5 years ago, my mother, who'd owned an acoustic piano all her life, had a minor stroke. She was devastated when she found that she could no longer play her piano. So she sold it, as it was too painful to see it and be reminded that she couldn't play it. 5 years later, her memory and finger coordination has returned quite a bit. I have just purchased a Yamaha P-125a, with the matching base unit and 3 pedal set. She is absolutely delighted with it, to the point that she cried tears of joy when it was delivered. I built it up and turned it on. She sat in front of it, wondering how she would cope, with one of her favourite pieces of music sheets on the music stand. She looked at the music, placed her hands on the keys and played it beautifully! She's 85 years old, but she's still got it!
I am so glad I ran across this. Best unbiased, sincere commentary I've seen while I'm researching acquiring an electric piano as a secondary to my acoustic piano.
The most important item to consider is the keyboard action as this will really impact your ability feel the keys…I started at the age of 8 on an out of tune 100 year old upright..now 50+ Years later I use a roland with all the sound benefits but .primarily think about the Action..whether you are spending 100 or 500…try them in your shop before you buy..take into account the whole reasons why..and the potential future use…
Ha !!! I have a 1922 piano, only 99 years old ! I've had for over 40 years. Mines a semi tone flat, due to its age. I'm nearly as old as my piano at 71. I'm looking for a electric piano so I can practice with headphones on. But what do I buy, that's as near to an acoustic. I don't want Bells n Whistles, I want Action weight and mellow tones. Help !!! Roj UK I bought a Kawai ES 110 👍
Can't agree more with key action! I started with a Yamaha YPG-235 keyboard with no key action, sold it and bought a Casio digital piano bundle from Costco with lots of features which were distracting for a learner, sold it and got a really old acoustic 90 year old piano which is nice but very loud and can't play with people inside the house. Finally, got a nice Yamaha P45 bundle at Costco. It is simple, inexpensive and still has very nice keys with headphone jack. The only piece that needs upgrade is the pedal. If I had the budget, I would have gone with Kawai ES 110. @Roj D, you made the right choice!
@@RiojaRoj i am similar age….if you have the money I would get a roland rd2000 it has 2 sensors on each key..using the same action as the high end roland pianos but a lot cheaper…also has Roland’s new sound modelling engine…which can mimic any piano…or you can design your own…have a look..I’ve been looking at various. And that was my conclusion…..I just need to persuade my wife .
I do electric guitar and the experience I gained is similar to this. You can very easily become a guitar collector and have to face the fact that more or better guitars will not make you a better performer. Or expensive skis or golf clubs. You can pay serious money, but it will not necessarily make you better. Top of the list should be sound, action (weighed keys) and portability. But I think the first fundamental choice would be piano or keyboard. Lots of keyboards can do very respectable piano sounds ..... but not the other way around. Thinking about it a bit more. Buy the best you can afford to get. Short of selling a kidney or soul to the devil. Save for however long it takes to get it. The logic behind it is that if you buy something cheap, you will not feel bad about putting it down and let it gather dust in a corner or attic. There are 1000s upon 1000s of violins, flutes and Spanish guitars out there because parents buy them for their kids, but they just don't appreciate them. It is actually a recognized principle in Economics if you care to look it up. The other reason is that if you still suck after hours of practice ....... you can't blame the keyboard/piano ..... you still need even more practice.
that was exactly my logic when I started playing guitar. Instead of getting a 20 Dollar one that sounded like shit and would be put aside and forgotten immediately I got one for 500 bucks and have been loving and playing it for now 8 years. Will try the same now that I want to get into playing piano..
@@dhruvmehta3530 Check different marketplaces and look for old pianos or sometimes not so old ones that people dont want anymore. You can get them for free except you have to go get it which can cost $50 if you want professional people moving it for you. (Which basically is essentional)
Ironically, even the acoustic piano is not a panacea: They vary in touch, sound, and maintenance. A great e-piano can be more satisfying than a rinky-dink acoustic. And when your piano ennui sets in -- you can liven your mind with an electric, tweaking with various sounds and effects. Having the option to branch out into various forms of pop music will shunt forth faster the desire for progress.
Couldn't emphasize number 9 enough!!! Keep in mind when shopping for your first digital piano, to look out for piano's compatibility with accessories you might already be interested in! In the end, this might make a cheaper keyboard, far pricier than one you might have previously preferred.
I am a guitarist, I have a lot of guitars. Every time I went to a local music store, which was often, I would end up in the keyboard room. I played all of them. Sure the $4000 keys a sounded great, but I’m not that good of a player yet and a lot of the features I would have to learn about and don’t understand -yet. So I wanted something with weighted keys that sounded like a piano. I opted for the Yahama DGX 650. Not perfect, but for someone learning it’s very good. I got the attached pedals for a little extra great add on. I like the suitcase setting which is like a Fender Rhodes and surprisingly emulates pretty close. I also like the EClav to play Stevie Wonder stuff. Very happy with my choice and when I’m ready to move up it’s probably going to be a Korg.
Thank you for these great tips :) 1- DPs are not acoustic pianos. 2- Key Feelings. 3-Overcomplicated apps and buttons and etc. 4- spend too much 5- Spend too litle 6- mistaken buying other things but a piano (workstations, Synths, etc) 7- Stage Pianos without Speakers 8- lack of portability 9- Ergonomics - Wrong accessories, wrong stands. 10-wrong number of keys (!) Go always for 88 standard or more if possible.
my thought on spending too much, I would argue that if its graded weighted action and good action there is a damn good chance it wont out date itself because you can always plug it into midi and upgrade the sounds.
lovely little video, I've been playing on a semi-weighted for a couple months and really progressing, I gave myself a budget around £600 pound and after all the deliberating I actually just decided to get the FP10, for £360. People complain about the keys having a lot of weight which I cant imagine being to much a problem as I have strong arms and your first statement really resonated when thinking about my semi-weighted, I really don't feel as if I'm gaining as much muscle as I would with a heavier keyboard
Something worth mentioning to newbies is that an upright or baby grand is not a replacement for a concert grand. Both in touch and sound. Ppl may think that practicing on an upright is a better option than some of the more premium digital pianos but imo it certainly is not. The touch for instance is obviously differrent on an upright and imo would make for a harder transition to performing on a concert grand than a premium digital like the kawaii ca99
Some people will tell you learning on an upright is actually better BECAUSE the action is heavier, because it will build up your muscles! But I am not one of those people, because I enthusiastically pounded a computer keyboard all my working life and in the end it got me some really nasty tendonitis. So now I'm nervous of anything too heavy...
I own a couple of digital pianos a 1986 roland rd 200 and a weighted 1987 rd 250 I bought them because I felt they sounded good. Being so old if you let go of a key the note does not keep ringing with resonance. I actually went for a unweighted keyboard over time you have the choice on say a nord to go weighted or unweighted
You should suggest a piano with a silent system in this case then as that will provide both real piano experience and the option for silent practice. So I don’t think it’s a mistake to ask for something near to an acoustic to a specialist and having the guidance of options available and what is near to an acoustic .
Most helpful point for me was #3- reminder that digital technology is always advancing so whatever I buy today will be outdated in a few yrs. I honestly hadn't thought of that! So, how long can I realistically expect a piano just under $1000 to last? (leaning towards Roland RP-102 or FP 30X with frame) An iPhone at that price would be outdated in a matter of years, I was really hoping for longer use from my new piano!
considering the fact that iphones are a product that bring in tons of more money and have more demand then digital pianos, you should be good with any digital piano that’s around that price range for a while. Yes your piano will soon be outdated but i wouldn’t think it would be any time close if i’m being honest
welp its 2 years late but heres my answer: I have a yamaha p45 and been playing for it for 5ish years and its still working! It is very durable. It is certainly a very good beginner piano if you start out. But later down the line, you might want a piano with better actions + sound quality which lacks in my opinion
You answered my biggest question, I love my acoustic piano so don't plan to switch. I also have a keyboard which I take when on the road. It doesn't sound or feel like a piano but at least I can play, and keyboards are cheap, especially second hand.
Thanks to this video I went and looked for a weighted keyboard and bought a yamaha kx8 for $100, guy even included a sustain pedal lol... got it set up with yousician on NY computer. A steal for my needs. I'm liking it way more than the springy keys!
As a working pianist I do play both. Great great points here. To add to your points. A car will never bee a plane and a plane will never bee a car. I always relate this because when you drive a car, it is going to have a totally different feel than a plane. Well, a digital piano will never sound exactly like the acoustic piano. It doesn’t matter how advanced they get in technology. They will always sound different. The other thing to remember to is that when you play an acoustic piano, you are getting the actual feel of the action and you can feel what is going on under your feet and hands. As you play it you can hear also harmonics that you are hearing from the resonating sound board behind the strings in the piano. All this is the original sound capabilities that the piano has. The sound is not sampled or modeled. I.k. The digital piano has a completely different way of playing. The action is totally different yes we have weighted keys or musical terms G.H.S. Graded standard hammer action. So when you get on a digital yes. It feels like an acoustic but it is not. Once you start playing it the gel of the action is completely different. You have to adapt your skills when you play a digital. If you can play both it is very nice because you have more in your musicial language. You don’t just have one way of playing or style. Well, don’t get me wrong. Their is many many styles on acoustics that you can do of course. But when you play an acoustic and a digital you have to put on your thinking cap a bit. You are creating more and producing music where as on an acoustic piano you are more like the performer. When you play both it is really neat to bee able to say “this piano can help me and assist with music and I can do things that I can’t do on an acoustic.!!! I say that when I come back from work all the trim. I can play or perform some piece of music on the job but when I get home and play it on the digital I can arrange it and do things that I would never bee able to do on the acoustics. When you play a digital piano you are constantly having to change things and lower and raise the volume and expressing with the instruments. With the acoustic piano you are having to stay focused on your piano but you are not having to worry about everything else. Their is less you have to control on the acoustic piano. Yes. You need to bee expressive of course but it is in a different way.
I got the kdp110, best value for the money. 40w speakers (20x2). You get triple touch sensor for more sensitivity. Had 88 samples for each key. Wireless bluetooth app connectivity. 1199$
Some touch-screen 'app' based applications are far from easy to use and often serve to complicate and confuse. An LCD digital display/dedicated display is handy for instant viewing of parameters, but give me buttons every time to change those parameters.
The thing that has always baffled me in regard to Digital Pianos; especially having onboard speaker's is that; for me and several of my fellow musician friends as well, was when you try to reproduce the onboard sound; which always sounds great and definitely gets them out the door. I've tried a combination of things, i.e., tried to eq each channel differently, move the pan; different effects on one channel(stereo) as opposed to the other. Using a Mackie mixer I should definitely replicate what goes out to the mains ??? My apologies for the dramatic/biblical commentary.
Thank you guys! I found your video very helpful. Unfortunately though, I just discovered your video AFTER I had purchased my first digital piano. I’m not sure yet if I have made the right decision with the one I purchased as I’ve only had it for one day, lol. It has 88 weighted keys & built-in stand. The first thing I noticed (& questioned to myself) was that it looked a bit low. I’m now wondering what the standard height of a piano keyboard should be (from the floor?) I also noticed straight off (as you guys mentioned,) it sadly doesn’t have the sound of an acoustic! Oh well, it wasn’t too expensive so hopefully it’ll be adequate enough whilst I’m learning to play. Thank you both for your valued information & advice.
Keyboard manufacturers include internal speakers because they have to. Those are nice for haptic feedback through your fingers, but you should connect the instrument to some good external speakers. I don't know which ones are both good and cost effective. Eric Persing uses some high end Genelec active monitors in his Keyscape videos. They can cost more than $4k for a pair.
Thanks so much for sharing. Recommending instruments to musicians or beginners is an expertise that's always been overlooked. Especially if you live in small towns or small cities, it is extremely easy to get the wrong instrument in your first purchase. I remembered when TH-cam and internet was not a thing, I spent so much time figuring out what are synthesizers, workstations, stage pianos, electronic keyboards, etc. If I had the right recommendation and info by then, I would have better quality instruments with less money spent.
I just hate having to go to stores and try instruments because of anxiety, so really like watching these videos to cut that amount of time down as much as possible. Very helpful
I just got a Kawai ES110 after learning on a Casio Privia for a while. The Kawai blows the Casio away. If I upgrade in a few years it'll be a top of the range Kawai.
May I ask which Casio Privia you had? I am standing between getting a Kawai ES110 or a Casio Privia px s1000, and people are really mixed about which is best.
Honestly digital pianos have really improved they aren't what they were 10 15 or even 20 years ago. I would never buy a acoustic piano for so many reasons one of them being not just anyone can tune a acoustic piano they aren't like tuning a guitar you have to have a guy come and tune it and those kind of people are getting harder to find. I actually started on a half decent digital piano by Alesis they are semi weighted keys and 88 keys and the price point is great as well at $299 I actually prefer using my own piano if I go to my music lesson and Alesis digital pianos are surprisingly lightweight to carry around. They are a great starting choice but they don't really offer much room to grow out of the beginners stages
Thank you guys. I’m a total beginner and you answered SO many questions for me. I live in Las Vegas. I wish I was local, so I could come into your store.
I've played piano and organ since 1967 and am looking for a digital piano. I have an old analog synthesizer and a 61 key Nord Electric 2 organ with piano sounds. I sold my electric piano 10 years ago and I'm regretting it now. It had always been noisy but at least it was durable. I wanted a MIDI piano I could combine with my Nord Electro 2 organ. I have a USD 2000 limit and haven't found a single DP that seems durable. Seek the internet and all actions seem to get noisy within a few months and break within a few years. I'm inclined to get a 61 key workstation for USD 600. I would prefer 88 keys and I can get a 88 key version for USD 1000; but it has "proper" hammer action and I'm afraid it will get noisy and break. I'm getting the "wrong" action, no speakers, a workstation and the "wrong" number of keys; but I think it's the best choice for me.
You are better off buying the best you can ill afford in the first instance. I bought a Casio CDP230 for about £300 brand new. Here's the story. As a beginner it seemed great. However, after a couple of years and lots of practice. Averaging 2/3 hrs a day I got to the point where I hated the thing. It was a clunky, noisy action and it was holding me back both physical and mentally. I would go and sneak into a piano shop and try out far superior pianos and it was like having a musical illicit afair. With another instrument. I finally decided I had to break the news that I was no longer in love with Cassie; to that point a loyal companion . However, my roving eyes and ears had been seduced by this buxom attractive shapely high class instrument that went by the name of Roland FP90X. When it arrived at the shop for demonstration I wasted no time undressing this beauty from it's coverings and placing it in the best position. My heart was beating fast as my hands touched the silky smooth and firm notes and hearing the sound of sultry voicings and tones that one could only imagine in a dream. There was no stopping me at this point I carried on for what seemed like an eternity. At no time was the experience flat or sharp but perfectly natural. I realized at the climax of the movement; I had finally found the instrument I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. This presented me with a bitter sweet dilemma. Bitter in the the knowledge that I had to break it to my bank manager. Yes there would be the raised eyebrows and the lectures and wagging fingers and feelings of guilt every time I checked my back account and credit score. But I tell you I didn't care. I was past the point of no return. I took her home that afternoon and placed her on the stand where the Casio used to lie and just like in the Mayor of Casterbridge I sold the old one for the price of a bowl of porridge to a friend, glad to be rid. Now my evenings are spent in ecstacy for hours and the feelings of guilt are subsiding. The moral is buy the best you can ill afford. Follow your fingers eyes and ears.
Good advice for a serious beginner with means. For some they may never reach the point you got to and for them a $300 entry point is enough to get them in the piano hobby. Glad you found your life partner, but most people start out dating and some can only afford fast food!
I'm in the market now for a good digital piano. I'm leaning toward the Yamaha P515 or Kawai ES 920. Looking for a few good Rhodes and Wurli and Hammond B3 sounds too. I've heard the Yamaha has a heavier action, but I've played upright bass for a few years and don't think that my fingers will fatigue playing it.
I'm little ways away from buying a keyboard, although a friend gave me his old Ensoniq SQ1 Plus keyboard which I've played around a little as a MIDI instrument. One interesting topic in your list was the number of keys. I think it would be interesting for a prospective buyer to know how many keys an instrument would have to have to play certain songs they would like to learn how to play. For instance let's say they've always dreamed of playing "Claire de Lune". Would they run out of keys with a 61 key keyboard, for instance? Having a list of tunes they like and then finding out how many keys on the keyboard they would need to play it might save headaches later.
I have noticed that most digital pianos, even some that are very expensive, do not have a rhythm accompaniment application. Have no idea why as I would suspect that most pianists would want this application with the exception of strictly classical. I myself would never purchase one without it and would need it to be a good rhythm accompaniment application.
I know nothing about piano`s purely because playing instruments has never been something that has gone in my head , I guess I don`t have a muscle memory :(. However, my 10yrs has been really interested in learning this instrument. Now he is taking piano lessons and after 4 days of me looking for a piano and trying to understand more about this instrument, I settled for a Casio CDP-S100 which I think is a good enptry for him. Price wise got it with it wood stand, pedal and seat for £390 which I think is ok. Thanks for the advises guys
It's interesting that in your discussion of things being "too complicated", you sing the praises of touchscreens, even though in most cases this single innovation screws over an entire contingent of musicians--blind ones, to be precise. I am one such. If a keyboard can only really be tweaked using either a touchscreen or a non-screenreader-friendly app on my phone, that pretty much locks its features behind an access barrier, and makes the piano unpalatable to purchase. Please, be more considerate when making top 10s like this.
The NV-5 seems like it’s being positioned as the digital to replace acoustics, so I appreciate your first tip. It’s easy to get sucked into videos gushing about the NV-5, but I feel like I’ve really got to get my hands on one in order to form my own opinion.
a hybrid at least provides an authentic action - which is an improvement. The sound is also "very good" but it is never the same as an acoustic. You could get a new Yamaha U1 or U3 for a few $1,000 less which plays and sounds EXACTLY like an acoustic piano (not a replacement) - because it IS an acoustic piano. One of the features I like about my U1 (now about 60 years old) is that it hasn't been disabled by an electrical storm, and it works even when the power is off. Let me know where your NV-5 is in 60 years - :-)
@@aBachwardsfellow actually a "new" Yamaha U1 or U3 is around $10-13k. I agree they are not exactly like a real piano. THats why I play a real U1 piano with the silent feature. My favorite is the Kawai Anytime piano for an acoustic that has digital functionality.
@@pianomanic71 thanks Kevin - you are correct on those prices - I was was thinking in terms of a used/reconditioned U1. . I'd like to know more about your U1 with the silent feature - does Yamaha still make these? Or is it the same as (or similar to) the Yamaha SC2? Does the action give pretty much the same response when played digitally as when played acoustically?
@@aBachwardsfellow Yes they do still make those. I would prefer the Kawai K300 Anytime piano to to any of those Yamaha models though. I have a U1 Silent at my house from 1994. It is a good piano but not exceptional like the Kawai. Skinny on features as well.
@@pianomanic71 thanks Kevin - very helpful to know. I'm at the point where I'm considering a move to one of the hybrid uprights and will definitely check them out. Briefly, how would you compare your U1 hybrid to the SC2, and the SC2 to the Kawai K300 - if you don't mind - thanks!
My sister bought a digi-piano over 15 years ago for roughly $500. She and her children still make use of it to this day (and really all that she needs). If it still works and it's all you have limited yourself to, then it works! Fortunately, digital pianos are simpler than, say, an old PC-tower and are in less danger of seeming obsolete. PC-towers have so many components (software and hardware) that can degrade the performance over time.
You say a digital doesn't sound like an acoustic, yet I played Joe Hisaishi playing on a concert grand on my computer and then paused it and played the same bit on my Roland RD300 SX which was only £650 when I bought it new about 15 years ago and it sounded identical, so I don't understand after 15 years of advancements that digital can't sound like an acoustic. Yes there is stepped pressure, rather than exact response to touch but it is such a minor effect on the end result. When my Roland was hooked up to my monitors it sounded amazing and with the variety of 9 piano and 10 electric piano sets in the sound bank, that non noticeable stepped pressure compromise became completely irrelevant compared with the advantages of having 9 different piano's to choose from.
The sound and how it reaches your ears when sitting in front of an acoustic piano (not in front of a computer playing a recording) is vastly different from the sound coming form a digital piano.
Although I think this was a great idea for a video because many newbies need a lot of advice when making their first or even second purchase of a keyboard. I was not able to watch the entire video yet but I kind of disagree slightly with #3 and #6. Yes, digital pianos prices can vary, but most first time buyers rarely go "all in" by purchasing anything over $5000. Why I disagree is because I have found that no matter what the instrument is, a person may lose interest because it is an inferior product. Whether it is the sound or the action, they give up playing it because it does not provide the adequate experience. I would always suggest purchasing something of quality. Regarding #6 I also have a problem with your recommendation. I do agree that not everyone that chooses to learn the piano is looking to be a producer, composer, or arranger, but having a synth over a just a digital piano may just open up the creativity the person did not know they had inside of them. I would always recommend anyone wanting to learn piano to choose a synth/workstation because it opens up a whole new world to them. They can be overwhelming, but they can also choose not to use any of the miscellaneous options available to them and just use the piano patches.
The KAWAI ES110 has a breathtakingly warm dynamic PIANO. You might be on the fence now that the new ROLAND FP30X (the successor to the FP30) has come along. The FP30X has a great key action, triple sensors, increased volume, incredible Rhodes piano, and a huge library of voices/rhythms. However, if you want a warm personal _PIANO_ that expresses nuance with wonderful overtones? Go with the Kawai ES110. It's Wurlitzer Elect. Piano is supurb. As are the Kawai Strings. Kawai perfected strings 40 years ago. Not to mention Kawai acoustic pianos are excellent. Roland never made them. Of course some will argue the Roland Piano samples are spot one. I agree, they're just more of a pop sound than classical.
Having retired from being an authorized service tech for most of the major digital keyboard manufactures for 38 years, I would add that people research the service side of the brand they are considering buying. Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Kawai and Casio have service centers all over the country. But there may not be a technician in your area for the brand you want to buy. Try to find a local tech and find out what brands he can service. Otherwise when they break down, and they will, you may find there is no one for hundreds of miles around you that can repair it. These are not like acoustic pianos where most piano techs can fix most acoustic pianos. The other service issue is that many of the cheap brands like Williams Piano did not have parts available, or they have limited parts. Also run away from any digital piano made in China. They use junk wood, junk circuit boards, and sound horrible,
There is really no comparison of acoustic to digital: digitals are toys, imitations. But for the serious pianist whose musical life is Bach Beethoven Brahms etc etc and who is limited to working at the instrument in the middle of the night in an apartment, what's a body to do? Why aren't there options that concentrate on ONLY the piano aspect. I have had to pay for zing, wham, bang, boop sounds like a circus kaliope and all I want is a piano. Thank you in this video for the honest truth that a digital will (at this point) always fall short of a REAL PIANO. The secret for me is to find the best fake I can get. Still looking.
You apparently never heard of a silent piano? You might want to look into it. Real acoustic piano but with 1 difference: The option to make it "silent" by hooking up a headphone. That was the good news, the bad news: they're very expensive. A good one will set you back at least $5.000
But to add to that, a quality digital piano certainly isn't a toy. The top of the line models are seriously Good sounding piano's of which only the experts would hear the difference. Take a yamaha clp 785 or a 775 for instance. Those are really nice and most of the time better than a real piano because they sound just like the real deal, they're always in tune, have weighted wooden keys, and instead of 1 piano sound you have several extremely accurate different kind of piano sounds. From the most expensive grand piano's, classic piano's, pop music sounding piano's to even Mozart and Bach sounding piano's. And yeah sure those circus sounds are unnecessary, I agree, but you don't have to use them. And the bad news: a top digital piano will set you back around 3 to 4 to 5.000 as well.... Then again, good piano's always cost money. That's the nature of a piano.
I was thinking about starting my journey into playing the piano and wanted an opinion regarding the Alesis Recital - 88 Key Digital Electric Piano. I am over 40 and only will be using it at home so just require something to learn on. Is this a good starting tool?
It's not a popular brand so I say probably not. But since the manufacturer is still making them and customers are purchasing them and it's within your budget then go for it. I went for Yamaha P125 the mid range
Thanks guys. I used to live in S.A. and have actually been in the store. I have not played for many years and want to get into it again. I am in the Philippines so I must look for something here. The pastor wants a Yamaha. Expensive but Iknow they are good.
I have a digital piano and I HATE it. I have an M-Audio Hammer 88 pro MIDI keyboard (grand-weighted) that I play digital instruments through, and it's amazing. You really can't get closer to the sound of a real piano than using a VI with a GOOD QUALITY MIDI keyboard. There are many good MIDI keyboards, but the Hammer 88 is close to the price of a mid-lower end of digital pianos. You do need to have a computer or MIDI synth rig to play it, but who doesn't have a laptop these days? The digital instrument is also a cost, but they're not bad. UVI Ravenscroft 275 is a realistically sampled $275k piano that costs about $100 to $150. There are many good VIs that cost less, as well. The benefit is that you get to own as many VIs as you want, changing and expanding the sound of your keyboard every time you add a new VI.
i have a YAMAHA P-125, as far as sound quality goes, is it worth upgrading to something a lot more expensive, or should i invest in better speakers to pair it with?
Fascinating and informative video. I’m a retired engineer and am about to acquire a digital piano with which to start the hobby. I’ve narrowed my search down and have settled on a very nice, second hand Yamaha CLP-645. The price suits me, so does it’s size. I want something that will last me several years as my skill(hopefully) develops. Do you feel it could be a suitable purchase.
One thing I wanted to put also is that wen people are listening to acoustic pianos and then they go and play a digital,, a lot of times you will hear people say. I want a real piano or I want something that sounds like a real piano. Well, what is a real piano. A digital piano is not a fake piano. It is a real piano. It just so happens that one does things out of the norm that the other doesn’t. That is like saying I want a real car well, an electric car is a real car as well it just so happens that you don’t have gas power. So some of the time people say “I want the real thing!!” Well, a digital piano and an acoustic piano are both real pianos it just so happens that one is totally different than the other and it has capabilities that the acoustic does not have.
Even for a "beginner"...if they're serious about learning, they'll quickly become bored with anything that isn't 88-key AND has touch sensitive keys that are weighted. There are various levels of 'weighted'...so try to find the digital piano that has the most realistically (as in, heavily) weighted keys available. Now, nothing is perfect, but there's a difference between jumping from a non-weighted keyboard to a weighted keyboard or piano. It's a little bit of a change even from the heaviest weighted key stage pianos to an acoustic piano, much less making the jump from non-weighted keys at all to a fully weighted stage piano or acoustic piano. If you're buying for a kid, you may as well go ahead and spring for it so that they'll continue playing or it's a waste of money. Even a child wants something realistic and fun. If they don't understand all of the features, that's okay. There are children learning full-sized ACOUSTIC pianos that have full weight so their hands quickly adapt to the weight. Even the $200-$300 digital pianos are just electronic pieces of junk with some odd sounds and a virtually useless keyboard that is and always will be drab because there's no weighting on the keys. That's probably the worst mistake that I can think of. Acoustic pianos are bulky, heavy, need a big spot in the house and need to be regularly tuned by a professional. They're expensive and keep costing a lot of money regularly for life. This is why even a lot of professional musicians use digital stage pianos. The $1,000 to $2,500 ones are quite amazing and have endless options. Some of the brands are amazingly close to an acoustic, such as certain Roland models and Yamaha. Something not mentioned in this video for the advanced player is Polyphony; how many notes it can play at once. If you're a really fast and accurate player, that can matter in many cases, especially using multiple voices on top of one another.
THANK YOU!!!! These are many of my questions/problems as I look for the right keyboard for me. I'm a singer and want to write on the piano - but I also want to bring to gigs and I want hammer weighted keys - the price point for what I'm really looking for is very high - so I'll have to make a compromise of some kind - but what? Your video has really helped me with this. Warm regards Jennie
Great video guys. I’m in Edinburgh, Scotland but found this very useful as I think about learning piano. I thought number 10 on your list about the right number of keys was very relevant to me.
I purchased a Yamaha digital keyboard and the very top octave went so out of tune after about a year. There is nobody in Reno to take it to to get it fixed. I'm pretty pissed about it.
Don’t get a little child spring action, please get spring action if someone wants to work with electronics and synths but 5/6 just if money is an issue get a basic normal action simple keyboard Casio has these very cheap.
The biggest mistake is not buying any piano 😉 I recommend the Kawai CA59! It has wooden keys which is very nice, has a good sound and is not too expensive
A midi controller requires a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like GarageBand, Logic Pro X, or Ableton to produce sound, hence the name controller. Basically, you would have to connect it to a laptop or computer I order to actually produce sound. A digital piano will produce sound on its own. MIDI is a great place to start for a beginner not looking to spend too much on a decent set of keys, but you’ll have to have access to a DAW.
Thank you for taking the time to explain that to me. I couldn't figure out a way to query that question on Google in a way that actually brought up answers to that question, and not answers to slightly different questions instead. I really appreciate it!
i wouldn't want a digital piano where the controls are through an app on a tablet because the app will probably eventually stop working as IOS or Android constantly gets updated. i'd want something self contained that doesn't depend on other device manufactures to remain useful.
The Arius ydp 103 is best bang for buck option. I have mine connectected to a 2100w RMS sound system and ocationally I use it as midi for fl studio. I luuuve that versatile sturdy bastaerd.
The problem is that if I want better key action and more realistic samples, I have to spend hundreds more because the makers of these keyboards jack up the prices by adding techie features that I don't need.
2008, hey I want a digital piano. Hey this Roland RD-700GX Stage piano is built well, click...on the way. Way too much for a beginner. Still works well and sounds great but no way would I try to take it on a gig unless I'm really good, which I have my doubts. Forgot to mention that was when I was working overseas. Postal service about had a cow. Possibility of returning overseas, looking at the Roland FP-30X as the new one is so much lighter and has all the functions I'll need. Looking at Yamaha and Kawai but the new 30X works for me. Guess we'll see what happens. Good video, thanks!
I disagree that a digital piano can't replace an acoustic piano. Sure it can ... and then some! I have a Yamaha NU1 digital upright. It sounds great! With headphones it sounds even better and I can play it any time day or night. The real key (no pun intended) is that it FEELS like an acoustic Yamaha, because it has a complete Yamaha keyboard action complete with hammers. So the first question is "does it have weighted keys or, preferably, a real piano action?" That's because a piano is all about being able to control loud and soft with your fingers. I am not talking about a digital 'keyboard' whose main purpose is to play different instrumental sounds - sax, organ etc. That's a whole nuther thing ...
I just started the keyboard after 25 years of guitar, and I don’t enjoy the sound of a great player on a digital any less than an acoustic. I actually enjoy the digital more due to the variety of sounds.
Hey, im very new to playing piano. I'm a 15 year old boy who wants to learn how to play. I dont know anything about piano's but want to learn. I want to plake like lights are on- Tom rosenthal, like sad songs, and a price under $300 would be very great. Reccomend something?
After playing a weighted action most all my 30 yrs….the real paints are really hard on my hands. I’m 55….i spend less than $1000 on them. Never had one tuned…..😂
for considerably less cost (about half as much) you can get a Yamaha U1/U3 which actually IS an acoustic instrument which will SOUND BETTER (i.e. non-digital) and PLAY BETTER (i.e. a REAL action) than ANY digital instrument - including the N3's. Unless you have a particular reason for a high-end digital instrument (tuning, quiet practice, performance), there's a point at which the money is better spent on a good acoustic instrument. Digital instruments are great for a good many purposes - learning, practice, portability, maintenance, features/versatility etc. But in case you missed the opening statements in the youtube, digital instruments are NOT very good as a replacement for an acoustic instrument. I play both, for different purposes; each is useful in it's own way. I've played the N3X - and other high-end digital instruments. And though they "sound good" - they still sound *digital* I will never get from a digital instrument the nuances I get from my Yamaha U1.
@@aBachwardsfellow hi thanks for the reply. I didn’t miss the opening response, hence my “CLOSEST you’ll get”. In my opinion of ear, a cheap acoustic is not the way. You’ll be spending at LEAST 40k if you want a “quality” grand. All depends of the user.
@@nolongerinuse488 hi - yes, I totally agree - it all comes down to what the user wants/needs - :-) . I also agree regarding a quality grand vs. a "cheap acoustic" - whatever is meant by that. However I wasn't intending to compare a "cheap" acoustic instrument to a quality grand. Rather, I meant to compare a "quality" (well-tuned, well regulated and voiced) acoustic instrument to *any* digital instrument. For my ears and hands, this user would far rather spend hours practicing on a so-called "cheap" - but nevertheless *very* *good* *quality* - Yamaha U1/U3 ($4K - $8k) than any N3X - :-) Nevertheless I've found digital instruments such as the P125 to be a useful, usable and acceptable practice instrument as well, with no particular inclination to have to think of its successes or shortcomings as an acoustic instrument. I'm sure that other/better quality digital instruments would also do as well, and wouldn't fault anyone for preferring a higher-quality action, build, and sound. And while I think (and have even recommended to some of my students) that a reasonably-good weighted-action digital instrument - Kawai, Roland, Yamaha, etc. - is by far preferable to an acoustic instrument that is in poor condition, the bottom line, I think, is that for the long-term, most pianistic point of view, a quality acoustic instrument (not necessarily a grand) is preferable to a digital instrument.
@@aBachwardsfellow I think we all prefer a quality acoustic (more so, a grand, not upright) instrument over digital. At least, I do, but for many reasons, that isn’t in the cards for me right now. Maybe one day. I’ve played grands of all prices and builds, from 5k to 175k. And I found particularly that you’re looking to spend 40k for a certain sound (the sound that I’m looking for). But I digress in the back and forth cause this really is all opinion based and what the user wants, per my last response.
@UCMLAlbDtZoRI0VpZL2a9-3Q for sure! I just find the discussion a bit frustrating in many of the digital piano reviews when comparisons to acoustic instruments are made - especially when the gamut extends to include discussion of near-$200K grand pianos.. Acoustic instruments are in a class of their own, and within that class considerably divided among manufacturer, model, and even instruments within the same manufacturer and model. For example, try comparing your ears with a concert pianist's ears in these: th-cam.com/video/yW6O8shL_R8/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TiffanyPoon th-cam.com/video/HMAsYqCiKzE/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TiffanyPoon I hope that your cards turn favorable for you soon! Meanwhile make the best and most music you can with whatever you find at hand - :-)
Hi thanks for video. We are buying one for our 9 year old. She has been learning violin and learn piano. We are liking the yamaha. What would you recommend between p125 and Yamaha Arius YDP-163. Price is a double but we are wondering if 163is going to be too much.
just bought my daughter a Yamaha CLP 795 digital grand cost $8000 and I heard it can simulate the bosendorfer grand piano really well which cost 10 times of the money. I expect her to use this piano for next 10 years before change her to a acoustic baby grand. I heard this digital grand piano comes with a grand touch action, and Can change the weight of the key. I want to build up her fingers strength really strong. Please tell me I didn’t make a mistake.
Regarding the workstation mistake: most workstation functionality exists on computers these days. This has been a major advance over the past 30 years. I.e. only a small percentage of live performers might ever require that functionality built into their piano - 99% of pianists are better off using a computer instead. Basically: If you ‘think’ you need a workstation piano - then you definitely don’t need a workstation piano!
What about modeling technology introduced by Roland and developed by Yamaha with their Grand Expression Modeling and Virtual Resonance Modeling on their Clavinova CLP-700 series ? That sounds quite close to an acoustic piano.
Imagine you want to practice and need the metronome but your phone's battery is almost out, so you go pick up the cable to recharge it but you've run out of outlets because you've already got the piano and the music stand light plugged in.
How about wanting to have an acoustic piano, but, the players don't have enough space for an acoustic piano? Will digital pianos still be a good idea for practices?
Same problem here! I played acoustic piano for 10 years but where I live now I don’t have the space for an acoustic piano! And having to be quiet, so playing with headphones would be helpful too, I’m just scared that I won’t get on with a digital piano 🥺
Need help to choose here!! I'm a violin solist and composer. I wanted a piano with weighted keys to help composing and recording. I already have since I was little a spring-loaded key digital piano, but as they said, it isn't for older people. I also have experience and had practiced with real pianos. I was looking for a Casio CDP s100, and at my country it is between $400 to $450, and I can afford it. I really just wanna have it for home playing, neither for professional reasons nor for gigs, and I even can afford a speaker. What do you guys think? Is it good for me or do you have any other opinions? (Edit: just asked here for second opinions, even if all of it sounds perfect for me or not) Happy (late) New Year!
What style do you play? If contemporary you've got it made, but the Kawai ES110 has a warmer, full flavor classical sound. Too bad Roland couldn't install Kawai ES110, ES920 and Yamaha 515 pianos.
@@paulj0557tonehead I personally do contemporary but also like Yamaha's Warm and rich. I have a Yamaha for my practice.But planning to buy Roland's Digital piano from FP series.
@@Khalid-hh6sw If you love a really warm and rich sound of piano, go for Yamaha. But I would suggest RP102 as the best home or even a awsome stage piano. RP102 has Bluetooth and in my opinion the yamaha is bit of overkill.
@@aadhil__kassim thank you so much, i already ordered the rp102 but i saw some people put comparisons and all that stuff so i was wondering if i’m gonna cancel or not
Greetings! I’ve had a Yamaha P45 for 2 1/2 years. Need to upgrade to an all portable digital piano, that I can bring with me to another country when wining back from USA. Which one do you recommend?
Threw me there for a second when you said you had a 'spring action' behind you, and for a second I thought you were referring to the Kawai !!! Yeah, no way it could be that, and I realized you were referring to the one on the left, but for a second there I was about to become one of those people who leaves nasty remarks under your video! 🙂
I’m looking for a minimal 61 key board to gig with where weight is consideration. I want something with pitch bender, mainly to control my Ketron sd90 arranger module. I would be controlling mostly with a 13 pedal foot controller. Question one, is it much better to use stricktley a midi controller, or can I use a simpler keyboard with 5 pin and built in sounds Incase I don’t want to use arranger. I currently control my sd with keytars, but lately with back problems I want a keyboard to sit down and play. Something not clacks. What would you recommend? Something with a bit of weighted action.
we have an upright piano with baby grand size action that used to sound pretty good, but has been very neglected, is out of tune, needs felt replacement and lives in a dusty basement. I felt it would be better to buy a digital piano because I felt the price to bring the piano up to a playable state would be as much or more than a decent digital. I got a Casio px870 and hoping when it arrives it will be a suitable replacement. [I tried the very similar ap270 and really liked it] So I know it will be an adjustment especially because I was used to an out of tune piano. I hope I made the right choice!! What do you all think?
5 years ago, my mother, who'd owned an acoustic piano all her life, had a minor stroke. She was devastated when she found that she could no longer play her piano. So she sold it, as it was too painful to see it and be reminded that she couldn't play it. 5 years later, her memory and finger coordination has returned quite a bit. I have just purchased a Yamaha P-125a, with the matching base unit and 3 pedal set. She is absolutely delighted with it, to the point that she cried tears of joy when it was delivered. I built it up and turned it on. She sat in front of it, wondering how she would cope, with one of her favourite pieces of music sheets on the music stand. She looked at the music, placed her hands on the keys and played it beautifully! She's 85 years old, but she's still got it!
❤ glad I came across this. So heartwarming
❤
Peace and good health to you and your mom
I am so glad I ran across this. Best unbiased, sincere commentary I've seen while I'm researching acquiring an electric piano as a secondary to my acoustic piano.
Can't believe that George Carlin and Will Wheaton are this good at Piano help
The most important item to consider is the keyboard action as this will really impact your ability feel the keys…I started at the age of 8 on an out of tune 100 year old upright..now 50+ Years later I use a roland with all the sound benefits but .primarily think about the Action..whether you are spending 100 or 500…try them in your shop before you buy..take into account the whole reasons why..and the potential future use…
Ha !!! I have a 1922 piano, only 99 years old ! I've had for over 40 years. Mines a semi tone flat, due to its age. I'm nearly as old as my piano at 71. I'm looking for a electric piano so I can practice with headphones on. But what do I buy, that's as near to an acoustic. I don't want Bells n Whistles, I want Action weight and mellow tones. Help !!!
Roj UK
I bought a Kawai ES 110 👍
Can't agree more with key action! I started with a Yamaha YPG-235 keyboard with no key action, sold it and bought a Casio digital piano bundle from Costco with lots of features which were distracting for a learner, sold it and got a really old acoustic 90 year old piano which is nice but very loud and can't play with people inside the house. Finally, got a nice Yamaha P45 bundle at Costco. It is simple, inexpensive and still has very nice keys with headphone jack. The only piece that needs upgrade is the pedal. If I had the budget, I would have gone with Kawai ES 110.
@Roj D, you made the right choice!
@@RiojaRoj i am similar age….if you have the money I would get a roland rd2000 it has 2 sensors on each key..using the same action as the high end roland pianos but a lot cheaper…also has Roland’s new sound modelling engine…which can mimic any piano…or you can design your own…have a look..I’ve been looking at various. And that was my conclusion…..I just need to persuade my wife .
Correction..3 sensors on each key
I do electric guitar and the experience I gained is similar to this. You can very easily become a guitar collector and have to face the fact that more or better guitars will not make you a better performer. Or expensive skis or golf clubs. You can pay serious money, but it will not necessarily make you better. Top of the list should be sound, action (weighed keys) and portability. But I think the first fundamental choice would be piano or keyboard. Lots of keyboards can do very respectable piano sounds ..... but not the other way around.
Thinking about it a bit more. Buy the best you can afford to get. Short of selling a kidney or soul to the devil. Save for however long it takes to get it. The logic behind it is that if you buy something cheap, you will not feel bad about putting it down and let it gather dust in a corner or attic. There are 1000s upon 1000s of violins, flutes and Spanish guitars out there because parents buy them for their kids, but they just don't appreciate them. It is actually a recognized principle in Economics if you care to look it up. The other reason is that if you still suck after hours of practice ....... you can't blame the keyboard/piano ..... you still need even more practice.
that was exactly my logic when I started playing guitar. Instead of getting a 20 Dollar one that sounded like shit and would be put aside and forgotten immediately I got one for 500 bucks and have been loving and playing it for now 8 years. Will try the same now that I want to get into playing piano..
Great video! Small tip, if you start the chapters with 00:00, the chapters will also appear in the timeline of the video itself.
I can't afford an acoustic piano so a digital piano is a lifesaver.
Uprights can be a few hundred bucks
You can get them for free
@@Linus0610 how
@@dhruvmehta3530 Check different marketplaces and look for old pianos or sometimes not so old ones that people dont want anymore. You can get them for free except you have to go get it which can cost $50 if you want professional people moving it for you. (Which basically is essentional)
@@ublade82 And horrid pieces of junk.
Ted looks like George Carlin! 🤣
Spot on!!
I was actually going to comment that.
Exactly.
100%
Yep. Dead ringer
Ironically, even the acoustic piano is not a panacea: They vary in touch, sound, and maintenance. A great e-piano can be more satisfying than a rinky-dink acoustic. And when your piano ennui sets in -- you can liven your mind with an electric, tweaking with various sounds and effects. Having the option to branch out into various forms of pop music will shunt forth faster the desire for progress.
Couldn't emphasize number 9 enough!!! Keep in mind when shopping for your first digital piano, to look out for piano's compatibility with accessories you might already be interested in! In the end, this might make a cheaper keyboard, far pricier than one you might have previously preferred.
Exactly. In my country an ES120 with wooden stand and pedals will cost 1000€ but for 100€ more I could get a beautiful rosewood KDP120
I am a guitarist, I have a lot of guitars. Every time I went to a local music store, which was often, I would end up in the keyboard room. I played all of them. Sure the $4000 keys a sounded great, but I’m not that good of a player yet and a lot of the features I would have to learn about and don’t understand -yet. So I wanted something with weighted keys that sounded like a piano. I opted for the Yahama DGX 650. Not perfect, but for someone learning it’s very good. I got the attached pedals for a little extra great add on. I like the suitcase setting which is like a Fender Rhodes and surprisingly emulates pretty close. I also like the EClav to play Stevie Wonder stuff. Very happy with my choice and when I’m ready to move up it’s probably going to be a Korg.
For $4000 you could buy a used acoustic upright in great condition.
Thank you for these great tips :)
1- DPs are not acoustic pianos.
2- Key Feelings.
3-Overcomplicated apps and buttons and etc.
4- spend too much
5- Spend too litle
6- mistaken buying other things but a piano (workstations, Synths, etc)
7- Stage Pianos without Speakers
8- lack of portability
9- Ergonomics - Wrong accessories, wrong stands.
10-wrong number of keys (!) Go always for 88 standard or more if possible.
my thought on spending too much, I would argue that if its graded weighted action and good action there is a damn good chance it wont out date itself because you can always plug it into midi and upgrade the sounds.
Nobody does that.
lovely little video, I've been playing on a semi-weighted for a couple months and really progressing, I gave myself a budget around £600 pound and after all the deliberating I actually just decided to get the FP10, for £360. People complain about the keys having a lot of weight which I cant imagine being to much a problem as I have strong arms and your first statement really resonated when thinking about my semi-weighted, I really don't feel as if I'm gaining as much muscle as I would with a heavier keyboard
Something worth mentioning to newbies is that an upright or baby grand is not a replacement for a concert grand. Both in touch and sound. Ppl may think that practicing on an upright is a better option than some of the more premium digital pianos but imo it certainly is not. The touch for instance is obviously differrent on an upright and imo would make for a harder transition to performing on a concert grand than a premium digital like the kawaii ca99
Some people will tell you learning on an upright is actually better BECAUSE the action is heavier, because it will build up your muscles! But I am not one of those people, because I enthusiastically pounded a computer keyboard all my working life and in the end it got me some really nasty tendonitis. So now I'm nervous of anything too heavy...
Actually no a reasonable acoustic upright is better than any dp
I own a couple of digital pianos a 1986 roland rd 200 and a weighted 1987 rd 250 I bought them because I felt they sounded good. Being so old if you let go of a key the note does not keep ringing with resonance. I actually went for a unweighted keyboard over time you have the choice on say a nord to go weighted or unweighted
You should suggest a piano with a silent system in this case then as that will provide both real piano experience and the option for silent practice. So I don’t think it’s a mistake to ask for something near to an acoustic to a specialist and having the guidance of options available and what is near to an acoustic .
Most helpful point for me was #3- reminder that digital technology is always advancing so whatever I buy today will be outdated in a few yrs. I honestly hadn't thought of that! So, how long can I realistically expect a piano just under $1000 to last? (leaning towards Roland RP-102 or FP 30X with frame) An iPhone at that price would be outdated in a matter of years, I was really hoping for longer use from my new piano!
considering the fact that iphones are a product that bring in tons of more money and have more demand then digital pianos, you should be good with any digital piano that’s around that price range for a while. Yes your piano will soon be outdated but i wouldn’t think it would be any time close if i’m being honest
welp its 2 years late but heres my answer: I have a yamaha p45 and been playing for it for 5ish years and its still working! It is very durable. It is certainly a very good beginner piano if you start out. But later down the line, you might want a piano with better actions + sound quality which lacks in my opinion
You answered my biggest question, I love my acoustic piano so don't plan to switch. I also have a keyboard which I take when on the road. It doesn't sound or feel like a piano but at least I can play, and keyboards are cheap, especially second hand.
Thanks to this video I went and looked for a weighted keyboard and bought a yamaha kx8 for $100, guy even included a sustain pedal lol... got it set up with yousician on NY computer. A steal for my needs. I'm liking it way more than the springy keys!
As a working pianist I do play both. Great great points here. To add to your points. A car will never bee a plane and a plane will never bee a car. I always relate this because when you drive a car, it is going to have a totally different feel than a plane. Well, a digital piano will never sound exactly like the acoustic piano. It doesn’t matter how advanced they get in technology. They will always sound different. The other thing to remember to is that when you play an acoustic piano, you are getting the actual feel of the action and you can feel what is going on under your feet and hands. As you play it you can hear also harmonics that you are hearing from the resonating sound board behind the strings in the piano. All this is the original sound capabilities that the piano has. The sound is not sampled or modeled. I.k. The digital piano has a completely different way of playing. The action is totally different yes we have weighted keys or musical terms G.H.S. Graded standard hammer action. So when you get on a digital yes. It feels like an acoustic but it is not. Once you start playing it the gel of the action is completely different. You have to adapt your skills when you play a digital. If you can play both it is very nice because you have more in your musicial language. You don’t just have one way of playing or style. Well, don’t get me wrong. Their is many many styles on acoustics that you can do of course. But when you play an acoustic and a digital you have to put on your thinking cap a bit. You are creating more and producing music where as on an acoustic piano you are more like the performer. When you play both it is really neat to bee able to say “this piano can help me and assist with music and I can do things that I can’t do on an acoustic.!!! I say that when I come back from work all the trim. I can play or perform some piece of music on the job but when I get home and play it on the digital I can arrange it and do things that I would never bee able to do on the acoustics. When you play a digital piano you are constantly having to change things and lower and raise the volume and expressing with the instruments. With the acoustic piano you are having to stay focused on your piano but you are not having to worry about everything else. Their is less you have to control on the acoustic piano. Yes. You need to bee expressive of course but it is in a different way.
I got the kdp110, best value for the money. 40w speakers (20x2). You get triple touch sensor for more sensitivity. Had 88 samples for each key. Wireless bluetooth app connectivity. 1199$
Thanks for the idea. Have you had any issues with reliability? clicking keys, etc.
@@marlajackson1905 That jerkface didn't answer you!!!!!
Some touch-screen 'app' based applications are far from easy to use and often serve to complicate and confuse.
An LCD digital display/dedicated display is handy for instant viewing of parameters, but give me buttons every time to change those parameters.
The thing that has always baffled me in regard to Digital Pianos; especially having onboard speaker's is that; for me and several of my fellow musician friends as well, was when you try to reproduce the onboard sound; which always sounds great and definitely gets them out the door.
I've tried a combination of things, i.e., tried to eq each channel differently, move the pan; different effects on one channel(stereo) as opposed to the other.
Using a Mackie mixer I should definitely replicate what goes out to the mains ???
My apologies for the dramatic/biblical commentary.
Thank you guys! I found your video very helpful. Unfortunately though, I just discovered your video AFTER I had purchased my first digital piano. I’m not sure yet if I have made the right decision with the one I purchased as I’ve only had it for one day, lol. It has 88 weighted keys & built-in stand. The first thing I noticed (& questioned to myself) was that it looked a bit low. I’m now wondering what the standard height of a piano keyboard should be (from the floor?)
I also noticed straight off (as you guys mentioned,) it sadly doesn’t have the sound of an acoustic!
Oh well, it wasn’t too expensive so hopefully it’ll be adequate enough whilst I’m learning to play. Thank you both for your valued information & advice.
Keyboard manufacturers include internal speakers because they have to. Those are nice for haptic feedback through your fingers, but you should connect the instrument to some good external speakers.
I don't know which ones are both good and cost effective.
Eric Persing uses some high end Genelec active monitors in his Keyscape videos. They can cost more than $4k for a pair.
wat?
Thanks so much for sharing. Recommending instruments to musicians or beginners is an expertise that's always been overlooked. Especially if you live in small towns or small cities, it is extremely easy to get the wrong instrument in your first purchase. I remembered when TH-cam and internet was not a thing, I spent so much time figuring out what are synthesizers, workstations, stage pianos, electronic keyboards, etc. If I had the right recommendation and info by then, I would have better quality instruments with less money spent.
I just hate having to go to stores and try instruments because of anxiety, so really like watching these videos to cut that amount of time down as much as possible. Very helpful
I'm sorry, but even small towns can order keyboards on Amazon.
I just got a Kawai ES110 after learning on a Casio Privia for a while. The Kawai blows the Casio away. If I upgrade in a few years it'll be a top of the range Kawai.
May I ask which Casio Privia you had? I am standing between getting a Kawai ES110 or a Casio Privia px s1000, and people are really mixed about which is best.
@@BjSoEl Hi. It’s a px330 which is quite old now. If you can try both pianos before you buy that would be the best thing.
I have a Px-870 and can say its a huge improvement over the px330 - digital pianos have come a long way!
Update. I just picked up an ES8 for €600. Result!
@@Scotlanz where did you find an ES8 ?
Honestly digital pianos have really improved they aren't what they were 10 15 or even 20 years ago. I would never buy a acoustic piano for so many reasons one of them being not just anyone can tune a acoustic piano they aren't like tuning a guitar you have to have a guy come and tune it and those kind of people are getting harder to find. I actually started on a half decent digital piano by Alesis they are semi weighted keys and 88 keys and the price point is great as well at $299
I actually prefer using my own piano if I go to my music lesson and Alesis digital pianos are surprisingly lightweight to carry around. They are a great starting choice but they don't really offer much room to grow out of the beginners stages
Thank you guys. I’m a total beginner and you answered SO many questions for me. I live in Las Vegas. I wish I was local, so I could come into your store.
Never seen Carlin this serious before, and it's a pleasure to see that he is also passionate with music.
LOL...
I've played piano and organ since 1967 and am looking for a digital piano. I have an old analog synthesizer and a 61 key Nord Electric 2 organ with piano sounds. I sold my electric piano 10 years ago and I'm regretting it now. It had always been noisy but at least it was durable. I wanted a MIDI piano I could combine with my Nord Electro 2 organ. I have a USD 2000 limit and haven't found a single DP that seems durable. Seek the internet and all actions seem to get noisy within a few months and break within a few years. I'm inclined to get a 61 key workstation for USD 600. I would prefer 88 keys and I can get a 88 key version for USD 1000; but it has "proper" hammer action and I'm afraid it will get noisy and break. I'm getting the "wrong" action, no speakers, a workstation and the "wrong" number of keys; but I think it's the best choice for me.
You are better off buying the best you can ill afford in the first instance. I bought a Casio CDP230 for about £300 brand new.
Here's the story. As a beginner it seemed great. However, after a couple of years and lots of practice. Averaging 2/3 hrs a day I got to the point where I hated the thing. It was a clunky, noisy action and it was holding me back both physical and mentally. I would go and sneak into a piano shop and try out far superior pianos and it was like having a musical illicit afair. With another instrument. I finally decided I had to break the news that I was no longer in love with Cassie; to that point a loyal companion . However, my roving eyes and ears had been seduced by this buxom attractive shapely high class instrument that went by the name of Roland FP90X.
When it arrived at the shop for demonstration I wasted no time undressing this beauty from it's coverings and placing it in the best position.
My heart was beating fast as my hands touched the silky smooth and firm notes and hearing the sound of sultry voicings and tones that one could only imagine in a dream.
There was no stopping me at this point I carried on for what seemed like an eternity. At no time was the experience flat or sharp but perfectly natural. I realized at the climax of the movement; I had finally found the instrument I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. This presented me with a bitter sweet dilemma. Bitter in the the knowledge that I had to break it to my bank manager. Yes there would be the raised eyebrows and the lectures and wagging fingers and feelings of guilt every time I checked my back account and credit score. But I tell you I didn't care. I was past the point of no return. I took her home that afternoon and placed her on the stand where the Casio used to lie and just like in the Mayor of Casterbridge I sold the old one for the price of a bowl of porridge to a friend, glad to be rid.
Now my evenings are spent in ecstacy for hours and the feelings of guilt are subsiding. The moral is buy the best you can ill afford. Follow your fingers eyes and ears.
I'm guessing you read a lot of *e*literature.
Good advice for a serious beginner with means. For some they may never reach the point you got to and for them a $300 entry point is enough to get them in the piano hobby. Glad you found your life partner, but most people start out dating and some can only afford fast food!
I'm in the market now for a good digital piano. I'm leaning toward the Yamaha P515 or Kawai ES 920. Looking for a few good Rhodes and Wurli and Hammond B3 sounds too. I've heard the Yamaha has a heavier action, but I've played upright bass for a few years and don't think that my fingers will fatigue playing it.
I'm little ways away from buying a keyboard, although a friend gave me his old Ensoniq SQ1 Plus keyboard which I've played around a little as a MIDI instrument. One interesting topic in your list was the number of keys. I think it would be interesting for a prospective buyer to know how many keys an instrument would have to have to play certain songs they would like to learn how to play. For instance let's say they've always dreamed of playing "Claire de Lune". Would they run out of keys with a 61 key keyboard, for instance? Having a list of tunes they like and then finding out how many keys on the keyboard they would need to play it might save headaches later.
I have noticed that most digital pianos, even some that are very expensive, do not have a rhythm accompaniment application. Have no idea why as I would suspect that most pianists would want this application with the exception of strictly classical. I myself would never purchase one without it and would need it to be a good rhythm accompaniment application.
Rhythm accompaniment is an arranger keyboard thing so i guess they are excluded out of digital pianos.
Excellent discussion. A must for anyone considering buying a digital piano. Much appreciated.
I know nothing about piano`s purely because playing instruments has never been something that has gone in my head , I guess I don`t have a muscle memory :(. However, my 10yrs has been really interested in learning this instrument. Now he is taking piano lessons and after 4 days of me looking for a piano and trying to understand more about this instrument, I settled for a Casio CDP-S100 which I think is a good enptry for him. Price wise got it with it wood stand, pedal and seat for £390 which I think is ok. Thanks for the advises guys
It's interesting that in your discussion of things being "too complicated", you sing the praises of touchscreens, even though in most cases this single innovation screws over an entire contingent of musicians--blind ones, to be precise. I am one such. If a keyboard can only really be tweaked using either a touchscreen or a non-screenreader-friendly app on my phone, that pretty much locks its features behind an access barrier, and makes the piano unpalatable to purchase. Please, be more considerate when making top 10s like this.
The NV-5 seems like it’s being positioned as the digital to replace acoustics, so I appreciate your first tip. It’s easy to get sucked into videos gushing about the NV-5, but I feel like I’ve really got to get my hands on one in order to form my own opinion.
a hybrid at least provides an authentic action - which is an improvement. The sound is also "very good" but it is never the same as an acoustic.
You could get a new Yamaha U1 or U3 for a few $1,000 less which plays and sounds EXACTLY like an acoustic piano (not a replacement) - because it IS an acoustic piano.
One of the features I like about my U1 (now about 60 years old) is that it hasn't been disabled by an electrical storm, and it works even when the power is off. Let me know where your NV-5 is in 60 years - :-)
@@aBachwardsfellow actually a "new" Yamaha U1 or U3 is around $10-13k. I agree they are not exactly like a real piano. THats why I play a real U1 piano with the silent feature. My favorite is the Kawai Anytime piano for an acoustic that has digital functionality.
@@pianomanic71 thanks Kevin - you are correct on those prices - I was was thinking in terms of a used/reconditioned U1.
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I'd like to know more about your U1 with the silent feature - does Yamaha still make these? Or is it the same as (or similar to) the Yamaha SC2? Does the action give pretty much the same response when played digitally as when played acoustically?
@@aBachwardsfellow Yes they do still make those. I would prefer the Kawai K300 Anytime piano to to any of those Yamaha models though. I have a U1 Silent at my house from 1994. It is a good piano but not exceptional like the Kawai. Skinny on features as well.
@@pianomanic71 thanks Kevin - very helpful to know. I'm at the point where I'm considering a move to one of the hybrid uprights and will definitely check them out. Briefly, how would you compare your U1 hybrid to the SC2, and the SC2 to the Kawai K300 - if you don't mind - thanks!
This is a good video. But I will say the old technology bit, I have my old Casio keyboard from the 80's it's awesome
My sister bought a digi-piano over 15 years ago for roughly $500. She and her children still make use of it to this day (and really all that she needs). If it still works and it's all you have limited yourself to, then it works! Fortunately, digital pianos are simpler than, say, an old PC-tower and are in less danger of seeming obsolete. PC-towers have so many components (software and hardware) that can degrade the performance over time.
You say a digital doesn't sound like an acoustic, yet I played Joe Hisaishi playing on a concert grand on my computer and then paused it and played the same bit on my Roland RD300 SX which was only £650 when I bought it new about 15 years ago and it sounded identical, so I don't understand after 15 years of advancements that digital can't sound like an acoustic. Yes there is stepped pressure, rather than exact response to touch but it is such a minor effect on the end result. When my Roland was hooked up to my monitors it sounded amazing and with the variety of 9 piano and 10 electric piano sets in the sound bank, that non noticeable stepped pressure compromise became completely irrelevant compared with the advantages of having 9 different piano's to choose from.
The sound and how it reaches your ears when sitting in front of an acoustic piano (not in front of a computer playing a recording) is vastly different from the sound coming form a digital piano.
Thanks again for your advice I will definitely try to work out for a better skill like you had advise me.
Although I think this was a great idea for a video because many newbies need a lot of advice when making their first or even second purchase of a keyboard. I was not able to watch the entire video yet but I kind of disagree slightly with #3 and #6. Yes, digital pianos prices can vary, but most first time buyers rarely go "all in" by purchasing anything over $5000. Why I disagree is because I have found that no matter what the instrument is, a person may lose interest because it is an inferior product. Whether it is the sound or the action, they give up playing it because it does not provide the adequate experience. I would always suggest purchasing something of quality. Regarding #6 I also have a problem with your recommendation. I do agree that not everyone that chooses to learn the piano is looking to be a producer, composer, or arranger, but having a synth over a just a digital piano may just open up the creativity the person did not know they had inside of them. I would always recommend anyone wanting to learn piano to choose a synth/workstation because it opens up a whole new world to them. They can be overwhelming, but they can also choose not to use any of the miscellaneous options available to them and just use the piano patches.
The KAWAI ES110 has a breathtakingly warm dynamic PIANO. You might be on the fence now that the new ROLAND FP30X (the successor to the FP30) has come along. The FP30X has a great key action, triple sensors, increased volume, incredible Rhodes piano, and a huge library of voices/rhythms. However, if you want a warm personal _PIANO_ that expresses nuance with wonderful overtones? Go with the Kawai ES110. It's Wurlitzer Elect. Piano is supurb. As are the Kawai Strings. Kawai perfected strings 40 years ago. Not to mention Kawai acoustic pianos are excellent. Roland never made them. Of course some will argue the Roland Piano samples are spot one. I agree, they're just more of a pop sound than classical.
Kawai as Mercedes-Benz and Roland as BMW - what is better...???
im about to get a digital piano, Theres lots of them , but im confused between , KAWAI , YAMAHA , ROLAND , so my budget is around 650-500 $
Having retired from being an authorized service tech for most of the major digital keyboard manufactures for 38 years, I would add that people research the service side of the brand they are considering buying. Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Kawai and Casio have service centers all over the country. But there may not be a technician in your area for the brand you want to buy. Try to find a local tech and find out what brands he can service. Otherwise when they break down, and they will, you may find there is no one for hundreds of miles around you that can repair it. These are not like acoustic pianos where most piano techs can fix most acoustic pianos. The other service issue is that many of the cheap brands like Williams Piano did not have parts available, or they have limited parts. Also run away from any digital piano made in China. They use junk wood, junk circuit boards, and sound horrible,
Very informative thank you
There is really no comparison of acoustic to digital: digitals are toys, imitations. But for the serious pianist whose musical life is Bach Beethoven Brahms etc etc and who is limited to working at the instrument in the middle of the night in an apartment, what's a body to do? Why aren't there options that concentrate on ONLY the piano aspect. I have had to pay for zing, wham, bang, boop sounds like a circus kaliope and all I want is a piano. Thank you in this video for the honest truth that a digital will (at this point) always fall short of a REAL PIANO. The secret for me is to find the best fake I can get. Still looking.
You apparently never heard of a silent piano? You might want to look into it.
Real acoustic piano but with 1 difference: The option to make it "silent" by hooking up a headphone. That was the good news, the bad news: they're very expensive. A good one will set you back at least $5.000
But to add to that, a quality digital piano certainly isn't a toy. The top of the line models are seriously Good sounding piano's of which only the experts would hear the difference. Take a yamaha clp 785 or a 775 for instance. Those are really nice and most of the time better than a real piano because they sound just like the real deal, they're always in tune, have weighted wooden keys, and instead of 1 piano sound you have several extremely accurate different kind of piano sounds. From the most expensive grand piano's, classic piano's, pop music sounding piano's to even Mozart and Bach sounding piano's.
And yeah sure those circus sounds are unnecessary, I agree, but you don't have to use them.
And the bad news: a top digital piano will set you back around 3 to 4 to 5.000 as well....
Then again, good piano's always cost money. That's the nature of a piano.
I was thinking about starting my journey into playing the piano and wanted an opinion regarding the Alesis Recital - 88 Key Digital Electric Piano.
I am over 40 and only will be using it at home so just require something to learn on. Is this a good starting tool?
It's not a popular brand so I say probably not. But since the manufacturer is still making them and customers are purchasing them and it's within your budget then go for it. I went for Yamaha P125 the mid range
Thanks guys. I used to live in S.A. and have actually been in the store. I have not played for many years and want to get into it again. I am in the Philippines so I must look for something here. The pastor wants a Yamaha. Expensive but Iknow they are good.
Hello, can you update me as soon as you buy a digital piano? Id like to buy as well when I start Earning money. From ph as well
@@stephenstrange4009 In FB go to A&B Music shop. Yamaha PSR E463 19,600 P
@@DavidHotrum52114 i'm afraid that is not a digital piano, more like a digital keyboard
I have a digital piano and I HATE it. I have an M-Audio Hammer 88 pro MIDI keyboard (grand-weighted) that I play digital instruments through, and it's amazing. You really can't get closer to the sound of a real piano than using a VI with a GOOD QUALITY MIDI keyboard. There are many good MIDI keyboards, but the Hammer 88 is close to the price of a mid-lower end of digital pianos. You do need to have a computer or MIDI synth rig to play it, but who doesn't have a laptop these days? The digital instrument is also a cost, but they're not bad. UVI Ravenscroft 275 is a realistically sampled $275k piano that costs about $100 to $150. There are many good VIs that cost less, as well. The benefit is that you get to own as many VIs as you want, changing and expanding the sound of your keyboard every time you add a new VI.
Very useful tips. Thanks for sharing.
i have a YAMAHA P-125, as far as sound quality goes, is it worth upgrading to something a lot more expensive, or should i invest in better speakers to pair it with?
IM still..using my clavinova clp 320 from 2004 :/
Fascinating and informative video. I’m a retired engineer and am about to acquire a digital piano with which to start the hobby. I’ve narrowed my search down and have settled on a very nice, second hand Yamaha CLP-645. The price suits me, so does it’s size. I want something that will last me several years as my skill(hopefully) develops. Do you feel it could be a suitable purchase.
Good luck in ur studies!!
One thing I wanted to put also is that wen people are listening to acoustic pianos and then they go and play a digital,, a lot of times you will hear people say. I want a real piano or I want something that sounds like a real piano. Well, what is a real piano. A digital piano is not a fake piano. It is a real piano. It just so happens that one does things out of the norm that the other doesn’t. That is like saying I want a real car well, an electric car is a real car as well it just so happens that you don’t have gas power. So some of the time people say “I want the real thing!!” Well, a digital piano and an acoustic piano are both real pianos it just so happens that one is totally different than the other and it has capabilities that the acoustic does not have.
Even for a "beginner"...if they're serious about learning, they'll quickly become bored with anything that isn't 88-key AND has touch sensitive keys that are weighted. There are various levels of 'weighted'...so try to find the digital piano that has the most realistically (as in, heavily) weighted keys available. Now, nothing is perfect, but there's a difference between jumping from a non-weighted keyboard to a weighted keyboard or piano. It's a little bit of a change even from the heaviest weighted key stage pianos to an acoustic piano, much less making the jump from non-weighted keys at all to a fully weighted stage piano or acoustic piano. If you're buying for a kid, you may as well go ahead and spring for it so that they'll continue playing or it's a waste of money. Even a child wants something realistic and fun. If they don't understand all of the features, that's okay. There are children learning full-sized ACOUSTIC pianos that have full weight so their hands quickly adapt to the weight. Even the $200-$300 digital pianos are just electronic pieces of junk with some odd sounds and a virtually useless keyboard that is and always will be drab because there's no weighting on the keys. That's probably the worst mistake that I can think of. Acoustic pianos are bulky, heavy, need a big spot in the house and need to be regularly tuned by a professional. They're expensive and keep costing a lot of money regularly for life. This is why even a lot of professional musicians use digital stage pianos. The $1,000 to $2,500 ones are quite amazing and have endless options. Some of the brands are amazingly close to an acoustic, such as certain Roland models and Yamaha. Something not mentioned in this video for the advanced player is Polyphony; how many notes it can play at once. If you're a really fast and accurate player, that can matter in many cases, especially using multiple voices on top of one another.
THANK YOU!!!! These are many of my questions/problems as I look for the right keyboard for me. I'm a singer and want to write on the piano - but I also want to bring to gigs and I want hammer weighted keys - the price point for what I'm really looking for is very high - so I'll have to make a compromise of some kind - but what?
Your video has really helped me with this.
Warm regards
Jennie
Great video guys. I’m in Edinburgh, Scotland but found this very useful as I think about learning piano. I thought number 10 on your list about the right number of keys was very relevant to me.
I purchased a Yamaha digital keyboard and the very top octave went so out of tune after about a year. There is nobody in Reno to take it to to get it fixed. I'm pretty pissed about it.
Don’t get a little child spring action, please get spring action if someone wants to work with electronics and synths but 5/6 just if money is an issue get a basic normal action simple keyboard Casio has these very cheap.
Your videos are helpful. Thanks
The biggest mistake is not buying any piano 😉
I recommend the Kawai CA59! It has wooden keys which is very nice, has a good sound and is not too expensive
How a 5 thousand dollar digital piano is not too expensive?
@@majidaskari8306 It cost around 2500
Probably a really dumb question, but what is the difference between a digital piano and a MIDI keyboard controller?
A midi controller requires a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like GarageBand, Logic Pro X, or Ableton to produce sound, hence the name controller. Basically, you would have to connect it to a laptop or computer I order to actually produce sound. A digital piano will produce sound on its own. MIDI is a great place to start for a beginner not looking to spend too much on a decent set of keys, but you’ll have to have access to a DAW.
Thank you for taking the time to explain that to me. I couldn't figure out a way to query that question on Google in a way that actually brought up answers to that question, and not answers to slightly different questions instead. I really appreciate it!
I would have liked to SEE more examples than only explaining. But it helped me anyway. Thanks
i wouldn't want a digital piano where the controls are through an app on a tablet because the app will probably eventually stop working as IOS or Android constantly gets updated. i'd want something self contained that doesn't depend on other device manufactures to remain useful.
I was thinking the exact same thing, or they’ll probably change or update the app one day and take away all the sounds I like
The Arius ydp 103 is best bang for buck option. I have mine connectected to a 2100w RMS sound system and ocationally I use it as midi for fl studio. I luuuve that versatile sturdy bastaerd.
Is that an Omega Speedmaster on the wrist of the guy on the right?
The problem is that if I want better key action and more realistic samples, I have to spend hundreds more because the makers of these keyboards jack up the prices by adding techie features that I don't need.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Great videos, guys.
2008, hey I want a digital piano. Hey this Roland RD-700GX Stage piano is built well, click...on the way. Way too much for a beginner. Still works well and sounds great but no way would I try to take it on a gig unless I'm really good, which I have my doubts. Forgot to mention that was when I was working overseas. Postal service about had a cow. Possibility of returning overseas, looking at the Roland FP-30X as the new one is so much lighter and has all the functions I'll need. Looking at Yamaha and Kawai but the new 30X works for me. Guess we'll see what happens. Good video, thanks!
I disagree that a digital piano can't replace an acoustic piano. Sure it can ... and then some! I have a Yamaha NU1 digital upright. It sounds great! With headphones it sounds even better and I can play it any time day or night. The real key (no pun intended) is that it FEELS like an acoustic Yamaha, because it has a complete Yamaha keyboard action complete with hammers. So the first question is "does it have weighted keys or, preferably, a real piano action?" That's because a piano is all about being able to control loud and soft with your fingers. I am not talking about a digital 'keyboard' whose main purpose is to play different instrumental sounds - sax, organ etc. That's a whole nuther thing ...
I just started the keyboard after 25 years of guitar, and I don’t enjoy the sound of a great player on a digital any less than an acoustic. I actually enjoy the digital more due to the variety of sounds.
Hey, im very new to playing piano. I'm a 15 year old boy who wants to learn how to play. I dont know anything about piano's but want to learn. I want to plake like lights are on- Tom rosenthal, like sad songs, and a price under $300 would be very great. Reccomend something?
No
All good stuff, thank you !
I made the mistake of buying the p515 without trying it first. Keys are way too heavy.
Mistake 11: not buying a Kawai like you should have to begin with.
After playing a weighted action most all my 30 yrs….the real paints are really hard on my hands. I’m 55….i spend less than $1000 on them. Never had one tuned…..😂
Thank you so much for sharing those tips, it was helpful🤍
The closest you’ll get to acoustic but still digital/digital grand, is the Yamaha N3X.
for considerably less cost (about half as much) you can get a Yamaha U1/U3 which actually IS an acoustic instrument which will SOUND BETTER (i.e. non-digital) and PLAY BETTER (i.e. a REAL action) than ANY digital instrument - including the N3's.
Unless you have a particular reason for a high-end digital instrument (tuning, quiet practice, performance), there's a point at which the money is better spent on a good acoustic instrument. Digital instruments are great for a good many purposes - learning, practice, portability, maintenance, features/versatility etc. But in case you missed the opening statements in the youtube, digital instruments are NOT very good as a replacement for an acoustic instrument. I play both, for different purposes; each is useful in it's own way. I've played the N3X - and other high-end digital instruments. And though they "sound good" - they still sound *digital* I will never get from a digital instrument the nuances I get from my Yamaha U1.
@@aBachwardsfellow hi thanks for the reply. I didn’t miss the opening response, hence my “CLOSEST you’ll get”. In my opinion of ear, a cheap acoustic is not the way. You’ll be spending at LEAST 40k if you want a “quality” grand. All depends of the user.
@@nolongerinuse488 hi - yes, I totally agree - it all comes down to what the user wants/needs - :-) . I also agree regarding a quality grand vs. a "cheap acoustic" - whatever is meant by that. However I wasn't intending to compare a "cheap" acoustic instrument to a quality grand. Rather, I meant to compare a "quality" (well-tuned, well regulated and voiced) acoustic instrument to *any* digital instrument. For my ears and hands, this user would far rather spend hours practicing on a so-called "cheap" - but nevertheless *very* *good* *quality* - Yamaha U1/U3 ($4K - $8k) than any N3X - :-)
Nevertheless I've found digital instruments such as the P125 to be a useful, usable and acceptable practice instrument as well, with no particular inclination to have to think of its successes or shortcomings as an acoustic instrument. I'm sure that other/better quality digital instruments would also do as well, and wouldn't fault anyone for preferring a higher-quality action, build, and sound.
And while I think (and have even recommended to some of my students) that a reasonably-good weighted-action digital instrument - Kawai, Roland, Yamaha, etc. - is by far preferable to an acoustic instrument that is in poor condition, the bottom line, I think, is that for the long-term, most pianistic point of view, a quality acoustic instrument (not necessarily a grand) is preferable to a digital instrument.
@@aBachwardsfellow I think we all prefer a quality acoustic (more so, a grand, not upright) instrument over digital. At least, I do, but for many reasons, that isn’t in the cards for me right now. Maybe one day. I’ve played grands of all prices and builds, from 5k to 175k. And I found particularly that you’re looking to spend 40k for a certain sound (the sound that I’m looking for). But I digress in the back and forth cause this really is all opinion based and what the user wants, per my last response.
@UCMLAlbDtZoRI0VpZL2a9-3Q for sure! I just find the discussion a bit frustrating in many of the digital piano reviews when comparisons to acoustic instruments are made - especially when the gamut extends to include discussion of near-$200K grand pianos.. Acoustic instruments are in a class of their own, and within that class considerably divided among manufacturer, model, and even instruments within the same manufacturer and model. For example, try comparing your ears with a concert pianist's ears in these:
th-cam.com/video/yW6O8shL_R8/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TiffanyPoon
th-cam.com/video/HMAsYqCiKzE/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TiffanyPoon
I hope that your cards turn favorable for you soon! Meanwhile make the best and most music you can with whatever you find at hand - :-)
My heart is set on the Yamaha CLP 745. Universe, please send me one and a new index finger.
Hi thanks for video. We are buying one for our 9 year old. She has been learning violin and learn piano. We are liking the yamaha. What would you recommend between p125 and Yamaha Arius YDP-163. Price is a double but we are wondering if 163is going to be too much.
Ho da un anno il Yamaha P515, a mio giudizio, il migliore piano digitale su quella fascia di prezzo.
- yes - for that price range - it is an excellent instrument
@@aBachwardsfellow Agreed
just bought my daughter a Yamaha CLP 795 digital grand cost $8000 and I heard it can simulate the bosendorfer grand piano really well which cost 10 times of the money. I expect her to use this piano for next 10 years before change her to a acoustic baby grand. I heard this digital grand piano comes with a grand touch action, and Can change the weight of the key. I want to build up her
fingers strength really strong. Please tell me I didn’t make a mistake.
So, did you??
Regarding the workstation mistake: most workstation functionality exists on computers these days. This has been a major advance over the past 30 years.
I.e. only a small percentage of live performers might ever require that functionality built into their piano - 99% of pianists are better off using a computer instead.
Basically:
If you ‘think’ you need a workstation piano - then you definitely don’t need a workstation piano!
Thanks a lot for your advices!!
What about modeling technology introduced by Roland and developed by Yamaha with their Grand Expression Modeling and Virtual Resonance Modeling on their Clavinova CLP-700 series ? That sounds quite close to an acoustic piano.
Not a fan of everything being dependent on apps.
Imagine you want to practice and need the metronome but your phone's battery is almost out, so you go pick up the cable to recharge it but you've run out of outlets because you've already got the piano and the music stand light plugged in.
So not a Roland Go:Keys for a three year old? It looks fun, lots of sounds and good speakers, but no weighted keys.
How about wanting to have an acoustic piano, but, the players don't have enough space for an acoustic piano? Will digital pianos still be a good idea for practices?
Same problem here! I played acoustic piano for 10 years but where I live now I don’t have the space for an acoustic piano! And having to be quiet, so playing with headphones would be helpful too, I’m just scared that I won’t get on with a digital piano 🥺
If you close your eyes the guy on the left sounds exactly like Patrick Swayze
Need help to choose here!!
I'm a violin solist and composer. I wanted a piano with weighted keys to help composing and recording.
I already have since I was little a spring-loaded key digital piano, but as they said, it isn't for older people.
I also have experience and had practiced with real pianos.
I was looking for a Casio CDP s100, and at my country it is between $400 to $450, and I can afford it.
I really just wanna have it for home playing, neither for professional reasons nor for gigs, and I even can afford a speaker.
What do you guys think? Is it good for me or do you have any other opinions?
(Edit: just asked here for second opinions, even if all of it sounds perfect for me or not)
Happy (late) New Year!
What is the closest digital piano out there that comes close to an acoustic sounding piano. If that makes sense.
This my question too
Kawai Novus NV5s
Me from a time when Roland released fp30x that is as good as a acoustic piano feel and best sound ever.
What style do you play? If contemporary you've got it made, but the Kawai ES110 has a warmer, full flavor classical sound. Too bad Roland couldn't install Kawai ES110, ES920 and Yamaha 515 pianos.
@@paulj0557tonehead I personally do contemporary but also like Yamaha's
Warm and rich. I have a Yamaha for my practice.But planning to buy Roland's Digital piano from FP series.
I actually need help, from your experience.. would you recommend rp102 or ydp 144? Even though there is a 250$ difference for ydp144.. is it worth it?
@@Khalid-hh6sw If you love a really warm and rich sound of piano, go for Yamaha. But I would suggest RP102 as the best home or even a awsome stage piano. RP102 has Bluetooth and in my opinion the yamaha is bit of overkill.
@@aadhil__kassim thank you so much, i already ordered the rp102 but i saw some people put comparisons and all that stuff so i was wondering if i’m gonna cancel or not
Greetings! I’ve had a Yamaha P45 for 2 1/2 years. Need to upgrade to an all portable digital piano, that I can bring with me to another country when wining back from USA. Which one do you recommend?
Threw me there for a second when you said you had a 'spring action' behind you, and for a second I thought you were referring to the Kawai !!! Yeah, no way it could be that, and I realized you were referring to the one on the left, but for a second there I was about to become one of those people who leaves nasty remarks under your video! 🙂
I’m looking for a minimal 61 key board to gig with where weight is consideration. I want something with pitch bender, mainly to control my Ketron sd90 arranger module. I would be controlling mostly with a 13 pedal foot controller. Question one, is it much better to use stricktley a midi controller, or can I use a simpler keyboard with 5 pin and built in sounds Incase I don’t want to use arranger. I currently control my sd with keytars, but lately with back problems I want a keyboard to sit down and play. Something not clacks. What would you recommend? Something with a bit of weighted action.
Anyone remember the old Fun Machines back in the 70s ?
we have an upright piano with baby grand size action that used to sound pretty good, but has been very neglected, is out of tune, needs felt replacement and lives in a dusty basement. I felt it would be better to buy a digital piano because I felt the price to bring the piano up to a playable state would be as much or more than a decent digital. I got a Casio px870 and hoping when it arrives it will be a suitable replacement. [I tried the very similar ap270 and really liked it] So I know it will be an adjustment especially because I was used to an out of tune piano. I hope I made the right choice!! What do you all think?