cheers, mod wheel would be a bonus for when i use it.. it will probably live in an other room in the house away from teh studio but with own laptop, this really is intended mostly for the wife to use who is Pianist and of couse we all want to keep her indoors happy! There are plenty of synths id like and could choose one over another quite easily. But stage piano/hammer action midi controller really are not in my field of knowledge so much, so this thread is helping a lot all be it inconclusive, but i didnt expect that it would be.
So this thread is helping a lot.. its confirmed some of the things i already thought while presented some options i didnt think about =)

I was under the impression that the Nano was not full hammer action but semi, i stand corrected i see it has the fatar action.. which i know is good
What i didnt realise was there could be a Yamaha within our price range, if not i think id be leaning towards the casio even though there have been more comments on others.
someone here even pointed out that they have a nano on ebay at the moment... but they're in the states and im looking at purchase in a couple of months

You guys have been great though,, i knew you would.. its the first time ive really called for help around here and my expectations more than met props to all

http://azpianonews.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/review-20122013-digital-pianos-under.html << now this is a good read..

 

A couple of reviews for you ...

PX-350 ....................... http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/casio-privia-px-350/150865

PX-3 ........................... http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/Casio-Privia-PX-3/2319

Privia Pro PX-5S ........ http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/152591


As a small aside, in cases like this where you have to choose between A or B, I always remember the words of the great John Lennon. He said and I quote: "I'm an artist, and if you give me a tuba, I'll bring you something out of it".

For me music is all about limitations and boundaries, and working within those parameters.

Good luck with whatever you choose

 

Sorry to get so passionate about this topic, but its what Ive done for my living since college.... Again the only keyboards out there with a triple sensor keybed are the Rolands with the newest version of the PHAIII keybeds. Which are the V-Piano & the RD700NX. The only other manufactures with triple sensor keybeds are Kawaii (VPC-1) and Casio's Privia PX-5S... ALL OTHER MODELS DO NOT HAVE A TRIPLE SENSOR KEYBED!!!

Your cheapest option is the Casio Casio Privia PX-5S.... The models you emailed me about do not have a triple sensor keybed.


WHy am I so big on a triple sensor keybed you might ask? When it comes to performing fast repitions found in a lot of classical & some jazz licks, it allows you to perform those technical passages without allowing the key to fully rebound all the way up. Making the key action behave more closely to how a real grand piano action behaves... I SWEAR the moment you play a triple sensor keyboard next to a standard keybed you wont ever go back!!!

An EX. of the kind of technical passage I'm talking about that would be nearly impossible to perform on a standard keybed but completely possible with a triple sensor keybed would be like the one starting at 4:45 of this Youtube clip below . Cheers!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H99FM6S8rU

 

I can't believe no one mentioned the awesome Yahama portable grand DGX-650, which has really nice upgraded "graded hammer action" keybed. The DGX-640 is also a nice machine and you can probably find one used at a great price.

I looked extensively for the best Keybed under $1000 USD and the DGX-650 was easily the best I demoed. The only ones I found better were the more expensive Yamahas and the very high end Roland stage keys.

Keep in mind this perspective is from a piano player looking for accurate piano key feel and completely ignoring midi control knobs, sliders, and pads. However the USB midi on the board works great and even works perfectly plugged directly into my ipad.

Good luck on your search!

 

Roland RD-800 is the new kid on block .. RD-700 is de-listed

 

krismiller1982, I admire your enthusiasm and your obvious skill if you can trigger a triple sensor ... but I don't think my playing level would even trouble a double sensor

When I was looking for a piano action keyboard, I made a budget and added an extra 100 bucks on top, but unfortunately a triple action sensor didn't come onto my radar However, the Roland A-88 does the job perfect for me in what I need it to do. So I suppose we could say it is horses for courses in my case.

It is probably a good idea to think carefully about what we ultimately want to achieve with our gear, and look at as many options as possible that can satisfy those requirements.

I posted some reviews of the Casio models above, and they look quite good, and lightweight too. Those with a bit of extra cash should definitely take a look at them

 

The first weighted 88 key controller I bought was, unfortunately, an M-Audio Keystation Pro88, no aftertouch, shoddy build and the middle C's weighted action inexplicably broke after 1 year of limited use (and before you ask, the Keystation's action was so heavy and sluggish, it was pretty much impossible to abuse with over-enthusiastic pounding, even if that was my playing style!). It had a ton of DAW controls, but I could never get them to work inside DP 7. Korg has the best keyboard action I've ever used, even on their regular synth-action boards, and my 61-key synth controller, which I bought at the same time, was an el cheapo K61, which I still use to this day (and which I was sure would go way before the Keystation ever did!). Sadly, insofar as I know, they don't make an 88-key weighted controller, which I'm also attempting to replace. To be honest, I was seriously looking at the Roland A88, but the one I think I'd go with is the Akai MPK-88, which is cheaper than the A88, has aftertouch, pads, sliders and a full set of DAW controls.

 

Check out my thread for keyboard repair. Going to try to fix my old Yamaha. Paying bills, food, breathing...all over-rated.

 

I am also in the market for a quality 88-weighted controller. I'll be using it mostly with a DAW for composing and not just piano. Despite this, I have until now only played on acoustic pianos (so forgive my ignorance on keyboard tech) and so feel is very important to me.

KrisMiller, thanks for pointing out about the triple sensor technology. You've helped me eliminate a lot of options in doing so because I refuse to buy any keyboard that won't allow for fast repeated notes. I wonder though, is a 3rd sensor utilized well when entering midi data into a DAW? I just want to make sure that this technology while great for a piano simulation doesn't interfere with this - it's main use for me.


Also, I have to ask what makes the Roland RD-700 (or now 800) a better choice than the Privia PX-5S? I ask because the Roland is at a price point of a higher end workstation while missing features like a built-in sequencer. Meanwhile, the Privia has this and seems to be a workstation at the price of a midi controller. Really I just wanted a great controller and didn't want to spend extra $$$ on sounds or features I don't need but it seems like if the key feel is very important you need to go with a "Stage Piano' or "Workstation". As long as it also works flawlessly as a controller as well I don't mind spending the extra money but if I AM going to spend more than these features/tools must be factored in as well if that makes sense.. sorry I've been awake for too many hours!

The KAWAI VPC1 looked appealing and it is just a controller but I'd have to buy a second controller for a mod/pitch which is annoying. I also don't know how this works exactly - would you have to do any work that requires the mod/pitch wheels ON the second controller or are you able to use the wheels on one controller with the VPC's keys?

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

Thanks for all the feedback!

Of some odd reason my midikeyboard works now! I never did anything (I simply gave it up after a few trys with a few of your suggestions) .... Then the other day I just tried to connect to Kontakt and it worked! STRANGE!

Best thing: It WORKS *yes*

 

Being completely honest.... If realism is what you're after the best sounding thing out there is Synthogy Ivory followed by Pianoteq. My Roland RD700NX has a piano sound in it, but compared to Ivory it falls short in almost every way sonically. So basically I payed a crap ton for just the keybed in the RD700NX..... Kawaii finally listen to us gigging musicians last year & finally made a professional triple sensor MIDI controller. unfortunately, Kawaii keybeds are notoriously sluggish. So If Roland would only just step up & release a pro controller with the PHAIII keybed w/escapement everything would be great. The ROland A88 could have been that game changer, but they fell by putting the old PHAIII keybed in it which has only a dual sensor not a triple.. Until then the Roland RD700NX is the best option out there for feel & Synthogy Ivory is the best option for sound. Combined those 2 are unbeatable at the moment.

 

Thank you so much for replying ! However, I'm not too concerned about built-in sounds... just features and keybed/feel.

Bearing in mind that I'm looking for a controller more than a gigging instrument what would make the Roland-RD better than the Privia PX-5S that you also recommended? Just the keys? As I noted in my previous post there are features the Privia has that the Roland does not (despite being significantly more expensive).

I assume the Kawai triple sensor controller you're referring to is the VPC1 but w/o a mod wheel it is useless to me. Also, when you say sluggish do you mean that the action is heavy or do you mean it is simply not very responsive.

Thanks again!

 

I use the Casio PX-350 with Ivory II, and I'm pretty pleased with it. If you're using the keyboard as a controller and don't need any other bells and whistles, you can get away with purchasing the Casio PX-150 for less than $500.

It also has the triple sensor, graded action, and ivory-feel keys.

This is from keyboardmag.com:

Compared to the previous flagship Privia (the PX-330, reviewed Oct. ’09), Casio has tripled the sample size of the main piano sound. They’ve also adjusted the key sensors such that there’s a lot more going on than what you may be used to from a digital stage piano. For one, the keys transmit high-resolution MIDI to the internal sound engine (as well as any external software that can interpret it), so instead of 127 possible velocity values, there are 16,256.

 

Hi guys, sorry for joining the party so late. I just got tired of my regular toy so I've been searching for a new midi keyboard good for piano feel/playability, i write pop/modern music with no super-complex classical performances. I've narrowed it to:
- Casio PX-350
- Roland RD64 (i don't mind the 64 keys)
- Roland A88
- Kawai ES-100 (there's rumours about KAWAI that their keys are kinda sluggish)
- Kurzweil SP4-8

...well, i don't care about bells and whistles, internal sounds or other features. All i'm interested in is the keys playability feel. Thank you!

Evo

 

Last edited: Aug 31, 2015

Kurzweil or any decent Fatar keybed

 

Thanks for the reply!

Actually, i've been rethinking and i brought in the equation the size and the addition of Pitch Bend/Modulation so i think the Roland RD 64 seems to be the right choice for me.

 

Not to many decent ones don't have Pitch Bend/Modulation


I personally use three different controllers, each assigned to different jobs

Kurzweil PC3LE8
Oberheim MC 1000
MAudio Keystation Pro 88

 

Last edited: Aug 31, 2015

personal info on what I use(d): Kurzweil K2600 (fatar): Very Good -- M-audio Keystation Pro 88: Good (a bit action noise) -- Alesis QS-8 (fatar): Not good, sluggish -- Roland A90: Super (though very hard playing can result in broken key's) -- Korg Kronos X 88: Super (no remarks)

 

All except for the a88 have internal sounds. So I think they are not what you want.

If I'd buy a new keyboard, it would be the Arturia Keylab 88.. It has a 88 key Fatar hammer action keyboard, which is basically the best you can get.