Just wanted to share this. JESUS CHRIST died for us on a cross for our sins. 3 days after his death he resurrected and was, is, and will be The TRUE LIVING GOD. In a prayer repent from your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and also ask for the HOLY SPIRIT to come into you in that same prayer as well. Have FAITH in CHRIST. You could come to Jesus Christ as you are, but once you accept Him, you have to become new, change, and be born again, and also turn away from your wicked ways. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God Bless You. The Bible is the true word of God. Please read the Bible and you will see Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Praise only be to GOD. JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON FOR HIS CHURCH.
Would it be possible to have Mike Patrick demo the sounds? He does a great job bringing out the true beauty and capabilities of keyboards in my opinion. Thx for the review.
At this point, Anderton is the best place on the Tube to discover and enjoy synths (in a systematic fashion). And that is no small feat. Especially since I am not from the UK. Yes, Andertonians, you should begin to address this international audience (and potential customer base) more intentionally (ie make it easy to buy from you).
Yamaha not only produce, to me and many others, the very best machines, but they also carve out new areas into which they place the very best. Amazing company. Don't get me going on their motorbikes, lol.
A lot of people have said the keybed in modx and montage 88 versions is rubbish. However I just came from trying the CK88 in a shop, it’s not the same action actually one lower in the range but I really liked the feel, quite light so good for quick playing. Maybe not the best for articulation and I don’t like a smooth finish on any piano keyboard but I prefer it to the feel of my friends Montage 8.
Lol..at 4:40.. that's me in my band.. Someone starts to talk and I hammer the Rhodes like right in the midst of that sentence😂😂😂.. Keyboardist rather wanted to make this vid by himself.. Then, right after that the question goes: "So how big is this keybed?" The thing is called "88" Sherlock, go and call Einstein to do the math😂😂
Finally, a designer LISTENED to what we NEED on stage! I could have used this 25 YEARS ago! Operational design and options are just about everything I have complained about over the years- LIMITS ON PEDALS so your swell pedel is full travel but leaves the organ audible when fully off, while letting the piano igone the pedal entirely. I have not yet received mine (ordered ten minutes ago) but I have studied the manual and LOVE the layout. Great job, Yamaha!
Update: After a few days setup, I have a lot of work to get it all tricked out. but It is as good as I'd hoped. Note: NOT "better," these are the second-tier tones compared to the YC88, 90-95% as good for half the bucks. And weight. But this is for gigging, and unless the audience is just in complete awe at your performance, nobody will hear the subtleties but you. I have yet to dial in the keyboard and pedal responses, but it's good as-is. The built-in speaker does not support organ bass, run it through something with bottom.
Update: I bought the Yamaha CK-88. I LOVE it! But ya know what I CAN'T DO? Find a case that will fit THE MUSIC REST - it's 26" long and will NOT fit in the DEDICATED $449 case! Nor in a Gator case, etc. There is NO case that carries the instrument AND the music rest.
Just traded in a Juno DS for the 61 key version. Nothing at all wrong with the Juno, but I just love the simplicity of this. Not sure why, but the built in speakers sold me. So far, I love this keyboard.
How do you find the piano sounds on the ck 61 compared to the Juno? Just curious because those are the two keyboards im looking to buy and I play mostly piano for my church.
In my opinion the Yamaha pianos sound far better than the Rolands. This is just my personal preference but I have owned the RD800 and Yamaha Montage and for me the Yamaha piano sounds are just a little bit richer, Roland is pretty in it’s own way but always sounds thinner to me and just not as enjoyable to play.
@@englishguy9680 well, my experienced keyboardist friend said the otherwise. He liked Roland Go Keys 3/5 piano sound better than the CK. And he's had experience with a lot of high end synths/keyboards like the Nord Stage, Electro, etc, Yamaha MODX series, Yamaha CP, Korg Nautilus, Kronos, Virus TI, and many more. I didn't take his opinion for granted tho. Cause he also said that feature wise, and for flexibility to craft sounds, to use for recordings, gigs, and stages, the CK is still the bang for the buck to go. Which I totally agree.
@@theramatube I'm a Yamaha guy, but I've owned Nord Electro and Stage, if you can afford them they are the best, which is why you see pro''s using them for years. I've owned the top of the range Roland, the top of the range Yamaha Montage, the top of the range Korg Kronos. None of them are as good or as user friendly or as portable as the Nords. Your friend is an experienced player and is entitled to his opinion, I respect it but so am I, I have played professionally for over 20 years. This is why I added the caveat in my comment that it is my personal preference that the Roland Piano's aren't as good as other manufacturers. The fact is that all of these keyboards are amazing, none of the sounds are bad objectively but after over 20 years playing and refining my live setups I use Nord and Yamaha exclusively because they are well made and user friendly. Everybody is free to play what suits them, but don't bring up the Roland Go for goodness sake, a budget keyboard aimed at beginners and compare it to the best synthesizers that exist that's ridiculous. The YC is a great keyboard but it is ultimately a straight up copy of the Nord Electro, which is still a superior keyboard and it's price and reputation reflect as much.
Many digital pianos these days, even fairly low-cost ones, sound amazing when played through headphones. They can also sound really good when played through studio monitor speakers (depending on the type of speakers). But in my experience, if you play a digital piano through most small to medium sized PAs, and they will sound not much better than a 1990s Casiotone. They sound boxey and cheap. Dedicated keyboard amps, such as the Roland KC range, sound fine for synths and organs, but are also hopeless when it comes to piano sounds. If you're playing in a band, all you can hope for is that the piano will sound ok in the mix. I've asked a number of sound techs about this, and the common answer is that PA speakers are designed to spread and throw sound. They not designed for full range high fidelity. This surely can't be as good as it gets. Jack's played gigs at all levels. The sound at big stadium touring gigs is obviously in the hands of the sound engineer. But when he plays smaller gigs, he's probably responsible for how his piano sounds out front. It would be great to hear what advice he has on getting a better piano sound at a live gig.
Digital pianos suffer a lot when running them in mono on stage. Always prefer stereo (2 floor monitors, left and right). If not possible, get a full range professional active speaker, such as the Wharfedale Titan active (I have the 8) and works very well with my keyboard.
If you want a killer live sound that cuts, run the keys through a Sans Amp Bass DI Driver pedal. I promise you you will be heard and well. It's real analogue warmth and when I started using one, it was the first time I could hear myself nicely even from a cell phone video taken from the crowd. Before the pedal my sound was so lost and masked completely. I always use it and I love it. I am considering using two for stereo even tho thats a bit of a pain adjusting 2 pedals.
The solution to this is a good quality DI, which smooths off the digital transients similar to the way a compressor would and this absolutely makes acoustic patches sound more realistic and sit in the mix better. I would recommend a Radial Pro D2 which is a stereo DI, not the cheapest but well worth the money. Or as the guy above said something like a SansAmp would work too. I used to run a really cheap keyboard through a nice tube amp and the saturation you can get from that can give really mediocre patches some real life too.
All I can say is that there are 2 Beasts here.... That CK88 is a beast of an instrument- Bravo Yamaha. Luke Juby is a Keyboard Beast. Fantastic demos come standard with him!
Anything Luke plays is going to sound fantastic but, yeah these CK keyboards are quite impressive for the money. Not quite what I expected, I think many of us thought the CK was going to be something else entirely but hey, it is what it is and Yamaha has done a great job with this.
@@chickenlickin3820 Ya, but after all, its not a clonewheel. I am actually more interested in how the keybeds are. It’s modx style with plastic case and adapter. Hope at least the keybed is better than modx which is horrible
i really wish more companies would make stage keyboard with top shelf space ( for synths/pedals etc). been eyeing the crumar for a while but it would be nice to have an option in some of the popular brands.
I think Yamaha is in some frantic Limbo of what retro style to adapt. This is ment in a good way. I like the style of this. The Organ sliders is kinda "Back to the Electone" and CS Synths. Glad they replaced the Pitch bend and mod wheel from the YC line with more common ones, It's just not placed very practically. It's like a Nord "Oh darn we forgot the pitchbend and mod wheel .. where to put it?" .... and it ended up at the upper left top of the instrument .
I think these are going to sell by the boatloads. Amazing functionality, nice graded hammer action, great price. Not gonna replace any Nords with this one, but this is for a completely different keyboard player than the Nords. For one thing you could buy three of these for the price of one nord stage right?
actually at the price point of the new stage 4 88-key.... you could buy 4 of these... sadly i wonder what percentage of a nord folks will think this yamaha represents i mean it's 22% of the cost is it 50% as good or is that number an overestimate?
@@Gregs_World The new Stage 4 is a wonderful keyboard for the hundreds of people worldwide who are filthy rich enough to afford one. Personally I want a keyboard that is 50% "internal bread and butter sounds" and 50% going to live its life as a mainstage controller, and this keyboard will do both of those roles and I can still buy a Mac and a lot of top tier software instruments and come away cheaper than the Nord.
I'd say the Casio PX-5S was probably the first legit battery powered pro level keyboard. It is indeed pro level. People just don't give it the credit it deserves because of the name brand. The main con with it was that it's a bit complicated.
the price is really affordable ! thumbs up to yamaha ,great budget stage keyboard... now just add those new features to the YC in the next update and we'll be best friends forever
Thanks for the review! As a CP88 owner, my first impression of the buttons and look of the new interface is "cheap" looking, specially the plastic buttons. I get that this seems to have more features but, the faders have very short travel, the organ drawbars too - difficult to set precisely in the middle of a performance. If I understood correctly, the organ is from the Reface series, not from the YC stage keyboard. It is a less expensive keyboard so it makes me wonder if another flagship stage keyboard is in the works. No XLR outs either. But this seems like a great deal for the price!
Definitely a "budget" looking keyboard but, that makes me think these new features are soon to come out in a higher end board soon. Its cool to see a board aimed at the busking market though, especially with the battery and built in speakers.
I know a lot of people, myself included, are more interested in the fewer keys version due to portability and gigging. I would really appreciate them not getting sidelined. I want to hear JACK talk about the keyboard, each version, comparing keybeds and stuff. Love the vids all the same.
For something to practice @ home, play on stage, and sounds great, to my ears, with build in speakers? This sold me. I’m leaning on the CK88 for the living room. Love it!😕🎹🎶❤️👍🏾
The Yamaha CK-series reminds me of the CS1x released back in 1996. It was aimed at the Nord Lead at that time, with sample playback tachnology, real-time knobs for filter cutoff/resonance, EG attack and release. It also retailed at $600 while the Nord Lead was aound $2,200. Mind you, the CS1x sounded great. And so does the CK.
I have a CS1X and it’s great, definitely not as good as a Nord but great for the money, and it’s blue which nobody will see coming. It didn’t really deliver on the virtual analogue promise which was it’s supposed selling point but it had some excellent sounds and the feature where you could set two variations of the same patch and use the mod wheel to blend between them was and still is a great idea.
@englishguy9680 Yeah, I had the CS1x, too. It sounded amazing. Shortly after, the AN1x came out, which I was only drooling over at Manny's Music and Sam Ash. I should have bought the AN1x at some point, when they were still available new old stock on ebay, but I didn't. Now, the AN1x can no longer be found new in a box. And neither is Manny's Music, nor Sam Ash.
Regarding battery powered pro stage keyboards; I’ve seen a lot of videos over the years praising the Casio PX-5S. I know, nobody likes to take Casio seriously, but word is that one is good.
I've been in love with my Yamaha MX61, because it's lightweight, yet with the robust sound engine of the Motif... But THIS board is pulling at my heart! I think this may be my next buy. My workstation days are long gone. I'm simply gigging pretty much every weekend, and this is everything the MX is missing. Wow! Way to go Yamaha, and great session/review on this board, Andertons!
It seems to address some of the issues a user has with live use. The CK seems to have passed both the CP88 and YCxx in some ways, particularly in live implementation if not in sound. The onboard sounds are limited to AWM2 rather than VCM, or a blend of the two, like MODX.while If it surpasses either of them in feel or in build quality. I was highly impressed with the YC61 as an organ and synth. I wanted to like the CP, but never became a fan, probably because of navigation/layout and midi control but mostly because of the action (that EVERYONE else seemed to love). I am used to playing MOFX/DX and the incredible feeling S80 weighted boards and Hammond XK/SK organ-weighted keybeds. I hope the CK becomes available to demo soon (it’s March ‘23). At it’s suggested retail around £1300, it is tremendously anticipated. Thanks to Andertons for this vid.
For me, picking a piano/keyboard, is mainly about the key action, the sound and the immediacy and accessibility you get from built-in speakers. I will surely test this against the FP-E50. Best key action will win :)
I just went in-store to test a PHA-4 action against a GHA action keyboard and it really is no comparison. Without a reference the GHS is playable, but when I jump to PHA-4, the GHS feels like a toy in comparison. It's only my opinion, but if you're even remotely concerned about piano-like action, the difference between the two is night and day.
Jack 🦆🦆Berry and Luke on the CK88. I'm in love with the keys! It's a smashing board, I must have one. Thank you so much for your review! Yamaha dropping fire, as they do. 🔥
I came really close to buying the CK61 today. Tried it out and really like it but when I realised it has no after touch I just couldn't get into it. Went home and finally spent time setting up my Numa Compact 2x, put it through a evantide H9 and it was most satisfying. The Numa is not nearly as intuitive but if you spend some time it can sound really lush.
I have the dgx 670 but I'm liking this I stumbled across this channel by chance showing off this great set of keys ,was then instantly impressed.....subbed straight away .....Nice one guys gonna stick around see what else you do n very tempted with thus keyboard even tho I've only had the dgx 670 since Xmas 22 ....
I think I've just found the keyboard I have been waiting for years ! I have a Nord electro 6D 61 which is a fantastic keyboard, of course, but heavy on the shoulders when it comes to carry the pedal, the cables etc all packed into the bag. These 5,6 kg would make such a difference compared to the almost 8kg of the electro when walking to a jam session. Of course it's plastic when the Nord uses metal and wood for its stylish and robust distinctive look, but It's not a big deal to me. The sounds of this CK seem really good and I've been seduced by the clarity of the panel. I must admit the Nord electro is sometimes a bit confusing to me on this aspect. Here I dig the intuitive and instant access to the functions like split etc. This colour system is really really cool. I'm not an organ, player and don't mind if the drawbars are shorter, this will be enough for some occasional organ parts on a gig. Another point that I found great are the internal speakers that can also be used as a return. It's a genius idea on a keyboard of this category. I find the design elegant, and the price is so affordable. Hats off to Yamaha ! I need to try the keybed and action of this 61 model but my decision is almost made. Thanks Jack and Luke for one more great video, I keep on following your channel for the quality of the informations and good vibes. More, it helps me training my ear in english :) Cheers from France
I just discovered the power supply and found weird to provide this kind of thin fragile cord for a stage keyboard (one point of the Nord electro I appreciate is precisely the strong power cable) with this big AC adapter that makes it complicated to plug in for a session. The only negative point I'd note foi this CK so far.
Just picked up my CK61 and I think I'm in love . . . but . . . no music rest argh nor does it appear there's a place to put one - Yamaha you could have drilled a couple holes at least!!!
Nice review and nice playing! 88 key graded hammer action and built in speakers at under 30 lbs is crazy. Are the organs, electric pianos, and acoustic pianos on the CK88 the same as those on the YC88?
If your not to concerned about portability; which sounds better and is more "fun" to play? The Yamaha DGX 670 or the Yamaha CK 88? I think they are both "weighted". Which is more "realistic"? Effects, layering, ease of sound programming, recording? Any advice would be appreciated. Any thoughts as compared to the new Roland FP E 50.
Looks like Yamaha is going after the same market as the Roland RD88. Well done by adding the reface YC drawbars although I feel the organ sounds and Leslie could be better. Thanks Jack. Thanks Luke. Good video.
I like the styling, kind of retro. Also, dedicated drawbars (if a bit short throw) is nice, along with dedicated filter and effects knobs. The portability with batteries and decent speakers would be great for jamming/gigging anywhere, even out camping or wherever. Thanks.
Am I alone in hating the way it looks? I wish it was plain black on the back with just a yamaha logo. But that's easily fixed if you buy one and don't like the back. I think whatever stage keyboard I buy, I'm gonna paint it red and mess with people's heads.
I think i might trade out my kawai for this I’m kind of sold on it it looks like nord had a baby. Love the demo buddy! Id love to do a demo show with you one day! Im a decent player myself
They don't even include the music stand! 😳. Casio comes with music stand, Bluetooth adapter and has functions like arpeggios and rhythms. Of course it's a different class of instrument, but i like drums and arps.
I would love for these reviews to include the feel of the keyboard. "heavy" or light action, and of course weighted, etc. I think the 66 key one has a unique organ-like action I would have loved to hear about from you guys.
Keyboard sounds nice. But I wouldn't trade my Casio Px5s for it. Weighs in at 24lbs with fully weighted action. 4 independent sound zones , arps, can play backing tracks, and runs on AA batteries. The one advantage the Yamaha has over it is the not perfect (but usable) organ sounds. The Casio organs are not a strong point. And if you want speakers built in pop for the Casio PX560. Almost identical sound to the PX5S plus a full touch screen to help with programming and sound selection live. Cost of the PX5S was only $800 US too.
Would love a side by side comparison in a performance setting! Rd88 not the most efficient interface (for finding sounds, edits/mods during performance/improv)
@@FirstnameLastname-oj9ep As one who is looking to buy the RD-88 despite the navigation complex, the RD-88 will probably still win out for me. Though I mostly have Yamaha products (S90 ES and MODX7+), the GHS action pales in comparison to the PHA-4 for those looking for even a decent weighted experience. Otherwise, for those that don't care about that too much, the CK88 looks like it'll be the frontrunner.
@@patrickalbernaz6487 l will be selling my RD-88 and probably buy the CK-88. I have a hand injury and find the Roland PHA-4 action too heavy for my liking. I also think the CK-88 will have better organs and ep's
@@germanshepherdlover2613 Yeah, I can see that switch and I would probably do the same thing in that situation. I won't really argue about the sounds either. It's just a personal thing as I've tried the GHS and PHA-4 side by side recently and it's just not the same while playing any jazz or classical music. I opted for the MODX7+ instead of 8+ for that reason. Now I'm just looking for another weighted keyboard to complete the setup. As soon as I saw this product I was looking instantly for the price, and while the price is very fair, the action is most-likely a deal-breaker for me. Plus, I can get a deal on the RD-88.
@@patrickalbernaz6487 You won't be disappointed with the RD-88. The mellow grand piano is lovely for ragtime. I am assuming that the GHS action is similar to the Medelli used in the Kurzweil. Lighter than the PHA-4.
Amazing video! I'm really considering buying this keyboard, I have one question - Can you make your own sound presets? If yes, After adjusting different parameters, for ex - Reverb, Distortion and cutoff and saving those effects as a new preset, will they be recalled the same even though the physical controls are different than what you saved? Probably a dumb question but it would really help if you could answer it, Thanks!
Not a silly question... yes you can. Everything is saveable. All the positions of fx. Foot pedal programming etc etc. Position of drawbars and pots. 👍🏼
Know the keyboard will use up the batteries pretty quick.. Have a lot of extras with you but it is great feature.. I use it for quick warm up before rehearsals before a performance...
I just joined a band, I am a guitarist but I am playing keys with them, I need a keyboard for my room in college next year but I also need to play gigs with a keyboard with good built in sounds since I don’t have room at venues for a laptop and keyboard. I was thinking that this is the one, for money it seems really good but I don’t know much about keyboards, is this the right choice?
It definitely feels like a top contender Ethan. Built-in speakers will help with clutter for your dorm room. Only light too so you could put it on its side every now and then if you needed space (without unplugging speakers etc). With the built-in audio interface though, adding a computer later to the setup will mean just a laptop and a single USB using just the outputs from the keyboard. 👍🏼
@@lukejuby I do have an interface that is crazy it comes with one built in tho. Thank you so much for your thoughts It really helps. Gonna do a little more research but it looks like this might be the right one. Thank you again 👍🏻
I like the features but the design feels a bit old fashioned. The small blue LCD, the yellowish backlit buttons. The placement of the wheels. Somehow the YC was much prettier. I love the draw bars!
Come on, Nord is soooo overpriced, Montage 8 or Nord 4….no contest Yamaha s all day long….I almost bought an M audio Pro to run Mainstage but I’d rather have the flexibility of this keyboard. I’m a gigging musician tired of hauling my motif’s, and sometimes I don’t need Mainstage. Ordering one today….thx for this video…had no idea this was out there….
I’ve got a confession to make. I don’t come here to learn about the keyboards. I come here to hear these guys play and OMG!!!!
1000%
These guys are ok but go listen to Cory Henry or Jacob Collier...different level altogether !
@noeljay14 but getting Cory or Jacob or Jesus or Jordan is damn near impossible
@@noeljay14 Jesús Molina
Just wanted to share this. JESUS CHRIST died for us on a cross for our sins. 3 days after his death he resurrected and was, is, and will be The TRUE LIVING GOD. In a prayer repent from your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and also ask for the HOLY SPIRIT to come into you in that same prayer as well. Have FAITH in CHRIST. You could come to Jesus Christ as you are, but once you accept Him, you have to become new, change, and be born again, and also turn away from your wicked ways. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God Bless You. The Bible is the true word of God. Please read the Bible and you will see Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Praise only be to GOD. JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON FOR HIS CHURCH.
Would it be possible to have Mike Patrick demo the sounds? He does a great job bringing out the true beauty and capabilities of keyboards in my opinion. Thx for the review.
At this point, Anderton is the best place on the Tube to discover and enjoy synths (in a systematic fashion). And that is no small feat. Especially since I am not from the UK. Yes, Andertonians, you should begin to address this international audience (and potential customer base) more intentionally (ie make it easy to buy from you).
Yamaha not only produce, to me and many others, the very best machines, but they also carve out new areas into which they place the very best. Amazing company. Don't get me going on their motorbikes, lol.
Not mine, modx8 keybed sucks, plays random notes in humidity and key contacts need a 4 hour cleaning every year!! 😠
A lot of people have said the keybed in modx and montage 88 versions is rubbish. However I just came from trying the CK88 in a shop, it’s not the same action actually one lower in the range but I really liked the feel, quite light so good for quick playing. Maybe not the best for articulation and I don’t like a smooth finish on any piano keyboard but I prefer it to the feel of my friends Montage 8.
Lol..at 4:40.. that's me in my band.. Someone starts to talk and I hammer the Rhodes like right in the midst of that sentence😂😂😂.. Keyboardist rather wanted to make this vid by himself.. Then, right after that the question goes: "So how big is this keybed?" The thing is called "88" Sherlock, go and call Einstein to do the math😂😂
Finally, a designer LISTENED to what we NEED on stage! I could have used this 25 YEARS ago! Operational design and options are just about everything I have complained about over the years- LIMITS ON PEDALS so your swell pedel is full travel but leaves the organ audible when fully off, while letting the piano igone the pedal entirely. I have not yet received mine (ordered ten minutes ago) but I have studied the manual and LOVE the layout. Great job, Yamaha!
Update: After a few days setup, I have a lot of work to get it all tricked out. but It is as good as I'd hoped. Note: NOT "better," these are the second-tier tones compared to the YC88, 90-95% as good for half the bucks. And weight. But this is for gigging, and unless the audience is just in complete awe at your performance, nobody will hear the subtleties but you. I have yet to dial in the keyboard and pedal responses, but it's good as-is. The built-in speaker does not support organ bass, run it through something with bottom.
Update: I bought the Yamaha CK-88. I LOVE it! But ya know what I CAN'T DO? Find a case that will fit THE MUSIC REST - it's 26" long and will NOT fit in the DEDICATED $449 case! Nor in a Gator case, etc. There is NO case that carries the instrument AND the music rest.
Just unboxed this one at the store I work on and I fell in love with it.. it's amazing!
Just traded in a Juno DS for the 61 key version. Nothing at all wrong with the Juno, but I just love the simplicity of this. Not sure why, but the built in speakers sold me. So far, I love this keyboard.
How do you find the piano sounds on the ck 61 compared to the Juno? Just curious because those are the two keyboards im looking to buy and I play mostly piano for my church.
@@brainerdlopezI’m looking for a new keyboard for church too. What did you end up buying and how are you finding it ??
In my opinion the Yamaha pianos sound far better than the Rolands. This is just my personal preference but I have owned the RD800 and Yamaha Montage and for me the Yamaha piano sounds are just a little bit richer, Roland is pretty in it’s own way but always sounds thinner to me and just not as enjoyable to play.
@@englishguy9680 well, my experienced keyboardist friend said the otherwise. He liked Roland Go Keys 3/5 piano sound better than the CK. And he's had experience with a lot of high end synths/keyboards like the Nord Stage, Electro, etc, Yamaha MODX series, Yamaha CP, Korg Nautilus, Kronos, Virus TI, and many more. I didn't take his opinion for granted tho. Cause he also said that feature wise, and for flexibility to craft sounds, to use for recordings, gigs, and stages, the CK is still the bang for the buck to go. Which I totally agree.
@@theramatube I'm a Yamaha guy, but I've owned Nord Electro and Stage, if you can afford them they are the best, which is why you see pro''s using them for years. I've owned the top of the range Roland, the top of the range Yamaha Montage, the top of the range Korg Kronos. None of them are as good or as user friendly or as portable as the Nords. Your friend is an experienced player and is entitled to his opinion, I respect it but so am I, I have played professionally for over 20 years. This is why I added the caveat in my comment that it is my personal preference that the Roland Piano's aren't as good as other manufacturers.
The fact is that all of these keyboards are amazing, none of the sounds are bad objectively but after over 20 years playing and refining my live setups I use Nord and Yamaha exclusively because they are well made and user friendly. Everybody is free to play what suits them, but don't bring up the Roland Go for goodness sake, a budget keyboard aimed at beginners and compare it to the best synthesizers that exist that's ridiculous. The YC is a great keyboard but it is ultimately a straight up copy of the Nord Electro, which is still a superior keyboard and it's price and reputation reflect as much.
Many digital pianos these days, even fairly low-cost ones, sound amazing when played through headphones. They can also sound really good when played through studio monitor speakers (depending on the type of speakers). But in my experience, if you play a digital piano through most small to medium sized PAs, and they will sound not much better than a 1990s Casiotone. They sound boxey and cheap. Dedicated keyboard amps, such as the Roland KC range, sound fine for synths and organs, but are also hopeless when it comes to piano sounds. If you're playing in a band, all you can hope for is that the piano will sound ok in the mix. I've asked a number of sound techs about this, and the common answer is that PA speakers are designed to spread and throw sound. They not designed for full range high fidelity. This surely can't be as good as it gets. Jack's played gigs at all levels. The sound at big stadium touring gigs is obviously in the hands of the sound engineer. But when he plays smaller gigs, he's probably responsible for how his piano sounds out front. It would be great to hear what advice he has on getting a better piano sound at a live gig.
Digital pianos suffer a lot when running them in mono on stage. Always prefer stereo (2 floor monitors, left and right). If not possible, get a full range professional active speaker, such as the Wharfedale Titan active (I have the 8) and works very well with my keyboard.
If you want a killer live sound that cuts, run the keys through a Sans Amp Bass DI Driver pedal. I promise you you will be heard and well. It's real analogue warmth and when I started using one, it was the first time I could hear myself nicely even from a cell phone video taken from the crowd. Before the pedal my sound was so lost and masked completely. I always use it and I love it. I am considering using two for stereo even tho thats a bit of a pain adjusting 2 pedals.
The solution to this is a good quality DI, which smooths off the digital transients similar to the way a compressor would and this absolutely makes acoustic patches sound more realistic and sit in the mix better.
I would recommend a Radial Pro D2 which is a stereo DI, not the cheapest but well worth the money.
Or as the guy above said something like a SansAmp would work too.
I used to run a really cheap keyboard through a nice tube amp and the saturation you can get from that can give really mediocre patches some real life too.
@@englishguy9680 thanks very much. I'll take a look.
LOVE YAMAHA!! Been using Yamahammers for over 35 years. You guys do a great job. God bless
Amen
All I can say is that there are 2 Beasts here.... That CK88 is a beast of an instrument- Bravo Yamaha.
Luke Juby is a Keyboard Beast. Fantastic demos come standard with him!
Anything Luke plays is going to sound fantastic but, yeah these CK keyboards are quite impressive for the money. Not quite what I expected, I think many of us thought the CK was going to be something else entirely but hey, it is what it is and Yamaha has done a great job with this.
but those 25mm organ sliders?
@@chickenlickin3820 Ya, but after all, its not a clonewheel. I am actually more interested in how the keybeds are. It’s modx style with plastic case and adapter. Hope at least the keybed is better than modx which is horrible
@@mrdali67 it's the same basic keybed (GHS) as on MODX8, p-125, DGX-670 and so on.
Has luke got a last name where I could watch him play
@@desmondbird520 His full name is Luke Juby. 👍🏻
Dude, this is a phenomenal instrument!! Absolutely amazing, especially considering the price point!!
i really wish more companies would make stage keyboard with top shelf space ( for synths/pedals etc). been eyeing the crumar for a while but it would be nice to have an option in some of the popular brands.
I think Yamaha is in some frantic Limbo of what retro style to adapt. This is ment in a good way. I like the style of this. The Organ sliders is kinda "Back to the Electone" and CS Synths. Glad they replaced the Pitch bend and mod wheel from the YC line with more common ones, It's just not placed very practically. It's like a Nord "Oh darn we forgot the pitchbend and mod wheel .. where to put it?" .... and it ended up at the upper left top of the instrument .
I like the positioning of the wheels. You can rest your palm on the top deck when using them.
@@godisbollocks also keeps the length shorter and thus the weight less. Used a good empty space.
I think these are going to sell by the boatloads. Amazing functionality, nice graded hammer action, great price. Not gonna replace any Nords with this one, but this is for a completely different keyboard player than the Nords. For one thing you could buy three of these for the price of one nord stage right?
actually at the price point of the new stage 4 88-key.... you could buy 4 of these... sadly
i wonder what percentage of a nord folks will think this yamaha represents
i mean it's 22% of the cost
is it 50% as good or is that number an overestimate?
@@Gregs_World The new Stage 4 is a wonderful keyboard for the hundreds of people worldwide who are filthy rich enough to afford one. Personally I want a keyboard that is 50% "internal bread and butter sounds" and 50% going to live its life as a mainstage controller, and this keyboard will do both of those roles and I can still buy a Mac and a lot of top tier software instruments and come away cheaper than the Nord.
@@Gregs_Worldand keep in mind, the CK is a poor man's YC. And some may describe it as a CP YC hybrid.
@@nathanaelvalville9191 calling a >$1k instrument a "poor man's" is foolish, and the YC/CP should have been combined to begin with.
@@concorde__ I wouldn't say foolish. But hey, is "more affordable" correct for you?
I'd say the Casio PX-5S was probably the first legit battery powered pro level keyboard. It is indeed pro level. People just don't give it the credit it deserves because of the name brand. The main con with it was that it's a bit complicated.
the price is really affordable ! thumbs up to yamaha ,great budget stage keyboard... now just add those new features to the YC in the next update and we'll be best friends forever
I thinks Yamaha is working on a Nord killer, I want the Nord stage 4 but I’m waiting on the fusion of the montage and YC!
Brilliant sounds! Crisp, rich, depth, harmonius
Thanks for the review! As a CP88 owner, my first impression of the buttons and look of the new interface is "cheap" looking, specially the plastic buttons. I get that this seems to have more features but, the faders have very short travel, the organ drawbars too - difficult to set precisely in the middle of a performance. If I understood correctly, the organ is from the Reface series, not from the YC stage keyboard. It is a less expensive keyboard so it makes me wonder if another flagship stage keyboard is in the works. No XLR outs either. But this seems like a great deal for the price!
I am looking at buying a cp88 or yc88. I guess I should wait and see if they come out with a new one to challenge the new nord stage 4.
Definitely a "budget" looking keyboard but, that makes me think these new features are soon to come out in a higher end board soon. Its cool to see a board aimed at the busking market though, especially with the battery and built in speakers.
I know a lot of people, myself included, are more interested in the fewer keys version due to portability and gigging. I would really appreciate them not getting sidelined. I want to hear JACK talk about the keyboard, each version, comparing keybeds and stuff. Love the vids all the same.
Love the user interface. This combined with YC88 sounds and keybed would be insane.
It would be so awesome if they did a premium version of this one with more layers but same controls! That said for the price the ck88 is insane value!
I want one of these. I will never play like this guy. He makes it look so easy. Fantastic!!
For something to practice @ home, play on stage, and sounds great, to my ears, with build in speakers? This sold me. I’m leaning on the CK88 for the living room. Love it!😕🎹🎶❤️👍🏾
Yamaha knocking it way out the park once again.🗽🛸
The Yamaha CK-series reminds me of the CS1x released back in 1996. It was aimed at the Nord Lead at that time, with sample playback tachnology, real-time knobs for filter cutoff/resonance, EG attack and release. It also retailed at $600 while the Nord Lead was aound $2,200. Mind you, the CS1x sounded great. And so does the CK.
The CS2X was even better with double the polyphony.
@@madness8556 AN1x was the best.
I have a CS1X and it’s great, definitely not as good as a Nord but great for the money, and it’s blue which nobody will see coming. It didn’t really deliver on the virtual analogue promise which was it’s supposed selling point but it had some excellent sounds and the feature where you could set two variations of the same patch and use the mod wheel to blend between them was and still is a great idea.
@englishguy9680 Yeah, I had the CS1x, too. It sounded amazing. Shortly after, the AN1x came out, which I was only drooling over at Manny's Music and Sam Ash. I should have bought the AN1x at some point, when they were still available new old stock on ebay, but I didn't. Now, the AN1x can no longer be found new in a box. And neither is Manny's Music, nor Sam Ash.
Regarding battery powered pro stage keyboards; I’ve seen a lot of videos over the years praising the Casio PX-5S. I know, nobody likes to take Casio seriously, but word is that one is good.
I've been in love with my Yamaha MX61, because it's lightweight, yet with the robust sound engine of the Motif... But THIS board is pulling at my heart! I think this may be my next buy. My workstation days are long gone. I'm simply gigging pretty much every weekend, and this is everything the MX is missing. Wow! Way to go Yamaha, and great session/review on this board, Andertons!
Same here.. tomorrow i want to sell my mx61 and buy ck61
CK61 sounds far, far better, too.
Unbelievable what’s possible today. Great video guys! So appreciate you!
🤜🤛🙌🏼👍🏼
Great demo! An entry range, truly portable stage with drawbars with one button access to good sounds is always a good thing in the world.
It seems to address some of the issues a user has with live use. The CK seems to have passed both the CP88 and YCxx in some ways, particularly in live implementation if not in sound. The onboard sounds are limited to AWM2 rather than VCM, or a blend of the two, like MODX.while If it surpasses either of them in feel or in build quality. I was highly impressed with the YC61 as an organ and synth. I wanted to like the CP, but never became a fan, probably because of navigation/layout and midi control but mostly because of the action (that EVERYONE else seemed to love). I am used to playing MOFX/DX and the incredible feeling S80 weighted boards and Hammond XK/SK organ-weighted keybeds.
I hope the CK becomes available to demo soon (it’s March ‘23). At it’s suggested retail around £1300, it is tremendously anticipated.
Thanks to Andertons for this vid.
this is a great keyboard! I just picked up the CK88 to give my Yamaha YC a break. Its light and portable and also sounds great!
Ma man has a very Gospel style of play and it’s warming my soul!
Thank you!
What an incredible impromptu performance,
incredible instrument, incredible talent!
For me, picking a piano/keyboard, is mainly about the key action, the sound and the immediacy and accessibility you get from built-in speakers. I will surely test this against the FP-E50. Best key action will win :)
FP-E50 has much better action
@@amitev Thanks for the input, I’m leaning that way too.
I just went in-store to test a PHA-4 action against a GHA action keyboard and it really is no comparison. Without a reference the GHS is playable, but when I jump to PHA-4, the GHS feels like a toy in comparison. It's only my opinion, but if you're even remotely concerned about piano-like action, the difference between the two is night and day.
Jack 🦆🦆Berry and Luke on the CK88. I'm in love with the keys! It's a smashing board, I must have one. Thank you so much for your review! Yamaha dropping fire, as they do. 🔥
I came really close to buying the CK61 today. Tried it out and really like it but when I realised it has no after touch I just couldn't get into it.
Went home and finally spent time setting up my Numa Compact 2x, put it through a evantide H9 and it was most satisfying. The Numa is not nearly as intuitive but if you spend some time it can sound really lush.
I really like how easy is to controll this thing! Verrry nice video guys!
🙂👍🏼
I can tell it's getting the improved rotary from the YC61 (that's great)! Only wish I could update the rotary on the YC Reface.
I love the styling. It looks like the original Ensoniq Mirage from the 80’s.
I have the dgx 670 but I'm liking this I stumbled across this channel by
chance showing off this great set of keys ,was then instantly impressed.....subbed straight away .....Nice one guys gonna stick around see what else you do n very tempted with thus keyboard even tho I've only had the dgx 670 since Xmas 22 ....
I think I've just found the keyboard I have been waiting for years ! I have a Nord electro 6D 61 which is a fantastic keyboard, of course, but heavy on the shoulders when it comes to carry the pedal, the cables etc all packed into the bag. These 5,6 kg would make such a difference compared to the almost 8kg of the electro when walking to a jam session. Of course it's plastic when the Nord uses metal and wood for its stylish and robust distinctive look, but It's not a big deal to me. The sounds of this CK seem really good and I've been seduced by the clarity of the panel. I must admit the Nord electro is sometimes a bit confusing to me on this aspect. Here I dig the intuitive and instant access to the functions like split etc. This colour system is really really cool. I'm not an organ, player and don't mind if the drawbars are shorter, this will be enough for some occasional organ parts on a gig. Another point that I found great are the internal speakers that can also be used as a return. It's a genius idea on a keyboard of this category. I find the design elegant, and the price is so affordable. Hats off to Yamaha ! I need to try the keybed and action of this 61 model but my decision is almost made.
Thanks Jack and Luke for one more great video, I keep on following your channel for the quality of the informations and good vibes. More, it helps me training my ear in english :) Cheers from France
I just discovered the power supply and found weird to provide this kind of thin fragile cord for a stage keyboard (one point of the Nord electro I appreciate is precisely the strong power cable) with this big AC adapter that makes it complicated to plug in for a session. The only negative point I'd note foi this CK so far.
FAKKINEELL MATE! So this is where the internet has been keeping the good s**t!!
Really nice demo, as always guys! You can see a bit of the Reface styling in the overall look of these boards.
This is going to be called "A Classic". Wow.
Just picked up my CK61 and I think I'm in love . . . but . . . no music rest argh nor does it appear there's a place to put one - Yamaha you could have drilled a couple holes at least!!!
Nice review and nice playing! 88 key graded hammer action and built in speakers at under 30 lbs is crazy. Are the organs, electric pianos, and acoustic pianos on the CK88 the same as those on the YC88?
Nice demo! I would love to get a bit more info on the built-in synth sounds. Maybe a follow up on that?
Fat... versatile...how much $? Looks like a good addition to the stage setup!! 2 88's...2 61's... yeah, nice😎💥👆
I love this keyboard and the entertaining on this upload :)🥰
Will there be a CK73 coming out as well?
Nothing is better than Yamaha .
If your not to concerned about portability; which sounds better and is more "fun" to play? The Yamaha DGX 670 or the Yamaha CK 88? I think they are both "weighted". Which is more "realistic"? Effects, layering, ease of sound programming, recording? Any advice would be appreciated. Any thoughts as compared to the new Roland FP E 50.
Looks like Yamaha is going after the same market as the Roland RD88. Well done by adding the reface YC drawbars although I feel the organ sounds and Leslie could be better.
Thanks Jack. Thanks Luke. Good video.
It can also replace the Casio PX-5S with the battery option.
I like the styling, kind of retro. Also, dedicated drawbars (if a bit short throw) is nice, along with dedicated filter and effects knobs. The portability with batteries and decent speakers would be great for jamming/gigging anywhere, even out camping or wherever. Thanks.
Am I alone in hating the way it looks? I wish it was plain black on the back with just a yamaha logo. But that's easily fixed if you buy one and don't like the back. I think whatever stage keyboard I buy, I'm gonna paint it red and mess with people's heads.
Looks and sounds great! Excellent demo! Would Yamaha consider a DeluXe version with a dual reface DX integrated (so i can use my DX voices) ?
Subscribed! I think I've found my next keyboard, as soon as budget allows. Appreciate the review!
👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼🤜🤛
Congratulations for 100.000 subscribers!
Great video guys! But let's all take a moment to appreciate Luke's T-Shirt 🎹
Dom the 👑 🙌🏼
Dom you are wonderful too🤗
Yamaha delivers, what a brilliant brand✨
That T-shirt is genius!
I think i might trade out my kawai for this I’m kind of sold on it it looks like nord had a baby. Love the demo buddy! Id love to do a demo show with you one day! Im a decent player myself
Midi 2.0 & Bluetooth are both game changers on this.
Thé piano Hammond thing was killer….
I think I found my next keyboard
Wish companies like Yamaha would include keyboard cover with these portable keyboards.
They don't even include the music stand! 😳. Casio comes with music stand, Bluetooth adapter and has functions like arpeggios and rhythms. Of course it's a different class of instrument, but i like drums and arps.
That’s why the sell keyboard covers and case accessories.
Fantastic! Just ordered one 🤗🤗
What a lovely demo!!!!
Still out of box cp88 has way better playability for a pianist as for me. I love this beast.
How does this compare to MODX8...? Is it worth getting the MODX8 over this...?
Louis definitely love this keyboard/Digipiano
Great demo, great keyboard
THESE BABEEES R DIVINE!!
I would love for these reviews to include the feel of the keyboard. "heavy" or light action, and of course weighted, etc. I think the 66 key one has a unique organ-like action I would have loved to hear about from you guys.
Have experienced to keyboard at thoms music this keyboard it a beast
Keyboard sounds nice. But I wouldn't trade my Casio Px5s for it. Weighs in at 24lbs with fully weighted action. 4 independent sound zones , arps, can play backing tracks, and runs on AA batteries. The one advantage the Yamaha has over it is the not perfect (but usable) organ sounds. The Casio organs are not a strong point. And if you want speakers built in pop for the Casio PX560. Almost identical sound to the PX5S plus a full touch screen to help with programming and sound selection live. Cost of the PX5S was only $800 US too.
I'm seeing 100K Subscribers!!! Woot!!! Congrats! Y'all are my Fav thing on TH-cam!! More Please!!
Thanks for your hard work on these vids. Please can you layer 4 sounds on separate volume sliders?
Thanks for your nice comment. 3 sounds mate. Dedicated volume sliders for each.
Be nice if they do a 73/76 semi weighted as a compromise.
Ha. Wow, that sounds awesome. Love it. Then again, I am very biased towards Yamaha keyboards/Synths.
Great looks for sure. So many boards look so dorky from the back
This keyboard rocks!! I own one and is it great!!
Finally something to take on the Roland Rd-88
Would love a side by side comparison in a performance setting! Rd88 not the most efficient interface (for finding sounds, edits/mods during performance/improv)
@@FirstnameLastname-oj9ep As one who is looking to buy the RD-88 despite the navigation complex, the RD-88 will probably still win out for me. Though I mostly have Yamaha products (S90 ES and MODX7+), the GHS action pales in comparison to the PHA-4 for those looking for even a decent weighted experience. Otherwise, for those that don't care about that too much, the CK88 looks like it'll be the frontrunner.
@@patrickalbernaz6487 l will be selling my RD-88 and probably buy the CK-88. I have a hand injury and find the Roland PHA-4 action too heavy for my liking. I also think the CK-88 will have better organs and ep's
@@germanshepherdlover2613 Yeah, I can see that switch and I would probably do the same thing in that situation. I won't really argue about the sounds either. It's just a personal thing as I've tried the GHS and PHA-4 side by side recently and it's just not the same while playing any jazz or classical music. I opted for the MODX7+ instead of 8+ for that reason. Now I'm just looking for another weighted keyboard to complete the setup. As soon as I saw this product I was looking instantly for the price, and while the price is very fair, the action is most-likely a deal-breaker for me. Plus, I can get a deal on the RD-88.
@@patrickalbernaz6487 You won't be disappointed with the RD-88. The mellow grand piano is lovely for ragtime. I am assuming that the GHS action is similar to the Medelli used in the Kurzweil. Lighter than the PHA-4.
If this had decent speakers in it, I'd be on board. I just don't want to get new furniture or have to hang speakers in my tiny studio.
Montage 8 is the best so far
Amazing video! I'm really considering buying this keyboard, I have one question - Can you make your own sound presets? If yes, After adjusting different parameters, for ex - Reverb, Distortion and cutoff and saving those effects as a new preset, will they be recalled the same even though the physical controls are different than what you saved? Probably a dumb question but it would really help if you could answer it, Thanks!
Not a silly question... yes you can. Everything is saveable. All the positions of fx. Foot pedal programming etc etc. Position of drawbars and pots. 👍🏼
Know the keyboard will use up the batteries pretty quick.. Have a lot of extras with you but it is great feature.. I use it for quick warm up before rehearsals before a performance...
How much time do you often get on one set of batteries?
I just joined a band, I am a guitarist but I am playing keys with them, I need a keyboard for my room in college next year but I also need to play gigs with a keyboard with good built in sounds since I don’t have room at venues for a laptop and keyboard. I was thinking that this is the one, for money it seems really good but I don’t know much about keyboards, is this the right choice?
It definitely feels like a top contender Ethan. Built-in speakers will help with clutter for your dorm room. Only light too so you could put it on its side every now and then if you needed space (without unplugging speakers etc).
With the built-in audio interface though, adding a computer later to the setup will mean just a laptop and a single USB using just the outputs from the keyboard. 👍🏼
@@lukejuby I do have an interface that is crazy it comes with one built in tho. Thank you so much for your thoughts It really helps. Gonna do a little more research but it looks like this might be the right one. Thank you again 👍🏻
Congrats on the 100k sub.
pretty cool keyboard IMO
Eventually, this the hybridization of refase series
Get that blindfold on D Bingers sharpish and let's have us a good old fashioned stand off! Nord Electro? Roland VR something?
I like the features but the design feels a bit old fashioned. The small blue LCD, the yellowish backlit buttons. The placement of the wheels. Somehow the YC was much prettier. I love the draw bars!
These dudes are the party and the entourage.
Come on with the 73 note weighted! Pretty please.
Truly amazing keyboard
Wow, that is one sweet keyboard, #1 my Kronos is awesome but 100 lbs! And he reminds me of how important practice is! Lol
Come on, Nord is soooo overpriced, Montage 8 or Nord 4….no contest Yamaha s all day long….I almost bought an M audio Pro to run Mainstage but I’d rather have the flexibility of this keyboard. I’m a gigging musician tired of hauling my motif’s, and sometimes I don’t need Mainstage. Ordering one today….thx for this video…had no idea this was out there….
Classy review boys
Ck61 Yamaha I love
wowza. love it. what was the backing track at 18:30?
I want to use this as a midi controller on stage...
Save rhinocéros and luke😅, what great sounds ,ty ty so much guys❤