Digital Piano Keyboards

If you are looking for a keyboard and are not sure regarding what your type would be, then we suggest you learn about the 5 power piano player types and discover what your type is. Assuming you know your type, you can use the information to match your keyboard to your playing style. One company that is well known in the manufacture of Digital Piano keyboards is Yamaha. The largest piano manufacturer with a piano keyboard building legacy has always been popular amongst consumers. Yamaha’s famous acoustic piano quality has been artfully applied to the Yamaha digital pianos and synthesizers offering budding musicians a pleasant musical experience.

The YPT-210 is the first keyboard in Yamaha’s long list of portable keyboards. Introduced in 2007, this has many features normally found on more expensive instruments.  The on board teaching system, the easy to read backlit LCD display screen and the Auto Accompaniment feature are some of its cool features. Packed with decent features and sounds, the keyboard is ideal for beginners to discover the joy of playing a keyboard.

Design:

Body:
The Yamaha YPT-210 Portable Keyboard has a large black body with a matte finishing. It has dimensions of (H x W x D) 945 x 348 x 110 mm. The keyboard has sixty one keys that are of graded soft touch keyboard type. They have a good resistance and a light body. On the upper left and right end of the piano’s face are the huge speakers. At the centre of the body is present the main panel, that has an easy to read LCD panel along with a lot of useful buttons.  The LCD is a monochrome display with a score display function and lyrics display function. It also tells you which note to play and when to play and which finger to use from each hand when both the hands are being used.

Connectivity:
The Yamaha YPT-210 Digital keyboard is computer compatible as well. The YPT-210 has a MIDI In / Out , a Sustain Pedal jack and a headphone jack that allows you to have private practice. With the Use of General MIDI, one can communicate with others keyboards, MIDI instruments and computers using their keyboard.  This means the XGlite compatible keyboard also has access to thousands of MIDI songs on the Internet as well. Considering that this is the pathway to the Internet, we are glad that they have decent connectivity provided on it.

Features:

Portable Grand:
Assuming you take piano lessons, the keyboard is a viable choice. There is a button on the keyboard that allows you to reset the whole keyboard to a stereo sampled piano. Yamaha’s skill in producing acoustic pianos is evident as one enjoys the warmth and clarity of the Portable Grand Piano. There is a Sustain pedal jack included as well that allows players to practice and play with the piano.

Say Y.E.S!
The Yamaha Education Suite or Y.E.S is amongst the main features of the piano. The unique thing about Y.E.S is that it stands out from all other frustrating educational software we have had in the pianos. This software is user friendly and is easy to understand and helps users to learn songs and play them. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts and provide 7 levels of lessons along with a convenient chord dictionary. There are three keyboard lessons for each hand: lesson one enables you to listen and learn a melody or rhYPThm and lesson 2 is the timing mode which allows you to play a melody or chord by pressing a key using the right timing. Lesson 3 stops the playback of a song till you get the right note. There is Lesson grading included as well which monitors your progress in lessons 2 and 3 and gives you a grade. There is a chord dictionary included which shows how to play chords and tells you which chords are being played while the notes are displayed on the LED screen.

Sound Effect Kit:
Who ever thought playing the keyboard was dull? The YPT-210 Portable Piano Keyboard features the Sound Effect kit which allows the piano to produce a whole lot of sound effects such as Hip Hop beats.  All you need to do is to push the sound effect button and hold down a key with your right hand and there you go!

Real Stereo:
Some keyboards have 2 speakers which are not stereo.  Just because they have 2 speakers does not mean they have 2 separate amplifiers. Unlike those, the YPT-210 has actual stereo sampling technology.

XGlite:
The YPT also features a large selection of professional sound voices going by the name of XGlite. They have amazing sound quality and have 375 voices to choose from. They offer compatibility for both 3rd party and Yamaha XG software. Sounds from trumpets, harpsichords, organs, electrical pianos and even guitars are present in the keyboard.

32 Note Polyphony and 16 Part Multi-Timbrel:
The thing about electronic keyboards is that they make more sounds at a same time (that is termed polyphony) unlike ordinary keyboards which are capable of producing one sound at a time.  The more number of sounds one would want to produce at the same time more would be the memory needed because too little polyphony would cause dropouts in dense passages of music. Most keyboards in the price range of the YPT-210 have 12 note polyphony where as the YPT-210 has 32 note polyphony. Yes, the 32 note polyphony is capable of playing back 16 parts or sounds at once. That is more than enough for even the most demanding needs.

Auto Accompaniment Styles:
Apart from the 102 inbuilt songs which provide a backing hand as you play, there is also an “auto accompaniment” function provided on the YPT-210. This feature can be used by using only one finger of your left hand and adds a complete backing kind, in a style of your choice while you can add the melody with your right hand. Simply select a style from the 100 in built styles; there are different kinds of music which are covered from Classic to Rock.  The YPT-210 also has the ability to create a backup band (drums, bass etc.) and follow you through your song. Not only is this entertaining but fun to use as well.

Reverb Effect:
As a musician, there is always a need to create a sort of a reverberation effect for recorded or live music. The YPT-210 digital piano keyboard also features the reverb effect which tends to restore natural sounds, or enhance them or even create special effects.

Performance:

Good for Beginners:
If you have just started to learn how to play a keyboard, then the keyboard has a lot of interactive features as well as tutorials to coach you. There are a standard set of keys and a Music book as well which make the learning experience simpler.

Sound:
The Yamaha YPT-210 has a pleasant and clean sound. It is capable of producing a wide variety of sounds that are inherently distinct from each other. Though it was a digital keyboard, not once did we notice any sort of electronic touch to it, it was just too natural.

Speakers:
The Speakers were of decent quality and at maximum volume, the sound was strong.  Even the sound decay was pretty good. It was capable of replicating the length of a piano well.

The Package and Warranty:

Along with the main keyboard is provided a Music rest, an AC adaptor and an Instruction manual as well. There is a warranty of 2 years provided on the keyboard from the date of purchase.

Verdict:

If you are on a tight budget, the Yamaha YPT-210 is a great choice.  It is also a valid choice if you want to learn playing a keyboard. Considering that it not only offers value for money but a great set of features that are found on pricier keyboards, this is highly recommended. It would be a quick and effective way to learn the keyboard and is a worthwhile investment.

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Yamaha YPT-210 Digital MIDI Keyboard – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Yamaha
Model Name	Yamaha YPT-210 Grand Piano Keyboard
Model number	YPG535
Dimensions (H X W X D) mm	945 x 348 x 110 mm
Weight	LCD
Display size	320 x 240 dots
Score and lyrics display function	Yes
Display language	English
Tone Generating Technology	AWM Stereo Sampling
Number of Polyphony	32
Yamaha Education Suite V5	Listen and Learn, Timing, Waiting, Chord Dictionary, Grading
Voices	375
Compatibility	GM and XGlite
Digital Effects	Reverb : 9 types
Auto Accompaniment Styles	100
Auto Accompaniment Controls	Accompaniment on/off, sync-start, start/stop, intro/ending, main A/B (auto fill)
Variations	Intro, Main x 2, Filling-in, Ending
Function Controls	Volume: Accompaniment, Song, Main Voice, Metronome. Other: Tuning, Transpose, Split Point, Main Voice Octave, Reverb Type & Depth, Panel Sustain, Local On/Off, External Clock, Initial Setup Send, Time Signature, Demo Cancel
Panel Controls	On/Off, Master Volume, Lesson R/L, Listen & Learn, Timing, Waiting, Chord Dictionary, Style Controls, Tap/Tempo, Function, Song Select, Style Select, Voice Select, Portable Grand, Sound Effect Kit, Reverb On/Off, Numeric Selector, Metronome, Demo
Interface	MIDI IN/OUT
Speakers	2
Rated Voltage	DC 10-12V
Accessories included	Music Rest AC Adapter YPT-210 Keyboard Song Book
Headstock	Bound
Humbuckers	3 Alnico Classic humbuckers
Hardware	Gold hardware
Warranty	Two years extended warranty

Dynasun by Confidence of Europe is basically a German based company that specialises in premium quality studio equipment, photo and video accessories like flashes, tripods, heads and accessories. However, they also have their range of musical instruments and in the following review; we will be seeing about the Dynasun Meike MK-933 Digital Piano Keyboard. This portable keyboard is the flagship model of the new series of instruments from Meike.

Design:

The Dynasun Meike MK-933 61 Keys Digital Piano Keyboard has a design that replicates a traditional acoustic keyboard. The main control panel has been neatly arranged and clearly labeled for easy use. The LCD display is very useful and gives the learner a clear idea of what the selection is. There are lot of styles available and the one touch setup of the keyboard makes the operation extremely easy. The combination of innovative design, high quality raw materials and skilled assembly assures that this instrument is of the highest quality.

Functions and feature:

If you have a closer look at the functions and features of the MK-933 digital Piano, it shows that they seem to be designed specifically for the learners. Meike has offered a very useful set of music training functionalities that makes learning music very easy. With forty built-in songs, you can have real fun playing and composing your innovations. MK-933 portable keyboard has a huge assortment of 136 built-in styles that cover all the genres of music that waits for you to play along with it. The whole set-up will give you the feel of having a built-in band. One of the most appreciable facts about this keyboard is that, it suites a wide range of styles; name it and the piano has got it. The style collection includes everybody’s favourites like Rock, Big Band, Gospel and Country. You can either press a chord or play single finger mode and the Meike will follow you through the piece of music by providing you with all of the drums, bass, piano, guitar, horn and string parts for you.

Verdict:

As far as the Dynasun Meike MK-933 keyboard is concerned, the company has stood by its motto to offer quality equipments at very affordable costs. This piano will be pleasing three people: your teacher, your interior decorator and your accountant too. We recommend the MK-933 61 Keys Digital Keyboard for the learners.

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Dynasun Meike MK-933 Portable Keyboard – Specification Details

Manufacturer	Dynasun
Model Name	Dynasun Meike MK-933 keyboard
Dimensions (H x W x D)	970 x 382 x 803 mm
Weight	27 Kg
Keyboard	61 keys
Display	LCD
Touch Response	Yes
Pitch Bend	Yes
Three Bank Registration	Yes
Timbres	136
Rhythms	128
Demo Songs	40
Front-panel Percussions	8
Adjustable volume	Yes
Master Volume Control	16 grade
Level Tempo Control	64
Rhythm Volume Control	8 grade
Chord Volume Control	8 grade
Single Finger / Fingered Chord	Yes
Chord Mats	6
Chord Timbre	Yes
Sync Function	Yes
Fill-In Function, Intro and Ending	Yes
Rhythm Programming	Yes
Record & Playback	Yes
Features	Vibratio Sustain Transpose Dual Timbres Metronome Keyboard Split Features One-Key Function
Connectivity	Speaker Output (L/R) Headphone Jack
Power	DC 12V, 500mA (AC Adaptor)
Package contents	61 Keys Keyboard MEIKE MK933 Stand Power Adaptor CE-Norm Stereo Headset Pedal Manual

Hemingway is a dedicated manufacturer of the digital pianos; they have got the right digital pianos for every demand. In the following review, we will be seeing about their DP-501 digital piano in detail.

Design:

Good looking with simple construction:
Look wise, the Hemingway DP-501has the majestic look of an acoustic piano. It is available in three attractive finishes of Piano Black, Rosewood and Anthracite. You have to chuck in some extra bugs if you like to have the Piano Black version of the DP501. The polished Piano Black version specially looks very attractive. The gold Hemingway logo is very overpowering and the control panel looks simple to use and is very well laid out. The top panel of the device has power switch, mater volume, brightness volume, reverb button, chorus, touch, demo, metronome, transpose, tempo, voice selection, sequencer buttons, headphone jacks and a LCD display. In the rear panel, you will find the MIDI in/out jacks, pedal jack, Line in/out jack and power jack.

Bad built quality:
It is unfortunate that the good looks of the digital piano is not complimented by the built quality. The construction is weak; resulting is the poor built quality. The key cover is secured by a wire to protect it in transit which looks like a poor job and is very fiddly to undo the wire and release the lid. The back board of the unit is very flimsy and is secured by two screws on the top and four in the bottom. We were pissed off to see that the four at the bottom have not been pre-drilled and so, it is tough work to get the four bottom screws in and this can even result in the damage of the cabinet itself if you are not careful. The pedal board moves when it is pressed down and the pedals seem to be having too much of side play. The middle pedal sostenuto is longer than the other two.

Noisy keys:
The keys seem to be extremely noisy which becomes very noticeable when the volume level is down. You will notice how irritating they are when you play with the headphones on as you will find that the knocking and clicking of the keys are actually louder than the sound of the piano itself. The keys in the middle especially produce a very loud click and they will really put you off and distract you from playing.

Not an easy assembly:
The Hemingway DP501 Digital Piano is not very easy to assemble. You will have the instructions in the manual, but they are not very clear. So, you will have to do a lot of guess work, which the beginners will not entertain. We found that the holes to connect the keyboard to its legs are lined up well. It will take you forever to assemble if you attempt to do it all by yourself, so get the help of your friend too. The assembly will consume a minimum of 45 minutes to one hour of your precious time.

Features:

Voice Presets:
The Hemingway DP501 Digital Piano features eight different voice presets. Choose the desired preset sing the voice selection buttons on the top panel. The chosen preset will be indicated by a red light above the button and in the LCD-Display. The following eight presets are available: Grand Piano, Upright Piano, E-Piano 1, E-Piano 2, Harpsi, Vibes, Strings and Organ.

Voice Combinations:
To further increase the sound options, the Piano features the possibility of combining two different voice presets. By pressing down two voice selection buttons at the same time, both presets will be selected, enabling you to use two voices simultaneously. In this case, both presets will be indicated by red lights above the corresponding buttons. The balance between the two selected voices may be adjusted with the layer volume-buttons. When two voices are chosen and the chorus-button is pressed for a longer time, the balance between the two voices will be displayed in the LCD display. Now this balance may be adjusted by using the two layer volume buttons.

Transpose:
By using the transpose buttons you can transpose the keyboard up or down by 12 semitones. To reset, press down both transpose buttons simultaneously.

Reverb-effect:
With the Reverb-effect the sound reverberation of the room is simulated. Three different kinds of rooms of Room, Hall, Theatre may be chosen by using the reverb button.

Chorus:
The Chorus reproduces an electronically obtained modulating effect, which may be activated or deactivated by pressing the chorus button.

Touch Sensitivity:
The touch sensitivity of the keyboard can be adjusted using the touch button. The piano features three different settings of Hard, Normal, Soft as well as the option to turn off the touch sensitivity. When the touch sensitivity is turned off the Volume of the tone can be adjusted by pressing the touch button a long time. As soon as “Touch: 100″is shown in the LCD-display, the Volume can be adjusted using the two tempo buttons. Pressing the touch button and the two tempo buttons simultaneously will reset the Volume to 100.

Metronome functions:
The metronome function keeps a rhythm going while you play. The chosen tempo will be shown in the LCD-display. By using the tempo buttons the metronome speed can be adjusted from 20 to 280 bpm. By pressing both tempo buttons simultaneously the tempo will be reset to 120 bpm by default. By pressing metronome and using the tempo-buttons different beats maybe chosen (1/4; 2/4; 3/4;4/4; 6/4; 6/8 and 12/8).

Record and Playback:
The Hemingway DP-501 LCD Display Digital Piano allows you to record and playback your performance on the instrument. The recording will include pedal operations and can contain up to 3000 notes.

Record: Activate Recording by pressing the record button and simultaneously the melody button of the track (Melody1 or Melody2) on which you would like to record your performance. Your performance will be recorded. Press the melody button again to stop recording.

Playback: Press the melody button of the track you would like to playback. Then press the play button to start the playback. Press the play button again to end the playback. It is even possible to playback both tracks at the same time. Furthermore one track can be played while recording the other track. By activating one track before starting the recording of the other track as described the “passive track“ will be played back while recording the other.

Clear recording: Press the record and play button simultaneously to enter clearing record status and you can also press the two buttons again at the same time to exit the status. Now you are able to delete the track by pressing the corresponding melody button.

Demo songs:
The DP501 Digital Piano features eight demo songs. The demo mode is entered by pressing the DEMO button. This will activate the lights above the voice selection buttons. The different demo songs can now be selected by pressing the voice selection buttons. If no song is selected after entering demo mode, the first song will automatically start playing after five seconds. Exit demo mode by pressing the demo button again.

The Annoying Features:
Though the list of features are available are good, there are some features that are quite annoying and we have listed some of them here. The reverb feature is switched on by default when the piano is switched on and this has to be actually turned off to get the most realistic sound out of the digital piano. To add to this, you have to press the button four times to turn it off. The piano’s touch is set to off and is nowhere near as good as the soft touch. In order to get the soft touch, the touch button has to be pressed once. The most irritating fact is that, when the piano is turned off and then back on, it does not remember your previous setting.

Performance:

Awful Touch:
Unfortunately, the keys are bouncy and uncontrollable. The touch is very deep that makes the instrument irritatingly rattly. Playing soft is almost impossible in this piano because, when you try to do so, the keys jump down with force. This is mainly because of the fact that spring tension is too great. To add to this, not only are they bouncy, you will find that there is a lot of sideways movement too. The depth of the touch is too deep, which is accentuated by the fact that the key fronts being far too long. Overall, the touch of DP-501 is simply awful.

Repetition:
The repetition is good in the black keys but below average on the white keys. This comes in as a real disappointment as the repetition is not better than any of the digital pianos available in the market. With this kind of repetition, it is very hard to play fast passages.

Touch Sensitivity:
The touch sensitivity virtually does not exist in the DP501. While most of the Digital Pianos in the market have about four to five levels of touch sensitivity in order to replicate a real piano, this Hemingway model has only two of them. That too, is not good enough that at times it feels as though there is only one. You will not be able to get any power from the piano by pressing the keys down harder; consequently, you certainly cannot put any expression into your music. This makes the keyboard very frustrating to play and not at all enjoyable.

The key weight:
The key weight is a very important factor to consider when buying pianos because, if you are practicing in a piano with a very light touch, you will not be able to improve upon your finger muscles and its dexterity and hence, a heavier touch is always preferred. Said that, the Hemingway DP-501 has a false touch, which means that the touch is actually quite light but the spring tension is very high on the initial key depression and also when the key returns. When the light touch is coupled with strong spring tensions, it becomes extremely hard for the player to control the piano.

Progressive Hammer Action:
Progressive Hammer Action, which is otherwise called as the Scaled Hammer Action or Graded Hammer Action means that the keys in the bass section are heavy and get progressively lighter as you go up the keyboard. This feature replicates the touch of a real piano where the hammers are heavier and lighter in the treble. You will not find any progressive hammer action in the Hemingway DP501 as all the keys of the device weighs the same.

Sound:
The sound of the Hemingway DP-501 is neither excellent nor worst; it is just pleasant and clean. It is quite bloomy as it sounds like a bell in the top treble and will not please you much if the bass volume adjustment is turned up. Anybody can say right away that it is as digital, piano as the electronic sound just comes through.

Speakers:
The specifications of the DP501 says that it has got two forty watt amplifier driving an integrated stereo speaker setup, each featuring one 6.5 inch and one 2-inch speaker. But it left us wondering where is the sound? The quality of the speaker is very poor and even at its max volume, the sound is weak. No wonder that the quality of the speakers are poor, as those small speakers too are present underneath the piano which also contributes to the poor end result. Finally, we have something good to say about this piano as it has a pretty good sound decay; it replicates the length of an acoustic piano very well. Sound decay is nothing but how quickly the sound dies away when holding down the notes.

Harmonics:
We did notice that the harmonics in the bass are quite rapid and way out. The top treble, that is, the last two octaves are in tune, but the final three notes seem to be a wee bit sharp. A great disappointment here is that, the centre of the piano which is the most important part of the digital piano is not good. The thirds, fourths and fifths are very inconsistent; some being flat, some sharp and they are just all over the place. It is extremely hard to find a piano that is in tune in near top. We are glad that the Hemingway DP-501 has a great tuning in the top section but it is a shame that the tuning in the center and bass lets it down big time.

Power:

The power lead of the DP501 is too short at only one meter, so you have to place the piano directly in front of a power switch. And this digital piano comes with a European two prong plug, which means you have to get an adaptor to use it in England.

The Hemingway DP-501 Package:

We have to mention here that the package is extremely well packed. There are thick cardboard boxes; one inner and one outer. There is like, plenty of polystyrene, bubble wrap and other packaging to secure the piano while in transit. There are handles on both ends of the box and the moving parts like the pedals, and keys are double protected. So, there is very little chance that the piano might get damaged whilst delivery.

Warranty:

The Hemingway DP-501 comes with three years manufacturer’s warranty
Verdict:

The Hemingway DP501 certainly scores with its good looks but its bad built quality will prove to disgust you in just months of use. Though the sound is pleasant, it is bloomy and it is almost impossible to give any kind of expression to your music. The key power and control, bouncy key noise and the list of frustrating performance factors of the piano is endless. The piano is simply not good to play. We do not recommend this digital piano. If you are one of those unfortunate people who already own one of the DP-501s, to get the most out of it, select soft touch, switch off the reverb and keep the volume level in the middle. Please do not use the headphones as it will drive you insane for sure.

Check 2010 Best Digital Pianos, Yamaha Keyboard Reviews, Specs in this website.

Hemingway DP-501 Digital Piano – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Hemingway
Model Name	Hemingway DP501
Dimensions (H x W x D)	1400 x 490 x 860 mm
Weight	53 kg
Keyboard	88 weighted keys with hammer action and touch sensitivity
Display	One line LCD, green
Finishes available	Piano Black, Rosewood and Anthracite
Polyphony	64 notes (max)
Voices	8 voices: Grand Piano, Upright Piano, E-Piano 1, E-Piano 2, Harpsi, Vibes, Strings, Organ; Dual Voice with layer volume adjustment
Digital effects	Reverb, Chorus
Metronome Tempo Range	1/4; 2/4; 3/4;4/4; 6/4; 6/8 and 12/8
Demo Songs	8 incorporated demo songs
Adjustable volume	Yes
Recorder functions	2- Track Sequenzer
Recorder capacity	3000
Pedals	Soft, Sostenuto, Sustain
Speaker Type	2 x 40 Watt amplifier with 2 x 6,5”; 2 x 2” speakers
MIDI	Yes
Connections	Headphones (x 2), LINE OUT, LINE IN, MIDI In, MIDI Out, pedals, power cord
Warranty	Three years

Roland FP-7 Stage/Digital Piano

Roland is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of musical instruments including pianos, keyboards and synthesisers, electronic percussion kits, guitar products, digital recording equipment and several other music related accessories. In the following review, we will have a detailed look at Roland’s FP-7 Stage Digital Piano. Continuing with the FP series, the FP-7 and FP4 are the latest in the digital pianos to come from Roland Keyboards. The FP-7 has been released as a result of the success of previous models.

What can you expect in FP-7?

The FP series of digital pianos from Roland has something for everybody from the professional stage performers to the recreational music lovers; as they come complete with a Session Partner, USB connectivity and true to life grand pianos. The FP-7 is a great stage piano that services the needs of the high end stage piano market. Equipped with loads of sounds and features, this piano is simply perfect for solo piano, ensemble and band work. This FP-7 Portable piano keyboard is a great hit in the piano market with its excellent hammer action, making it must have for the pianists seeking the realistic feel for their stage piano performance. In the following review, you will find detailed notes on all the features of this master piece.

Coveting design:

With the slim sleek and portable design, the FP-7 can be practically placed in any environment. Roland has given it a very elegant black finishing, that will simply decorate any room that it is placed in, making it a perfect solution for elegance unit house dwellers or in any house where space is at premium. This sleek package features a black deck with a silver button trim. Although the sparse number of controls gives the piano a “very simple keyboard” like appearance, do not be fooled, because under the skin lies a fairly complex and comprehensive system of controls.

The large LCD display in the keyboard makes operations very easy and interesting too. You will be able to adjust the virtual degree of the grand piano lid and also includes the Duplex Scale system and User micro tuning. Overall, the piano feels very solid and well constructed much like its predecessors, but weighs about 80pounds which unfortunately makes it a little difficult to be grounded.

88-key Multi-sampled Piano Sound Engine:

This Roand FP7 piano keyboard sports a brilliant 88-key multi-sampled piano sound engine of Roland. Each of those 88 keys painstakingly reproduces every key of a concert grand piano. The piano keyboard has 128 voice polyphony ensures that your note sustains fully and naturally regardless of how fast or densely you are playing.

USB interface:

With the USB standard interface included, you can connect the FP-7 Digital Piano to a PC or Mac and make use of it as a source for sequencing or even as a high quality controller. You can also plug in a memory stick and load .WAV and standard MIDI files for an instant playback. This feature enhances the creative repertoire of the artists.

Excellent acoustic features:

The built-in speaker system delivers rich, blasting sound. With such good speakers employed, you will not need any additional speakers or amplifiers to be connected. The vibrant output from these speakers fill fin in both small and large spaces. Roland has also offered two headphone jacks, which will be great for duets and late night practice sessions. The Roland FP-7 MIDI keyboard features a graded hammer key action which is responsive to the lightest touch.

Features:
As we had mentioned in the introduction, the Roland FP-7 Stage Digital Piano comes with heaps of features. They include a set of very powerful built-in speaker box units, intuitive controls, graphic LCD that displays lyrics to give you the fun of sing along and also has the latest AudioKey feature that makes the playback of audio directly from USB memory a very simple task.

The Progressive Hammer Action II Technology:

Roland has employed the PHA II (Progressive Hammer Action II) technology in the FP-7 keyboard. This technology provides a keyboard that responds naturally from pianissimo to fortissimo with a touch that can be adjusted in hundred incremental steps. With the help of this technology, some intricate details of a real piano, like hammer, damper and string noise and off-key resonance, have been captured inside the FP-7. Hence, the player can enjoy an authentic piano playing experience with the sound and touch reacting naturally and dynamically.

Session Partner Technology:

If you are one among those pianists who would love to create instant auto accompaniments, you are in great luck as the FP-7 88-key digital Piano features the Session Partner technology of Roland, which is complete with a variety of music styles.  The music styles include a wide selection of rhythm and accompaniment patterns that include ballads, jazz, Latin and 12 new styles. Pianists will be able to choose from a large variety of chord progressions or have the accompaniment follow the left hand. With such a huge collection, the FP-7 fits the bill for any kind of music occasions.

Extraordinary library:

In addition to the grand piano sound, you will also find dozens of other great instrumental sounds built into the FP-7. At the initial start-up, you will find that the sound bank is organised according to the instrument type. The keyboard basically features seven instrument banks which include Piano, Electric piano strings and the usual assortment of instruments complete with two sets of organ sound. A lot of digital effects are also offered, including a four band digital equalizer in order to customise the sounds to your preference.

The Cakewalk SONAR LE software in FP-7:

Roland has also offered the Cakewalk SONAR LE software that aids you with recording and editing. This software is based on the core features of Cakewalk’s award winning SONAR. The key features include high quality multi-track audio recording up to 24-bit/192 kHz with 32-bit floating point internal processing, high resolution MIDI sequencing with support for virtual instruments, and mixing with professional effects. SONAR LE also makes it easy to create backing tracks with integrated audio looping tools.

Package:

The Roland FP-7 Stage/Digital Piano package includes Owner’s Manual, Audio Key Utility Quick Guide, CD-ROM (Audio Key Utility), Information about SONAR LE, CD-ROM, AC Adaptor, Power Cord, Music Rest, two screws for the Music Rest and DP8 Pedal.

Accessories:

You might also be interested in the Holder DH-1 which is an optional mounting bracket for attaching the commercial CD drives. You will also find the KSC 44 BK Roland Wooden Keyboard stand for FP-7. These two accessories are sold separately and are not included in the package. You will find a sustain pedal in the package.

Warranty:

Roland offers FP-7 three years limited warranty for parts and labour, this is in fact, a very good deal.

Verdict:

The Roland FP-7 Portable Digital Piano Keyboard is equipped with great sounds and intelligent features that can make you sound like a solo concert pianist or an entire ensemble. This piano is your ultimate ticket to dynamic and exciting musical universe. If you feel that the FP-7 seems to be a bit too expensive for you, then the very next option to look for is the FP-4, which is a more affordable and streamlined version of its expensive sibling. This model features the same authentic piano sound and stylish body as FP-7.

Read M-Audio Piano Keyboard Reviews, Casio Piano Keyboard Reviews in this website.

Roland FP-7  Digital Piano – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Roland
Model Name	Roland FP-7 Digital Portable Piano
Dimensions (H x W x D)	949 x 1346 x 396 mm
Weight	36.1 Kg
Keyboard	88 keys PHA II keyboard
Touch Sensitivity	100 levels, Off (velocity adjustable)
Display	Backlit Graphic LCD 128 x 64 dots
Polyphony	128 voices
Tones	339 tones (include 6 Tone Wheel Organ) + 9 Drums Sets
Digital effects	Reverb, Digital Effect (62 types), Sound Control (3 types), 4-band Digital Equalizer
Tracks	Three
Demo Songs	One
Session partner	Rhythm: 80 types x 2 variations, Chord Progression: Automatic or input with keyboard
Adjustable volume	Yes
Recorder functions	Real-time Recording, Playback
Recorder capacity	Approx. 30000 notes
Recorder Tempo	Quarter note = 10 to 500
Recorder resolution	120 ticks per
Recording media	To Internal Memory: 28 x MAX. 25 sets To USB Memory: 28 x MAX. 99 sets
Pedals	Damper and Sostenuto
Computer Interface	Yes
Computer Interface Type	USB
Playback and Save	Media: USB Memory, Playback file: SMF format (0/1), Audio File ( WAV format, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit linear), Save format: SMF format (0), Registration set
Audio Connections	Mix In Jack: Stereo miniature phone type, Headphone Jack x 2: Stereo 1/ 4 inch phone type
Speaker Type	8 cm x 12cm x 2 with Speaker Box
MIDI	Yes
Connectivity	External Memory Connector Output Jacks (L/Mono, R): 1/4 inch phone type Input Jacks (L/Mono, R): 1/ 4 inch phone type Mix In Jack: Stereo miniature phone type Headphone Jack x 2: Stereo 1/ 4 inch phone type USB (MIDI) Connector MIDI Connectors (In, Out) Pedal Jacks DC In Jack
Power	DC 12 V (AC Adaptor)
Package	Roland FP-7 Stage Digital Keyboard, Owner’s Manual, Audio Key Utility Quick Guide, CD-ROM (Audio Key Utility), Information about SONAR LE, CD-ROM, AC Adaptor, Power Cord, Music Rest, two screws for the Music Rest and DP8 Pedal
Warranty	One year

MK-2063 Portable keyboard by Gear4music

Gear4Music is relatively new site that was launched in the year 2003 and since then, it has gone though a rapid development and is now, one of the largest retailers of musical instruments and equipment in the UK. They make purchasing and owning of a musical instrument very easy by offering excellent service and in great prices. In the following review we will be looking at their MK-2063 Portable keyboard.

Simple look:

The MK-2063 Portable Piano keyboard has a very modest look of an authentic portable keyboard with fewer complications. It is a 54 keys keyboard that comes in matte black finishing. It has a small LED display in the centre of the unit to depict your choices. The unit has built in speakers and comes along with a mike, proving to be a great beginner’s kit.

Custom featured for beginners:

In terms of features, the MK-2063 54-key Piano keyboard has lots on board. To a beginner’s delight, the keyboard comes with a whooping 100 timbres and 100 rhythm tracks, giving their musical dreams a push start. You and your friends can have great fun by singing along a favourite track with the additional microphone that comes in the package. The most exiting fact is that you will not only be playing the keyboard, the built-in drum machine will have you rocking the beats.

The keyboard includes record and playback features will help you a lot on learning where to improve your playing skills. The one key and guide functions will aid to learn playing along with eight demo songs. Since the keyboard has full tempo and volume controls, we can see you progressing in leaps and bounds.

Warranty:

Gear4Music offers its product, the MK-2063 Portable keyboard with two years limited warranty.

Verdict:

This 54 key MK-2063 Portable keyboard is just the perfect kit for the beginners. Gear4Music has kept everything simple from the look of the instrument to its features. The keyboard seems to be custom designed for the budding musicians.  And the MK-2063 Portable keyboard is the ideal choice for the beginners.

Check latest Piano Keyboard Reviews, Yamaha Digital Piano Keyboards in our website.


MK-2063 Portable Piano keyboard – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Gear4Music
Model Name	Gear4Music MK-2063
Model numbers	MK-2063
Keyboard type	Portable Digital Piano keyboard
Dimensions (W x H x D)	845mm x325mm x 110mm
Display	LED
Timbers	100
Rhythms	100
Percussions	8
Demo songs	Eight
Controls	Tempo and Volume controls
Power	6 x D Batteries or mains power
Features	Single Finger, Fingered Chord and Chord Timbre Sync and Fill in functions Rhythm Programming Function Record & Playback Sustain and Vibrato One-key and guide function
Package contents	Gear4Music MK-2063 Digital Piano keyboard Microphone Power adaptor Instructions Warranty info
Warranty	Two years