Kohler Digital KD160 Ebony High Polish Review

I used to own a Clavinova."Used to" is the operative word here.I really feel like I have moved up about 10 notches with the purchase of the Kohler.

Unlike the Clavinova, the "grand" sounds like a grand.Even in the highest octave, it does not sound tinny.The other instrumental sounds sound like real instruments whereas the Clav sounded "electronic."

The polyphony is excellent, and more than adequate to sate any musician's appetite.

The keys and hammer action are weighted. The Kohler feels perfectly natural and as realistic as any acoustic.(Hooray!!).

Everything can be adjusted which is very satisfying, as the velocity senstivity can sometimes make the instumental sound become a bit harsh rather than louder, as velocity would on an acoustic.

Finally there is the speaker system.It is wonderful.The Clav was disappointing in this regard.It sounded as if it used hand-me-down speakers from a 1990 boom-box.The only time the Clav ever sounded good to mewas when I wore headphones. The Kohler, on the other hand, is a pleasure to listen to, as it incorporates a high-end stereo speaker system.

I love it.I am sure you will too.

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Product Description:
The Kohler KD-160 offers the best of both worlds: great looks and state-of-the-art technology. This piano starts with the 4'10" true grand piano cabinet that is amazingly beautiful and a wonderful showpiece in any home. The Korg Triton based sound engine offers performance found in no other digital grand piano at this price and the three hundred and sixty watt, 5-way speaker system ensure that all 660 sounds are heard the way they were meant to be. Additional features include a vocal harmonizer and video output, capable of displaying Karaoke lyrics on your TV screen. The KD-160 also includes a built-in hard drive along with a floppy drive. The KD-160 is the perfect instrument for the creative musician or the novice who simply wants the best in sound and performance.? Powerful HI (Hyper Integrated) sound generation system? OPOS (Objective Portable Operating System)-multi-tasking operating system, to let you load data while playing your instrument? Updatable operating system, to add new features from disk? Solid State Disk (SSD), for any system update-a smart way to replace the usual ROM memory? Direct style from floppy disk or hard drive? 360 total watts (120 watts x 3), 5-way speaker system ? More than 660 sounds? 4 Multi effect processor, each with 89 effects? 80 Performances and 1,216 Single Touch Settings (STS), for fast keyboard and effect settings? 304 styles with 4 variations? XDS Dual Sequencer with Cross fader? Backing Sequence-16 tracks, real time record, acc step record? Style record and edit? Full-featured sequencer (Song Record and Edit)? Onboard sampling to create new sounds and audio grooves? Large custom display? Monophonic After Touch? Pitchbend and Modulation Wheels? Lyric display? 88-note hammer action keyboard with after-touch (Fatar TP30)? Hard Drive, Vocal Harmonizer ? Video output with karaoke lyric display? 3 years parts, 1 year labor warranty

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Clavia Nord Electro 2 61-Key Stage Piano/Organ Review

For the gigging keyboardist, the Electro 61 falls somewhere between a Godsend and a no-brainer.It's hard to avoid hyperbole when discussing this instrument, but anyone who has toted a Hammond rig and a Wurlie and a controller and peripherals and every other blasted thing will get my drift.For 29 years, I've been condemned to driving a cargo van full of vintage keys which weren't designed to leave the living room in the first place.I've herniated myself in the process, and was almost killed in a rear-end collision that flipped my 'B' upside down.I have made every effort to 'scale down' -- Korg CX3, Micro B, Roland VK7, Oberheim, Hammond XM3, and oddball stuff.All of the aforementioned fell woefully short of Hammond heaven, and of course, didn't offer any EP features or anything else.

The buzz about the Nord was intriguing, so I checked one out at a local store.Typically, the young, cooler-than-thou clerk could barely get the thing to power up, and I was pretty much left to navigate on my own.But five minutes on the Electro made me a believer (of COURSE I ordered one online -- any dope on the floor of a music store who can't get a keyboard that produces five sounds to work doesn't get his commission from me).

Here goes (note -- run this guy stereo, even if ya have to buy a little PA to do so): the Hammond end of things is simply exquisite.I did a little EQ stuff (the Electro features EQ and presence knobs on the dashboard.What a concept!You know, you can actually tweak your sound during performance...), rolled back the key click, and entered my own registrations.Fat, juicy, and soulful.Big, even in the high harmonics.Not a trace of cheese.Outlandish chorus.Completely persuasive percussion.The best Leslie ever, and I don't mean 'pretty good.'It sounds like the real deal.I personally don't have an issue with the 'draw-buttons' and I like controlling the Leslie speed via footswitch.The last thing I want is another broken bakelite switch hanging pitifully on my 'board.

Rhodes: ya want Richard Tee?Yassah."Just the Way You Are?" (you'll actually want to play the old warhorse) -- roger roger.Steely Dan ala Victor Feldman and/or "Nightfly" stuff?Yes jones.Through the Electro, younger players might actually discover what a Rhodes really sounds like.Twenty years of screaching over-cranked synth knockoffs did the Rhodes sound no favors.

Wurlie: intitially, I couldn't find one quite 'mean' enough, but five minutes with 'presence' did the trick.Early Ray, in a big way.A little tremolo and it's Mussel Sholes central.Just like my 200.Plays like it too.Light, but CONFIDENT feeling.

Clavs: good grief.Perfect.

CP80:Back in the day, I wanted one desperately.But, of course, like every thing else back in the day, I coudn't afford one.Now I OWN one.I LOVE it.Newbies probably won't 'get' the CP80, but us old timers will have our fun.

Piano: contrary to most opinions, I think the piano is very good.I don't like it as well as my Kurweil 1200 Pro I, but it's entirely usable.I re-EQed it, rolling off some of the not-so-pleasant highs.Prior to a gig recently, I played some standards using the piano sound.I was testing the waters to see if the relatively short keyboard and on-board piano would work for jobbing.Absolutely.It won't cut stride, but an Evans-esque approach is A-OK.

Conclusion: the Electro 61 is hands-down the most impressive and exciting 'keyboard' I've ever owned, and I have had a ton of stuff.Unlike a synth, it is designed for the player to make music on it.In that sense, it is a bonafide musical instrument.

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Product Description:
The Nord Electro 2 is the next big step in the development of the Nord Electro series of stage keyboards. Among the features of the Electro 2 you'll find the new Mega Clavinet sound which offers all the filter and pick-up variations of the original Clavinet D6! This means that you'll be able to access no less than 60 + 4 different Clavinet D6 sounds in the Electro 2!Thanks to the remade piano sample playback engine, the polyphony for the piano sounds is now greatly enhanced. The new piano sample playback engine also made it possible for Nord to digitally model the sounds you get when you release keys on a piano instrument. For example, the Clavinet and the Wurlitzer have very characteristic key release sounds. In Nord Electro 2 this is very faithfully modeled. The new sample playback engine also allows for playback of stereo pianos. In the new factory sound library Clavia has included a great new Acoustic Grand piano - in stereo. The Electro 2 also features great new vintage-style effects in the Effects section. Nord has also beefed up the Overdrive distortion to sound more like an overdriven tube amplifier.Nord Electro 2 fully supports USB download of Nord Electro piano samples. Now you will be able to download new piano instrument samples using Nord's specially developed Electro Tool sample dump program for Mac and PC! Additional piano sounds are available on the CD-R that comes with the Nord Electro 2 and also for download at www.clavia.se - free of charge! More...

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Yamaha CP50 88 Key STAGE PIANO, Black Review

great action, similar to the motif xs. If this keyboard has only one sound, I would wish for the YAMAHA S6 piano, but it did not include the s6. Disappointed. The CP5 with wooden keys has even much better action and might have the s6 sound.

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Product Description:
Yamaha's CP50 electronic piano takes the core sounds and technology of the CP1, while it's flexibility and portability make it perfect for the working pro on the go. The CP50 adds a wide range of sounds to the CP1. Clavs, organs, strings and more make the Yamaha CP50 perfect for church, school, and live situations where everything needs to be performed on one keyboard. The Yamaha stage piano features not only Virtual Circuit Modeling effects, but also many effects taken from Yamaha's Motif XS line of Synthesizers. The CP50 piano has a graded hammer action and a lightweight, portable keyboard design.

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Casio PX200 Privia Digital Piano with Hammer Action Review

I'm a semi-pro jazz pianist. I own an old Balwin baby grand and a top end Roland rd700sx keyboard. I bought the Casio as a practice keyboard at my summer home. I couldn't be more pleased with it. The action is very heavy (a good quality) - heavier that either of my other pianos, but not as much as your average Steinway grand. But the action is also very responsive and quite a pleasure to play. The primary piano sound is balanced and nice to listen to (the others not so).
The tone is no where as beautiful or as expressive (wide dynamic range) as my Roland, but the Roland cost 4 times as much!.

It is very useful for practicing and the built-in speakers are loud enough to play in a party setting. I've used it for gigs with a stereo amp and it's very adequate - and weighs 27 lbs. I've seen it selling for less at other online musical instrument sites so check around.

All in all a very nice keyboard and well worth the cost.

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Product Description:
The Casio PX200 Privia Digital Piano takes digital piano sound quality to a new level. Portable and lightweight, stylish and compact, the PX200 Privia truly raises the bar with grand piano sound and feel in a portable keyboard that easily moves from the home to the stage or the studio. The PX200 also has a built-in SD card slot and expanded song memory. State of the art sampling engineering provides extrememly accurate acoustic piano tonalities.

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Williams Overture 88 Key Digital Piano Review

I'm certainly not a professional, however, I do know what a piano is supposed to sound like, and I know the difference between a Harpsichord, Organ, and a Harmonica: 'nuff said.

First of all I would like to say that the Williams Digital Piano is by far the best instrument I have ever owned, next to my toy, an old Casio keyboard that I owned for quite some time, I was happy to finally sell that off in a garage sale.When I went hunting for another piano, I took my Sony headphones and headed off to various stores with digital pianos. This one by far sounded the closest to a real upright piano (Well, the Yamaha was closer, but another 1K more expensive...), and it had the features and look I was wanting.

Pros ---
1.The weighted digital piano keys mimic perfectly the hammer-action of a real piano, and the sound is equally amazing.As I said I tested it out in headphones, and even at home in total silence the headphones are clear as anything and sound perfect.The built-in speakers that are attached to the piano work equally as well.I 'tested' it note-for-note, unplugging my headphones and listening to the built-in speakers, and I can safely say that I don't hear a difference at all.No "fuzzy-sounds", no buzzing, no humming, etc.Sounds nice.

2.After listening to several Harpsichord songs, I played a few notes on the piano to compare.So far I can't tell the difference between the notes played in the song and the ones I played on the piano.

3.Same with the Organ and string setting, both sound equally realistic and about as close to an acoustic piano as I'm going to get without spending thousands of dollars.

4.I actually bought this piano online, yes, from Musicians Friend.No, I am not an employee there, nor have I ever heard of it.I did call them up to see how exactly it was going to be mailed.I mean, sure it is less than 1K for the digital piano, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to end up in several pieces on my doorstep.I have to say the piano box arrived in no less than perfect condition.Go with Musicians Friend if you are going to buy this!Cons ---
1.Okay, so again I'm new at this.So, of COURSE I played the Play-Along songs while I waited for my real books to arrive.One of the irks I have is that when you use the digital piano to listen to the play-along songs, be forewarned that it is MUCH louder than when you are playing the piano normally.Also, if you are trying to play along, you have to compensate the volume by turning it down to hear the song correctly, but I also had a hard time hearing what I was playing on the piano!

2.Same thing goes with the metronome.It is MUCH louder than the 'volume' of the piano.If I had to change something, it would be how loud the Metronome sounds as compared to the piano.The volume, when recording songs and playing them back, however, is at the 'same volume' as the piano.Don't know if it is just my piano or what, but listening to the Play-Along songs and using the metronome is quite annoying.

3.I'm a computer programmer.I bought this piano because it came with a USB cable, anddd I thought I could use my computer knowledge to retrieve the songs off of the Williams Digital Piano.Not-so-much.There is no way to get the recorded songs off of the piano, the only thing the USB cable does is transmit the MIDI messages to a computer if you have the correct software installed.For me, kinda pointless.

Well, I think that about sums it up.Oh yeah, well, I don't think that this is a "Con" per-se, however: this piano comes disassembled.Which means that you have to assemble it.Fine, but the problem lies:this piano does not have instructions included to tell you how to assemble the piano.I, personally, was able to assemble is promptly.However, at first it was irksome laying out all the pieces and figuring out what goes where.

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Product Description:
Williams Overture 88 Key Digital Piano

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Casio PX-110 Privia Digital Piano Review

As a kid I learned how to play on a real piano for 8 years.I bought this keyboard three months ago wanting to play more and have been very satisfied so far.

Pros:
1. The tri-element ZPI casio menions makes the keys pressure sensitive so that when you play softly or loud it will sound that way.
2. Metronome comes in handy
3. Easy-to-use record button lets you playback what you just played during practice
4. Comes with a practice pianobook with 59 pieces including 3-4 of the more popular Chopin, Schubert, Schumannn, Bach, Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven pieces and some lighter ones like The Entertainer.
5. Overall great sound for this price range

Cons:
1. Having previously played mostly on a grand piano, the keys here don't feel completely weighted, but it isn't difficult to adjust.
2. 10 tones (2 grand pianos, 2 electric pianos, 1 harpsichord, 1 vibraphone, 1 pipe organ, 1 percussion organ, 1 strings/violin, 1 acoustic bass) may be limited amount for some

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Product Description:
CASIO PX110CS PRIVIA 88 KEY DIGITAL PIANO ZPI TRI-ELEMENT SOUND SOURCE;32-NOTE POLYPHONY; 88 REAL WEIGHTED HAMMER ACTION KEYS; 11 TONES, 20 RHYTHMS, 60 BUILT-IN TUNES,;8 DIGITAL EFFECTS, BRILLANCE, DSP and ACOUSTIC RESONANCE SYSTEM; LAYER and SPLIT, 1 SONG 2-TRACK 10,000 NOTE MEMORY;MIDI IN/OUT, BASS REFLEC SPEAKERS, DUAL HEADPHONE CONNECTIONS FOR TEACHER/STUDENT USE

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Williams Symphony Console Digital Piano Review

I purchased the Williams Symphany Console Digital Piano for my own playing as well as for teaching. I wanted something economical that had the look and feel of a real piano. While the instrument was fine for teaching beginning to intermediate students, I found it was a horrible choice for my own playing. I had to press some of the keys very hard to get a sound out and then it was very loud, so it was impossible to achieve the delicate balance necessary for some of the classical pieces I was trying to play. I don't know what "4-level touch sensitivity" means, but it doesn't even come close to a real piano. Finally, after owning the instrument only 3-4 years, some of the keys are permanently stuck in the depressed position, so now I cannot play it at all! I am so sorry I bought this instrument. What a complete and utter waste of money!

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Product Description:
The attractively crafted Symphony Console Digital Piano from Williams has a keycover, pedalboard, back panel, music stand, and sustain, sostenuto, and soft pedals along with a genuine hammer-action 88-note keyboard. The keys have 4 levels of touch sensitivity to get the feel exactly right for your style of play and comfort. Other premium features include 32-note polyphony, 138 voices, 10 drum/percussion kits, 3-track/4-song sequencer, and split and dual modes. Transpose feature shifts the pitch of the keyboard up or down in one-semitone intervals up to a maximum of 24 semitones. You also get reverb and chorus effects, a metronome, 10 demo songs, 100 auto-accompaniment styles, 16-character LCD display, 2 x 20W stereo speakers, MIDI I/O, stereo line out, stereo line in, 2 stereo headphone outputs, microphone input, USB port, and 50 practice songs with accompaniment and melody parts plus a songbook to guide you. Dark woodgrain finish.Note: based on the lighting in the room, the woodgrain finish of this piano can range from being perceived as nearly black to an almost brown coloration.

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LP-350 Home Digital Piano Review

SOUND AND FEATURES: 4.5 STARS

Let's get this out of the way--Korg designged an excellent sounding piano.You should compare this with the less expensive Yamaha Arius YDP-S31 if you want to make an apples to apples comparison.They are similar in features.I've little doubt that they are made from the same components somewhere in China.We don't plan on doing any producing on the piano, although we have entertained using the MIDI controller for some computer learning tools for our children.The only feature that I absolutely have to have is the volume control.It has one.

The sound of the piano is rich and authentic.I am not a piano player at all (I can, however, appreciate sound fidelity), but my wife is--she learned on an old acoustic and has played on dozens of different types and brands and understands the feel and sound of a good piano (and organ).She finds it more than acceptable in terms of simulating the playing of an acoustic piano.As my children learn to play, we are more than confident as their skills progress that they will be able to transition to the authentic acoustic pianos without having to relarn the weight, feel and sound of them.

DESIGN AND BUILD: 2.5 STARS

I assembled it myself in under 30 minutes.Piece of cake.I was mostly disappointed in the finish--I had assumed that it would be a glossy black- it is not.It's a matte black and silver, a thin easily chipped paint that covers medium density fiberboard.The frame isn't as sturdy as I would like it, and not as attractive as Korg makes it out to be.For a piano that is supposed to be a decorative accent that suits a particular lifestyle (read more expensive), I was expecting a higher quality build.

Which brings me to my other problem.The Hammer Weighted keys.When I assembled the piano and took the securing tape off of the cover, I noticed that the three top keys were out of kilter.I'm not talking the out of kilter you usually find on traditional string and hammer pianos, where the lighter keys offer a looser play, the keys were literally rattling around in the frame.I requested a replacement.OVERAL PURCHASING EXPERIENCE 1.5 STARS

The 1.5 Stars is for the inital sale there is no redeeming quality about the rest of my purchasing experience.The price is excellent. My biggest gripe, of course is that I still don't have the piano.After returning it to be replaced,the piano went on back order.It's been on backorder for a month and then the store (name redacted) will start shipping the pianos out.The first time they estimate they will receive the piano will be February 5, one month and two weeks since I requested a return, and almost three months since I initially ordered it.My family loved the piano for the one week that it stood in our home, but I have to say that I'm less than thrilled about the fact that I haven't been able to enjoy a piano that I paid almost a thousand dollars for due to the shoddy manufacturing process that caused me to send it back even before I had the chance to enjoy it.

TOTAL SATISFACTION: SOMEWHERE AROUND 3 STARS

The sound and features bring this back up to average.Without the excellent sound and feel of this piano, you would definitely be looking at another piano.The SP-250 seems to be this piano's sibling in terms of features.A little more work on the manufacturing process could go a long way.Who knows?Maybe the delays in the ordering are to increase the quality of the build for customers.I tend to doubt that, as the more rushed someone is to produce something, the more mistakes they usually make.

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Product Description:
The LP-350 digital piano is pleasing to both the ears - and the eyes! At less than 11 inches deep, the modern slim-line styling is space-saving and efficient, and designed to visually complement nearly any living space. When not in use, the thoughtf...

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Casio PX-320 Privia Digital Piano Review

I have played the Casio PX-320 for a couple weeks and am a beginner/intermediate piano player.The PX-320 keys have texture and shape and pressure and volume range and return speed that invites making music.The PX-320 is scaled (graded) so that treble notes are easier and quicker versus bass notes are harder and slower.The keys are weighted and have a simulated hammer action.For my taste the keyboard is a joy to play and is close to an acoustic piano.

I think the Yamaha YPG-635 and Yamaha P85 have at least as good touch and piano sound.I liked the Yamaha YPG-635 display and controls and features and sounds.The YPG-635 is too wide to lay flat in my car while the PX-320 lays on my back seat or back floorboard.The PX-320 base is flat and as large as the top, unlike the P85 that has a base smaller than the top.The P85 has 10 voices.The PX-320 weighs 26 lbs (12kg).

The PX-320 has 11 one-touch sounds like grand piano, electric piano, organ, strings and synth-voice.The PX-320 has 60 wide ranging Casio voices.The PX-320 has 128 General MIDI (GM) voices and 2 Drum Sets. I am pleased with the variety and quality of the voices.I like the large 3-character display and miss a numeric keypad and graphic display.The speakers are fine for a bedroom or living room.If the recessed screws underneath the back are loose the speakers can cause plenty of subtle or annoying noise.

I like the Casio PX-320 price, car fit, finger action, voices, 5 song recording or playback with as little as 2 key pushes, and usable speakers.I look forward to exploring 2-track recording, quick registration, 70 play-along rhythms, and flash memory slot.The Casio PX-320 is enjoyable to play and delightful to hear and easy to learn.

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Product Description:
The PX-320 is perfect for stage and studio use. Along with the advanced AIF sound source providing 128 notes of polyphony where notes reverberate naturally without being cut off it also has 1/4-inch line outputs for connecting to a mixer or PA system. The 202 tones including organ and drum tones will make you ready for any music style. The 88 weighted and Graded keys provide the look and feel of an acoustic piano.


Digital piano with 88 weighted keys. Click to enlarge.
Easily expand your song memory with a built-in SD memory card slot.
Perfect for stage and studio use.
128-Voice Polyphony
This permits the keyboard to produce up to 128 notes simultaneously for full musical expression. It lets you play sweeping chords and make extensive use of the damper pedal.
Scaled Hammer Action
88 touch-dynamic weighted keys make for an authentic playing feel, responding to all your playing nuance like an acoustic piano.
202 Tones
The PX-320 features 202 different tones, including standard General MIDI patches and drum tones.
70 Rhythms
70 preset rhythms offer a varied range spanning the world of music. With Auto Accompaniment, the digital piano automatically plays rhythm, bass, and chord parts in accordance with chords you select using simplified keyboard fingerings, or chords you play. Auto Accompaniment makes it feel like you have your own private backup group with you all the time.
60 Songs
Listen, sing along, play along: 60 top quality songs are stored on your PX-320. You can also play back up to 10 songs from an SD memory card.
You can also turn off the left hand part or right hand part of a song and play along on the piano, which makes for a great learning tool.
8 Digital Effects
Add a little more depth and variation to the built-in tones with 4 reverb and 4 chorus effects.
Registration Memory
You can save up to 96 digital piano setups in registration memory, including tone, rhythm, and tempo settings, for quick and easy recall whenever you need them.
MIDI-In/Out
Use the MIDI in/out to control other MIDI instruments, or with external sequencers, computers, etc.
SD Card Slot
Easily expand your song memory with a built-in SD memory card slot.
USB
The PX-320's USB port offers a quick and easy connection to a PC, handy for use with modern DAW and MIDI systems.
Two Piano Setting Keys
The piano setting key switches to grand piano sound at the touch of a button. Two settings are available: "classic" for a soft, discreet sound and "modern" with a more lighter, brighter character.
Stereo Line In/Out
Connect to a PA system or studio equipment, or connect other sound sources with the line inputs.
Panel-Lock
With the Panel-Lock function, the control panel is protected from unintentional moves while playing and to protect settings.
Powerful Speaker System
The PX-320 features a built-in, two-way system with four speakers and 2 x 8 Watts of output power, to fill a room with sound.
3-Pedal Unit Support
With the optional SP-30, the PX-320 has up to three pedals with half-damper effect. This "half-damper" effect simulates a "half-pedaled" damper pedal.
2 Headphone Connections
Use the two headphone connections for duets or lessons.
What's in the Box
Privia PX-320 Keyboard, AC Adapter, Music Stand, User's Manual

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Kurzweil SP2XS 88-key Stage Piano With Speakers and Stand Review

Now that all Kurzweil's can be layered and split, their glaring weakness is all the more conspicuous.The company, in my opinion, makes the best digital pianos--in terms of sound, versatility, and keyboard "feel"--but with the most convoluted, incoherent, least helpful instructions.Guaranteed to lead to many all-nighters for musicians just trying to "set up" the keyboard for the next day's gig, which may not have a bass player or drummer.

If you have q friend, or a knowledgeable techie/gear-head who works cheap, by all means hire him.The manual, as usual, looks like it's been written by a committee.After talking about the most "powerful" dimension of the keyboard as its adaptiveness to set-ups, it fails to explain or illustrate how to construct sounds in the favored "set-up," or "500," mode rather than the more limiting "performance" mode.It gives no directions or helpful illustrations on how the user might be able to use one of the factory set-ups (all of them unusable) as a "template" to help the user with the creation of his own more practical set-ups.It doesn't explain how to transpose a good acoustic bass sound up an octave into a playable range without having all of the notes in the treble, or right hand, also transposed, except into an unplayable range.It provides a paragraph on doing a "hard reset," so that the player can get rid of all the monstrosities he's created and start afresh--unfortunately the manual fails to provide the vital information that before the "reset" button will activate the instructions permitting a hard reset, the user must first depress the "Global" button.(By accident, and several hours later, I finally stumbled upon it.)

Whether the reader finds it merely curious or confounding, the manual will introduce and begin to discuss some of the specifics of splitting, layering, set-up programs, etc.Then in a late section of the book, the reader finds a paragraph stating that the instrument is capable of "layering and splitting, which means adding on another sound or dividing the keyboard into two or more zones so that different sounds can be played, a feature that can often be convenient for a musician, especially one who is playing in a show" (!!!).In other words, the paragraph sounds as though the authors are unaware that anything preceded it.Instead of specific instructions, we're given a reductive introduction that sounds like it belongs in the ad sheet!I's in details like this where Kurzweil seems determined to cut the corners, in the process cutting the frustrated user to shreds.

I could say that this latest Kurzweil gives me more problems when, during the middle of a fast-moving passage in the middle of a tune, I attempt to go from one program to another.Often the button doesn't register my quick press, the light blinks back at me when it should have changed--but for all I know I've programmed it wrong.The same goes for the sustain pedal.It's the slipperiest pedal I have yet to encounter on an electric keyboard.At one time, Roland marketed a pedal with a heel flap, which made eminent sense and was quite effective (enough reason to get rid of it in this inscrutable market).The bottom surface of this Kurzweil pedal is less abrasive than Kurzweil pedals I've had with my K1000, PC2, or PC1se, squirting across a linoleum floor like a hocky puck repeatedly over the course of a 4-hour job (might as well have been 40).Maybe that's the way they like them in Minnesota.

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Product Description:
The Best...The SP2X delivers the legendary Kurzweil sound, with all of its detail and refinement, in a digital stage piano which is both professional and easy to use. Using the next generation of Kurzweil technology, the SP2X provides some of the be...

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M-Audio DCP-300 Advanced Digital Console Piano (Rich Walnut) Review

After reading reviews of similar items this one addressed some issues that were identified as disappointing. It is heavily built and there are no plastic foot petals - they are metal. It has an 11 inch deep top shelf that will hold a lamp (the key board extends out another 8 inches). It has a fold-up music stand. It is very handsome and appears solid and 'meaty' as a furniture piece. The sliding lid is solid. The finish is rich and textured. There is a full sized 'modesty panel' that is also a structural advantage in stabilizing the legs. The metal foot petals are fixed with heavy plastic covers to protect them and provide a wearing surface. The set-up is simple - but its Heavy so prepare two people to lift the top piece. We assembled ours upside down on the couch where we could protect it and then roll the finished piano over on its feet. The components are also 'meaty' (I'm growing to hate the word Robust and refuse to use it). Its components are simple and direct. It has associated composing software and will accept MIDI files, etc.It SOUNDS GREAT. The notes last like piano notes do and all play together without interrupting one another. The keys are weighted realistically. The two speakers fill the room we have it in - I'm not going to address the finer qualities of sound because I'm not a musician. The M-Audio WEB site has a demo. I'm very, very pleased with the quality of construction and the person playing it thinks its a wonderful way to enjoy the piano.

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Product Description:
Advanced Digital Console Piano - Rick Walnut

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Casio AP24 Digital Home Piano Review

This is a great piano for a new student. Overall price/performance is great. It feels a lot like a real piano. Of course, an experienced pianist can feel a difference, but the main goal with buying this instrument was not to spend tons of money and still get a decent piano.
Another great thing about this digital piano is a headphone jack. This is one of the most important advantages of the digital pianos (for those who have to listen :-). Even though we bought this piano for my daughter, I also play it at night using headphones.
The bottom line is if you need to practice playing piano, but don't want to spend a lot of money - this is your best bet. I searched other Web sites, but this one was the best deal.

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Product Description:
LEADSINGER model LS-3700 (or LS-3000) is a Portable, Hand-held, All-In-The-Mic Karaoke Player. The device connects to the user's TV / Stereo System and provides Lyrics on screen for 300 built-in popular songs. The device allows the user to adjust mic volume, music volume, guide melody, guide musical instrument, key pitch, speed tempo, echo, scoring, & a fun-filled random play Singing Game.
Included contents are: LS-3700 with 300 built-in songs, main cable, song list book, & AC adapter.
Optional items include: High-Fidelity Wireless Remote Duet microphone, Carrying Bag, & a wide variety of 20+ Song Cartridges.

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Casio AP220 Celviano Digital Piano with Bench Review

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.

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Product Description:
The Casio AP220 Celviano Digital Piano features 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.

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Casio PX-100 Privia 88-Key Digital Piano Review

I am obsessed with this keyboard. Why? Because it's the first one that I've seen and played so far that has PERFECT weighting on the keys, beautiful sound, and a GREAT price. This keyboard has been on my wishlist for a while now, ever since I first saw it at Sam's. I just want to reiterate how well Casio has done with this keyboard - While there are a limited range of tones available on the PX-100, there are plenty of features for someone who is like me - If you want the feel of a real piano with the weight of an electronic keyboard, this is the keyboard you want to look at. I just couldn't help but fall in love with the keys on this baby, I've played on keyboards with weighted keys before, but this one just takes the cake - The keys are weighted propertly, they spring back like they should, and the weight is ranged just right - the lower keys are just the slightest bit heavier than the higher end. This thing is a DREAM to play! Featuring midi input/output ports, two headphone jacks, pedal port and everything I've talked about so far, this keyboard is definitely something to look at if you want the warmth and feel of a real piano at the price and portability of an electronic keyboard. I highly reccomend this keyboard!

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Product Description:
The slim, lightweight, and overall compact nature of Casio's Privia PX-100 digital piano means you can pack it just about anywhere. When you're not tickling its full 88 keys, you can stash the polyphonic keyboard in a closet, under a bed, or in other compact locations where most digital pianos refuse to fit.
The scaled hammer-action keyboard offers touch sensitivity for beautiful piano tones and a feature called New Sound Source which is said to give the PX-100 sound quality to rival that of an actual grand piano. Auto-accompaniment provides exciting, dynamic, and realistic background arrangements for pop, jazz, rock, and a range of the other genres. The PX-100 can provide complete orchestral accompaniment on command, too.
Other primary tones (voices) include strings and pipe organ, with 10 total tones. A layer feature allows simultaneous sounding of 2 tones, while a split feature lets you split the keyboard between 2 different tones. Lesson assembles functions that enhance your practice sessions, which you can devote to right-hand part only, left-hand part only, or both hands--whatever requires the most practice. You can also record songs for playback at a later point (up to 5,200 notes).
An onboard metronome offers adjustable tempos and beats. Adding effects makes notes sound richer and deeper, and the PX-100 includes 8 effects: 4 reverbs and 4 choruses.
Use the built-in music library to learn songs and develop coordination. There are 30 preloaded tunes plus memory storage for 10 downloadable songs. The PX-100's 30 preloaded piece include Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu Op.66, Satie's Gymnopedies 1, Beethoven's "Fur Elise" and Sonata Op.27-2 "Moonlight" (first movement), as well as classic songs like "Over the Rainbow," "Someday My Prince Will Come," and "Let It Be."
What's in the Box
Keyboard, a user's manual, and warranty information.

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Casio SP32 Pedal Board for CS67 Stand Review

This pedal board is plastic.It is also a medium grey color, matching part of the px-130 keyboard.The board itself is much flimsier than I expected.What I was expecting was veneered or, foil covered particleboard, the same material that the sturdy stand is made of. Well, its not.It does look more finished than the sustain pedal attached to a cord, but when compared to the px-130 which exceeded my expectations in most regards, and the stand, which was pretty much the Ikea quality I expected, this pedal board underwhelmed.Also, the pedals are short and relatively difficult to depress.I used them with only socks on, and they weren't very comfortable to use, and not at all like a real piano.In shoes, they might be OK. Anyway, I won't return it, because that would be more trouble than its worth.I would give it 2.5 stars if that were possible, since I view it as between "It's OK" and "I don't like it"Nevertheless, the whole ensemble, keyboard, stand and board are nice together.

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Product Description:
A Piano Style, Three Pedal Attachment for Your CS67 Privia Stand!The SP32 pedal adds those extra piano dynamics you want for your Privia Digital Piano. The 3 three pedal system adds an extended damper function in that it simulates a pedal that has been pressed down half way.

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Williams Symphony Elite Digital Piano Review

My 8 year old son has been taking piano lessons for almost 2 years and has a real talent for it.His piano teacher uses a Casio keyboard that has a foot pedal attached.She kept advising me that he needed a pedal for his keyboard to sustain notes.His Casio "Magic Light" keyboard was purchased 10 years ago as a birthday present for my husband (which he never used). It works great, but doesn't support a foot pedal.Also, the cheaper keyboards do not duplicate the "hammer-action" weighted response of keys on a real piano.Lastly, a full-size keyboard is 88 keys, but ours had only 60 something. I was having a discussion with his piano teacher as to my options.Buying a new piano was out of the question; we're talking 10-20 thousand dollars.However, you can purchase second hand pianos for a few thousand dollars, or "adopt" a used piano for nothing but the cost of having it delivered.A guitar teacher overheard us and offered a wonderful alternative: a digital piano.As he said, "It looks like a real piano, it sounds like a real piano, but it doesn't cost as much as a real piano."He advised us to visit a Cafe next store which had a digital piano in the back.We did, and it was a Yamaha digital piano.It had a brown wood finish and an understated beauty.I immediately was excited and would have gone out that day to buy one.My son was not equally excited, however.It did not look like a real piano to him (which he still wanted).I went online and looked at other brands of digital pianos and noticed the "Williams Symphony Elite Digital Piano."My son was hooked when he saw this one.It looks very much like a real piano.I purchased it online (it costs $899 at virtually any site you order it from).There are two other models: the Williams Console digital piano, which looks to be a regular digital piano with no bells and whistles and it looks like black wood; the next level one is the Williams Overture 88-key digital piano.It has all sorts of digital effects and also has the black wood.The Williams website compares the "Overture" model and the "Symphony Elite" model as the difference between driving a Cadillac and a Bentley. You're paying a few hundred extra for the glossy black finish, more digital effects, etc.Not knowing much about the technical details, I decided to go with the "Bentley" of the Williams line, the Symphony Elite.I would rather spend a little extra and have a piano that will last my son for several years as he expands his technical knowlege.The piano arrived two days ago.My husband said it was delivered curbside by UPS Roadway.This is because the box is quite heavy.He had to open the box in our sunporch and carry pieces upstairs to our second floor individually. I wasn't home when he assembled the piano, but he had no complaints of it being difficult.When he called me at work after assembling it, he referred to it as being a "monstrosity".It measures approximately 55 inches across the top. It has a glossy black finish like a grand piano.The music rest is gorgeous.It has a stainless steel "W" logo on it.There are two shiny brass little wands that can be pulled up to support your songbook or music sheets.This is a great improvement over the steel wire that didn't hold up much of anything on his old Casio Magic Light.Also, there is the delightful keyboard cover that slides out over the keys, again, just like a real piano.Finally, there are the three foot pedals identical to a real piano.Just as a piece of furniture, it is aesthetically beautiful.I don't pretend to know all of the technical details (you can find them listed under the piano picture above), but it has over a hundred voices, effects, demos, computer connectivity via USB, and the ability to record yourself. Hidden discreetly under the piano to your left are jacks for using headphones,USB/MIDI and to plug in a microphone. It also has a metronome.My son sounds great when he uses the church organ voice.The beauty of this piano is not only in its appearance, but in the freedom to enjoy the various effects of a keyboard.When my son plays this piano, it looks like I should put a candelabra on top of it!He is very happy, because he feels like he is playing a real piano.

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Product Description:
The Williams Symphony Digital Piano combines realistic voices with excellent playability. Players can choose the clear tone of 138 different instruments or use among 100 different rhythm styles for fully orchestrated compositions. The Symphony Piano provides an endless source of musical enjoyment in a luxurious black gloss finish cabinet with sliding key-cover.

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Yamaha Arius YDP160 Digital Home Piano (with Piano Bench) Review

A year ago, I was looking for an inexpensive digital piano. After sampling several options at places like Guitar Center and the like, I reduced my choices to three: the YDP-160 and Casio's PX800 and AP200. Despite costing a lot more, I went with the Yamaha.

After almost daily (OK, nightly) use, I can say in full confidence that I'm happy with the choice I made.

Unlike the Casios, the Yamaha piano is sturdy. Unlike the Casios, the key action is very realistic and the sound generation excellent, withnice and well rounded warmth and color. Yes, it's not a real, mechanical piano, but when you play it it feels very natural.

The only downside I can think of is the output power, which, at 2x20W(?), is not enough to fill a large room. It's more than OK for the kid's practice and I'm using the headphones when playing so this is not an issue.

If you're no ready to spend the money on a Clavinova (or even an upright) but want a good-sounding, quality digital piano, look no further.

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Product Description:
Yamaha raises the bar again with the Arius YDP160 Digital Home Piano.Authentic sound, natural touch and an absolute joy to play, both in practice and performance, in an advanced yet affordable console digital piano.Exceptionally natural key touch virtually replicates that of an actual grand piano with the premium Graded Hammer Effect keyboard of the YDP-160.Built-in AWM stereo sampled instrument voices faithfully reproduce their complete range from the soft, dark lows to the glistening, bright highs.The damper pedal includes an authentic Half Damper effect, giving you nuanced expressive control over the sustained sound far more realistic than a simple on/off footswitch.Built-in song recorder and metronome make the instruments ideal for piano lessons, practicing, or even as a scratch-pad for your next masterpiece.50 specially selected piano songs of standard piano repertoire are built into each Arius, either for your listening enjoyment, or as a rehearsal tool while playing out of the included 50 Greats for the Piano book.True Piano Feel and Expressive Control - Graded Hammer EffectDrawing on over a hundred years of experience and craftsmanship in making world class acoustic pianos, the Arius series provide exceptionally natural, grand piano-like touch, with realistic weight gradations-heavy in the lower end, and light in the upper. The premium Graded Hammer Effect (GHE) action of the YDP-160 provides even greater expressive control than GHS. In addition to its quieter mechanism, GHE features an extra key sensor capable of reproducing fast repetitive playing of a single note with perfect articulation. So Graded Hammer Effect keyboards suit skill levels from Chopsticks to Chopin Etudes and everything in between.AWM Dynamic Stereo Sampling for Authentic Piano SoundThe Arius series digital pianos feature Yamahas sophisticated AWM (

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Yamaha YDP161 Digital Piano with Bench Review

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 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,

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Product Description:
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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M-Audio Prokeys Sono 88 Review

I bought it for my wife,alas it didn't work.I suppose, because it was packed not enough secure and also it has very light weight and therefore fragile.I 've sent it back and had my money back but not the shipment money

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Product Description:
The ProKeys Sono 88 portable digial piano with audio interface lets keyboard players and songwriters bridge the gap between writing, recording and performance.88 semi-weighted, velocity-sensiive keys, advanced keybed scanning technology and a sereo-sampled Steinway grand sound deliver in incredibly expressive piano experience.Six additional instant-access instrutments and 128 on-board General MIDI sounds round out a premium performance solution that can be used with or without a computer.In the studio, the keyboard's built-in USB audio interface makes it easy to record your performance - plus vocals and instrutments - directly to the computer with the included software.ProKeys Sono 88 provides an intuitive and seamless experience from start to finish, whether you're jamming live, creating professional-quality recordings or teaching music.

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

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.

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Product Description:
A competitively-priced, contemporary-designed digital piano with Dark Alder finish cabinet and Graphite-colored key-bed.Soft-Shut key cover, improved pedal frame, and GHS natural touch action means you get a basic, affordable digital piano from a music manufacturer you can trust.

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