Yamaha DGX200 76-Key Electronic Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)I have plyed piano professionally and have a degree in music. i have a very expensive Yamaha Clavinova (as well as a real piano)
i bought this thinking of it as a toy for my 22 year old who suddenly wants to play. it has a fabulous piano sound (better than the expensive triton). the built in piano lessons are really helpful. my favorite part is when i taught piano, i could never get kids to practice one hand at a time. this keyboard will play the left hand for you as you play the right and vice versa. my daughter loved that it would record and play back what she had just played.

i always discoraged parents from having their kids practice on keyboards but the touch of these keys is very realistic. i would recommend it to someone starting out in piano not wanting to make that huge investment until they were sure they would continue.
but, as a keyboard (not a tiny piano) there are enough sounds and gimics for a beginner in keyboards but not for someone who really is into all the synthesizer effects.
But, what is this? no power cord? and no sustain pedal. the pedal i can understand but no power cord - that is just too cheap. they should at least put a huge notice on the front of the box that you're going to have to buy one separately.
still, i was shocked at the quality considering the price.

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Yamaha DGX200 76-Key Electronic Keyboard

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Yamaha PSRE213 Portable Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)It really does not look like a professional keyboard but it could be a beautiful present for a beginner. Got it for [...] so its well worth the money. I would recommend the starter kit that comes separate for [...] more. It includes a headphone,footswitch,an adapter and a DVD.

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The perfect beginner keyboard, the Yamaha PSR-E213 with Portable Grand stereo piano and the Yamaha Education Suite also features 'Listen and Learn' function for learning songs, and is General MIDI (GM), and XGlite compatible. In addition, the PSR-E213 is an unbelievable bargain as a full-size MIDI controller.

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Yamaha YPT210AD Portable Keyboard with Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a guy in my late 30s who's never learned to play any musical instruments or learned to read music or had any kind of musical training. I've always wanted to learn piano, though. So when my toddler son got a kid's keyboard from his grandmother for Christmas, it rekindled my interest and I started looking around Amazon.com to see if I could find something that'd work for me (hey, I'd cheerfully have co-opted my son's keyboard--goodness knows he got enough loot for Christmas--but the keys were too small/narrow for my hand; it's a kid's keyboard, after all).
I came across this Yamaha YPT-210 keyboard, and the price really surprised me. I didn't know full-sized keyboards from a reputable company could be gotten so affordably. It was also on a Friday sale, so that helped even more. So I went ahead and bought it.
Now, keep in mind that I'm pretty much an ignoramus when it comes to music, or portable keyboards, or quality of voices and songs and instruments and all that fancy stuff I'm just learning. All I can say is this: WOW. This thing sounds great. The Grand Piano mode sounds just like, well, a grand piano. Now, I'm sure Ms. Mitsuko Uchida (hey, I may be a musical ignoramus, but I do like to listen to classical music and have a decent collection) or even the music teacher at the local high school down the road will have no problem distinguishing this from a "real" piano, but it sounds great to me, and for my first keyboard, I'm just astonished by the quality of the sound coming out of the stereo speakers.
Then there are a multitude of instruments, sound effects, voice clips, noises. The variety feels a bit overwhelming to me, but I understand that this is one of the most basic portable keyboards Yamaha makes and the fancier models have even more. Yikes.
It comes with over 100 songs built in, all of which is available via the built-in Yamaha Education Suite (YES) 5 tutorial for you to try to learn to play. The YES works like this: 1. You listen to the song and get a feel for it; 2) you work on the tempo and try to press the right key at the right time; 3) then you actually play the piece, to the accompaniment of background beat and supporting music. The way step 3 works is that the keyboard waits for you to press the right key in right sequence. This is harder to explain than it actually is to do in real life. Say a song calls for "do-re-mi" sequence. If you press "do-do-re-re-do-mi," then only the first do, and first re, and first mi will play and sound. Of course your pressing all the other keys throw your tempo out of whack, and at the end of the piece, you get a rudimentary grade of how you did (OK/Good/Very Good/Excellent--Yamaha apparently believes in positive reinforcements only). Like I said, it sounds cumbersome explaining it with words, but in practice, it works surprisingly well. I was able to get a passable (for me) rendition of "Oh Susanna" going after only a few tries.
This is how Yamaha explains the YES feature on their website:
*********************************************************
Yamaha Education Suite(tm) (Y.E.S.): Learn How To Play Now!
The YPT-210 has 102 built-in songs for you to learn to play, using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.
Three keyboard lessons for each hand:
* Lesson One - LISTEN & LEARN the melody or rhythm of a selected song
* Lesson Two - TIMING mode allows you to play the melody or chord by pressing any key using the correct timing
* Lesson Three: WAITING mode stops the playback of a song until you find the correct note and then continues
* Lesson Grading - monitors your progress as you practice each lessons two and three and gives you a grade.
* Chord Dictionary - shows you how to play chords and tells you which chords you are playing by displaying the notes and chord name on the LCD screen.
*********************************************************
You can either use six AA sized batteries or the supplied AC adapter. Be careful to make sure that the YPT-210 you're getting comes with an adapter; apparently there are versions of the YPT-210 that does not include the adapter. The manual recommends alkaline batteries, and warns that using rechargeable batteries may result in sudden loss of power when the charge becomes low (as opposed to alkalines, where the power loss would be gradual). I've tested it at home using six 1.2V NiMH AA batteries (the ubiquitous type used for digital cameras), and the keyboard worked fine. As long as, say, you're not performing in front of a crowd, I'd imagine using rechargeable batteries would be fine, especially if you don't have a ready power outlet near where the keyboard is.
The keyboard has connections for headphones, a foot sustain pedal, and computer MIDI interface, but the latter two are far, far down the road for me. I have found the headphone plug to be very useful, as I like to do most of my practicing late at night after the family's gone to bed.
Not having any experience with a regular piano, I can't really compare how the keys on this keyboard feels compare to a piano. All I can say is it feels good to me. The keys are firmly responsive when you press down on them. Again, I'm sorry I can't offer any meaningful contrasts; it feels comfortable and good to me as someone who's just starting out with it.
You can go to the Yamaha website to download the full manual in PDF format, and also see the specifications for the keyboard.
The only gripe I have so far is the volume control. It resets itself to a default volume every time you turn it off! The default volume happens to be fairly loud, and I do most of my piano practice (sounds fancy already!) late at night, so I've often found myself wishing for a volume control memory. If you hold down the "- Volume" button while powering the keyboard on, then it starts at a lower volume, but it's not as convenient as having it remember the volume setting. One way to get around this that involves a bit of equipment is to connect the keyboard to a receiver or tabletop stereo that has line-in for audio. Then the keyboard volume will always stay at the default (loud) setting, but you can control the volume on the receiver/stereo end.
Also, what this keyboard isn't: Keeping in mind that this is one of the most basic/affordable keyboards that Yamaha makes, I consider the fact that it doesn't include a sequencer (recording your playing) or strength-responsive keys (the keys sound the same, whether you press softly or forcefully) to not detract the overall value and performance of the keyboard.
All in all, I am very, very happy with this keyboard and look forward to learning to play piano/keyboard on it.

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The YPT-210 features 375 natural sounding voices, including Stereo Grand Piano, 361 XGlite voices, 12 drum kits and a sound effect kit. The YPT-210 also has 100 accompaniment styles and 102 built-in songs. Use the Portable Grand button to instantly call up an authentic stereo grand piano sound. The instrument also has a rich Reverb effect that adds concert-hall ambience to any performance. The Yamaha Education Suite (YES) feature makes learning and practicing music more fun than ever before.Some keyboards have two speakers but aren't stereo. Don't be fooled. Just because a keyboard has two speakers doesn't mean that it's truly stereo with two separate amplifiers. All Yamaha Portable Keyboards feature stereo-sampling technology. It has 32 notes of polyphony and will play back 16 different parts or sounds at once (16-part multi timbrel); enough for the most demanding needs. The music pathway to your computer and the Internet is MIDI. It's the way that keyboards communicate with computers. And because the YPT-210 is both General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatible, you have access to thousands of MIDI song files on the Internet. It's the way to begin and play a musical instrument and a grand way to learn piano without occupying lots of space. This model come with an AC adapter and can also be used as a portable when using 6 optional AA batteries. Reverb effect with 9 different reverb types Jack for optional Sustain pedal Auto Accompaniment features MIDI in/out Jack for optional headphone Dimensions - Width 37-1/4 x Depth 13-2/3 x Height 4-1/3 (945mm x 348mm x 110mm) Weight - 9 pounds, 11 ounces Includes AC Adapter or, for portable use, uses 6 AA batteries (not included) LCD Screen

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Yamaha DGX230AD 76 Key Portable Grand with power Review

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(More customer reviews)Aside from it now being affordable (I bought it when it first came out at around $900), this is a high quality digital piano. The sound is utterly incredible, clear cut and crisp. Basic operation is simple, the weighted keys match those of actual piano keys...the feel is all there. This is perfect for those fluid in their craft, going from in studio to performing in shows. It is fairly heavy, requires 2 people to transport. It is well made, can take serious rough wear and tear from moving and constant use.

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The Yamaha DGX-630 offers an affordable, feature-packed portable keyboard that boasts an authentic grand piano-like touch: heavy in the low end, feathery light in the highs, and amazingly responsive throughout. It also includes USB MIDI and USB to Device for removable storage, along with a high resolution Live! Grand stereo sample, song recorder, score and lyric display. The USB facilitates easy transfer with a PC or Macintosh computer for use with many optional software packages that can score, arrange, and sequence your music. Can't play a keyboard instrument? Yamaha Education Suite helps you get started. With nearly 500 voices and built-in stereo speakers, the Yamaha DGX-230/AD is truly a grand keyboard music instrument that you and your family will enjoy.Pitch bend wheel to add smooth pitch variations to notes playedVoices - 116 panel voices + 12 drum/SFX kits + 361 XGlite voices, Polyphony -32, DUAL and SPLIT modesStyles - 160 Preset Styles + External files, Style Control -ACMP ON/OFF, SYNC STOP, SYNC START, START/STOP, INTRO/ENDING/rit., MAIN/AUTO FILL, Fingering -Multi Finger, Full Keyboard, Style VolumeMusic Database -300 + External filesEducation Feature -Dictionary, Lesson 1-3, Repeat & LearnRegistration Memory -8 banks x 2 typesEffects - Reverb -9 types, Chorus -4 types, Harmony -26 types30 Preset Songs + 5 User Songs + Accessory CD-ROM with 70 moreAuxiliary jacks -PHONES/OUTPUT, DC IN 12V, USB, SUSTAINAmplifier -6 Watts per channel to two 2-way on-board speakers -12cm x 2 + 3cm x 2Power Supply - Adaptor -PA-150 (included) or an equivalent recommended by Yamaha, Batteries -SixDsize, R20P (LR20) or equivalent batteries (optional) Unit Dimensions (W x D x H) -1,178 x 412 x 137 mm (46-3/8 x 16-1/4 x 5-3/8); Weight -8.3kg (18 lbs. 5 oz.) (not including batteries)Supplied Accessories - Music Rest, Accessory CD-ROM, Owner's Manu

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Casio 61-Key Portable Keyboard with Stand - Black (CTK720STAD) Review

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(More customer reviews)Now, it's been ages since I have had a keybaord or piano around the house. I wanted to get myself back into the swing of things again so I thought I would low-ball it on the price and just get something to get the creative juices flowing again. Well, you get what you paid for.
The CTK-720 arrived today perfectly fine (sans a few nasty dings in the box, the unit was unscathed). I set it up, hooked it up to my own speaker system to make sure it would have the chance to produce a nice clean sound. Boy, not even my speakers could help it.
Beyond the fact that this is definitely a "Beginners" keyboard in the way that just about any instrument other than "piano" sounds like a midi file circa 1980s there is an odd issue. As a 5-octave keyboard you would want to be able to move around, but there's something odd in the mid octaves on the CTK-720.
Bear in mind, before this I had owned Korgs and Rolands, 88 weighted piano key styles. So I may be a bit spoiled. But for the first time in my life I have heard an electronic keyboard that actually needs to be tuned. The mid-range octaves on the CTK-270 produce a warble when the key is first pressed. Much like a piano that has the cord ever so slightly out of tune.
Unfortunately, my tuning key does little to help me with am electronic keyboard. It's a shame, if it weren't for the dodgy "tones" and the mysterious out-of-tune mid-range keys it would have been a nice keyboard to start out on all over again.
I will give it two stars just because it's still functional. I may just be a bit too discerning at this point.

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Portable, MIDI Interface, Volume Control Slider. It has 61 keys and has 242 tones with a 100 demo songs

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Kurzweil SP4-7 76 Note Digital Stage Piano, Semi Weighted Keys, 128 Programs, 64 Split Polyphony, Split Layer, Setup Mode, 24 Bit DSP Technology, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Previously, the Kurz SP-76 was the handiest of all quality, professional performer's keyboards, so small that I could carry it to a big band job strapped over a shoulder with an amp in one hand. Its limitation was the absence of any splits, making it necessary to have another keyboard or tone generator on the job for left-hand bass. Moreover, the keyboard was simply time-consuming and frustrating (like many Kurzweils I've owned) to MIDI with another device. The Kurzweil SP2 appeared to be the solution, but it's frankly proven an unexciting instrument to play. The sounds are too few, they lack brilliance and life, some of the sounds--e.g. organ--are too weak to be useful, and the inclusion of "Take 6" sounds is a joke from a performer's (and other musicians') point of view. Moreover, it's a rather cumbersome axe, twice as heavy as the SP76, and prone to misfire when set-ups are switched in the middle of a beat. Finally, I have not been able to get a decent, ringing ride cymbal sound layered to the bass--a feature that has vanished or diminished since my K1000 from 20 years ago, when Kurzweils were still made in Japan (they were bought out by the giant Korean piano maker, Young Chang).
Except for the added cost (the SP-76 would occasionally be as low as $500), the SP4-7 is far closer than any other current Kurzweil to the original SP-76 in size and weight, and it offers the advantage of splits and layering, plus more and better sounds (e.g. vibes), and a full bank's worth of 128 presets (the SP2 had only 64; the SP76, 32). Given the inevitable difficulty of programming even Kurzweil's most basic keyboard (the company has yet to produce a manual of instructions worth its weight), the doubling of preset sounds is in itself a major improvement. It certainly makes me wish I'd waited longer before picking up an SP2.

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Kurzweil's SP4-7 is the modern successor to the best selling SP76, which famously combined world-class Kurzweil sound quality with previously unheard of affordability. The updated SP4-7 makes available to more players than ever the same sound set featured in the successful PC3 line of professional keyboards, in an instrument that is slim, lightweight and extremely easy to use. The SP4-7's enclosure is slender, elegant and easy to lift; once set up it leaves the smallest possible footprint, which means that you, not your keyboard, will be in the spotlight. Featuring a user interface that's intelligently designed, allowing you to create splits and layers with the touch of a button; select presets and setups from easy to access category and program buttons; quickly adjust effects parameters; everything is laid out so you can be up and running and making music right out of the box. The keyboard has 128 hand-picked programs taken directly from the PC3 line, it delivers the best in every category of sound, with the renowned Triple Strike Grand Piano, classic electric pianos, lush strings and orchestral instruments, along with top notch basses, guitars, winds, brass, percussion and drums. Its 16-part multi-timbral architecture makes the SP4-7 a powerful tool for writing and recording music in conjunction with an external sequencer or Desktop Audio Workstation. It has everything from flawless concert hall reverbs and crisp delays to powerful distortion and amp simulation effects add another layer of depth and realism that can only be found in a Kurzweil. The most relevant effects parameters have been mapped to the timbre knob, so you can customize your sound without having to dive into menus or manuals.

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Casio PX-800 Privia Digital Piano with Weighted Scaled Hammer Action Keys Review

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(More customer reviews)Casio PX800 Privia Digital Piano with Weighted Scaled Hammer Action Keys
My wife and I own a large Steinway grand piano and a small harpsichord in our living room. We bought this digital piano as a replacement of our old MIDI keyboard and for nighttime practice.
Casio PX800 has an excellent speaker set and a realistic keyboard. Although its tuning isn't perfect (like any acoustic piano and harpsichord), it produces a great sound. As a piano with a full size keyboard and three pedals, its footprint is surprisingly, and pleasantly, small.
Its USB-MIDI functionality is also fantastic and extremely easy to use. Thanks to ferland.francois, this Casio keyboard is now Mac compatible. (Casio supports Windows only.)
Not only does this piano function as a great stand-alone musical instrument with an ample set of features and realistic touch, but also it works as an excellent input device for Apple's GarageBand.

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The PX-800 takes digital piano sound quality to a new level. Grand piano sound and feel in an elegant integrated stand with built-in SD card slot and expanded song memory. State of the artsampling engineering provides the most advanced acoustic piano sound in a digital piano. The stylish PX-800 is sure to fit in any décor.

Realistic Piano Sound and Feel With stereo sampled pianos and an advanced filter that ensures notes change and decay naturally, along with 128-note polyphony so no notes are cut off, the PX-800 delivers a realistic and natural piano sound.
Touch-sensitive keys mean the sound source responds to how much pressure is applied to the keyboard, providing you with the means to shape and color your performances with everything from booming fortissimos to delicate pianissimos.
Finally, the custom wooden stand with damper and soft/sostenuto pedals gives you a more piano-like elegance, to suit any room in your home.
Powerful Audio With a built-in, two-way 40-watt speaker system, the PX-800 delivers room-filling sound.
162 Built-In Tones Pianos aren't the only sounds included. Find just the right sound with 162 built-in tones. You can layer two different tones (such as piano and strings) or split the keyboard down the middle for an ensemble approach.
On-Board Effects Select from four reverb and four chorus effects to add depth and shimmer to your performance. The PX-800 also features an Acoustic Resonance effect, which reproduces the harmonic resonance within a grand piano.
In addition, each tone is preset with its own DSP effect, such as the rotary speaker effect on the drawbar organ tone.
Song Library 60 songs are included, along with 10 user songs. You can turn off the right or left hand part for easy learning.
Real-Time Recording Record two tracks of performance for instant playback. You can record up to five songs, approximately 50,000 notes total.
The included SD card slot lets you add to that recording time.
Two Headphone Connections The PX-800 features two headphone connections, ideal for the duet function.
Stereo Line Out Connect to a PA system or studio equipment using the stereo line inputs.
What's in the Box Privia PX-575 Keyboard, AC Adaptor, Music Stand, User's Manual

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Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Keyboard, Sensitive Keys with Lighted Key Teaching Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a 36 yo man, I've always wanted to learn piano so I thought I'd get this keyboard which I thought had built in lessons that would guide my learning to play the piano...
For all intents and purposes, doesn't the description seem to infer that? That with the Y.E.S.5 teaching system and all those built in songs you'd have a well thought out lesson plan built in. That was my misunderstanding:::
What it actually is is a nice keyboard that you can learn on, but it won't teach you- the emphasis is on getting out what you put in- you have to really stumble your way thru learning the built in songs that the keyboard lights up the correct keys you're supposed to strike- there is not a good fluid way to learn a little piece at a time (It does have an A-B feature but it's not so much a loop as it is a measure to measure cycle with a 2-4 bar intro, each time!) So its not like you can just sit there and play it over and over and over again until you and your fingers get it, its: play the 2 or so bars you select (A-B) and then at the end, it goes thru at least a 2 bar beat count and then resumes the 2 bars of the song you're trying to learn.... does that make sense?
There are not lesson plans. In the book it says to "Listen to and Learn" the song. My memory isn't that fantastic that I can learn the songs by listening to them and then just learning, I think it would be a vast improvement to have a real loop feature that you could use to select a portion, loop it ad infinitum until you learn it and them move on. Also, I was really thinking that with the latest Learning System (Y.E.S.5) that there would be beginner lessons on reading the sheet music, finger drills, scales, etc... all the stuff you learn when you're learning piano- this piano system is for prodigies and people who already know piano.
So while it is a nice keyboard, it is not the EZ piano that will teach you how to play, you will have to look elsewhere to learn, or teach yourself, but this keyboard with all its songs and such will not be a step by step tutor....

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Never played piano or keyboard before? The EZ-200 lighted keyboard from Yamaha will have you playing songs from the very first day. Just call up a song from the 100 songs built-in to the keyboard, select if you'd like to play the left or right hand part and hit "Start". The keyboard will light up the key that you're supposed to play, and in fact, the song will actually stop and wait for you to find the correct key! All of the tools you need are found in the keyboard, including how to play chords.

Expressive Touch like a piano If you're buying a keyboard having piano in mind, you'll want Yamaha's Touch Response feature. On an acoustic piano, striking a key harder will produce a louder sound, striking it softer will produce a softer sound. With Yamaha's "Touch Response" the EZ-200 keyboard responds like an acoustic piano.
Portable Grand: Industry's best piano You're never more than a button push away from the most realistic piano sound in portable keyboards today. One press of the Portable Grand button resets the entire keyboard to a stereo-sampled piano--perfect for when it's time to practice. Yamaha is known around the world for the quality of our acoustic pianos and this attention to detail is evident as you enjoy the warmth and clarity of the EZ-200 Portable Grand piano. And of course, the keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.
Yamaha Education Suite: Helps you learn to play The EZ-200 has 100 built-in songs for you to learn to play, using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary. In addition, the correct fingering is indicated in the LCD display.
Three keyboard lessons for each hand
Lesson One: LISTEN & LEARN the melody or rhythm of a selected song.
Lesson Two: TIMING mode allows you to play the melody or chord by pressing any key using the correct timing.
Lesson Three: WAITING mode stops the playback of a song until you find the correct note and then continues.

Lesson GradingMonitors your progress as you practice each lessons two and three and gives you a grade.
Chord DictionaryShows you how to play chords and tells you which chords you are playing by displaying the notes and chord name on the LCD screen.

Computer Connectivity: General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatible The music pathway to your computer and the Internet is MIDI. It's the way that keyboards communicate with computers. And because the EZ-200 is both General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatible, you have access to thousands of MIDI song files on the Internet.
367 Voices and the One-Touch Setting The EZ-200 has 367 Voices for you to choose from. For example, there are pianos, electric pianos, harpsichord, guitars, drums, bass, violins, brass and synthesizer voices. Pretty much every instrument in the orchestra is at your fingertips. And if you don't know which sound goes with what style of music, the keyboard can select an appropriate sound for you using the convenient One-Touch Setting.
Sound Quality: Real stereo (Not just 2 Speakers) Some keyboards have two speakers but aren't stereo. Don't be fooled. Just because a keyboard has two speakers doesn't mean that it's truly stereo with two separate amplifiers. All Yamaha Portable Keyboards feature stereo-sampling technology.
32 Note Polyphony and 16 Part Multi Timbrel In electronic keyboards, the more sounds made at the same time--polyphony--the more memory is needed. Obviously, more is always better, because too little polyphony can cause dropouts in dense passages of music. Some keyboards at this price point have only 12-note polyphony. The EZ-200 has 32 notes of polyphony and will play back 16 different parts or sounds at once (16-part multi timbrel); enough for the most demanding needs.
Reverb Yamaha has long been a world leader in digital signal processing technology. In fact, Yamaha professional audio products are found in most professional recording studios around the world. The EZ-200 takes full advantage of this know-how, giving you an extensive range of nine, top-quality reverb effects that simulate playing in everything from a small room to a large spacious concert hall; a first in this price range.
Metronome Just what the teacher ordered! A fully adjustable metronome is just a button push away.
Strike up the Band--Keyboard Styles In addition to the 100 songs found in the EZ-200, there are 100 Styles that allow you to play any song you like. It's just like having a built-in band. Call up your favorite style of music like Rock, Big Band or Country, press a chord or play Single Finger mode, and the EZ-200 will follow you through a piece of music, providing all of the drums, bass, piano, guitar, horn and string parts for you. With this instrument, you can make great sounding music with little more than 2 fingers, however as you learn to play, the EZ-200 will adapt to your new skills and automatically switch between single finger mode and fingered mode where you play all the notes of the chord.
Connectivity The EZ-200 features MIDI In/Out, Sustain Pedal jack and a Headphone jack for private practice.
What's in the Box EZ-200 Keybaord, Music Rest, Owner's Manual, Song Book

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Casio CTK-3000 61 Key Digital Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very nice keyboard for home use, even more so as the price is right. The digital readout is easy to see, with nice big black letters and numbers for the important information. The sound is crisp and clear. There are many voices and rhythms to choose from. I especially like the "teach yourself to play" system with so many playalong tunes and a nice fat songbook. The folk and classical rhythms and accompaniments are WONDERFUL and not found on other keyboards. I like the piano voices in my CT640 better though. Maybe one day I will have this set up as a MIDI and can download those better voices from the Casio website into this keyboard. It's really a very nice instrument, with a headphone jack that works well, putting out a similar sound to what comes through the speakers. Because the piano voices are not the greatest, I recommend adding a sustain pedal when ordering as well as the power adapter, and, if your earphones have the little pin plugs, you will need a stereo phone plug to stereo pin plug adapter.

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The Casio CTK-3000 is an affordable instrument with a 61 Key Piano Style Touch Sensitive Keyboard, 400 total onboard Tones, 150 Rhythms and Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio's famous Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, USB port for MIDI implementation and a pitch wheel for additional expression over sounds. All this makes CTK-3000 more realistic and expressive than ever before at this price range.

Standard-Size Keys with Touch ResponseThe CTK-3000 features 61 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones).
400 Built-In TonesFind just the right sound with 400 built-in tones, and select from ten different reverb settings to add depth.
USB PortFor many musicians, the computer has become a music-making center. Connect the CTK-3000 to a computer using a USB cable and exchange MIDI data between the two devices. Send play data from the keyboard to music software running on yourcomputer, or send MIDI data from your computer to the keyboard for playback.
Built-In SamplingYou can use the CTK-3000 to sample a sound from a portable audio player or other device, and then play the sound with keyboard keys. For example, you could sample the bark of your dog and then use the sound in a melody, or grab passages from a CD. The sampling feature is a fun way to create new sounds.
Note: Samples are not stored permanently. Turning off power will cause any sampled sound data on the keyboard to be deleted.
110 Built-In Songs With Step Up LessonsThe CTK-3000 comes with a bank of songs for your learning and enjoyment, from classics like "Greensleeves" or "Auld Lang Syne" to holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells."
To master a song, it is best to break it up into shorter parts (phrases), master the phrases, and then put everything together. The CTK-3000 features a "Step Up Lesson" feature that helps you to do just that. The built-in songs are pre-divided into phrases to help you master keyboard play. Step Up Lesson takes you through practice of the right hand part, left hand part, and both hand parts for each phrase of a song. Master all of the phrases and you master the song.
Music Challenge Keyboard GameMusic Challenge is a game that measures your reaction speed as you press keys in response to on-screen keyboard indicators and fingering guide indications.
Auto AccompanimentSimply specify a chord and the keyboard automatically produces the matching rhythm, bass, and chord patters. One-touch fill-ins make accompaniments sound interesting and natural. 150 built in auto-accompaniment rhythm patterns.
Transpose FunctionAn easy operation instantly changes the key of the keyboard.
Audio InputPlay along with MP3 or CD players or other devices by plugging them into the stereo mini input jack.
Battery or AC PowerPower the CTK-3000 with six AA-sized batteries (approximately four hours of continuous operation with alkaline batteries) or purchase the AD-5 AC adapter separately to power from your electrical outlets. Built-in speakers make the keyboard entirely portable.
An Auto Power Off feature turns off the device six minutes after the last key is touched, helping you save batteries.
What's in the BoxCTK-3000 Keyboard, Music Stand, Song Book, Safety Precautions, Appendix, Warranty

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Casio CTK2000 61 Key Personal Keyboard with MP3/iPod Connection Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After looking at several reviews and product informatiom of various priced keyboards, and wanting to stay in budget , we decided to purchase this one for our son for Christmas. He is 12 and a budding musician, he absolutely LOVES this keyboard. The only downfall is it did not come with it's own AC adapter, which may be common but would have been nice to know to have on hand Christmas morning (it takes a lot of batteries). Other than that it shipped super fast, great packing, good prduct, we are very pleased!

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The Casio CTK2000 is ideal for beginners, children, adults, everyone!And it's loaded with features like a USB port to connect to your computer, plus 48-note polyphony so you are always in control.The CTK2000 keyboard features a 61-key full-size keyboard with MP3/iPod connectivity, an LCD display, and a 3 Step Lesson learning system.The CTK2000 allows you to select up to 400 tones that now include a world music library.There are also 150 versatile rhythms to help add plenty of life to all your keyboard performances.The CTK2000 comes with a total of 110 built-in tunes.You can play back built-in tunes for your own listening pleasure, or you can use them for practice or even sing-alongs.

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Yamaha DGX230 76 Full-Sized Piano Style Keys, 489 Instrument Voices Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I now own two these. One I leave at my band's practice site, the other I keep at home and then take with me for performances. At $200 there's no sense hauling the practice instrument back and forth. Of course, it's not a professional keyboard and will rate sneers from real keyboardists. But for my purposes providing chording and some embellishments for a couple of local bands, it works just fine . . . especially great sound for the "rock organ" setting . . . and I also use the violin voice for country songs and the various saxophone voices on occasion. I have no idea about the other features of the keyboard as a learning device . . . but for an inexpensive, good-sounding, sturdy and dependable keyboard, it's great.

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If you're looking for a reasonably priced piano replacement, look no further than the DGX-230. It is the music student or professional musicians answer to I need more keys! and many music teachers encourage new students to get a keyboard that will grow with their needs. It features 76 non-weighted keys that not only look like piano keys but have a Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, making it easier for a budding musician to move to an acoustic or digital piano.The DGX-230 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The DGX-230 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.The DGX230 has 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on included CD-ROM for you to learn to play using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.Imagine capturing your childs first performance or writing and recording your own songs. With the DGX-230, you have the equivalent of a built-in multi-track recorder to record one or multiple instrument parts at a time and assign each part to a different track. Six tracks are provided to accommodate sophisticated melodies, chord accompaniment and rhythm parts.The DGX-230 comes with 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on an included CD-ROM and an interactive lesson system, divided into left and right hand parts, for learning them. In addition, you have the ability to connect to a computer via USB, download more songs from the Internet into the internal Flash ROM (PC only), and use all of the Yamaha Education Suite features to help you learn to play them. Yamaha makes it easy to get connected with the new PC button. Now, instead of wading through function menus and fighting through a maze of selections, one button is your expressway to music on the web and your computer. In addition, once connected, you can play your songs into the computer (PC and Mac), edit them if necessary, and e-mail them to your friends and family. And with General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatibility, song data always plays back with the correct sounds.Master EQ: Tailor your sound Five different master equalizer (EQ) settings are provided to give you the best possible sound when listening through different reproduction systems-the instruments internal speakers, headphones, or an external speaker system. You're in control.

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Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Tried this instrument out in the store and could not figure out what the difference was between this one and the 520 I previously reviewed on amazon. Sound qualities, voices, layout, display, and software all seemed identical to me to the 520. Finally, after a direct inquiry to Yamaha, I was told that the only difference between this model and the 520 was that the 530 contained 10 more rhythm sequences.
So, if you're one of those who would use this instrument heavily for recording and composition, and just could never find the right rhythmic background, you can try this one and see if one of their ten extra sequences works for you.
If you're like me, however, who use the keyboard mostly for performance purposes and only occasional composition and recording, it really isn't worth upgrading. If you're diligent enough and have the software (pretty much any layered music recording sequence will do; I happen to use Cakewalk 4), you can make and save your own rhythms anyway on either keyboard.
For a more detailed review of other features this keyboard has, check my review out on the DGX-520...aside from the extra rhythms, it's exactly the same.

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Yamaha's DGX530 Portable Grand Piano features 88 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch, a matching stand, a sustain pedal, USB storage, backlit LCD displays, notation and lyrics, and plenty more.

Piano-Centric Features The Yamaha Portable Grand, DGX530 has an easy to use panel, a wealth of piano-centric features including 88 piano-style keys, Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, and high-resolution stereo piano samples. Included are an attractive matching stand and sustain pedal.
USB Connectivity The DGX530 has 2 USB ports on the back, each with a different use. "USB TO HOST" is plug-and-play connection for recording and playing back MIDI files, as well as transferring data to and from your computer.
"USB TO DEVICE" is for connecting peripheral USB storage devices such as hard drives or portable thumb drives. You can save user songs and settings, or transfer song data downloaded from the Internet to the instrument, where it can be used with the performance assistant and Yamaha Education Suite features.
Lyric, Chord and Notation Display Have you ever played a song and wondered what it would look like as sheet music? The DGX530 can display the score to a song whether it comes from the Internet, the internal selections those you record yourself. Pages scroll automatically when a song is played back--no more page turning! For singers, the screen also displays chords and lyrics to XF compatible songs.
Easy to Use The DGX530 is a breeze to use. Dive right in with convenient tools and features:
Expandable Music Database: Complete keyboard setups by song title. The keyboard selects an appropriate voice for the right hand melody, the correct musical style and the correct tempo. Simply call up a song title and start playing.
One Touch Setting (OTS): Provides you with a recommended voice with effects for each Style. For example, on a jazz style OTS might be piano, for a Latin style it might be acoustic guitar, or for a rock style it might be a guitar with overdrive.
Registration Memory: Set the keyboard up just the way you like and take a digital snapshot for instant recall. Load and save up to 16 Registrations to User memory. The Registration buttons are conveniently located just above the keyboard.
Performance Assistant Technology: Performance assistant technology is a feature from Yamaha that guarantees that you can't play a wrong melody note or chord. Here's how it works. Select a song, press the Performance Assistant button Chord Mode and play the keyboard--any notes you like. Every note you play will fit the music!

Yamaha Education Suite: Helps you learn to play The DGX530 has 30 built-in songs (plus 70 more on the included CD-ROM) for you to learn to play using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.
Three keyboard lessons for each hand:
Waiting Mode--Stops the playback of a song until you find the correct note and then continues.
Your Tempo Mode--Learn to play the correct notes with the correct timing. Song playback tempo will vary to match the speed you are playing at. The song will slow down when you play wrong notes, so you can learn at your own pace.
Minus One Mode--Here's where you can perfect your technique. The song will play at the normal tempo, minus the part you have chosen to play. Play along while listening to the song.

Lesson Grading--Monitors your progress as you practice each lesson and gives you a grade.
Repeat and Learn--The song location will move back four measures from the point at which you pressed the button, and playback will begin after a one measure count-in. This section will repeat allowing you to practice until perfect!
Chord Dictionary--Shows you how to play chords and tells you which chords you are playing by displaying the notes and chord names on the LCD screen.

6-Track Sequencer With the DGX530, you have the equivalent of a built-in multi-track recorder. Record one or multiple instrument parts at a time and assign each part to a different track. Six tracks are provided to accommodate sophisticated melodies, chord accompaniment and rhythm parts.
Quality Sound The DGX530 sounds as good as it plays. A two-way speaker system with separate woofers and tweeters delivers clear and lifelike instrument voices. Bass Boost ports add deeper low-end impact, and true stereo sound adds spatial depth and realism.
Realistic Sounding Voices The DGX530 comes equipped with 127 panel voices, 12 drum/SFX kits, plus 361 XGlite voices. Dual and Split modes allow you to combine sounds.
Full Keyboard Mode The DGX530 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The DGX530 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.
Digital Music Notebook Digital Music Notebook is a multimedia Internet service that enables you to preview, purchase, download and print learn-to-play music books and chart-topping sheet music. From scales to chords to your favorite riffs, Digital Music Notebook is jam-packed with all the secrets you need to master your instrument. Add accompaniments, record and mix yourself, sing karaoke with friends, learn new techniques while having a blast--Digital Music Notebook delivers everything you need to bring music alive! And it's included with the DGX530.
What's in the Box DGX530 Keyboard, Music Rest, Owner's Manual, Accessory CD-ROM, Keyboard Stand, Footswitch FC5, Power Adapter

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Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before detailed remarks, here is my reference point. Having been spoiled with playing real pianos (I should say "acoustic", for PC :), I wanted a keyboard just to enjoy some classical music on my own, at my amateur level. I wanted it to be like a piano (in how it feels and sounds) but small and inexpensive.
PROS:
PORTABILITY - especially for an (almost) full-size keyboard. I really didn't want another piece of furniture. NP30 just lies on the table, which (to my own surprise) ended up as the deciding factor for me. YMMV.
SOUND. All the voices (including grand piano, organ, harpsichord) are well done and beautiful. (But see "CONS" below.)
KEY WEIGHTING. NP30's keys are something like "semi-weighted" and "touch sensitive" (but consult the official specs on this) and somewhat easy to press. But see "CONS" below. BTW I researched this "weighted" topic quite a bit and tried several options, but my practical conclusion is this. If you care about the feel, go more high-end or get the real thing (an acoustic piano, that is). Otherwise you will likely get used to what you have, even though it isn't perfect.
SIMPLICITY. The controls are few and quite intuitive.
PRICE. It's all relative, of course, but compared to other full-size keyboards out there, it's among the cheapest - $300 at Best Buys. (And that's without any sale discounds - Best Buys felt kinda thin on sales to me.)
CONS:
KEY WEIGHTING. While offering you an approximation of an acoustic piano's feel, NP30's keys are not quite there. First, they are hard to press if you place your fingers far from the edge of the key (i.e. towards the back of the keyboard) - I have never noticed this on an acoustic. Second, in some cases when I press several keys at once, NP30 doesn't sense one or two of them, whereas an acoustic piano would. I have to re-adjust the pressure to get NP30 to play them.
SOUND. While individual sounds are beautiful, their combinations may not parallel the richness of an acoustic piano's. This is probably because there is no is no resonating effect between the various strings. (Which is quite understandable at this price level.)
FEATURES (missing). The ones I cared about: additional voices (NP30 only got 10) and the 12 keys for the full-size 88-key keyboard. Again, it's all about a trade-off against portability and price.
ACCESSORIES (missing). Power adapter and the sustain pedal are not included, and Best Buys charges $25-30+ for each. This is a RIP-OFF, people. For power, look around; maybe you have a compatible one already (12V, 1500 mA, negative is outside) - or use rechargeable batteries. And maybe you are fine without the pedal (I am still to answer that question for myself).


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The Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand is an easy-to-carry piano that features Advanced Wave Memory stereo sampled piano sounds for incredible sound quality.A entirely new take on the digital piano, offering quality, value and portability with a lighter touch. Featuring 76 Graded Touch keys and stereo-sampled pianos. Also, 10 voices like Organs and Strings plus 32 notes of polyphony. Another great feature for the home recording artist is that it performs as a MIDI controller too. The built in speakers allow you to play it anywhere since it operates on six AA batteries.Ultra-Portable Digital PianoThe new NP-30 Portable Grand delivers Yamaha digital piano sound and simplicity in a new lightweight, compact design like nothing else you've seen... all at a price point you won't believe.Its super slim design and minimal weight of 12 pounds makes it the most compact performer in the digital piano family of instruments. And 6 AA batteries are all you need to power up and start playing immediately.Do you have questions about personal keyboards?Click on the image for product comparisons and FAQs!Graded Soft Touch Action - NEWBecause of its similarity to acoustic pianos, a graded action is one of the primary features sought by pianists in their digital instruments. While technically a non-weighted action, the new Graded Soft-Touch keyboard is the first of its kind bringing different levels of resistance without the extra

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