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Hi! A friend of mine asked me to help him choose a keyboard for his daughter, who's really deep into piano. She has the real thing at her mother's, but needs a separate rig so she can practice while away, and he was thinking along the lines of a key controller + soft piano. Problem is, of course, budget is very tight, and so the obvious M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 is a bit out of reach. Also, he wants to surprise her, so I can't really ask her anything about it.

This is for practice only, but I know how frustrating it can be to emulate a piano digitally, and how that can put you off playing at all. I would like to know if there are any piano players here that could give me some guidance on this subject. My questions are:

- Is it better to go the keyboard controller + vsti route, or getting a "stage piano" with built in sounds (and sometimes speakers)? Any good budget stage pianos you know?

- what would be a good choice for a piano vsti (on the low-cost side)?

- what would be a good choice for a controller? I think 88 keys are essential, but I'm not sure about the "hammer-action"... Is it really necessary to have it? Probably not all hammer-action keyboards feel as good as a real piano... Could one do with semi-weighted keys without loosing too much feeling?

- I have found this one model with decent specs and a decent price: http://www.musicstore.de/en_EN/PTE/Fame ... 003049-000 . Fame is the store brand of musicstore, and so i believe this is a rebranded model - but I have no idea of who the manufacturer is... Anyone has any experience with this?

We could really use some help from you real-world players. Hype is hype, and, not having many music shops nearby, trying before buying is not that easy for us. I'm looking for a decent setup, that feels and sounds good, and can last for a few years, without having to be extra-fancy.

Thanks in advance!

T

I know I will be ridiculed here for saying this but just for having fun w/o using computer one must expect to pay 200 for any kind of average controller.
88 keys puts you in the 3-400 USD range anyway.
A great sounding Piano w/ 76 keys IMHO is the Casio WK-200. It has lots of sounds and the Piano is decent considering it's consumer price.
For 200 bucks she can even play synth strings w/ Piano, etc. Lot's of fun I had on one of these one night. MY buddy's son has a blue's band and they asked me to sit it, when I saw this thing I figured no biggie, I have played worse on sit ins before, but this KBRD pulled it off fine even when using the outputs and muting the speakers.

It's a must see for the price. I have too many soft Pianos and still hate evry one of them.

I am even considering the Roland RD 700GX as a controller. It has the new MIDI 2 spec, and the Piano has great action, and sounds better than the 2000 USD worth of crap I have bought in the last 3 years.

Have him go play one of these, they sound really decent.

Thanks for the quick reply, Jimmy.

I had a feeling that software pianos were a bit tricky - and besides there's the latency, poliphony, etc...

I was looking into some of those Casio keyboards, namely this one- but the one you mention is more affordable... He did ask for 88 keys, though, but maybe I can track one of those and try it out- our only music shop in town has loads of Casios...

But would you say, in your opinion, that hammer action isn't "mandatory" for a practice piano? In the semi-weighted category, there's the M-Audio range like this one - or this one, that even comes bundled with Ableton Live. Ever heard any of them? Can't see much of a difference, except maybe the soundset.

The Roland you mention is quite expensive, though: € 2000 in musicstore makes it waaaaay out of line for us. I have to stay (well) below €500 for the whole thing...

But thanks for the ideas! Hope you have a good time @NAMM!!!! Hey, hope you always have a great time!

Cheerz,

T

The CDP100 is a great sounding unit actually.
You'll need some speakers if I remember correctly.
Unless she's really a jammer the CDP100 has adequate action and sound.
I just can't recommend a soft Piano to anyone.
They are still trying to get it right as it is complex.

The Roland is incredible, after 20 years of trying they finally got it right.
Just don't use the lame organ w/ Leslie patch..........so offending.
The Electric Pianos are uniquely Roland and sound awesome too.
I can't afford it either.
SC and JBowen have put me in Da PoHouse.

XITE-1/4LIVE wrote: SC and JBowen have put me in Da PoHouse.

They'll get you out, for sure!

be sure to check out the casio privia series. They have a very nice feeling keybed, and won't bust your budget.

Thanks Ken, that was a great tip too... I managed to find some great prices for the Privias, about the same as the CDPs. I guess that's what we'll be going for - seems a lot less hassle than the vsti way.

Cheers, and thanks again,

T

Couldnt resist.



Full thread with lots of nice old adds.
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electron ... ested.html

gorgeous thread, extremely enjoyed it, tnx a million

astroman wrote:gorgeous thread, extremely enjoyed it, tnx a million

He he +1


T