| RE: Note 629.0 by BINKLY::WINSTON "Jeff Winston (Hudson, MA)"
I've been on a long quest for the ultimate in low-priced electronic
pianos. Like you, Jeff, I am more of a pianist than a 'keyboardist'. I will
give you my comments on the keyboards you mentioned and tell you what I am
waiting for some company to produce.
The HP-100 piano (along with the EP-50) is an O.K. electronic piano.
There's not much more to say. It has MIDI and that, to me, is its only real
redeeming factor. But they are priced too high for the quality of sound you
get. I watch the WantAds constantly and find that these units never seem to
go below $600 used. To me, when Fender Rhodes are going for $200 - $300, that
is just too much to pay, even used. It does a reasonable job approaching an
acoustic piano sound, but you could buy a touch sensitive synth for a hundred
or so more and get pretty much the same sound plus all the extras of a
programmable synthesizer. Considering the used market as I watch it, I would
price them at around $300 to $400, not $600 to $700.
Where the HP instruments approach realistic piano sounds, the Yamaha
YPR-n instruments approach the Rhodes sounds. It sounds to me like Yamaha is
using their FM synthesis approach in these preset pianos. I happened across
a YPR-9 a few weeks ago and was impressed to find it was equipped with MIDI!
At last, a low cost, preset, piano-type, touch-sensitive keyboard with MIDI!
This is more like it! I priced them at Kurlans at over $500 (of course) and at
LaSalles in Boston at $399.
And now for my *REAL* wish-list.
It seems to me that if you can buy a low-cost sampler for $500 (AKAI
S612), you should be able to buy a 'one-sound' preset sampled piano for even
less, seeing that you aren't paying for the capability to record samples.
It also seems that since a touch-sensitive keyboard can now sell for $400, that
someone should be working on putting out a realistic piano with touch
sensitivity for under, let's say, $800. But there's nothing on the horizon that
I can see.
You see, after hearing the Roland SAS digital pianos, its hard to go
back to something like the HP-100 for an acoustic piano. But I personally don't
have $1500 for a module or $3000 for the RD-1000. I can appreciate the YPR-9
much more than the HP's, even though it's less of a professional instrument,
simply because it does a better job at imitating its target instrument (Rhodes)
and at a lower price.
Dan
|
| Hi Jeff,
I don't think you mentioned price in the topic (I believe you
wanted an "inexpensive" piano). If $1300 is in your price range,
I suggest you check out the Ensoniq digitally sampled piano (I'm
not sure of the model name or number). I saw it at Union in Worcester,
and think it's fantastic! It's got about 10 preset sounds (3 piano,
3 electric piano, some vibes, harpsichord, clav, etc.) that sound
incredibly realistic. The feel of the keyboard is probably one
of the best I've tried, also. I'm a pianist-turned-keyboard-player
myself, so I appreciate a heavier piano-type action.
I even think a piano like this would be best suited for studio
work, as there's no problem of miking an acoustic piano, and the
midi implementation makes it a great controller.
Of course you're spending $1300 for something that just makes
preset piano sounds (i.e., can't be programmed or sampled to create
new sounds), but I think the feel of the keyboard and the preset
sounds make it a great instrument. Still maybe a little expensive,
but it's not too bad when compared to Yamaha Kx controllers at
$1500 that make no sound.
Oh well, good luck!
Ron Barth
|
| RE: .1: I was talking the $300 - $400 range, and am leaning toward the YPR-9
myself because its MIDI (I've got this feeling that in the next few
years, MIDI keyboard will keep their value much better than non-MIDI),
for the other reasons mentioned in -.2, and for its built-in MIDI
record/playback function (anyone got ideas on how to make it loop?).
In any event, I appreciate the feedback, any other ideas? /j
|
|
Well, it sure ain't in the $300-$400 price range, but do yourself
a (possibly painful) favor and check out some of the more expensive
sampled 'pianos'.
Do hear/play Roland's MKS-20. You may wish to hold off and save
up your pennies. Or, you could buy it on time.
- Karl
|
| I disagree that the Ensoniq sample grand (what hyperbole) is a
realistic unit. I demoed one extensively with headphones and found
the sound to be thick, midrangey, filled with aliasing (high-frequency
overtones not related to the fundamental) and generally clunky
sounding. Just my .02.
one of the Karls
|