Yamaha DGX-630 88 Full-Sized Keyboard with Weighted Action Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a complete piano novice, but my next-door neighbor, who plays for a living and owns a Kurzweil came over, and after playing it a few minutes said, "If you don't mind my asking, how much did this cost?" His keyboard is a few years old, but he said that he likes the action on this better than his, and he found the sound excellent.
I'm writing this review because I had a few questions that I wished I knew the answers to, but could not find anywhere online before I bought this product sight unseen.
1. Question: How many degrees of loudness are there, depending on how hard you strike?
Answer: A lot. At least 8, but I suspect if my fingers were more dextrous and my ear better I could hear many more levels of touch sensitivity. In any case it sounds in this respect just like a piano to me.
2. Question: Does the timbre of the note change depending on how hard I strike the key?
Answer: Yes, and this effect depends on which keys you strike. In the low notes you hear a realistic sounding distortion when you slam down on the key. On the high notes you hear that hollow sound of the wood piano frame when you nail it. This latter effect was so realistic that I had to turn off the keyboard to be sure it wasn't something that was physically happening inside the box rather than a simulated effect.
Question: On a sustained note does the sound simply fade, or does the quality of the sound change in a natural sounding way as it fades out?
Answer: Again, it sounds just like a real piano to me in this regard.
This keyboard has a "graded hammer action" so that the weight of the keys at the top is lighter than the weight at the bottom. While they may have reproduced this effect accurately, it is almost indiscernable to me with the keyboard off. But with the keyboard on, the weight of the keys feels absolutely distinct from top to bottom because the "strings" at the top and bottom respond so differently. That is, the sound is so good that it tricks your brain into sensing that the keys have completely different weights.
I bought it in spite of the fact that I wasn't sure of the answers to these questions, and it is exactly what I had hoped for. It feels and sounds just like a piano to me, especially with good headphones, which allow me to practice scales in my living room without driving my family insane.


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The new top of the range 88 keys Yamaha DGX-630 features a fully weighted 88-note Graded Hammer keyboard action, a new piano sound with 64-note polyphony and over 500 high quality sounds. The 88-key Yamaha DGX-630 is a weighted graded hammer action portable keyboard. Upgrades from the previous model include 64-note polyphony, a beautiful matching stand and an optional three-pedal unit, along with additional DSP (Digital Signal Processing) effects that enable realistic sounding Distortion Guitar and Rotary Organ. The Yamaha DGX-630 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 Yamaha DGX-630 offers an affordable, feature-packed portable keyboard. It also boasts an authentic grand piano-like touch: heavy in the low end, feathery light in the highs, and amazingly responsive throughout. Yamaha Education System (YES) offers an easy, intuitive method of learning how to play a keyboard music instrument. Stand, AC Adapter, Foot Pedal, and Quick-Start DVD are included. USB connectivity for easy matchup to optional PC software complements. Yamaha DGX Series offers a high quality, moderately priced digital piano, but also a diverse feature set typically found on high-end professional synthesizer products. 88 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keysDual and split modesFC5 sustain pad, music rest and CD-ROM includedGM and XG-Lite compatibleHeadphone portLarge backlit (blue) LCD displayMulti-fingering mode and 'full' keyboard mode availableOptional 3-way pedal board available (model LP-7)Over 500 voices to select fromPitchbend wheelRegistration memories (2 x 8 banks)Reverb, Chorus, DSP and master EQ effectsSupplied with fixed-frame wooden stand and AC power adaptorSweet, Live and Cool voice technology USB connectivityYamaha Education Suite (Y.

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M-Audio ProKeys Premium Stage Piano Review

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(More customer reviews)The Piano sound is truly the best sound you can find for even under $1000, and this is only $500.
Thats the good news.
The other sounds are ok, the organ sounds being the worst, and the electric piano being the best non-piano sounds. The worst part (and the reason i wouldnt buy it again) is the touch. If you plan on just pounding out chords, itll be fine, but if you play classical, jazz, or even most pop-styles that require a bit of touch, you will hate this piano. They say it is "Hammer-Action" but really they should be called "way-over-weighted". These are the heaviest keys i have ever played, and I wish i would have played it before i bought it online.

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The ProKeys 88 is the premium digital stage piano that doubles as a great MIDI controller. It's loaded with large, realistic samples 14 world-class instruments in all, including split/layer capabilities. We paired those great sounds with an 88-key hammer-action keyboard, delivering a realistic feel to satisfy the most demanding pro. The ProKeys 88 is also a great master controller keyboard, including a built-in USB MIDI interface for easy direct connection to your PC or Mac, MIDI In and Out jacks to communicate with other MIDI gear, pitch and modulation wheels, sequencer controls and more. ProKeys 88 pulls out all the stops in creating the ultimate playing experience in an affordable digital stage piano.


Ultra-Realistic Piano Our goal in designing the ProKeys 88 was to create an extremely musical and realistic piano experience. The caliber of a digital piano is greatly influenced by the quality and the size of the samples, so we started by giving the ProKeys 88 a generous amount of memory. Then, rather than dividing it up amongst a bunch of sounds you're not likely to use, we focused on the 14 sounds that are the bread and butter for many keyboardists--paying special attention to the stereo grand piano.

More Than a Stage Piano The ProKeys 88 delivers all the staple keyboard sounds needed by many musicians. Its flagship stereo grand is supplemented by an alternate grand designed to really cut through in popular music. The ProKeys 88 has electric pianos covered too. And the Clavinet brings one word to mind: "funky." Acoustic and electric basses give you the option of layering a ride cymbal for jazz tunes. Vibes, ensemble strings and an inspiring warm, lush synth pad round out a great sonic palette for the gigging keyboardist.
88-Key Hammer Action Of course, a realistic digital stage piano must have a full 88 keys that are properly weighted. The ProKeys 88's full-range clavier features hammer action that feels just like the real thing. It features three velocity curves tailored to different touches, as well as a fixed velocity for synth work.
Splits and Layers The ProKeys 88 keyboard also features split and layer capabilities. Put a bass in your left hand and keys in your right. Chord with an organ while playing a piano lead. Layer lush strings over a piano. You can even have a split and layer simultaneously for a total of three sounds at once.
Control Your DAW When it comes to communicating with the outside world, most digital stage pianos offer little more than a MIDI jack. In sharp contrast, the ProKeys 88 inherits much from M-Audio's years of experience pioneering mobile MIDI controllers. It incorporates a full USB MIDI interface that communicates with your PC or Mac via a single, simple USB connection--perfect for recording with virtually all MIDI sequencer software on the market. (The instrument features class compliancy with Windows XP and Mac OS X without installation of additional drivers.) You can even control your sequencer remotely via front-panel Start, Stop and Tempo buttons.
MIDI In and Out jacks allow full communication with all standard MIDI gear as well. The ProKeys 88 also features performance controls that are rare on digital stage pianos, including pitch wheel, modulation wheel, two footswitch inputs, and expression pedal input. The three different ranges available via the ProKeys 88's combined split and layer functions can each transmit on a separate MIDI channel as well. You also get dedicated front-panel buttons for program change, channel, bank MSB, bank LSB and local on/off.
Built-in Effects There's no need to mess around with additional gear to add basic effects to your ProKeys 88. On-board EQ lets you easily tweak the tone on the fly. You also get three different built-in reverb spaces that simulate different acoustic environments. Chorus fattens up sounds like the electric pianos and basses. And what's a vintage Wurlitzer electric piano without tremolo? Experiment with different effects on the ProKeys 88 to create signature sounds of your own.
Full Pedal Complement Every digital piano has a sustain pedal jack. But what about the sostenuto pedal (the middle pedal on an acoustic piano)? ProKeys 88 has it. There's also an expression pedal for foot-control of volume. And all three of these pedals serve as MIDI controllers for outboard gear as well.
Headphones and Pro Audio Outputs Ever need to practice privately? ProKeys 88 includes a 1/4-inch stereo headphone jack so you can play without anyone else hearing you--at home or at a sound check. Of course, it wouldn't be an M-Audio product without high-fidelity 1/4-inch unbalanced audio output with specs like 20Hz-20kHz frequency response and 108dB dynamic range.
What's in the Box ProKeys 88, Software Driver CD (drivers and applications), USB cable, Printed User Manual, Power supply (12V DC), Sustain Pedal

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Bastien Piano Basics Level 1 - Theory Review

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(More customer reviews)Ordered 2 piano books for my daughter. They arrived in good condition. Shipping was very fast, days ahead of schedule.

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Bastien Piano Basics is an exciting and comprehensive series for piano study designed to get the young student off to the right start. The learning sequence is carefully graded to assure steady progress in all areas. Theory contains written work and some short pieces to reinforce each concept introduced. Students will have a better understanding of the music they are playing - and they will learn it more easily - when theory is integrated as a regular part of the learning process.

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M-Audio Keystation 61es 61-Key Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)I was surprised at the low price of this keyboard considering it has 61 semi-weighted keys. I thought maybe it wouldn't be such great quality but I was pleasantly surprised.
I thought at first that the keys were a little bit "springy", but I soon got used to them. So much so that when I went back to my old Yamaha keyboard (not weighted), the Yamaha felt terrible. This M-Audio lets you play nice and subtle.
There's not much to this keyboard, just a couple of very smooth acting wheels (pitch and modulation), a volume slider and a couple of function buttons. It all seems well-made and the keyboard is heavier than I expected.
I was pleased to find that when I took it out of its box, plugged in the USB cable and opened GarageBand, everything worked perfectly, immediately. No messing about.
It works well with GarageBand (not tried it with anything else), and being powered by the USB cable means it's dead easy to plug in and start playing.
At this price, I can't see how you can go wrong.

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The Keystation 61e is a 61-note USB keyboard with velocity-sensitive, semi-weighted keys that is designed to easily integrate in any computer music environment. Class compliancy with Mac OS X and Windows XP delivers true plug and play setup. The KeyStation 61e is also compatible with many music education and music creation software titles, making it ideal for classrooms and studios alike.More advanced users can control software synths, external sound devices, and more with the assignable slider and pitch and mod wheels.This sleek, compact keyboard is USB bus-powered and requires no external power supply.

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Yamaha P155B Contemporary Piano with Ebony Top Board, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Dont expect a big difference in sound quality over the P-140 or you will be dissapointed. At most there may be an ever so slight increase in micro-dynamic expressiveness on softer, subtle passages (maybe that's the 4th layer?), but dont expect anything to jump out at you. I mean subtle! Not much difference in the decay versus the P-140. About the same. I owned them both. The action is heavy and responsive on the P-155 (same as P-140) which I like and the features are an improvement over the P-140. Given how inexpensive and small digital memory has become, it would be nice if Yamaha could give us a DP with a natural sounding decay instead of a looped one. On a real piano the harmonic overtones decay faster than lower fundementals. This sonic reality has not been incorporated into this instrument unfortunately. The P-155 does sound resampled, just not enough to show a really audible difference from the P-140. At soft levels its pretty good but at mezzo forte or louder decay is unnatural, like the P-140. Sound quality via the built-in speakers is the same as P-140. Dynamic range and volume is a little better because of greater wattage but thats about it. Speakers and frequency range are unchanged. Unlike P-140 you can choose brightness levels in between Bright, Normal and Mellow for a total of 5, not 3 choices which is nice. If you can get one for $1,000 or less its worth it but I wouldn't spend 1200 on it over the P-140, unless you need the new features.

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Whether you're practicing at home, playing with the band, or doing alive solo performance, the P155 series offers professional quality sound with our legendary touch. Thanks to top-shelf Yamaha digital piano technologies, musicians don't have to choose between portability and piano quality- the quality you expect from a company that's been building world-class acoustic pianos for over a century.

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Casio PX-130 Digital Piano with Matching Stand and 3-Pedal Assembly Review

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(More customer reviews)Great Piano weighted feel to keys, Loud Speakers, Stable Stand. Overall Very satisfied with product, however the additional functions such as strings and organ were a bit less impressive, but definitely no remorse over purchasing this product. I found the Yamahap95's stings and chorus functions to be much better developed in comparison, but the speakers and amazing piano-like feel to this keyboard overshadow these minor imperfections; their just extras anyways. Overall a solid product.

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The new Casio Privia PX-130CSSPW redefines the digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance in a sleek package that is supremely portable. Featuring all new grand piano samples and a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard and weighing less than 25 lbs., the Casio Privia PX-130CSSPW is versatile enough for home, church, school or on-stage. Includes power supply,stand and pedals.

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Yamaha CP1 Stage Piano Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted a great sounding, great feeling piano for a very small space. I had thought about an upright but even that would have been too much bulk. I looked at a lot of options, including the V Piano, and the CP5... it wasn't too hard to decide to go with the CP1 just based on the sound alone. There is a subtle difference between the CP5 and CP1 tone, primarily due to the superior hardware/chip set that Yamaha doesn't disclose on their website but if you call them, they tell you the difference, and while the tone is subtle, it's noticeable if you play it side by side thru an identical speaker. There is more warmth and crispness to the CP1 than the CP5. If you don't need the extra synth sounds and just want the absolute best sounding piano tones, the CP1 is the only option.

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The development of the new CP series started with the no-compromise CP1. This is a premium instrument with a commitment to both tradition and innovation. The core sound technology inside the new CP Series was completely re-designed from the ground up. A unique new Spectral Component Modeling tone generation system recreates the sound of acoustic and vintage electronic pianos more faithfully than anything else has ever done. This new technology responds to the player's touch allowing more creative expression than ever before possible. Yamaha even developed a special NW-STAGE wooden key action specifically to meet the demands of top pros. Simply put, this combination of touch and tone make the CP1 the most expressive stage piano that has ever been created.

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