I need a few opinions regarding digital pianos please.

My old Roland A90 is slowly approaching the end of his days, so I am looking for a new Piano or Controller.

Things that I need as minimum:

1. Great Piano feel, full weighted full size keys (88) ...this is essential!
2. At least 1 MIDI out and 1 MIDI in
3. At least 3 possible splits
4. Velocity adjustments
5. At least one built in piano sample, one Rhodes one strings and one EP
6. Stereo audio outputs
7. 4 Zones (layers) with independent assignable midi channel that can simultaneously be sent to a daw
8. Each Zone must have separate controls (volume, velocity, key range, octave shift, effects)
9. Reverb and Chorus
10. 2 pedals (sustain/damper)


Things that I don’t need:

1. After touch
2. It doesn’t have to be portable... it will stay in one place in a studio, so size and weight doesn’t matter
3. Built in speakers


Things that I`d like to have but are not essential:

1. A bunch of assignable sliders
2. a few rotary encoders
3. a few MIDI outputs
4. a USB connection
5. Arranger functions


...practically I need a keyboard for playing almost exclusively Piano and Electric Pianos that I can sometimes use without a need to turn the PC on (that fore a need for a few built in sounds)
Key action is essential, it should feel like a piano under the fingers, not like a Hammond or like a toy; on everything else I can "negotiate"

Price should be the lowest possible.

...any suggestions and thoughts are welcome, Thanks!

 

Not an expert in whether these keyboards will suit all your needs, but the popular choice for studios is the Yamaha Motif, the Korg Kronos, Nord makes one too, (and im sure others will add more).

The classification of the device youre searching for would I believe be a workstation keyboard

You should probably start your search there.

http://www.sweetwater.com/c512--Keyboard_Workstations

 

actually, I need something more like a piano than a workstation... It must feel like a piano under the fingers; than, when we have that, some workstation features are welcome, but absolutely not essential.

I tried only the Nord of the 3 that You mentioned, and the keys feels to light to me... more in the direction of an organ; so it is a no go for me.
The Kronos is sadly too expensive.

...I forgot to mention: It is not for common professional studio use, it is for personal use/jamming in a private home studio setup; so it have to fit only my needs.

Thanks for the reply

 

The Number one choice would be YAMAHA Clavinova most realistic piano in a console


YAMAHA

 

You could also stay in the bloodline of your A90 and go with the Roland FA-08. It calls the keys "Ivory Feel G" lol
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FA08

Half the price of the kronos.

 

The FA-08 is a wonderful machine, but an overkill for my needs... arpeggiator, sequencer, synth stuff, 2000 sounds... all things that I would probably never use, I am affraid.

The Yamaha Clavinova seems to be exactly what I need, but the price seems to me a bit to high ?!?

...styles that I play are Blues, Latin Jazz, Bossa, some pop... so synth stuff and things are really not necessary... maybe that shall narrow the choice ?
Let 1000 € or $ be the price base (few hundreds up or down)

 

i believe this is what you are looking for:



and if you buy it before july 31, you get a whole bunch of really nice add-ons for free: cool free stuff

 

Some other names:

Kurzweil...
Novation (no internal sounds)...
VAX MIDI Keyboard Controller. (no sound) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1200817609/vax-midi-keyboard-controller
CME - some of their recent models. Old models got poor user reviews.
... and many others...

 

The new wax (project) "sounds" really tempting... I`ll wait to see the drawings and the first reviews, when they come out.

 

what about this one:

physis_piano_k4

8x Independent Midi Outputs,
2x Independent Midi Inputs,
4x Host USB ports,
1x Device USB port,
2x Audio outputs,
1x Headphone output,
9x rotary controls,
9x long-throw 45mm slider,
9x lighted button controls,
Fast entry alpha-numeric keypad,
4.3" Multicolor Graphic LCD Display, 480x272 Pixel,
128 perfomances, 8 zones, 4 scenes, full programmable

there is also the K4 Ex version, that is a stage-piano

 

Take it from a classically trained well seasoned touring keyboardist. What you want is a controller with triple sensors!!!! You cannot perform fast repeating passages without it. I dont care what anyone on this forum tells you. Its physically impossible to do so unless you have a keybed with triple sensors.


Hands down these are your 2 best options!!


1. Roland RD800

2. Yamaha CP4

A third place choice would be to buy a used Roland RD700NX - which are now discontinued. But also has a triple sensor keybed


In my opinion I would go with number 1 or 2 but instead of ussing the onboard sounds, get yourself a laptop & load it with sample libraries that will blow any workstations internal sounds out of the water!!!

If you dont believe me go a real piano/keyboard forum & take it from people over HERE!!!!

 

And do yourself a favor - get Ivory II, Ravenscroft Grand, Scarbee Vintage Keys... There are a few other electric piano libraries you could toss up between Scarbee, but Scarbee is solid!! But if you really want to sound the best you gottta buy the best. & onboard sounds within a keyboard NEVER WILL BEAT third party sound libraries!!! Okay Ive said enough Im out!!! PEace!!!

 

I've bought this one at the end, it knows your minimal list



because I no need the fancy features of its more expensive older brother:RD700, a comment from Amazon, I'm too lazy to typing :dancing:

worth to check the channel of https://www.youtube.com/user/PianoManChuck/playlists

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukwasNPAAHw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rZAPpHCjRo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnqHStIL02E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiS1IVhXyyE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h8bx8cHNao

and tons of other tests

 

I vote Yamaha s 90 esx. There keyboards are the closest thing to a real piano I know of.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions! ...now I just have to sit down for a few days and make a choice

At first place for now, I put the Roland RD700NX (can find it used for less than 1000 € )
as second, a used Yamaha CP4 (but sadly, new it is too expensive, and I can`t find a used one at a good price)
as third the Doepfer or a new WAX

...the Physis Piano K4 with its features seems to be a great choice too (tho I do not like the "physics modeling" thing... I prefere samples).

(anyone owns a Physis Piano K4 ? ...how is the keybed ? )


...but the more I think about, It seems to me that some Controller with no sounds could be the best choice for me... for the few times that I want to play without having to power up the PC, I can always connect it to the old Roland A90 and use its VeRD1 sounds...

Any Controller with triple sensors ?

@xbitz:
does the RD300NX have triple sensors ?

 

Well, im no expert but.. Ive been using one of these for years and seriously..

I'll swear by it... will save u some beer money too..

Honestly.. Im Not sure about triple sensors.. perhaps u could check the .PDF.

One other thing.. the Auto-Baa Baa Black Sheep feature on this thing really sold me.. A must have. *yes*

 

Roland a800 pro....

 

Alright, I've backed that, won't be as good as VCP1 hammer action.

and it's VAX.

 

maybe You are right... If one can play, he can make music even on this
btw. it seems to have more features than some M-audio keys


@piaudio:
VAX ...I`ll try to rememember that

about the VAX, I like very much the idea that You are supposed to assemble it Yourselves, but I don`t like the "secrecy" about the sensors...
anyway, a very interesting option, but no way I will buy it without trying it first, and I don`t see how am I supposed to do that if they will sell it disassembled ?!?

 

They can assemble in-house the VAX at a higher cost.