Okay hear me out.

Ever since I went to Melaka for my foundations, I've been away from my classical piano for gazillion years. I went back home recently last semester break and I again suddenly realized how much i love/enjoy playing my piano. It was a passionate hobby before I came down to Melaka. Now semester break is finally over and i feel like kicking myself for not being able to play the piano. (shit my skillz has dropped tremendously, it's a pain!!)

THUSSS,

I need a damn digital piano.



I'm looking for something practical for apartment use. Something that feels like the "real thing". I don't want extraordinary features, but rather something good that'll "mimic" the "real piano". I'm too new when it comes to this, so i don't know which brand/model to hunt for. Any suggestions? I cant give you a budget atm because i don't know how much i need to spend to get what i want.


Thanks!

This post has been edited by LittleGhost: Feb 9 2008, 09:48 PM

if you want something that feels almost like the real thing, be prepared to spend at least RM1000.

cheapest usually is M-Audio.
2 models have full weighted keys.
Keystation Pro88.
ProKeys 88.
the cheapest one is the Keystation 88es, which has semi weighted keys.

smx electronics in berjaya times square carries them.

well, RM1000 is very very reasonable. I was planning to spend about Rm2000 on it. (perhaps even considering selling my old classical piano since i most likely won't be frequently using it anymore).

Any other suggestions for RM2000 range?

perhaps yamahas have the weighted keys but a clavinova could be around few thousand..

how about 2nd hand stuff?

ur more into classical piano?

yeah. i'm into classical piano. Unfortunately due to my tertiery studies i cant seem to "afford" a full upright classical piano for the rented apartment. Hence, i considered digital piano.

If you're into classical piano, you might wanna consider a conventional upright piano rather than a digital piano, unless syou can find a cheap digital piano with features useful for your classical piano skills/techniques likes half-pedalling, key-touch sound sensitivitiy (not sure what's that called, it's not touch sensitivity... you only find these in high end digital piano). But then, if you don't mind these features and prefer the digital, then go ahead and try out each brand and models.

I suggest you to try out the different models than plainly listening to opinions. Each person will have their own views and brand suggestion. Use other's views and suggestions as a reference and then try it out yourself. The sound, touch and feeling from each brand and model is different.

Personally, I would suggest you to try out the latest Roland model with PHA-II keys, but it's not cheap for a Roland.
For closeness to the conventional piano, my personal view would be the Kawaii brand, to me, they have the closest "touch" feel of the conventional piano, with the sticky keys feeling.

If you want space and easy to move around, then I suggest you get a portable or sometimes known as STAGE Pianos (which some called Keyboard with Weighted Keys). Basically, keyboard/digital piano, they're the same thing, just different naming, a keyboard is simply a portable digital piano and they come in weighted keys or non-weighted keys. As technolgy advanced, they separate each into different categories, like Arrangers, Stage Pianos, Workstations, etc. It's simply keyboards with different features/functions, while keyboards are simply portable digital piano or vice versa, piano are keyboard instruments.

For Portable Digital Piano / Stage Piano, Roland's one will cost a bomb. You can try Yamaha one's, it's around 3K++ if I'm not wrong and it's quite good too.
Casio will come cheaper but I wouldn't really recommendeds it, why not spend extra little to get a better ones, you're going to use it for long time right?
Anyway, you should try out yourself whether these are good or not, it's just my personal opinions and suggestions.

Good Luck and All The Best!

Need to borrow the thread with a few questions, what actually does "weighted" means in keyboards? Does Keystation 49e has weighted keys? I'm looking for a good budget USB keyboard that can be use with Reason and FLstudio.

weighted means got weight la.
so the keys feel like piano ones and not keyboard.
semi-weighted of cos not full la...cheaper but feels good enough.

got velocity sensitive ones also, so the harder you bang the louder etc, like piano again.

I see. Do you recommend the Keystation 49e for a beginner? From what I know it is velocity sensitive but not doesn't have weighted keys. It is the cheapest of the bunch it seems.

Stay away from M-Audio keystation pro88 or its family. The weighted keys certainly won't cut it, not even close to a real piano. Moreover, they're just midi controller, means, no sound at all.

The best piano touch keyboard I've come across is the Yamaha S08/S90, it's certainly super expensive (S08 brand new RM4000/S90 RM9000~RM10000, you can ask for discount anyway).

Take my advice, get an acoustic upright piano if you only want to play piano. Digital piano or keyboards certainly won't give what an acoustic piano can do. As you know, the very same piano will sounds different under 2 different pairs of hands.

But if you really want a digital piano, maybe the casio digital piano will do as I find the weighted keys actually quite nice plus they wont' break your bank, but the sound...Ugh...

S90 Stage Piano is using Balance Hammer Action. It's also not closed to a real piano. For Yamaha you'd have to go fo the GH technology.
What I like about the S90 (S90ES actually) is the sound. Really nice. But they keys are very plastic and if you jam on it, the sound of the keys are pretty audible. I can even hear it from a video recording, the demo of S90ES.

Then again, like I said before, different people have different feel and taste.

But there's one thing I believe everyone will experience:
If you've play on a high quality digital piano (or digital piano with good keys), and you go to another piano and play, the moment you touch it you will feel the difference.
I played on a Casio middle range and a high end, the feeling of the keys and hammer action is not good since I've playing on better one for me. So, it's best to test it out few models and decide. Opinions and feel can differ from different person.
Likewise, if you're an Acoustic Piano player, you'll find hard to get good digital piano with good keys and hammer action.

If TS can afford a high quality digital piano, might as well buy a decent upright piano...

BTW I'm a midi programmer hence I never really play on high end yamaha (or whatever brand) digital piano, that's why I only speak upon those which I've came across.

This post has been edited by pigcat: Feb 13 2008, 03:28 PM

Hehe, that's why I did ask him/her to get a upright piano if can. I mentioned high quality is just as a comparison of keys and hammer action. And it doesn't necessarily be expensive ones for a good hammer action and keys (An example of Casio high end ones; even it was high end, the keys and hammer action are no match for some low end brands, based on my feel and opinions). Of course, those high end usually have more features which is more similar to a real Acoustic Piano or Grand Piano.

Even for low end, between different makes have different technology of implementing their keys and hammer action, and the feel and touch differs from one person to another. Most people would prefer the Yamaha, some Kawaii. But one should test out each to know which they prefer more, after all it's a BIG one time long term investment. You don't want to later played another competitor model and regrets you get the wrong one, right?

Sound would be another factor, and if both these clashes (e.g. Sound of Yamaha, touch of Kawaii), then it's the tough part to decide.

whoa thanks alot. I thought this thread was dead due to inactivity. I did not expect such replies at all.


Anyway, I own a relatively good Kawai Upright piano. I think my concern is space. Am i right for thinking that only digital pianos would fit the criteria of space conservation? My dad thinks it's ridiculous to transport the entire piano to my apartment. LOL.

I would definitely prefer an acoustic upright piano to a much inferior digital piano. but i don't know if all the "hassle" would worth going for.

Price is fine i guess, i can still afford RM3000-4000.

Again, much thinking is still needed. :headache:

Your budget is fine, and well fit into many good choices. It'll be hard if you're looking at RM2k~RM3k. Pay a visit to music store or something to play around with some...

With your price, you could few choices already. Those low ends upright Digital would cost around 3K-5K depending on brand. But since your mentioned space, it'll be not much different from your current upright acoustic piano.
So, you should go for Portable ones or also known as Stage. You can check out Yamaha Portable Grand, it should cost around RM3000++ if I'm not wrong. Not sure if it comes with the stand or need to purchase separately tough.

I'm not so sure if Kawaii have one portable ones at that price,... since you have a Kawaii Acoustics, you'll most porbably prefer the Kawaii Digital as it resembles more to it and you're used to it.

Another choice not known by many is the Suzuki brand. Altought I have not really tested it, but I've seen the sales showing off the features of the piano, even for the low end version, it has an equalizer ability to adjust your tone (e.g. making the piano sound brighter/darker/mellow/etc...). Quite a nice feature but the sound quality still depends on the individual.

Maybe you can go and test out the few choices, it'll be easier to decide as you can be sure whether a digital can replace the feel and sound of the acoustic piano or acceptable. In anyway, both choice has it's 'hassle', buying a digital might not satisfy you (unless you can accept it and enjoy the features and making use of it),
not buying would save you money but you'll need to transport the acoustic piano and tune the piano from time to time.

Plus, you have to consider not disturbing your neighbour. A digital you can control the volume as well as use headphone when practicing or playing in the night. You can also bring it to your friends house to perform in party/etc (if you want). If you know how to use the feature, these digital piano is capable of simulating a band. You can see many videos in YouTube by people making use of these features.
A Good Example is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cvBGPfmRqM
This guy is using the Roland EXR-7s, an Interactive Arranger Keyboard.

But if you're into classical, then you might not really need those. Just a useful feature nice to have.