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Glad the video helped! Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

That sounds awesome thanks for sharing! And thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

I'm not familiar with your synth, but if you can configure the Arturia with a custom setup to send the correct MIDI to it, you should be fine. Once you create a custom setup (on your computer) you actually copy it into the Arturia's memory, so you should be fine. Hope that helps! Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

They’re both fantastic and have very similar piano actions - both are a bit on the light side but they are my favourite piano actions ever. If it’s just for home and you like playing around with other voices I would recommend the DGX. It has way more voices, tons of rhythms to play along with, and also a bit better main piano sound. Both have the CFX Grand sample, but the DGX has virtual resonance modeling which modifies the sound as you play so it’s that much more realistic. The DGX is just far less portable. Hope that helps! Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

To be honest I’m not sure - I’m not at all familiar with those pedals. All the doremidi does is merge MIDI signals between 5pin and USB MIDI into a single MIDI 5 pin out if that helps

Much appreciated! Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

@@PianoTone just did 🙏

Hey there! Just spoke to Marine, she has been updating how that all works. Now when you use the code, it will just say "coupon applied" then you will get an email with info on how you can grab a couple of bonuses (instead of the free call): free ebook "Ultimate Chords & Scales" and an exclusive technique workshop video "Rock Your Technique". Let me know if you have any issues or anything getting the freebies and I can check with Marine. Hope your M-Solo arrives soon!

@@PianoTone Thank you for your great help, Tony. My M-Solo has not arrived yet but I got a good price when buying it - $1700 Canadian. Did you use Hammond or Yamaha pedals with it? Michael

@@mfurman I've agonized over buying the $$$$$ Exp-50 Hammond pedal; everyone online says it's amazing but I just can't get past the price it's SOOO expensive for a volume pedal. The Yamaha FC7 (geni.us/SM9iImJ) worked ok, but not really any better than the cheap M-Audio ones (geni.us/ejZUL10). I'll probably buy a Hammond one eventually . . . I also tried a Studiologic one and it was ridiculously huge so I sent it back. Any generic sustain pedal (with a polarity switch) will work for the leslie on/off speed switch but to be honest, the cheap brick pedals that come free with pianos work best for this (you don't need the metal sustain pedal); I'm using a Yamaha one I've had forever that's a bit nicer (has some metal in it) can't even remember where I got it. You don't actually have a sustain pedal port on the M-Solo (you do on the SK Pro because you have piano and EP voices) ; you don't need one for organ.

Hey thanks so much, very much appreciated! Good luck with your decision, let me know if you have any questions!

The CK88 has Yamaha's GHS graded hammer action (the CK61 is a non weighted organ action "FSB"), with options to adjust the touch sensitivity levels. This is a dual sensor action (it's my favorite piano action), and is a little on the "light" side. Action is a personal preference, some people love this action, others do not and prefer a heavier action like the Roland PHA4 (which I'm not a fan of). The P-515 is a very unique action - it's a triple sensor, and it feels very heavy to play at first, but then when you get used to it, doesn't feel as heavy and responds well. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

@@PianoTone Thanks for the fast response. This ck88 has a "classic" vibe in it. It looks old-school and has a lot of modern functions at the same time. Amazing interface. Can you tell me if the keys on ck88 are a lot noisy or is it tolerable? How do you compare them with Modx+8? Right now I am between these two ck88 and Modx+8. I am already a subscriber and I really appreciate what you offer here. Kind Regards.

@@jorjajorjan3863 Hey thanks for the sub! To be honest I've never tried a ModX so can't really compare those (I'm also guilty of either practicing 100% at home with headphones - live in an apt, or at band practices where we're loud enough I'd never notice the keys). It's the same GHS action as the P-125 or DGX 670, which I've never found to be super noisy or anything. The CK61 action is whisper quiet because it's not weighted.

It has Yamaha's GHS graded hammer action, with options to adjust the touch sensitivity levels. This is a dual sensor action (it's my favorite piano action), and is a little on the "light" side. Action is a personal preference, some people love this action, others do not and prefer a heavier action like the Roland PHA4 (which I'm not a fan of). Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

Thanks so much! Yes the P225 is an awesome piano! It does not take batteries, but you can use something like this: th-cam.com/video/hhrLDeLCaTg/w-d-xo.html I used that battery with my Yamaha CK88 to power it for practices and gigs with my band and you get 5 hrs + which is way more than batteries will do. Hope that helps! Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

Thanks so much glad the video was helpful! If you’re ever wanting to get back into organ, check out the M-Solo from Hammond it’s super cool, has the latest sound engine - it’s a nice small add on to a piano: th-cam.com/video/sl70Vo-G6JQ/w-d-xo.html Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

Cool! Planning on using this with your P-45 or a controller keyboard with only USB out?

@@PianoTone I am planning to test it with my P-45 when a Hammond M-Solo arrives. I was going back and forth for a while but I finally decided to get M-Solo today. It is all thanks to your reviews. I will be learning jazz on it. P-45 will be for home piano practice and will try to use it as a MIDI keyboard for M-Solo. I may get access to a church pipe organ as well. I got a few books about playing Hammond organ (also for liturgical preludes). I will be decide about getting MIDI controller with more appropriate keybed after gaining some experience with different organs. Thank you again, Michael

Yeah I'm never a fan of any key combinations on keyboards; the only thing about the 160 that makes this a bit less painful is that they are labelled; the CT-S1 has the first 28 voices labelled and then that's it; the more expensive PX-S1100 has NOTHING labelled which drives me crazy. I actually sold my PX-S1100 because it was so frustrating to use.

Hi there! I didn't edit any of the effects for the piano, so the demo would be the way it sounds out of the box (I'm very inexperienced with most effects so for the most part I trust and use the out of the box settings). Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

Wow! Thanks for sharing all of that info, super helpful and useful!!!

@@PianoTone Thanks a lot!

@@Instrumental-CoversGreat to see you here Instrumental-Covers. I watch Piano Tone much more now than Merriam! I was just missing you 😊

Thanks so much glad you enjoyed the video! And thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

Hi there! I've never even seen a CTX-3000 so I can't really comment on that (no stores where I live have ever carried any of the CTX series). If you're after an arranger, just the fact that the E383 is brand new and the CTX has been around for years might make me lean towards the Yamaha. One thing to note though (if it matters to you); Casio usually (not sure about the CTX-3000) has more chord detection modes than Yamaha does for working with the accompaniment (Yamaha only has multi finger or "smart chord", Casio's usually have more choices). Hope that helps! Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

Thanks so much glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

I looked through all the settings and didn't see any way to do that . . . Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

They’re all good super portable options! Key action my favourite is the Liano, overall probably the Yamaha (easy layering), but they’re all awesome. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

Thanks so much glad you like the videos! The Liano key weight will probably feel similar to the CT-S1 (not as heavy as your 3100) but it responds more like a piano (hard to describe; it just feels more like a piano just one with very light key action). The CT-S1 action is way better than most synth action keyboards for playing piano pieces, but the Liano is even closer to a piano feel. And the true full size keys do make a difference (at least for me) - I bet you would find it easier to go back and forth from your 3100 to the Liano than to the CT-S1. And if you only need piano voices, the Liano's main voice is a great all purpose piano (it sounds nice in a ballad but brightens up in rock/jazz if you play with more energy). Hope that helps!

Thanks again!

Thanks so much glad you’re enjoying the videos! And thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

In all fairness I’m only going off Casios site - I don’t quite understand why the app would work with one and not the other given they’re the same internally. Once I can get my hands on one I’ll definitely be confirming if it works with the 76 (and I’ll try to test the app on a 61 as well just to confirm)

in summary Give us better speakers, better base, & key weighted action, & get ride of all those awful voices that hardly anyone ever uses at best in my opinion out of all 61 voices maybe 10 to 15 are useful voices. just my opinion.

Thanks for sharing all that! I totally agree, the "extra" voices (guitars, horns etc) on Yamahas are always way better than the competition. The 76 key CT-S1 looks to be priced in the exact same range as its competition from Yamaha (Piaggero) and Korg (Liano) - neither of which have weighted keys, but all 3 have some kind of "piano-like" action that's not as good as fully weighted, but is way better than synth action diving board keys (and keeps the weight down for portability) I think if Casio added weighted keys (and the cost associated with them) you basically have as CDP-S160 (I just reviewed that - it's their cheapest fully weighted action piano). The speaker upgrade does sound promising; I would really have liked to have seen a USB audio interface though (both the Yamaha and Korg have that); I know I always hope for LR line outs, but very few if any intro keyboards have those. Thanks again for sharing!

@@PianoTone is the CDP-S160 any good compared with this new version?

@@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow Can't really compare those directly - the 160 has Casio's most basic fully weighted key action and 88 true full size keys, the CT-S1 has 76 slightly narrower synth action keys (they do play a bit "pianistically" and feel almost semi-weighted, but they are still non weighted keys). The 160 has all the function key combinations labelled on the panel which is nice; the CT-S1 makes it easy to select the first 28 voices, but for any other voices or any settings changes you're looking up key combinations because nothing is labelled (hoping the new compatibility with Casio Music Space will address this). The CT-S1 has more (and maybe a bit better?) voices, and is super light and portable. They really aren't that comparable - one is a fully weighted piano the other is meant for super portability so it really depends what's more important to you.

They’ve moved to a subscription model now (no longer pay per track) which makes no sense for me, but is a good call for others. Last I checked there are 2 subscription levels and one has that feature and one doesn’t. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

Thanks! The CK series really is very well designed, they are awesome overall instruments. Octave width on both the M-Solo and SK Pro are 165mm (I always measure from left of C to right of B ); and the keys are a bit shorter than most pianos they are 13.5 cm. Measuring the white key alone is 2.2-2.3 ish. There is a TINY bit more space between keys on Hammonds than pianos

@@PianoTone Thank you Tony!

The action on this one is really only ok for playing synth - it's not good for piano or organ

@@PianoTone Thank you Tony!

No I don’t think so.

A lot of the competition does have more variations for sure; but I also think Yamaha accompaniment is usually programmed better (smoother fills and changes etc). I just wish Yamaha would catch up with more chord detection modes, especially full keyboard. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

@@PianoTone yes, I like a lot this yamaha, but wish it had more variations. Do you know some of the competition similar? Thank you.

@@erjuanjojj There is a new Roland GO Keys (3 and 5) that I think have 4 variations: geni.us/eocArBt I will try to review one when they are available where I live.

I've never seen one or looked into them at all actually . . .

You can if you need them sure! I always kept them to use as a starting point for my custom ones; then I'd make my modifications and save them to a user slot. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

@@PianoTone subbed

@@PianoTone one more question I just received my ck today. I set up split points for a three way split one being organ with slow rotor middle is piano and the third split is another organ, but I would like this organ to have a fast rotor. Is there a way I could do that? It seems to change all organ effects when I use the rotor button.

Thanks so much, glad you like the reviews! To be fair I haven't SEEN the custom case, but the CK88 is a pretty generic size, so lots of non Yamaha cases will be just fine and much cheaper. The case for the CK61 is $$ as well, but there aren't any generic cases that wouldn't be way too big for it, so I do recommend that one. Hope that helps! Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

Wow, such a quick reply! Thanks for the advice. I'm your newest subscriber. 😁

LOL no worries. I decided on the Hammond over Nord (or any other clones like Yamaha CK/YC, etc) mostly because of the better quality organ engine. The CK was fine (sounded great to me . . . at first, because I didn't know too much), but then I borrowed an SK1 (predecessor to the SK Pro, came out in 2011) - it's demo'd a bit in my M-Solo review; and it sounded SOOOO much better (even being that old) than my CK did (and the leslie effect was way better, and the overdrive was better etc). The Nord's sounds are probably closer than the Yamaha, but I always found the Nord user interface confusing, and . . . I knew if I bought something that didn't say "Hammond" I'd end up buying a Hammond eventually anyways. I was very torn between the SK Pro and phase out the Numa so just carry 1 board to band practice vs. keep the Numa for piano/EP and get an XK-4 or XK-1C (also circa 2011) for just organ. The piano on the SK Pro is way better than the SK1, says "Y-CF" on screen so that tells me it's probably the CF Grand sample from the P-125; the EP's are awesome on the SK Pro as well, the only weak voices are the "extras" like woodwinds and brass. I still go back and forth a bit wondering if I should have gotten the XK-4, but now that I have the SK Pro, if I sold it I would lose enough that I might as well just keep it and if I wanted to could pretend it's an XK-4 and just use the organ :) Knowing how you put a lot of emphasis on your piano actions, I am willing to bet you won't like playing piano pieces on a Nord Electro or an SK Pro anyways, so maybe keeping a piano with action you like and just getting an XK-4 might be the way to go. I don't mind playing piano on the semi weighted non graded action, but you might think differently. I know most stores don't stock Hammonds, but if you spent some time on an Electro just playing some of your piano pieces the action is very close so it would give you more of an idea. For training/courses, I have to recommend Marine from Online Rock Lessons, she is an amazing player, and her courses are awesome (the main course is piano, but she has added actual Hammond courses now and they're excellent). The link is in multiple videos of mine but here it is again: onlinerocklessons.com/membership-signup/ If you use PIANOTONE as a coupon code if you go ahead she'll give you a free lesson/zoom intro call. I'm assuming you've seen this video of mine, where Marine gives an intro to playing organ vs piano: th-cam.com/video/vZdTB_T-DdU/w-d-xo.html. She also has some videos on her TH-cam channel you could browse through: www.youtube.com/@OnlineRockLessons And for fun, check out th-cam.com/video/UUKjMqaus1I/w-d-xo.html; band she was in with 2 Hammonds and drums Might even be an idea to try out some of the lessons of hers (or whoever else's) just on whatever keyboard before spending a bunch on a fancy organ Anyhow hope that helps, feel free to shoot me more questions if you want

@@PianoTone Thank you for such a thoughtful advice, Tony. I appreciate your explanation of how you arrived at your decision. It makes a lot of sense! Thank you for your advice on the course and your code. I will heed your advice and start with lessons. I have just bought a book “Hammond Organ Complete” 😊 I will also focus on getting a Hammond organ. Thank you again, Michael Ps. I will just keep P-45 for light home practice and do all my recordings on Yamaha C7

@@PianoTone Tony, it is me again 🙂Could you please tell me if you would recommend Yamaha CK61 or Hammond M Solo? I just want to try cheap. I even thought of Yamaha Reface YC 37. Thank you very much, Michael

The M solo costs more but the Hammond sounds are far better and the key action isn’t perfect but it’s also better than the CK. If you want to try cheap the YC reface is the same sounds as the CK (not as good as Hammond but not bad) - and then get a cheap non/semi weighted midi controller like m-audio (that has 5 pin midi out) and connect that to the reface. The reface sounds are ok but you can’t learn to play on those tiny keys. I did list my M solo on reverb if you decide to go that way

@@PianoTone Thank you, Tony.

I loved my P-125 when I owned one, and if that would meet my needs now I'd buy a P-225 in a heartbeat (the sounds are better and the key action is close). If you can try a P-225 in a store first I'd recommend it just to make sure you'll be ok with the action. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

@@PianoTone do you feel that the tones are as rich in the P225 as the P125 - mainly in the lower tones. I keep thinking I’m hearing that but it could be my iPhone which is how I’m listening to you. I don’t like too bright of a piano. I’ve been playing on an old Baldwin upright but it has a very good tone in all keys for me and I want to get as close to a rich piano sound as I get on my acoustic piano. I have found Yamaha to get the closest but I can’t tell between two models myself. I’ve only tested the P125. Now I can only get it used I think

@@PianoTone thanks. I think I don’t know how to subscribe as I thought I did already. This is the best info and you are very clear in your videos

@@randifeldman You may have already sorry :) Not easy for me to tell :) Thanks, glad you like the videos!

@@randifeldman I personally would describe both the P-125 (CF Grand) and P-225 (CFX Grand) as on the "bright side" but if you liked the P-125's voice, I'm sure you'll like the P-225 it's very close, just a bit more detailed (and better)

Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

@@PianoTone ?

@@marcusstrymon693 Hey there; what's up?

Thanks for sharing that! Yea it’s not a huge upgrade, although Yamaha kept the price the same which is awesome. The metal speaker grills, smaller form factor and the auto chords are still great for the same $ - if you can find a 373 for a big discount then yeah get that. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

I don’t think it’s GarageBand - other apps also have this issue - I think it’s something to do with Yamaha not sending a standard MIDI message on the E383/373 (this is not an issue with the Yamaha PSR E473/EW425)

To be honest no idea - I never use DAWs (if I need one it’s GarageBand on my iPad) - did you download a Yamaha (“steinberg” I think) driver from their site? Sorry I can’t be more help!

I don’t use a pedal with mine (although I know it’s in the menu to configure) but I’m using an iPad - don’t own any androids; sorry I can’t be more help!

I’d like to one day - will have to find one to rent. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

Hey that's an interesting idea! This was a problem with the prior model as well (PSR-E373) but NOT with the next model up in the same line (PSR-E473/EW425) so there's definitely something weird going on there. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe