It's good to see another Merriam video with Stu. More and more, we see that emulating an acoustic piano is not really the main function of a stage piano - not anymore. Now that "portable pianos" are getting so good, pianists often choose those for gigging instead. They tend to be lighter, cheaper and quicker to set up, and they come with music rests and monitor speakers. That the RD-88 was cheap and had monitors shows how it was kind of a merger between two piano categories. Nevertheless, Stu himself rightly suggests that some pianists may be better off with simpler portable pianos from the FP and ES series. He could have said P series too except that Yamaha doesn't offer a P model in the price range and weight category that he is discussing. So why hasn't Yamaha released a P-256? Some of us keep asking this question. Meanwhile, I'm making sure that my P-255 lasts as long as possible. And what is left for stage pianos? Well they are wonderful stage keyboards really, which double as portable pianos. Yamaha got that concept right with the CK-88, proudly hailed as a "stage keyboard". The RD-88 was a wonderful instrument offering tremendous value. It seems to be disappearing from online catalogues now, so I hope that the more expensive EX version comes down in price before too long. Then the likes of myself can be tempted once again by all the lovely dials and buttons. But my problem is that I'm one of those pianists that Stu is talking about - I only use piano patches nowadays. Perhaps the new piano editing facilities will win over some of us pianists.
Brent from Merriam Music here! As always, thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. I definitely know what you mean in terms of the overlap between portable digital pianos and stage pianos that seems to be prevalent these days. In terms of the RD88 versus RD88EX pricing, the RD88's price was only reduced shortly before the launch of the RD88EX. And Roland released the RD08 (a slightly streamlined version of the RD88) to be able to offer a stage piano at the same price point as the RD88's clearance pricing.
6:11 really wish that Stu would've then turned around to play the upright to give us a reference point to how loud the Roland is compared to it, picking up from the same mics. Missed opportunity right there😊
Thanks for the suggestion! A video tackling the decibel output difference of various types of pianos would be quite interesting. Thank you for the idea! I'll pass it on to the production team. :)
@@MerriamPianos That would be great! A bunch of pianos/digitals with speakers in the same room, all being picked up by the same mics as a comparison. Looking forward!
@@MerriamPianos That would be definitely great to help us find and set the volume of our digital/stage pianos to try to match the natural volume/decibels of the acoustic. Great suggestion!
I upgrade my RD88 to the new EX pianos/E-pianos. VERY worth it, they are superb and lifts the RD88 up to pro level pianos, just what I wanted. PS, I chose the RD88 based on your review Stu and I adore the action and everything about it, thank you, I play it everyday with pleasure.
@@PatrickRosenbalm It was $99 and easy to do. Now I won't use any pianos except the EX upgrades. Before that I used VST's because they sounded better than Roland stock, but these are equal or better. Joe
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Congrats on your RD88 and EX expansion! It is a powerhouse instrument for the money. We're very happy to hear that you've been enjoying it and that you found Stu's review video helpful in your decision making process. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
@@odmusicman Will definitely do. Thanks for the info!! 🙂 I hate how C5 sounds. It's like it has a weird "ding" to it. C5# and B5 a little too, and it lessens considerably as you move up the scale. Bb and down must be on different sample, as it's not there at all. The piano sounds on the Fantom 06 do not sound exactly like the RD-88. Barely any ding on its C5. No C5 ding on my FA-08 either. And the, non SuperNatural, piano sounds on my VR-730, sound different as well. Kind of metallic and harsh. I guess to cut though a mix and get over the electric guitar players at gigs. LOL!!
I'm seriously thinking about buying the RD-88EX in the future, but I'm also thinking about this DAW integration. Basically I'm planning to use it to control both its sounds and virtual instruments, but I'm also looking forward to make it programable in a sense that I don't even need to touch the computer to manage things on the fly. I see it is already integrated with MainStage, but if you want to program other DAW to do the same, is it possible? Or, do you have other suggestions to use a keyboard with DAW on live situations? Great video and thanks in advance for the tips.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The RD88EX would make for an excellent stage/production piano. The PHA4 action and sensor system allows it to double as an excellent MIDI controller too. The fact that the knobs/controls are assignable is quite convenient too of course.
@@MerriamPianos This is good to know. I notice that at some point around their site they mention this thing about DAW integration, and having one as a studio/live partner is awesome. Another thing I forgot to ask: Can this device be powered via USB as well, or should we always use the outlet to plug it in? Thanks for the fast response and the positive insights. Peace, Edu Camargo.
I owned an RD-88 several years ago, and loved everything about it except for what I found to be overly heavy keys for me. I never had much finger strength.
That is certainly fair! The PHA4 action is a heavier touch, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. Thankfully, there are a lot of options on the market to choose from to satisfy all types of playing preferences. :)
Hi, Brent from Merriam Music here! While we have not opened up the RD88 EX to check if there are any alterations to the standard PHA4 action, the PHA4 usually has a pivot length of 20 cm versus the PHA50's 22 cm.
Yes! Visual storytelling. Those few steps during the intro are magic. Mrwhosetheboss often "drops in" th-cam.com/video/rj-db6BAEg8/w-d-xo.html Joe Scott always "turns in" th-cam.com/video/AGIAI380TnY/w-d-xo.html and so on, examples are countless. Camera work and editing will pay off 0:38 live performance This insert is like exponentiation for the words 💯 0:51 live show environment Again 😃 0:57 connectivity Pictures flow with words, and it feels good. 1:01 this passage! You guys are storytellers, it's almost cinematic. 5:47 dynamic look from the microphone perspective, there and back. 7:08 standing final thoughts Very good, but here I would experiment with a different lens, can't put this in proper technical terms but it feels somewhat distorted - disjointed from all other shots. (I'm nitpicking here) Anyway, you guys are going in the right direction, and it shows. ... For the next year, I'm gonna throw at your wall all my confabulatory s#!t , wondering if anything sticks, will be prodding and poking with wild nonsense. My force of disruptive uncertainty seems to spice your work quite well. At least that's what I want to believe in... Best wishes, live long and prosper
To my knowledge, it is not compatible with the Roland Piano App. But, with that said, it has tons of customization features onboard the piano itself. :)
Hi Stu Thank you for your excellent informative videos. I´ve bought an RD88 two or three months ago and i can´t take good piano sounds from it. The keys are very heavy and there is something weird in the action of this keyboard. I´ve several other keyboards (Yamaha YC, CK, Moxf6, Korg Nautilus, Krome, PA4X, etc) and it only happens with the RD88. Have you some advices? Thank you Kind Regards
Hi, Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! I'm sorry to hear you have not been enjoying your Roland RD88. The action is quite heavy by design. The PHA4 action is designed to simulate an acoustic grand action, which is quite heavy and features escapement. In terms of the piano sounds, it can take some experimentation and tweaking. However, because tonal preferences are so subjective, it really comes down to the preferences of the player. If you still can't find any desirable sounds after experimenting, you could always venture into the realm of VST piano plugins. That would give you a plethora of options. You can use the RD88 to control these sound libraries via MIDI.
No, the RD88EX does not have auto-accompaniment functionality. If you're looking for those types of features, the Roland FPE50 would be worth looking into. it also features the ZEN-Core engine like the RD88EX, but with tons of accompaniment features as well.
@@MerriamPianos Thank for fast reply, so is FP e50 compatible with Logic Pro 11 & Native Instrument Piano VST like THE GRANDEUR or THE MAVERICK , it will better then E50 on board piano sound ? Please advice , Thank You !
Hi, I'm a beginner looking to buy a piano. In my country, the Roland FP10, Yamaha P145, and Kawai ES 120 are similarly priced. I was considering the FP-30X, but it's $300 more expensive than the others so I have three options. Which one would you choose if you wanted to buy one? Thank you!
Hi there! It comes down to a matter of preference. Personally, I would just the ES120 from that particular list. In addition to having the most authentic piano sound in that price category, it also offers triple pedal support (which not all models do in this price category). The RHC action on the ES120 is excellent as well!
There is some overlap between the two (same PHA4 action for instance), but the JUNO-D8 is more of a synth, whereas the RD88EX is designed to be a stage piano. However, because of their wealth of features, they are both incredibly versatile.
I’m looking for an 88 weighted piano with USB and MIDI connectivity without all the bells and whistles. It doesn’t even need to have speakers. MIDI controller keyboards all have terrible action. Even the Yamaha P-45 has a better key-bed than any of the MIDI controllers I’ve tried. Any advice would be appreciated. TIA
Hi there! Most digital pianos have USB MIDI connectivity these days. If you're looking to optimize the action and use the piano as a MIDI controller, the Roland FP10 is certainly worth looking into. The PHA4 action is excellent and has a wonderful sensor system that lends itself nicely for use as a MIDI controller. :)
Does the ex upgrade brings a piano sound closer to the ones found on the fp series ( fp 30) for a more acoustic piano solo experience. I know the rd88 is intend Ed to cut through the mix but when doing solo piano this fact result in a ringing metallic sound of the piano far less good than the piano sound of the fp 30
Hi there! I would say that they are certainly closer to the FP series piano sounds though not identical. I would definitely recommend auditioning the RD88EX in person to see if the new piano patches would be suitable for the type of solo repertoire you wish to play.
I had the original RD88 and was excited when I first tried it but eventually had a couple of issues with it - clicking sound on many of the black notes...Was a grease issue and apparently a common problem with the PHA4 on these RD88s. And the SN piano sound was far inferior to the FP30X which I had before, despite it being tagged as SN - I wasnt really impressed. The decay on the RD88 piano sample was the main issue why ended up going back to the FP-30X. Additionally the speakers on the RD88s (6W x 2) are also rubbish compared to the FP30X (11W x 2). Theres hardly any difference in weight between these 2 models, all you're essentially adding for the RD88EX (compared to the RD88) is an additional piano sample, which from what I've read still is miles away from the piano sound on the FP-30X. If Roland are marketing the RD88 / RD88EX as a "stage piano" then why do you need the 3000+ zencore sounds ! Just my opinion.
Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that you had issues with your RD88. I do agree that the RD88's speakers aren't the most robust and impressive speaker offering on a digital piano. But, they are really there for convenience. They allow personal monitoring for players when practicing. However, given that the intention of the RD88 is for professional stage use in which the piano would be run through an external amp or PA system, powerful speakers aren't much of a necessity for those contexts of use. Also, stage pianos are typically loaded with a plethora of sounds, so that players can have a single piece of hardware to access any sound they would require for performance situations.
@@MerriamPianos hey there no need to apologise, like you say everything is down to personal preference, the RD88 (and EX) wasnt for me, will stick with my trusted FP30X ! Cheers !
While I can understand the desire for brand new models, the fact that the updated version is being offered for the same price as its predecessor (at least prior to the launch of the update) is a win for consumers I think.
Great review as always but for me I'm not convinced that the difference between the OG and the new EX version is worth re-releasing it as a new product, it's just a marketing gimmick. I used to be a Roland fan and user 10 years ago, and I think you can do a lot with this board, just not my personal taste in terms of action, acoustic piano sound and interface. You do get many sounds, for sure !
Thanks so much for tuning in and writing in! We appreciate that. :) It all depends on what one is looking to get out of the piano. The original RD88 still holds up as a super solid instrument. The EX re-release just gives a few updates without a massive jump in price. In fact, here in Canada, the RD88EX price is the same as its predecessor.
I'm a huge fan of Roland synths, pianos nope. I'm a music director & I've been playing Roland digital pianos in recording & live gigs since the 80s when their RD1000 came out. Since then, everytime a new RD comes out I try to check if they fixed the main issue which is the Keyboard to sound coherence. RD's are ok for playing funk, pop, rock & the likes. But be bop jazz specially the burning 250bpm & above? No no no!!! the sound has this milli sec delay that just lags behind when playing really fast lines or very thick voicings in fast tempos & it gets even noticeable when you layer patches. I've been waiting for 35 years or so for Roland to fix this issue but they never did. Roland makes incredible synth, classic drum machines etc.. but they don't know how to make pianos bec they don't make acoustic pianos. The best digital pianos comes from brands that make real acoustic pianos which is Kawai & Yamaha, these guys REALLY know what they're doing. Believe me i tried, owned & used them all!!!
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and context of use. When it comes to the latency issues you're describing, the sensor systems used in the actions designs certainly play a role. To that point, Roland's best sensor systems (which are quite fast and impressive at rendering the finest performance details) are only available in their highest end console and grand models, such as the LX and GP series instruments.
Thanks, ya played those too, the Roland LX upright digital & GP Grands are meant to stay at home not to be lugged around in gigs. Also RDs just can't play pppp w/out turning the volume lever/ dial down. Roland make their RDs like synths w/ fancy RH series keybeds. Kawai & Yamaha have found ways to minimize latency on their stage pianos decades ago, it's sad that in 2025 Roland still hasn't in their pro stage pianos, it's musicians who'll use these stage pianos the most so why not address the issue for their sake? Most gigging pro musicians can't afford the LX & GP series anyway. Love your channel & thanks.
5:40 Speakers. What a thin trashy sound. Sounds like a guitar amp. A condenser mike doesn't lie. I monitor my home mp11se with two small Axiom speakers and a small 6" sub in my home stuidio. What a live Mike picks up is a full rich deep sound. My onstage Mp11 se has two 15 inchers with horns for moniters. The sound as recorded by external condenser mic's is rich and deep. Sorry the Roland isn't set up with decent speakers. It sounds like a recording of a cheap toy piano. Compare my external microphone recordiongs in a blinfold test and you can't relly tell it's an electronic instrument. Sounds like a regular real piano, not so what I hear from the Roland in the demo.
It is important to note that this piano is intended to be a stage piano. The onboard speakers are not particularly impressive, but they're for personal monitoring when playing at home. In a live performance situation, this piano is intended to be plugged into an external keyboard amp or PA system. That is where the onboard sounds are really presented in their full light. :)
While Roland doesn't formally note the polyphony of the RD88EX model in their spec charts, I believe they have upped the polyphony amount with this new model.
Does the ex upgrade brings a piano sound closer to the ones found on the fp series ( fp 30) for a more acoustic piano solo experience. I know the rd88 is intend Ed to cut through the mix but when doing solo piano this fact result in a ringing metallic sound of the piano far less good than the piano sound of the fp 30
Hi there! I would say that they are certainly closer to the FP series piano sounds though not identical. I would definitely recommend auditioning the RD88EX in person to see if the new piano patches would be suitable for the type of solo repertoire you wish to play.
I see a strong improvement on the video quality, good job!
Thank you! I'll be happy to pass along the kind words to our production team for you. :)
Youre reviews are top-of-the-line. Thank you.
You're welcome! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Beautiful demo
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed Stu's review! :)
It's good to see another Merriam video with Stu. More and more, we see that emulating an acoustic piano is not really the main function of a stage piano - not anymore. Now that "portable pianos" are getting so good, pianists often choose those for gigging instead. They tend to be lighter, cheaper and quicker to set up, and they come with music rests and monitor speakers. That the RD-88 was cheap and had monitors shows how it was kind of a merger between two piano categories. Nevertheless, Stu himself rightly suggests that some pianists may be better off with simpler portable pianos from the FP and ES series. He could have said P series too except that Yamaha doesn't offer a P model in the price range and weight category that he is discussing. So why hasn't Yamaha released a P-256? Some of us keep asking this question. Meanwhile, I'm making sure that my P-255 lasts as long as possible.
And what is left for stage pianos? Well they are wonderful stage keyboards really, which double as portable pianos. Yamaha got that concept right with the CK-88, proudly hailed as a "stage keyboard".
The RD-88 was a wonderful instrument offering tremendous value. It seems to be disappearing from online catalogues now, so I hope that the more expensive EX version comes down in price before too long. Then the likes of myself can be tempted once again by all the lovely dials and buttons. But my problem is that I'm one of those pianists that Stu is talking about - I only use piano patches nowadays. Perhaps the new piano editing facilities will win over some of us pianists.
Brent from Merriam Music here! As always, thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. I definitely know what you mean in terms of the overlap between portable digital pianos and stage pianos that seems to be prevalent these days.
In terms of the RD88 versus RD88EX pricing, the RD88's price was only reduced shortly before the launch of the RD88EX. And Roland released the RD08 (a slightly streamlined version of the RD88) to be able to offer a stage piano at the same price point as the RD88's clearance pricing.
A long awaited post!!!
We're happy to finally release this one! :)
6:11 really wish that Stu would've then turned around to play the upright to give us a reference point to how loud the Roland is compared to it, picking up from the same mics. Missed opportunity right there😊
Thanks for the suggestion! A video tackling the decibel output difference of various types of pianos would be quite interesting. Thank you for the idea! I'll pass it on to the production team. :)
@@MerriamPianos That would be great! A bunch of pianos/digitals with speakers in the same room, all being picked up by the same mics as a comparison. Looking forward!
@@MerriamPianos That would be definitely great to help us find and set the volume of our digital/stage pianos to try to match the natural volume/decibels of the acoustic. Great suggestion!
I upgrade my RD88 to the new EX pianos/E-pianos. VERY worth it, they are superb and lifts the RD88 up to pro level pianos, just what I wanted. PS, I chose the RD88 based on your review Stu and I adore the action and everything about it, thank you, I play it everyday with pleasure.
Sounds like I need to do that with mine. I wonder if the Fantom 06, 07 and 08 will be next? I have the Fantom 06 too.
@@PatrickRosenbalm It was $99 and easy to do. Now I won't use any pianos except the EX upgrades. Before that I used VST's because they sounded better than Roland stock, but these are equal or better. Joe
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Congrats on your RD88 and EX expansion! It is a powerhouse instrument for the money. We're very happy to hear that you've been enjoying it and that you found Stu's review video helpful in your decision making process. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
@@odmusicman Will definitely do. Thanks for the info!! 🙂
I hate how C5 sounds. It's like it has a weird "ding" to it. C5# and B5 a little too, and it lessens considerably as you move up the scale. Bb and down must be on different sample, as it's not there at all. The piano sounds on the Fantom 06 do not sound exactly like the RD-88. Barely any ding on its C5. No C5 ding on my FA-08 either. And the, non SuperNatural, piano sounds on my VR-730, sound different as well. Kind of metallic and harsh. I guess to cut though a mix and get over the electric guitar players at gigs. LOL!!
@@PatrickRosenbalm I agree with everything you said
Thank you so much for the video I would really appreciate if you could do all your demos like minute 2 for every single mother that comes up
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in!
I'm seriously thinking about buying the RD-88EX in the future, but I'm also thinking about this DAW integration. Basically I'm planning to use it to control both its sounds and virtual instruments, but I'm also looking forward to make it programable in a sense that I don't even need to touch the computer to manage things on the fly. I see it is already integrated with MainStage, but if you want to program other DAW to do the same, is it possible? Or, do you have other suggestions to use a keyboard with DAW on live situations?
Great video and thanks in advance for the tips.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The RD88EX would make for an excellent stage/production piano. The PHA4 action and sensor system allows it to double as an excellent MIDI controller too. The fact that the knobs/controls are assignable is quite convenient too of course.
@@MerriamPianos This is good to know. I notice that at some point around their site they mention this thing about DAW integration, and having one as a studio/live partner is awesome.
Another thing I forgot to ask: Can this device be powered via USB as well, or should we always use the outlet to plug it in?
Thanks for the fast response and the positive insights.
Peace,
Edu Camargo.
I owned an RD-88 several years ago, and loved everything about it except for what I found to be overly heavy keys for me. I never had much finger strength.
That is certainly fair! The PHA4 action is a heavier touch, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. Thankfully, there are a lot of options on the market to choose from to satisfy all types of playing preferences. :)
NYC loves Stu💙
I'll be sure to pass on the kind words to Stu! :)
Stu how does the PHA-4 action here compare to the PHA-50 action (e.g. on the FP 90X)? I know the key length is a bit shorter.
Hi, Brent from Merriam Music here! While we have not opened up the RD88 EX to check if there are any alterations to the standard PHA4 action, the PHA4 usually has a pivot length of 20 cm versus the PHA50's 22 cm.
2:09 aesthetics matter! 💛
Absolutely! :)
Yes! Visual storytelling.
Those few steps during the intro are magic.
Mrwhosetheboss often "drops in"
th-cam.com/video/rj-db6BAEg8/w-d-xo.html
Joe Scott always "turns in"
th-cam.com/video/AGIAI380TnY/w-d-xo.html
and so on, examples are countless.
Camera work and editing will pay off
0:38 live performance
This insert is like exponentiation for the words 💯
0:51 live show environment
Again 😃
0:57 connectivity
Pictures flow with words, and it feels good.
1:01 this passage!
You guys are storytellers, it's almost cinematic.
5:47 dynamic look from the microphone perspective, there and back.
7:08 standing final thoughts
Very good, but here I would experiment with a different lens, can't put this in proper technical terms but it feels somewhat distorted - disjointed from all other shots. (I'm nitpicking here)
Anyway, you guys are going in the right direction, and it shows.
...
For the next year, I'm gonna throw at your wall all my confabulatory s#!t , wondering if anything sticks, will be prodding and poking with wild nonsense.
My force of disruptive uncertainty seems to spice your work quite well.
At least that's what I want to believe in...
Best wishes, live long and prosper
Thank you for tuning in and sharing your feedback. All the best!
Can it be connected to an ipad to edit the sounds ?
And awesome video 🙏🏾🙌🏽
To my knowledge, it is not compatible with the Roland Piano App. But, with that said, it has tons of customization features onboard the piano itself. :)
Hi Stu
Thank you for your excellent informative videos.
I´ve bought an RD88 two or three months ago and i can´t take good piano sounds from it.
The keys are very heavy and there is something weird in the action of this keyboard.
I´ve several other keyboards (Yamaha YC, CK, Moxf6, Korg Nautilus, Krome, PA4X, etc) and it only happens with the RD88.
Have you some advices?
Thank you
Kind Regards
Hi, Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! I'm sorry to hear you have not been enjoying your Roland RD88. The action is quite heavy by design. The PHA4 action is designed to simulate an acoustic grand action, which is quite heavy and features escapement. In terms of the piano sounds, it can take some experimentation and tweaking. However, because tonal preferences are so subjective, it really comes down to the preferences of the player. If you still can't find any desirable sounds after experimenting, you could always venture into the realm of VST piano plugins. That would give you a plethora of options. You can use the RD88 to control these sound libraries via MIDI.
I wonder if it has SuperNatural Wurlitzer presets, like those that were included in the FA series (or even my old RD-300NX) but not in the Fantom-0’s.
I am not completely sure to be honest. In any case, the onboard Wurly sounds are quite good on this model! :)
is Roland RD-88ex have auto-accompaniment ? or we need to add other device to run auto-accompaniment ?
No, the RD88EX does not have auto-accompaniment functionality. If you're looking for those types of features, the Roland FPE50 would be worth looking into. it also features the ZEN-Core engine like the RD88EX, but with tons of accompaniment features as well.
@@MerriamPianos Thank for fast reply, so is FP e50 compatible with Logic Pro 11 & Native Instrument Piano VST like THE GRANDEUR or THE MAVERICK , it will better then E50 on board piano sound ? Please advice , Thank You !
Can you please compare this with Yamaha ck88?
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll pass it along to our production team on your behalf. :)
Hi, I'm a beginner looking to buy a piano. In my country, the Roland FP10, Yamaha P145, and Kawai ES 120 are similarly priced. I was considering the FP-30X, but it's $300 more expensive than the others so I have three options. Which one would you choose if you wanted to buy one? Thank you!
Hi there! It comes down to a matter of preference. Personally, I would just the ES120 from that particular list. In addition to having the most authentic piano sound in that price category, it also offers triple pedal support (which not all models do in this price category). The RHC action on the ES120 is excellent as well!
how if its compare to a juno d8? thx
There is some overlap between the two (same PHA4 action for instance), but the JUNO-D8 is more of a synth, whereas the RD88EX is designed to be a stage piano. However, because of their wealth of features, they are both incredibly versatile.
I’m looking for an 88 weighted piano with USB and MIDI connectivity without all the bells and whistles. It doesn’t even need to have speakers. MIDI controller keyboards all have terrible action. Even the Yamaha P-45 has a better key-bed than any of the MIDI controllers I’ve tried.
Any advice would be appreciated.
TIA
Hi there! Most digital pianos have USB MIDI connectivity these days. If you're looking to optimize the action and use the piano as a MIDI controller, the Roland FP10 is certainly worth looking into. The PHA4 action is excellent and has a wonderful sensor system that lends itself nicely for use as a MIDI controller. :)
Does the ex upgrade brings a piano sound closer to the ones found on the fp series ( fp 30) for a more acoustic piano solo experience. I know the rd88 is intend Ed to cut through the mix but when doing solo piano this fact result in a ringing metallic sound of the piano far less good than the piano sound of the fp 30
Hi there! I would say that they are certainly closer to the FP series piano sounds though not identical. I would definitely recommend auditioning the RD88EX in person to see if the new piano patches would be suitable for the type of solo repertoire you wish to play.
I know there isn't a comparison out yet, but from anyones experience how does this compare to the Yamaha CK88?
I will pass along the suggestion to our production team to tackle a comparison between the CK88 and RD88EX. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you very much :)
I had the original RD88 and was excited when I first tried it but eventually had a couple of issues with it - clicking sound on many of the black notes...Was a grease issue and apparently a common problem with the PHA4 on these RD88s. And the SN piano sound was far inferior to the FP30X which I had before, despite it being tagged as SN - I wasnt really impressed. The decay on the RD88 piano sample was the main issue why ended up going back to the FP-30X. Additionally the speakers on the RD88s (6W x 2) are also rubbish compared to the FP30X (11W x 2). Theres hardly any difference in weight between these 2 models, all you're essentially adding for the RD88EX (compared to the RD88) is an additional piano sample, which from what I've read still is miles away from the piano sound on the FP-30X. If Roland are marketing the RD88 / RD88EX as a "stage piano" then why do you need the 3000+ zencore sounds ! Just my opinion.
Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that you had issues with your RD88. I do agree that the RD88's speakers aren't the most robust and impressive speaker offering on a digital piano. But, they are really there for convenience. They allow personal monitoring for players when practicing. However, given that the intention of the RD88 is for professional stage use in which the piano would be run through an external amp or PA system, powerful speakers aren't much of a necessity for those contexts of use. Also, stage pianos are typically loaded with a plethora of sounds, so that players can have a single piece of hardware to access any sound they would require for performance situations.
@@MerriamPianos hey there no need to apologise, like you say everything is down to personal preference, the RD88 (and EX) wasnt for me, will stick with my trusted FP30X ! Cheers !
I think that Roland Juno-D 8 is a better choice for most.
It all depends on the context of use really. There is certainly some overlap between the models though.
I love the offerings from Roland, but I am so sick of this "EX" option which is simply a firmware upgrade. Seems a bit greedy, and possibly lazy.
While I can understand the desire for brand new models, the fact that the updated version is being offered for the same price as its predecessor (at least prior to the launch of the update) is a win for consumers I think.
@MerriamPianos A valid point. It's just my take.
Great review as always but for me I'm not convinced that the difference between the OG and the new EX version is worth re-releasing it as a new product, it's just a marketing gimmick. I used to be a Roland fan and user 10 years ago, and I think you can do a lot with this board, just not my personal taste in terms of action, acoustic piano sound and interface. You do get many sounds, for sure !
Thanks so much for tuning in and writing in! We appreciate that. :)
It all depends on what one is looking to get out of the piano. The original RD88 still holds up as a super solid instrument. The EX re-release just gives a few updates without a massive jump in price. In fact, here in Canada, the RD88EX price is the same as its predecessor.
I tried this, but didn't like the action.
That is fair. Tone and touch preferences are highly subjective of course.
I'm a huge fan of Roland synths, pianos nope. I'm a music director & I've been playing Roland digital pianos in recording & live gigs since the 80s when their RD1000 came out. Since then, everytime a new RD comes out I try to check if they fixed the main issue which is the Keyboard to sound coherence. RD's are ok for playing funk, pop, rock & the likes. But be bop jazz specially the burning 250bpm & above? No no no!!! the sound has this milli sec delay that just lags behind when playing really fast lines or very thick voicings in fast tempos & it gets even noticeable when you layer patches. I've been waiting for 35 years or so for Roland to fix this issue but they never did. Roland makes incredible synth, classic drum machines etc.. but they don't know how to make pianos bec they don't make acoustic pianos. The best digital pianos comes from brands that make real acoustic pianos which is Kawai & Yamaha, these guys REALLY know what they're doing. Believe me i tried, owned & used them all!!!
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and context of use. When it comes to the latency issues you're describing, the sensor systems used in the actions designs certainly play a role. To that point, Roland's best sensor systems (which are quite fast and impressive at rendering the finest performance details) are only available in their highest end console and grand models, such as the LX and GP series instruments.
Thanks, ya played those too, the Roland LX upright digital & GP Grands are meant to stay at home not to be lugged around in gigs. Also RDs just can't play pppp w/out turning the volume lever/ dial down. Roland make their RDs like synths w/ fancy RH series keybeds. Kawai & Yamaha have found ways to minimize latency on their stage pianos decades ago, it's sad that in 2025 Roland still hasn't in their pro stage pianos, it's musicians who'll use these stage pianos the most so why not address the issue for their sake? Most gigging pro musicians can't afford the LX & GP series anyway. Love your channel & thanks.
5:40 Speakers. What a thin trashy sound. Sounds like a guitar amp. A condenser mike doesn't lie. I monitor my home mp11se with two small Axiom speakers and a small 6" sub in my home stuidio. What a live Mike picks up is a full rich deep sound. My onstage Mp11 se has two 15 inchers with horns for moniters. The sound as recorded by external condenser mic's is rich and deep. Sorry the Roland isn't set up with decent speakers. It sounds like a recording of a cheap toy piano. Compare my external microphone recordiongs in a blinfold test and you can't relly tell it's an electronic instrument. Sounds like a regular real piano, not so what I hear from the Roland in the demo.
It is important to note that this piano is intended to be a stage piano. The onboard speakers are not particularly impressive, but they're for personal monitoring when playing at home. In a live performance situation, this piano is intended to be plugged into an external keyboard amp or PA system. That is where the onboard sounds are really presented in their full light. :)
On that note: I was kind of hoping that after demo-ing the speakers you would play the same piece using the line out stereo sound for comparison.
piano with wooting keyboard sensors will beat 9999999999$ piano EASY
I am not particularly familiar with Wooting keyboard sensors, but the technology seems intriguing - especially if implemented into a digital piano.
@@MerriamPianos All these brands use outdated technologies from 30 years ago. 2-3 sensors on elastic bands.
3000 sounds …128 Polyphony?
While Roland doesn't formally note the polyphony of the RD88EX model in their spec charts, I believe they have upped the polyphony amount with this new model.
Does the ex upgrade brings a piano sound closer to the ones found on the fp series ( fp 30) for a more acoustic piano solo experience. I know the rd88 is intend Ed to cut through the mix but when doing solo piano this fact result in a ringing metallic sound of the piano far less good than the piano sound of the fp 30
Hi there! I would say that they are certainly closer to the FP series piano sounds though not identical. I would definitely recommend auditioning the RD88EX in person to see if the new piano patches would be suitable for the type of solo repertoire you wish to play.