Top Board, Black

Whether you're practicing at home, playing with the band, or doing alive solo performance, the P155 series offers professional quality sound with our legendary touch. Thanks to top-shelf Yamaha digital piano technologies, musicians don't have to choose between portability and piano quality- the quality you expect from a company that's been building world-class acoustic pianos for over a century.

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6/03/2012

Akai Pro MPK88 Hammer Action USB Midi Controller Review

Akai Pro MPK88 Hammer Action USB Midi Controller
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
A lot of reviewer here on Amazon, and also on Guitar Center and YouTube seem to think the action is heavy and loud. I have now owned and used 5 full size (88-key) pianos to use with sequencing on my PC and this is the best one yet. I got the MPK88 because of all the controls it offered. I use it with Reason 4.0 and it works perfectly!
I'll quickly compare it to my past pianos:
1) Technics (now Phillips) electric piano - felt great, sounded great, but not many built in sounds and no MIDI controls except for the keys themselves, and MIDI playback was always at 100% velocity (so it was super loud when playing MIDI into the Piano. I got rid of this to get my...
2) KORG Triton Extreme - AWESOME keyboard/workstation. My hope was to do all my sequencing and sampling on this keyboard without a PC, but after discovering Reason 4, I just used it as a MIDI controller. It was only a step up from the Technics piano in that it had the pitch bend and mod wheels. The "transport controls" (stop, play, record, etc) didn't map to MIDI out data, so I couldn't sync those buttons to Reason. The knobs would map out okay, but there were only 4! The Triton was a $2500 board new, and it felt as good as the Technics to me. Since I wasn't using all the bells and whistles of the KORG, I sold it and downgraded to an...
3) M-Audio Pro Keys 88 - Advertised as a "stage piano" that thing is solid, but not really all that great for the built in sounds. As a MIDI controller it offered about as much as the KORG except the knobs and sliders were not mapable. The keys themselves were hard to play in that it took a lot of pressure to get them moving, then they collapsed down the rest of the key stroke. The velocity readings were always high because of this (one had to play hard to get to play evenly). I could change it to a different velocity curve, but then everything would simply be scaled down and the notes I wanted to be high velocity wouldn't be. In other words, the keyboard lacked dynamic contrast. This problem moved me to my spare "gig board"...the
4) Casio CDP100 - It has built in speakers and standard MIDI out (like the Technics), but with shorter keystroke (and less pressure needed) than the KORG and M-Audio boards. This allowed me to have expressive playing (smooth playing) without having to play hard. The problem here is that the velocity readings were all so low! Even when I did play hard, they rarely went above 75%. Finally, i was fed up. I wanted a ton of MIDI controls with accurate playing and no concern for built in sounds. This led me to the
5) Akai MPK88 - Now that I've gone through all the other boards, I can say it feels somewhere between the KORG and the M-Audio. It's heavier than what I remember the KORG being and it does a bit of that key-collapsing feel of the M-Audio, but it reads the full range of velocity as I expect them to be read! I can play soft and loud passages, and they all show up as intended. That's the most important part to me. The board could be improved by taking out some of the initial force needed to press a key, but still, it deserves a much higher rating than it's been getting for a MIDI controller.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Akai Pro MPK88 Hammer Action USB Midi Controller

The Akai Professional MPK88 is a professional performance keyboard controller with MPC production controls. The MPK88 draws on the design of the popular MPK49, the first keyboard ever to features MPC pads. This first-of-its-kind keyboard is ideal for performance, starting with a premium, fully weighted, hammer-action keyboard, adding MPC pads, Q-Link controls, and a selection of MPC technologies. The MPK88 is born for the stage and is equally at home in the studio.CREATIVE INPUTMPK88 features an 88-key keyboard and 16 genuine MPC pads. The hammer-action keyboard is fully weighted and features aftertouch for expressive melodic control. The MPC pads are pressure and velocity-sensitive to capture every nuance of your creative concepts. The pads can access four banks of sounds, so you have 64 samples at your fingertips with the touch of a button.The MPK88 places dedicated transport controls within your reach for easy control of some of the most important tracking and editing controls. The MPK88 has modulation and pitch-bend wheels for expressive musicality, and two assignable footswitch inputs enable you to connect an expression pedal or other continuous controller and a footswitch for momentary controls like patch change or start/stop.
MPK88 Key Features
88-keyfully weighted, hammer-action keyboard with aftertouch for expressivemelodic creativity 16genuine MPC pads with pressure and velocity sensitivity MPCpads access four banks each for instant access to 64 samples Controlup to 72 software parameters with 24 assignable Q-Link knobs, buttons, andfaders KeySplit enables two different sounds from the same keyboard MPCNote Repeat, MPC Swing, and arpeggiator aid in creative process Transportcontrols for use with sequencers and DAWs MPCFull Level, MPC 16-Level, Tap Tempo, and Time Division assist with tempoand dynamics MIDI output over USB, bus powered, class compliant: plug and play with one USBcable Comeswith Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software Workswith virtually all MIDI recording,sequencing, and performance software


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5/12/2012

Casio AP220 Celviano Digital Piano with Bench Review

Casio AP220 Celviano Digital Piano with Bench
Average Reviews:

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I purchased this digital piano because the one I had was out of date. And because I teach piano online and needed something that sounded like a real piano. Well, I wasn't disappointed. The difference between the old Roland and this new Casio is like night and day!
The touch is fantastic. The piano sound is fantastic. And since I really only need the piano sound, that was of primary importance to me.
If you've been wary of buying this because of the 'Casio' name, put your worries to rest. Casio is to digital pianos as to what Samsung now is to television. They're now poised to become the #1 resource.
My recommendation? Buy it before the price goes up.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio AP220 Celviano Digital Piano with Bench


The Celviano line of pianos has been refined for those who demand an authentic grand piano experience. The new AP-220's traditional design houses new stereo grand piano sounds and redesigned keyboard action. Utilizing a new tri-sensor spring-less 88 note scaled hammer action, every nuance and detail of your performance is captured. A new 4 layer stereo grand piano sound delivers a natural, expressive and dynamic piano experience.
The AP-220 features a total of 16 built-in tones, with the ability to layer two sounds or split the keyboard to allow a bass sound in the left hand. It has a built-in library of 60 songs that can be practiced at any tempo utilizing the dual headphone outputs or the internal speaker system. With 128 notes of polyphony, USB MIDI, Duet Mode and more, Celviano's advanced technology and sound will make the AP-220 the perfect addition to any home.


State-of-the-art high-end digital pianos: the newly developed sound source – Linear Morphing AiF – offers the entire spectrum of authentic grand piano tones from Pianissimo to Fortissimo without abrupt changes to the sound during the transitions. The touch and note replay behavior for the scaled hammer action keyboards has been improved. The new 'Tri-Sensor" concept makes even the most complex and demanding playing techniques possible. Developing virtuosos. Virtuoso playing.

Specifications
Keyboard:88 keys, weighted scaled hammer action, Tri-Sensor keys
Touch Response: 3 Sensitivity levels / Off
Sound Source :4 level stereo samples, Linear Morphing System
Acoustic Resonance:Yes
Polyphony (max): 128
Tones: 16
Reverb: 4 types
Chorus: 4 types
Brilliance: Yes
Layer/Split: Yes
Registration Memory: Yes
Duet Mode: Yes
Preset Songs: 60
Metronome: Beats: 0,2,3,4,5,6Tempo Range: 20 to 255
Transpose:25 Steps -12 / +12 semi tones
Tuning Control:A4=440Hz +/- 99 cents (variable)
Temperament: equal temperament + 16 scales
Recorder: 2 Tracks / 1 Song
USB Storage (to PC): Yes
Speakers: 4.7" x 2"
Amplifier: 8W + 8W

Terminals
USB: Yes
Pedals: Damper, Soft, Sostenuto
Headphones: 2

Included Accessories
AC Adaptor:AD-12
Pedals (Damper, Soft, Sostenuto): Yes
Bench: Yes
Music Stand:Yes
Score Book: Yes

Dimensions and Weight
Unit size w/stand: 54.9" (W) x 16.8" (D) x 32.9" (H)
Unit weight w/stand: 82.7 lbs.
Boxed size: 58.7" (W) x 22.6" D) x 19.2" (H)
Boxed weight: 121.3 lbs.


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5/01/2012

Yamaha YDPV240 Digital Piano With Bench Review

Yamaha YDPV240 Digital Piano With Bench
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The Yamaha Arius YDP-V240 home digital piano is as good as it gets, short of being a Clavinova. I can't wait to get mine.
I went to a music store about an hour's drive from my home to choose a digital piano. My main keyboard is an eight-year-old Yamaha DGX500, which was the closest I could come to owning a Clavinova at the time. The DGX500 has a lot of nice features, but it still performs and sounds like a keyboard, as opposed to a digital piano.
The moment I sat down at the Arius I found it a true joy to play. It was sitting next to a CVP503 Clavinova, which I also played for comparison. The piano sample in the Clavinova was slightly better than the Arius, but not by much. There was also a slight difference between the Graded Hammer Standard and the Graded Hammer touch, but again, not by much. People talk about the Graded Hammer Standard mechanism being noisy. Perhaps it depends on how one plays and the type of music one plays. I didn't find noise to be an issue at all. The touch was satisfyingly pleasant to me. It is certainly better than any of the other keyboards I currently own.
This Arius model has everything anyone could possibly want in a fine digital piano. There is a ton of instrument voices and loads of rhythms with automatic accompaniment styles. I even hooked up a USB portable disk drive to play some piano MIDI files. And wow! The sound blew me away! It sounded as if someone were sitting at the piano playing this wonderful recital for me.
This instrument even looks like a piano, with its wood cabinet design, three pedals, and sliding key cover, which not only conceals the keys, but also the instrument's knobs and buttons. What's not to like? The fact that I wasn't in a hurry to get up from the piano bench speaks for itself. I said to the salesman, "This piano has my name on it."
I decided to purchase the instrument from this particular Yamaha dealer because we came up with a comfortable payment plan and the store will deliver it to my house fully assembled.
For 20 years I've been clamoring for a Clavinova, which always seemed just beyond my reach. Until the Yamaha Arius YDP-V240. I look forward to owning this instrument because it's as good as it gets.


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New to the ARIUS line, Yamaha's YDP-V240 is an ensemble console digital piano with an 88-note keyboard and graded hammer-standard weighted action. Three-level stereo sampled voices deliver remarkably authentic sound, and a wide selection of realistic accompaniment is also on-board. A real joy to play, whether you're practicing or performing.
An ensemble console digital piano with an 88-note keyboard and graded hammer-standard weighted action. Click here for a larger image

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4/30/2012

Yamaha CP33 Stage Piano Review

Yamaha CP33 Stage Piano
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Nice upgrade from my Yamaha P90.
I purchaed this piano for the piano sound and feel. Any additional instruments or features that come with it are a bonus. The acoustic bass, strings and jazz organ sounds are done very well also.
While nothing replaces the feel of a real piano, this keyboard comes very, very close and the lighter touch on the higher keys really takes you there.
I only wish that the power transformer was inside of the piano instead of requiring a wall wart (transformer).
If you want a great piano sound and feel get this keyboard. If you want speakers to go with it as well as some more sounds, look into the CP300, but then you will need to add $1000, 30 more pounds and a deeper frame.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha CP33 Stage Piano

The CP33 is made for the serious musician on-the-go. Sit down with one, and the instrument becomes an extension of your hands and your musical imagination. The authentic piano voices and rich expressiveness come alive at your touch, and the sound is big enough to blast through a full band onstage - yet nuanced enough to work magic in an intimate club.Yamaha's extensive experience in crafting fine acoustic pianos helps us in creating the ultimate digital pianos. Our advanced Graded Hammer Effect (GHE) action gives all keys an authentic resistance that increases from the top register to the lower - just as on an actual acoustic piano. Which means that you can naturally pound out thunderous low notes with your left hand and let the fingers on your right dance and fly with the high notes.In crafting the authentic sound of the CP series, we used meticulously recorded stereo samples of top-quality instruments, taken at various playing strengths, and included subtle elements such as String Resonance, Stereo Sustain, and even Key-Off Samples that capture the felt dampers muting the piano strings - providing the most authentic sounding and finely nuanced acoustic piano voices possible.The CP stage pianos are also master keyboard controllers that give you full command of your gear. Play and control external tone generators. Assign different voices to different keyboard sections and create multi-textured layers of sound. Two instrument zones on the CP33 with panel sliders, let you easily tweak the level of each instrument as you play. You can also freely reassign the sliders and wheels to control other sonic characteristics of your gear, such as sound attack, decay, brightness and filter cutoff.At just under 40 lbs. the CP33 is a very compact and portable yet full size stage piano.

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4/28/2012

Yamaha YPG535 Portable Grand Piano Package (with SK88B Survival Kit) Review

Yamaha YPG535 Portable Grand Piano Package (with SK88B Survival Kit)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Nice keyboard, nice sound, feels like a real piano and it's got all the keys. I like that it includes a nice, stable music rest, keyboard stand, footswitch and power adaptor.
Lots of features too: fun sounds, (drum, maracas, bongos, etc. plus sound effects like phone, ufo, dog barking, etc)
It has a super metronome which you can adjust the tempo of, set the number of beats per measure, adjust volume, etc.
It records your performance which is nice, so my piano teacher can play something she wants me to learn, record it, then I can replay that when I'm practicing.
More features, too many to mention... If you'd like to start with something smaller or something less expensiv, I'd check out a Casio keyboard. Casio CTK4000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones, Casio LK100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package (this is the first one I got)

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The Yamaha YPG535 88 Key Portable Keyboard gives to the sound and feel of a grand piano in a portable package at an affordable price. The YPG535 offers a graded soft touch action that everyone from the beginner to the professional will love. The YPG535 also includes a stand along with a sustain pedal and power adapter. For the beginner, the built-in interactive lessons provide a user definable tempo that allow for learning at your pace. Yamaha YPG535 Features 88 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch 6-track sequencer allows you to record your own music USB & Flash ROM to download new Songs and Styles for playing 5 types preset Master EQ Interactive Lessons: Your Tempo mode helps you learn to play Backlit LCD, panel lights, pitch bend wheel Portable Grand Button: industry's best piano Yamaha XGlite/GM voices plus Sweet!, Cool!, Split & Dual voice Performance Assistant guarantees a rewarding music experience Music Database 267 keyboard setups by song title Optional BB1 keyboard bench. Click for more information. The Yamaha (YPG535KIT) 88 Key Portable Grand Piano includes a Yamaha Survival Kit! The Survival Kit is designed to provide you with everything you need to get started. Includes a two-year extended warranty, Watch & Learn DVD, grand piano key cover, stereo headphones, bonus coupons, Yamaha Survival Kit DVD-ROM. Piano Centric Features The Yamaha Portable Grand, YPG535 has an easy to use panel, a wealth of piano-centric features including 88 piano-style keys, Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, high resolution stereo piano sample and comes with an attractive matching stand, PA

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4/20/2012

Yamaha DGX640W Digital Piano,Walnut Review

Yamaha DGX640W Digital Piano,Walnut
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We just bought one of these because my daughter needed
a keyboard or piano that would respond to touch like a
piano for her piano lessons. Although I am a beginner
piano player myself, I think the keys behave like real
piano keys (in terms of response to force of touch)
and the sound is just incredible--I would not know
the difference between this and a real piano if I
couldn't see them. There is an amazing number of things
you can do with it, although we haven't really worked
through them yet--practice songs (although the repertoire
is not huge; maybe 20 or so songs) and play to a very large
variety of background rhythms and accompaniments, as well
as export what you've played to a computer. I'm not sure
we'll use all these features, because we really just
got it for the weighted key action and it does beautifully
at that, but they're nice to have for the future if we
do continue to play. My daughter adds, "it will keep me
busy for a long time."
It's a decent-looking machine
but is not a beautiful piece of furniture like a piano;
the "wood" portions are clearly synthetic, but seem
sturdy.
We bought it locally for about the same price listed
here and paid about $75 for delivery, but it came with
headphones and bench so I thought it was a good deal.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha DGX640W Digital Piano,Walnut

Yamaha's most piano-like Portable Grand ever. It has weighted Graded Hammer Standard action with matte finish black keysand a wide selection of Voices.Selecting a sound is as easy as keying in a number, and recording performances is simple with the built-in recorder.

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4/02/2012

Yamaha DGX-230 Keyboard Bundle, 76 Keys - Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply Review

Yamaha DGX-230 Keyboard Bundle, 76 Keys - Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought the yamaha keyboard for my wife for Christmas expecting
a middle of the road keyboard,We are both impressed with the quality,workmanship and endless features of this product for the price. We would recommend this to anyone from a beginner to an advanced player.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha DGX-230 Keyboard Bundle, 76 Keys - Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply

If you're looking for a reasonably priced piano-style keyboard, look no further than the DGX230. It's great for veterans and students alike, with 76 non-weighted keys that not only look like piano keys but have a Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, making it easier for a budding musician to move to an acoustic or digital piano.

2-Way Speaker System Separate woofers and tweeters deliver sounds in crystal-clear stereo, for more lifelike instrument voices.
Bass Boost System A special port on each speaker adds a impact to low-ed reproduction.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Enhance sound quality with sophisticated digital effects like Harmony, Reverb & Chorus.
Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) Yamaha Advanced Wave Memory technology delivers amazingly realistic sound.
Full Keyboard Mode The DGX230 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The DGX230 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.
Yamaha Education Suite The DGX230 has 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on included CD-ROM for you to learn to play using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.
Learning features are plenty. Waiting Mode stops the song until you find the right note, Your Tempo Mode matches the song's tempo to your playing speed, and Minus One Mode plays the song without your chosen part, so you can play along.
The DGX230 will monitor your progress, giving you grades for each lesson. A Chord Dictionary is also included, displaying notes and chord names on-screen.
6-Track Sequencer Imagine capturing your child's first performance or writing and recording your own songs. With the DGX230, you have the equivalent of a built-in multi-track recorder to record one or multiple instrument parts at a time and assign each part to a different track. Six tracks are provided to accommodate sophisticated melodies, chord accompaniment and rhythm parts.
Computer Connectivity: USB and Flash ROM The DGX230 comes with 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on an included CD-ROM and an interactive lesson system, divided into left and right hand parts, for learning them. In addition, you have the ability to connect to a computer via USB, download more songs from the Internet into the internal Flash ROM (PC only), and use all of the Yamaha Education Suitefeatures to help you learn to play them. Yamaha makes it easy to get connected with the new PC button. Now, instead of wading through function menus and fighting through a maze of selections, one button is your expressway to music on the web and your computer. In addition, once connected, you can play your songs into the computer (PC and Mac), edit them if necessary, and e-mail them to your friends and family. And with General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatibility, song data always plays back with the correct sounds.
Digital Music Notebook Digital Music Notebook is a multimedia internet service that enables you to preview, purchase, download and print learn-to-play music books and chart-topping sheet music. From scales to chords to your favorite riffs, Digital Music Notebook is jam-packed with all the secrets you need to master your instrument. Add accompaniments, record and mix yourself, sing karaoke with friends, learn new techniques while having a blast--Digital Music Notebook delivers everything you need to bring music alive! And it's included with the DGX230.
Ease of Operation There are many tools in the keyboard that make it easy to be a power user from the first day you own the keyboard.
Expandable Music Database: Complete keyboard setups by song title. The keyboard selects an appropriate voice for the right hand melody, the correct musical style and the correct tempo. Simply call up a song title and start playing.
One Touch Setting (OTS): Provides you with a recommended voice with effects for each style. For example, on a jazz style OTS might be piano, for a Latin style it might be acoustic guitar and for a rock style it might be a guitar with overdrive etc.
Registration Memory: Set the keyboard up just the way you like and take a digital snapshot by memorizing it to one of the Registration buttons. Load and save up to 16 Registrations to User memory. The Registration buttons are conveniently located just above the keyboard.
Performance Assistant Technology: Performance assistant technology is a feature from Yamaha that guarantees that you can't play a wrong note or chord. Here's how it works. Select a song, press the Performance Assistant button and play the keyboard--any notes you like. Every note you play will fit the music. If you move up the keyboard, the pitch goes up. If you move down, the pitch goes down. Play a perfect arpeggio, or play chords in time with the music, or really "go for it" and play a solo. As long as performance assistant is "on," you're "on." In addition to working with any of the internal songs with chords, this feature also works with XF MIDI files.

Master EQ: Tailor Your Sound Five different master equalizer (EQ) settings are provided to give you the best possible sound when listening through different reproduction systems—the instrument's internal speakers, headphones, or an external speaker system. You're in control.
Easy Song Arranger You can change the "feel," or arrangement, of songs by simply pressing the Easy Song Arranger button, allowing you to re-mix any MIDI file. For example, you can try your favorite song with a Rock feel, Hip Hop, then Jazz. It's fast, powerful and one-button simple.
Realistic Sounding Voices The DGX230 comes equipped with 116 panel voices, 12 drum/SFX kits plus 361 XGlite voices. Included in this selection is stereo-sampled Piano, a selection of special voices including brass, woodwinds, electric pianos, organs and more.
2 Note Polyphony and 16 Part Multi Timbrel In electronic keyboards, the more sounds made at the same time--polyphony--the more memory is needed. Obviously, more is always better, because too little polyphony can cause dropouts in dense passages of music. The DGX230 has 32 notes of polyphony and will play back 16 different parts or sounds at once (16-part multi timbrel); enough for the most demanding needs.
Digital Effects Yamaha has long been a world leader in digital signal processing technology. In fact, Yamaha professional audio products are found in most professional recording studios around the world. The DGX230 takes full advantage of this know-how, giving you an extensive range of nine, top-quality reverb effects that simulate playing in everything from a small room to a large spacious concert hall and four chorus effects that add richness to electric pianos and guitars in particular. You'll also find 26 types of Harmony effects for your melody part.
Metronome Just what the teacher ordered! A fully adjustable metronome is just a button push away.
Auto Accompaniment Styles In addition to the 100 songs mentioned above, the DGX230 also has auto accompaniment styles that "follow" your playing. Simply select a style of music from the 160 built-in styles (example Rock) and start playing. The DGX230 will create a backup band (bass, drums, strings, guitar etc.) and "follow" you through the song. You can play your songs and try different genres of music. And if you can't find the right style for your song, you can go to www.yamahamusicsoft.com, preview from the selection, purchase and transfer it to your keyboard (PC only).
Portable Grand: Industry's best piano You're never more than a button push away from the most realistic piano sound in portable keyboards today. One press of the Portable Grand button resets the entire keyboard to a stereo-sampled piano--perfect for when it's time to practice. Yamaha is known around the world for the quality of our acoustic pianos and this attention to detail is evident as you enjoy the warmth and clarity of the DGX230 Portable Grand piano. And of course, the keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.
Connectivity The DGX230 features USB MIDI, Sustain Pedal jack and a Headphone jack for private practice.
What's in the Box DGX230 Keyboard, Music Rest, Accessory CD-ROM, User's Manual

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3/31/2012

Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys Review

Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Tried this instrument out in the store and could not figure out what the difference was between this one and the 520 I previously reviewed on amazon. Sound qualities, voices, layout, display, and software all seemed identical to me to the 520. Finally, after a direct inquiry to Yamaha, I was told that the only difference between this model and the 520 was that the 530 contained 10 more rhythm sequences.
So, if you're one of those who would use this instrument heavily for recording and composition, and just could never find the right rhythmic background, you can try this one and see if one of their ten extra sequences works for you.
If you're like me, however, who use the keyboard mostly for performance purposes and only occasional composition and recording, it really isn't worth upgrading. If you're diligent enough and have the software (pretty much any layered music recording sequence will do; I happen to use Cakewalk 4), you can make and save your own rhythms anyway on either keyboard.
For a more detailed review of other features this keyboard has, check my review out on the DGX-520...aside from the extra rhythms, it's exactly the same.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys

Yamaha's DGX530 Portable Grand Piano features 88 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch, a matching stand, a sustain pedal, USB storage, backlit LCD displays, notation and lyrics, and plenty more.

Piano-Centric Features The Yamaha Portable Grand, DGX530 has an easy to use panel, a wealth of piano-centric features including 88 piano-style keys, Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, and high-resolution stereo piano samples. Included are an attractive matching stand and sustain pedal.
USB Connectivity The DGX530 has 2 USB ports on the back, each with a different use. "USB TO HOST" is plug-and-play connection for recording and playing back MIDI files, as well as transferring data to and from your computer.
"USB TO DEVICE" is for connecting peripheral USB storage devices such as hard drives or portable thumb drives. You can save user songs and settings, or transfer song data downloaded from the Internet to the instrument, where it can be used with the performance assistant and Yamaha Education Suite features.
Lyric, Chord and Notation Display Have you ever played a song and wondered what it would look like as sheet music? The DGX530 can display the score to a song whether it comes from the Internet, the internal selections those you record yourself. Pages scroll automatically when a song is played back--no more page turning! For singers, the screen also displays chords and lyrics to XF compatible songs.
Easy to Use The DGX530 is a breeze to use. Dive right in with convenient tools and features:
Expandable Music Database: Complete keyboard setups by song title. The keyboard selects an appropriate voice for the right hand melody, the correct musical style and the correct tempo. Simply call up a song title and start playing.
One Touch Setting (OTS): Provides you with a recommended voice with effects for each Style. For example, on a jazz style OTS might be piano, for a Latin style it might be acoustic guitar, or for a rock style it might be a guitar with overdrive.
Registration Memory: Set the keyboard up just the way you like and take a digital snapshot for instant recall. Load and save up to 16 Registrations to User memory. The Registration buttons are conveniently located just above the keyboard.
Performance Assistant Technology: Performance assistant technology is a feature from Yamaha that guarantees that you can't play a wrong melody note or chord. Here's how it works. Select a song, press the Performance Assistant button Chord Mode and play the keyboard--any notes you like. Every note you play will fit the music!

Yamaha Education Suite: Helps you learn to play The DGX530 has 30 built-in songs (plus 70 more on the included CD-ROM) for you to learn to play using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.
Three keyboard lessons for each hand:
Waiting Mode--Stops the playback of a song until you find the correct note and then continues.
Your Tempo Mode--Learn to play the correct notes with the correct timing. Song playback tempo will vary to match the speed you are playing at. The song will slow down when you play wrong notes, so you can learn at your own pace.
Minus One Mode--Here's where you can perfect your technique. The song will play at the normal tempo, minus the part you have chosen to play. Play along while listening to the song.

Lesson Grading--Monitors your progress as you practice each lesson and gives you a grade.
Repeat and Learn--The song location will move back four measures from the point at which you pressed the button, and playback will begin after a one measure count-in. This section will repeat allowing you to practice until perfect!
Chord Dictionary--Shows you how to play chords and tells you which chords you are playing by displaying the notes and chord names on the LCD screen.

6-Track Sequencer With the DGX530, you have the equivalent of a built-in multi-track recorder. Record one or multiple instrument parts at a time and assign each part to a different track. Six tracks are provided to accommodate sophisticated melodies, chord accompaniment and rhythm parts.
Quality Sound The DGX530 sounds as good as it plays. A two-way speaker system with separate woofers and tweeters delivers clear and lifelike instrument voices. Bass Boost ports add deeper low-end impact, and true stereo sound adds spatial depth and realism.
Realistic Sounding Voices The DGX530 comes equipped with 127 panel voices, 12 drum/SFX kits, plus 361 XGlite voices. Dual and Split modes allow you to combine sounds.
Full Keyboard Mode The DGX530 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The DGX530 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.
Digital Music Notebook Digital Music Notebook is a multimedia Internet service that enables you to preview, purchase, download and print learn-to-play music books and chart-topping sheet music. From scales to chords to your favorite riffs, Digital Music Notebook is jam-packed with all the secrets you need to master your instrument. Add accompaniments, record and mix yourself, sing karaoke with friends, learn new techniques while having a blast--Digital Music Notebook delivers everything you need to bring music alive! And it's included with the DGX530.
What's in the Box DGX530 Keyboard, Music Rest, Owner's Manual, Accessory CD-ROM, Keyboard Stand, Footswitch FC5, Power Adapter

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3/25/2012

Yamaha S70XS Synthesizer, 76-Note Balanced Hammer-Weighted Action Review

Yamaha S70XS Synthesizer, 76-Note Balanced Hammer-Weighted Action
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The s70xs and the s90xs are the same internally so what I write here applies to both.
I own this keyboard (s70xs). The much vaunted s6 piano sound suffers from awful harmonics on the C#1, D1 and D#1 keys. My previous keyboard (EX7) sounded fine through my Roland KC350 keyboard amp. The harmonics on these keys when played through the same amp sound terrible, totally unusable in a live situation in my opinion. Through headphones it sounds 'OK', not great but more bearable.
The piano sounds also sound dull and muffled in my (and many others) opinion.
It also drops notes like crazy when played reasonably fast, even with a single voice like a piano selected. It also drops drum hits as well if you have a drum track playing in the same situation. I don't think this is a polyphony issue, it simply does not work as it should (others have reported the same issue). Again, this makes is unusable in a live situation. It's not so great just playing at home either!
Small screen size is not that much of an issue but they way some information is not displayed when it would make sense to do so makes some aspects of using it more time consuming than it needs to be but otherwise it is usable.
Manuals are typical Yamaha which means pretty terrible as far as actually trying to use them to do anything 'real' but I suspect that issue is not limited to this keyboard, my EX7 manuals are just as bad.
Cannot use a modified voice in a performance without saving it first. Makes it harder to just 'try out' different settings in a mix.
Other than that the keyboard is great so it's a shame that the above issues with the harmonics and dropped notes make what should be a great keyboard into something that should be avoided.
My recommendation. Do not buy this keyboard.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha S70XS Synthesizer, 76-Note Balanced Hammer-Weighted Action

The new S Series combines the sounds of the Motif XS, a handcrafted S6 piano and the ease of use of a stage piano. Features like a Balanced Hammer action, combo input jack for adding vocals and guitars and USB record/playback make it perfect for stage or studio. The compact design of the 88 and 76 note weighted versions are portable and road ready.The S70 XS/S90 XS also lets you quickly create your own Performances, with the amazingly fast Performance Creator feature. With extensive Controller functions, it's also the perfect companion for your computer music production system.

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3/23/2012

Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano Review

Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Before detailed remarks, here is my reference point. Having been spoiled with playing real pianos (I should say "acoustic", for PC :), I wanted a keyboard just to enjoy some classical music on my own, at my amateur level. I wanted it to be like a piano (in how it feels and sounds) but small and inexpensive.
PROS:
PORTABILITY - especially for an (almost) full-size keyboard. I really didn't want another piece of furniture. NP30 just lies on the table, which (to my own surprise) ended up as the deciding factor for me. YMMV.
SOUND. All the voices (including grand piano, organ, harpsichord) are well done and beautiful. (But see "CONS" below.)
KEY WEIGHTING. NP30's keys are something like "semi-weighted" and "touch sensitive" (but consult the official specs on this) and somewhat easy to press. But see "CONS" below. BTW I researched this "weighted" topic quite a bit and tried several options, but my practical conclusion is this. If you care about the feel, go more high-end or get the real thing (an acoustic piano, that is). Otherwise you will likely get used to what you have, even though it isn't perfect.
SIMPLICITY. The controls are few and quite intuitive.
PRICE. It's all relative, of course, but compared to other full-size keyboards out there, it's among the cheapest - $300 at Best Buys. (And that's without any sale discounds - Best Buys felt kinda thin on sales to me.)
CONS:
KEY WEIGHTING. While offering you an approximation of an acoustic piano's feel, NP30's keys are not quite there. First, they are hard to press if you place your fingers far from the edge of the key (i.e. towards the back of the keyboard) - I have never noticed this on an acoustic. Second, in some cases when I press several keys at once, NP30 doesn't sense one or two of them, whereas an acoustic piano would. I have to re-adjust the pressure to get NP30 to play them.
SOUND. While individual sounds are beautiful, their combinations may not parallel the richness of an acoustic piano's. This is probably because there is no is no resonating effect between the various strings. (Which is quite understandable at this price level.)
FEATURES (missing). The ones I cared about: additional voices (NP30 only got 10) and the 12 keys for the full-size 88-key keyboard. Again, it's all about a trade-off against portability and price.
ACCESSORIES (missing). Power adapter and the sustain pedal are not included, and Best Buys charges $25-30+ for each. This is a RIP-OFF, people. For power, look around; maybe you have a compatible one already (12V, 1500 mA, negative is outside) - or use rechargeable batteries. And maybe you are fine without the pedal (I am still to answer that question for myself).


Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano

The Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand is an easy-to-carry piano that features Advanced Wave Memory stereo sampled piano sounds for incredible sound quality.A entirely new take on the digital piano, offering quality, value and portability with a lighter touch. Featuring 76 Graded Touch keys and stereo-sampled pianos. Also, 10 voices like Organs and Strings plus 32 notes of polyphony. Another great feature for the home recording artist is that it performs as a MIDI controller too. The built in speakers allow you to play it anywhere since it operates on six AA batteries.Ultra-Portable Digital PianoThe new NP-30 Portable Grand delivers Yamaha digital piano sound and simplicity in a new lightweight, compact design like nothing else you've seen... all at a price point you won't believe.Its super slim design and minimal weight of 12 pounds makes it the most compact performer in the digital piano family of instruments. And 6 AA batteries are all you need to power up and start playing immediately.Do you have questions about personal keyboards?Click on the image for product comparisons and FAQs!Graded Soft Touch Action - NEWBecause of its similarity to acoustic pianos, a graded action is one of the primary features sought by pianists in their digital instruments. While technically a non-weighted action, the new Graded Soft-Touch keyboard is the first of its kind bringing different levels of resistance without the extra

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