Monday, May 31, 2010
Cheapest Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano
I am an intermediate level piano player, and I am used to using an acoustic Yamaha upright. As a practice piano, the np-30 gets a 3 because learning fast songs is different and harder than on the 'real thing,' but it has decent sounds and sensitivity and it is portable (I believe it's the smallest and lightest 76-key keyboard). So while I'm disappointed having bought into the 'hype,' I still enjoy using it all the time. Here are some differences that you should know if you, like me, want to learn to play with fast hands:
--Key spacing: the keys are 3/4" smaller than an acoustic, over the whole keyboard. There are also noticeable gaps in between each one. I would sometimes get my fingers "caught" in the space and so unintentionally play extra notes when moving my hand back and forth quickly.
--Slippery keys: The plastic is the same as any keyboard, so it is more difficult to grip than an acoustic's. The black keys are a little thinner and more rounded than an acoustic's square-ish ones. Stay concentrated and keep your fingers curled on difficult passages to limit the slippage. Going back to a regular piano, I felt my fingers were getting stuck in comparison.
--Key sensitivity: I don't think the dynamics are as broad as an acoustics. The lightest touch that would work on an acoustic sometimes doesn't make a sound. The back part of the keys is more rigid, making playing loud chords using weaker fingers harder. Turning touch sensitivity down helps, but limits the range.
Overall, I still think this keyboard was the right choice for me since I really value portability. Others may want to either get the casio wk110 which is similar but cheaper, or a p85 or px-130 for a more pianoey feel.Get more detail about Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano.
Buying Casio CDP-100 88-Note Weighted Hammer Action Digital Piano
The feeling is great, quite close to real piano. The size is perfect for a college student. It's a good deal for this price and you probably feel it really worth after years. It's for piano since it have only five different sound( and two are piano with slight differences). The 88 notes explained itself quite well, I would recommend this if one really want to focus on piano rather than for band. I'm not sure digital piano need tuning or not(since I never have one before) but I don't think the menu said about it.
A alternative will be WK-200 76key, which have more functions and the price is much about $100 cheaper. Be honest I would like to have that since I am yet a great player. If go for a higher end, I think CDP-200 will be a good choice but that's almost a thousand(2010).
The speaker of this digital piano is a big flaw, every times I use a headset or I can't stand the sound from the integrated speaker. They do not recommend using unknown brand's headset and speakers but I just use the one I used for my laptop(Sony's), I can't tell it's the headset problem or not but sometime there are noises when I press the key with more force, so at your own risks.
I have no chance to use the pedal yet, I did not notice it does not come with the stand, so remember to get one together with your order if it's not offered.Get more detail about Casio CDP-100 88-Note Weighted Hammer Action Digital Piano.
Buy Elegance 49 Keys Musical Electronic Keyboard - Black
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3J95EB45E10BWGet more detail about Elegance 49 Keys Musical Electronic Keyboard - Black.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Purchase M-Audio Keystudio 49-NOTE USB Keyboard
The first keyboard arrived without the to be included USB cable. Amazon made it right quickly and easily. Since, the keyboard has worked exactly as advertised. Smallish footprint on desk, more keys than the "mini" keyboards. Hooked up with Garageband pretty much on its own. No complaints at all.Get more detail about M-Audio Keystudio 49-NOTE USB Keyboard.
Order Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys
I'm very pleased with this purchase. It actually is more than I expected. For the price it really deliveres good sound and it has many features that make it worth it, I'm just starting to play so I'm sure I haven't even discovered all that it has to offer. The only thing negative I have to say it is that even though the policies from amazon state that items of more than $400 would not mbe delivered without signature, my piano was left at my door, fortunatly we live in a very safe neigborhood so the piano was intact when I found it.Get more detail about Yamaha DGX-530 Keyboard, 88 Full-Sized Lightly Weighted Piano Style Keys.
Where To Buy Casio WK-200 76-Key Personal Keyboard with MP3/Audio Connection and 570 Tones
This keyboard is great. The speakers sound great and are plenty loud enough. Most of the time i leave it at half way. It's very light but kind of big. which isn't really a problem, it's a 76 key after all. the only problem i have with it is that it does not save your settings. using the function key will show you a lot of settings to change, it reverts back to default at each power up. so i have to go in every time i turn it on and change a few things. but it sounds great, it feels great, it has a lot of songs and instruments. for $200 i could not be happier.Get more detail about Casio WK-200 76-Key Personal Keyboard with MP3/Audio Connection and 570 Tones.
Shop For Yamaha YPT-320 61 Key Personal Keyboard with AC Adapter, Deluxe Keyboard Stand and Professional Headphones
I give this keyboard a five star rating. I have a 950 sq. ft. condo in Chicago and the sound more than fills the space with song. My wife grew up playing a piano and this was a perfect gift for her.
My five stars is based on the realistic deep piano sound the 320 brings, we really dont use any other functions just so you know where i'm coming from.
I recommend it to condo dwellers.Get more detail about Yamaha YPT-320 61 Key Personal Keyboard with AC Adapter, Deluxe Keyboard Stand and Professional Headphones.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Yamaha YPG635 88 Key Weighted Portable Grand
This is a very nice piano for the price. The quality of the sound is not identical to the real piano, but it's better than any other electronic instrument I've used so far. I'm also happy with the quality of materials used, and it's very easy to assemble. The selection of other instruments is diverse and you can get very creative with it. I bought it for personal pleasure rather than for professional use, and it works just fine for this purpose. One thing I didn't realize is that it's still not a full-size piano, one octave is missing compared to the real thing. I thought 88 notes was it, but I was wrong. Other than that, I'm happy with the purchase.Get more detail about Yamaha YPG635 88 Key Weighted Portable Grand.
eMedia MyPiano Electronic Keyboard and Learning Software Kit Review
I bought this for my daughter. My step son age 12 is musical talented. I am hope so is my daughter. My daughter age 7 has played with the MyPiano but she says the lessons are to hard and not encouraging for young children.
The piano has a learning feature in the small screen telling which note to push.
It would be better to have the keys light up for learning.
The MyPiano is ok talking to our eMac. I will give a latter review on how long it takes for my children to figure this keyboard out. Note: the MyPiano works really well with Garage Band from apple on the eMac.
Get more detail about eMedia MyPiano Electronic Keyboard and Learning Software Kit.
Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Keyboard, Sensitive Keys with Lighted Key Teaching Top Quality
I did a lot of research before I finally order YAMAHA EZ-200 a week ago from Amazon ($150+plus shipping)
I had a couple years of basic piano lessons and wanting a keyboard for myself to learn some songs for self-entertaining purpose, using synthesia program. The features that I was looking for:
-Minimal 61 keys/regular size keys for basic beginners
-lighted keys for guided practice
-LCD for guided fingering
-realistic piano sounds
-piano like touch (Touch sensitive keys)
-ability to download MIDI from the computer
After playing with YAMAHA EZ-200 for a week, it delivers what I am looking for:
-content in the box include: EZ-200 keyboard, a product manual, a song book and a demo DVD of YAMAHA products.
-the keyboard was well made (made in China), elegant look; does not have that cheap plastic feeling
-YAMAHA education suite allows you to set a section between A point and B point, which let you practice that segment repeatedly
-the keyboard does simulate a stand-up piano quality
-"Waiting" function allows lighted key to pause and wait for you to catch up the music
-Allows practice separate right hand and left hand practice
-Allows to slow down the tempo the the song (included) that helps practice
A few things I'd like to address, not related to how EZ-200 was made, but probably would have affect my purchasing decision if I had known it ahead of time:
-AC adapter NOT included with YAMAHA EZ-200.
I was shocked when I realize the AC adapter is not included, especially when the product manual stresses the importance of using an AC adapter for environmental friendly reason. After seeing many sellers include AC adapter in their package, I did suspect AC adapter may not included in the box, but I still choose to purchase EZ-200 without any other bells and whistles. A friend purchased the YAMAHA PSR-E230 bundle with a keyboard stand and earphones. She reports the stand was flimsy and not sturdy for the keyboard. I really don't need a filmsy stand that doesn't serve the purpose, but a AC adapter that can spare the use of batteries and prevent environmental pollution, I can use one.
-USB MIDI Cable Converter (PC to Music Keyboard) NOT included
The YAMAHA EZ-200 keyboard itself is excellent!!! I'll give it a 5-star rating. As for the overall package, until it comes with AC adapter, I'll give it 4 star.
C'mon, it's like a boom box radio that did not provide a AC adapter. YAMAHA, WHAT R U THINKING???
Get more detail about Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Keyboard, Sensitive Keys with Lighted Key Teaching.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Casio WK-500 76-Key Personal Keyboard with MP3/Audio Connection, 670 Tones and Power Supply Immediately
I just got this for my 10 yo son for use both as a composing instrument and in a new band that he was part of. I expected, from these reviews and others, to get a beefed-up kids-type keyboard. Boy, was I wrong. This thing is truly amazing; very nice feel to the keys (not a piano, but decent resistance), very sophisticated looking and with a torrent of sound creation features that almost defy learning, no less use. Terrific sound. All in all, more than he or I ever dreamt (or perhaps needed) in a keyboard. He is now been pulled off the computer to play his new keyboard many hours a day. It's really great, and I'm glad I made this choice.
One thing - it is pretty big, and it might be worth buying the carrying bag as well if you plan to transport in anywhere more than once.Get more detail about Casio WK-500 76-Key Personal Keyboard with MP3/Audio Connection, 670 Tones and Power Supply.
Yamaha PSR-E223 Entry-Level Portable Keyboard Best Quality
I have no negatives for this product except what were they thinking to not provide a way to plug it in. 6 batteries gets expensive.Get more detail about Yamaha PSR-E223 Entry-Level Portable Keyboard.
Yamaha YPG535 88 Key Portable Grand Piano with Power Supply Get it now!
This piano is amazing!!! I bought this piano a couple of weeks ago, because I wanted to learn how to play. Great piano for anybody that is looking for something that is not as expensive but still holds great quality.Get more detail about Yamaha YPG535 88 Key Portable Grand Piano with Power Supply.
Korg microKORG Portable Synth/Vocoder Buy Now
If your considering buying this, my advice to you is just to do it. It has a great sound to it and would be a great addition to your band. It is lightweight but it does not feel cheaply made at all. The keyboard does not have full size keys but it isn't really that bad to play. Programming it can be a bit of a pain at first but once you get used to it becomes much easier. Korg has a really great product here.Get more detail about Korg microKORG Portable Synth/Vocoder.
Casio WK-500 76-Key Personal Keyboard Package with Stand, Headphones and Power Supply Order Now
Better than I expected. does everything but wash dishes. It's actually much better than I needed. I'm a beginner & an old one at that. Just hope I can learn. I've forgotten so much & am relearning & also my grandson is helping me. I'm very happy with this product.Get more detail about Casio WK-500 76-Key Personal Keyboard Package with Stand, Headphones and Power Supply.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
M Audio KeyRig 49 49 Key USB Keyboard Controller Decide Now
It doesn't matter so much to me, but it's important you know that the keyboard has no speakers to play by itself. It can only be played through your computer. But for GarageBand on Mac, you just plug it in and it works. Great for producing/arranging music.Get more detail about M Audio KeyRig 49 49 Key USB Keyboard Controller.
Yamaha YPT-220 61 Key Personal Keyboard with AC Adapter, Deluxe Keyboard Stand and Professional Headphones Right now
I had to return this product package because the "Deluxe Keyboard Stand" was not compatible with this keyboard. Yamaha's customer service was horrendous. They just said that it was a package deal and that there was nothing they could do about it. I asked them why in the world they would put together a package with parts that were not compatible with each other and none of the representatives I spoke with could give me a reasonable answer, including a supervising manager. I told them that the keyboard itself sounded fine and asked them if I could simply return the stand and replace it with a compatible stand, which they said that they had in stock. But they refused and said that I had to go through Amazon and return the whole package. It was very frustrating and I feel very soured toward Yamaha. Thankfully, I kept the packaging boxes in good order and Amazon's customer service is great so I was able to return the whole package for a full refund.Get more detail about Yamaha YPT-220 61 Key Personal Keyboard with AC Adapter, Deluxe Keyboard Stand and Professional Headphones.
Lowest Price Casio CTK-5000 Premium Keyboard Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones
My husband ordered this as my birthday gift. When I received the product, the box outside was fine. However, all other boxes inside look like they were in the weather for years. The result was that they keyboard did not function right. I had to exchange. The second time I received the package, it was not any different than the first time. The stand was rusted some places. The headphone especially did not work. I called up Amazon to exchange the headphone. They said that I had to return the whole package, not just one item. What?????????? The keyboard has been working great. I play everyday. But, forget about the headphone. If you like the keyboard and looking for cheap price, this should be the way you go. However, I'm still wonder if the keyboard was an open boxed one because the boxes of bothe times looked very bad, and no sign of manufactor seal. Just talk about keyboard itself, I recommand it.Get more detail about Casio CTK-5000 Premium Keyboard Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones.
Low Price Casio CTK-4000 Premium Keyboard Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones
I got this keyboard for my daughter for Christmas, 2009. she is 11 years old and has been enjoying the keyboard. she has used the step-up lessons to learn several pieces, and she hasn't had any "professional" piano lessons but has learned to play both hands together with several songs: Greensleaves and Danny Boy are her favorites. It took a while to get use to how the step-up lessons worked, but once we understood, it was easy to use. We don't use any of the fancier features, just wanted a basic keyboard with lots of songs and sounds. I like that about this keyboard, but have alreay had problems with it. We aren't rough on the keys, but have noticed several of the more "played" keys are clicking when played even softly. This can be slightly annoying. The clicking sounds makes it feel and sound cheap and makes me nervous about making it worse. Also, some of the features are difficult to use and don't work the way they are suppose to. Sometimes it is user error, but something as simple as recording what you are playing is very difficult. My daughter has had several frustrating moments when she thought she recorded something and she went to play it back and it wasn't there. It is a lot harder than necesary to set up the recording, and you can't easily tell if the recording is working. Also, there have been several times I had to turn the keyboard off and restart it when different buttons weren't doing what they were suppose to. It usually will work when the keyboard is "reset" by turning the power off and back on again. It can be frustrating and has happened when selecting instraument sounds as well as using the step-up lesson feature.
If the clicking gets worse, which it seems to be doing by almost negligable measure, I will consider returning it for something more sturdy, although I can't really afford more.
I have ordered a foot pedal to go with this. It is needed to play pieces so they sound nice. hope that works out well!
Get more detail about Casio CTK-4000 Premium Keyboard Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones.
Save Casio CS-67 Keyboard Stand for PX130 and PX330
The Casio stand is a necessary addition to the PX330. Why wouldn't anyone want to place the PX330 on a stand. Well, the stand matches the piano perfectly, very stable, smartly designed, required very simple installation, is made from wood, and is colored black to match the piano. It's a great design for home use, and the PX330 also is a fine electric keyboard to have fun with at home. It looks nice and sounds great. Unless you're Alfred Brendel, McCoy Tyner, or Stevie Wonder, this piano keyboard will be fine for all your piano playing. It has a very sleek design and can fit against a wall taking up minimal space. Great piano and stand for a great price.Get more detail about Casio CS-67 Keyboard Stand for PX130 and PX330.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Discount Casio LK-100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package
Bought this for my girlfriend for Christmas and she seems to like it. If nothing else, her parents think I'm pretty great for it.Get more detail about Casio LK-100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package.
Cheapest Korg nanoKEY 25 Key USB Controller Keyboard, Black
Was hoping to have a decent MIDI controller to take on the road. Product arrived with several keys not working right out of the box. Wasn't expecting much for the price, but especially considering brand name this is disappointing. NOT recommended.Get more detail about Korg nanoKEY 25 Key USB Controller Keyboard, Black.
Cheap Yamaha P85 Digital Stage Piano (Black)
The piano is as good as I expected, except some scratches on the white keys.
Anyway, this is an open box one, and price is nice, we can not expect too much.
Five stars.Get more detail about Yamaha P85 Digital Stage Piano (Black).
Buying Casio PX-130 88-Key Digital Stage Piano
I am very happy with the keyboard. Everything works, installation with the stand was easy.Get more detail about Casio PX-130 88-Key Digital Stage Piano.
Buy Casio CTK-3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones
I bought this for my 14 year old daughter who already plays 2 other insruments and wanted to take up the keyboard. It offers a lot of versitilty and so far has given her a lot of enjoyment. Being as she is a novice with the keyboard I hope it will still take her a long way. t was a good choice and having the earphones with it lets her play when other s don't want to listen.Get more detail about Casio CTK-3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Purchase Yamaha YPT-220 61 Key Personal Keyboard with AC Adapter
I just learned how to play the guitar and I really wanted to tackle another musical instrument, so I thought of the piano. As I am on a really tight budget and have such a small space I went with this keyboard, the Yamaha YPT-220 and I'm glad that I did.
I've only had it for about three days but already can play a few things. It comes with a built in Y.E.S. (Yamaha Education Suite)which teaches you how to play over 100 songs. However, you may have to pause frequently because the notes are played standard, not slowed down. Now, there were some complaints about not being able to hit the lower notes, which you cannot on this keyboard. In order to do that you'll need the 76 key keyboard. But, if you are like me and on a tight budget or have a small space then this keyboard is perfect.
I've been going on Youtube and seeing how to play certain songs that I like and so far all the songs I want to play, it's been possible because there are just enough keys. Also, this keyboard DOES come with the power adapter and it does work. This keyboard is made of plastic, so don't expect anything metal. I don't have a problem with it being made of plastic. It doesn't take away from the overall look of the keyboard. Please do be aware that the keys are not just like piano keys. They are close, but they are not weighted. So, be careful when pressing them. I feel that I got my money's worth out of it and am not disappointed.Get more detail about Yamaha YPT-220 61 Key Personal Keyboard with AC Adapter.
Where To Buy Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Sensitive Lighted Keyboard Bundle: Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply
This keyboard was purchased for my 5 year old daughter who had just began piano lessons. We were in the process of trying to get a full-sized upright piano we were offered to our home from where its location. This proved nearly impossible due to the lack of man-power (we had 4 men). The piano was well over 1000 lbs. and proved to awkward and heavy to mount on the truck. So we skipped it. Meanwhile, my daughter had already began her first 2 piano lessons and had nothing to practice on at home. With her third piano lesson rapidly approaching we decided to find something that we could afford and was also of suitable quality to practice upon.
Enter Amazon. After reading many reviews and educating myself on the difference between an electronic keyboard and a digital piano, my pocketbook necessitated that I give the EZ-200 a serious look. It was in the price range we could afford in a hurry and was accompanied with many positive reviews by individuals who had purchased it for the purpose of a starter piano for their kids of a similar age. So it is fair to say that I was not expecting a high quality product for the price-point. My expectations were not exceeded.
The keyboard arrived on time, as it was ordered with 2-day shipping. Everything that was supposed to be in the box was there... EXCEPT the headphone jack adapter.
HEADPHONES: The included headphones have a 1/8 stereo mini-jack, yet the keyboard itself requires the standard larger 1/4 jack. The box says that the 1/8 - 1/4 adapter is included. It was not. I happen to have several of those so I simply wrote it off as no big deal. The headphones have an extremely poor sound dynamic when plugged into my stereo. The keyboard demands only a narrow range of sound at any one time, so with the headphones plugged into it they perform adequately. Keeping in mind it merely need to suit my 5 year old daughter. The headphones also feature a volume control along the cable. On the second day of use, under light tension, the cable separated in two. The part that separated was one of the 2 ends of the cable that join at the volume control. Upon inspection of the wire ends, they were not stretched or torn. It was as if they were simply "placed" inside the volume control mechanism on the cable. I decided to open the volume control mechanism on the cord and as suspected, it was apparent that that side of the wire going in to the volume mechanism was not properly soldered.
At this point the cheap price is starting to feel expensive.
The STAND: The stand itself is actually quite sturdy. It is adjustable to 5 different heights. It looks nice enough. Made of a charcoal colored metal. So yes it is a decent stand, with only one problem....... It is ridiculously obvious that the stand was not designed to fit this keyboard. It allows the keyboard to sit on top of it, but so would an ironing board. The bottom of the keyboard is not flat. It has 4 rubber feet will allow it to sit level and slip-free on a flat surface. The bottom also has 2 grooves that were definitely designed to accommodate a stand, but NOT this one. No matter which of the 5 positions this stand allows, none of them line up with the keyboard's "Stand Grooves". So it is next to impossible to center the keyboard atop the stand and have a sturdy playing surface. So when the keyboard is atop the stand, do not bump into the keyboard, as it will most likely slide off the stand.
POWER ADAPTER: This seems to work fine. It is the only accessory that accompanies this keyboard that seems to be designed for it.
KEYBOARD: The keyboard brought a smile to my daughter's face when she first saw it of course.. she's five. The keys are not "weighted" of course, but they are pressure sensitive. So hitting the keys softly or hard produces different volumes accordingly. Though I believe the volume is strictly 3 phases;loud-medium-soft. There is an option to turn the sensitivity off allowing any press of the keys to produce a loud volume. "Loud" is of course a relative term, here I use it just to distinguish between 3 volumes. The speakers on the keyboard itself are definitely NOT loud. They are sufficient. Tonally they offer a somewhat projective treble tones, but the mid to low-range sounds almost seem as though they are muted. It makes for a frustrating playing experience. The keys light up as you press them as well as when there is a preprogrammed song playing. I suppose this is a nice feature for those who are trying to learn the songs they have programmed in the machine. My daughter currently has no use for the feature. The keys themselves are a cheap plastic which makes them susceptible to misalignment and loosening if you run your fingers down the keyboard laterally, which children seem to love to do. It comes preprogrammed with 100 songs, 5 of which are contemporary, the rest are jazzed up versions of old standards such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
In summary, I suppose it will suffice until my daughter demonstrates that she is going to pursue instruction of the piano. If that is the case, we will certainly be looking into a product that is more durable, and places a premium on sound quality. If I consider this a TOY and not an instrument, I feel less burned by the purchase.Get more detail about Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Sensitive Lighted Keyboard Bundle: Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply.
Shop For Casio SA-75 Keyboard with Headset Microphone
Very dissapointed with my purchase.
1. Even if you turn the volume to its lowest setting the keyboard sound is too loud. Worse, its default setting is 5 (scale from 1 to 10) which is way too loud. Each time your child turns the unit on and starts playing without thinking to turn down the volume first you have to hold your ears. Especially if you smaller children you know they are not going to turn down the volume by themselves.
2. The various sounds are quite dissapointing. Of the 100 or so sounds I can only stand the piano sound which sounds ok - not great.
3. The unit comes without a power supply so you better buy lots of batteries.
I didn't expect much when I bought the unit. It was to be a simple toy for my 2 year old daughter. We will have to throw it out, primarily because of the volume issue.Get more detail about Casio SA-75 Keyboard with Headset Microphone.
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