Please my RD 700GX is killing me, literally

Possibly either the Casio PX-330 or Casio PX-3 both of which are light enough to carry under one arm (not both models at the same time!) and I think Casio have produced a very playable action. The piano sounds are pretty good.

The Casio PX-3 is just under 24 lb. The PX-330 and PX-130 are a bit heavier (and also less capable).

The very lightest digital piano with an arguably decent sound is the Yamaha NP-30 at 12 pounds. The keyboard feel is surprisingly playable for what it is, but it is definitely not in the league of a weighted keyboard like those Casios much less your Roland.

You could also consider finding the lightest controller you like the feel of, and pairing it was something like a Roland SonicCell with the SRX expansion card for the upgraded pianos, which would probably get you--in a light package--a sound as close as you'll find to what you're used to, i.e. a quality "Roland" piano sound, even if not quite their best.

Of course the Yamaha NP-30 is only 76 keys and not a proper hammer action. Also it is only 32-note polyphony. The Casio keybpards I mentioned offer a much better action and 128-note polyphony.

+1 on the Casio.

Is the RD-700GX SuperNatural piano expansion compatible with the SonicCell?

Cheers,
James
x

Casio PX3 is the closest for a piano action. For a non-piano action, the Nord Electro 3 is pretty much your gigging Swiss Army Knife, light and versatile.

Can the Sonic Cell be used without a computer?

Yes, the Nord Electro 3 (73 key version) is another possible lightweight choice at a bit over 18 pounds. It will sound better than the 12 pound Yamaha, but the keyboard action is worse.

Yes.

The lightest DP with good sound will be the Yamaha NP30 used to control a software instrument running on a 13 inch Macbook. The combinatin can easy be cared in one arm. The action in the NP30 is not very good. If you want weighted keys then the weights are weights and 88 of them add up.

The sound issue is easy to address with a small 2 pound computer. connect that to any keyboard you like. The good news is that the less expensive keyboards tend to be lighter weight, the lower the price the lighter the weight. I guess the good weighted actions cost more to make.

Thanks for all the answer, I have Ivory - Grand Pianos that I can plug in I guess, but I'd rather have something all in one, I've been playing when the comp acted up and I had a sec latency while trying to swing...

I use a PX-120.. or it might be 130, but it has good sound without having to use a computer. I think it's the best in its price range... Or it was a couple years ago when I got it. It's much better than your average mid-range keyboard and has a nice record feature. Make sure you use headphones, the external speakers aren't the best. The action is excellent, though I'm not sure you'll be able to do those fast crispy repeated notes. Somehow, it feels allot better than the uprights I play at school.

I like how it's not cluttered with all the nonsense of most keyboards. It has a decent meternome (though it's not loud enough IMO) and "strings" voice which sounds like orchestra. The few voices that it does have are excellent quality. It even has a rhythmic accompaniment function if you want to try out some improv.

I used to hate Casio, but evidently, they aren't all that bad.

My Yamaha cp-33 is pretty light.

Since you made no limitations regarding price, I'd also recommend trying out the Nord Electro 3 (18lb). You can use the great Nord Piano Samples - if you can live with the waterfall keyboard.

Another option would be the Nord Stage 76 - it's 36lb (still lighter than your 55lb Roland) with a Fatar hammer action.

After I had two major surgeries (L4-L5), I avoid moving my Roland RD-600 cause it's killing me too. Last week I tried the Casio PX-3 here in Antwerp (Belgium) but the retail price (no internet) is also a kill. € 999 or $ 1262.

The keyboard of this new Casio is great though, very nice action and the piano sounds can be altered by equalizing and other settings so you can make them sound better than those of the PX-330. It doesn't weigh half the Roland. So I am considering buying it cause I need a transportable digital piano.

The Casio PX-130 is cheaper than the PX-330 and has the same good quality action as both the 330 and the PX-3. Thge sounds are more limited but it will still have the pretty good piano sounds so it may be all you need.

No, though I do wish it was.

I think the SN expansion for the RD-700GX is something of a hack - a very good and welcomed hack.

Perhaps Roland will release a new, improved Sonic Cell for this very purpose?

Cheers,
James
x

Roland FP-4 is 33 lbs. 12 oz.

I doubt it. Manufacturers appear to have thrown in the towel on sound modules. And they seem highly content with the tiniest of baby steps in every other department.

Even for the existing Sonic Cell, Roland doesn't seem to WANT to advertise the fact that it can be used as a standalone sound module! I was very surprised to learn that it could be, because the web page gave me a very strong impression that it was to be used with a computer.

I guess the last thing they want is a Casio PX-130 on stage, with a big CASIO logo on display, hooked up to a SuperNatural sound module tucked away back stage, eh? :P :P

Greg.

Sonic Cell is a weird product - part expandable ROMpler, part PC audio interface. A souped up JV-1010 with extra I/O, marketed for use both as stand-alone and with PC.

I hope they keep manufacturing something like it, with the size about the same and UI on top, but screen a bit larger and SN in there. It would make a great controller sound source that could rest on top of many keyboards.

I wish it could be a little smaller, closer to JV-1010 size, or at least less wide than it is, but it does need room for the expansion boards and all those jacks on the back, I guess.

I'd also like to see some more buttons instead of having to rely so much on the scroll wheel, which I find to be an awkward interface, and particularly bad for live quick patch selection.

Going with a laptop computer sound source does have its quirks. Unlike a computer, the SonicCell approach, while not all-in-one, does at least maintain pretty much the same kind of simplicity, reliability, and roadability as an all-in-one. If you like the sound of Roland pianos, it would be the way to get a Roland piano sound in something lighter than any Roland. It also allows you to alter the parameters of the decision. Instead of "lightest digital with decent sound," you can assume the sound is taken care of, and go for "lightest digital whose action I find acceptable."

I have a SonicCell and the included piano sounds are OK but definitely not spectacular. Possibly the electric pianos are better. Obviously it plays MIDI-files very well as the overall soundset is of a high standard and there are very good drum-kits. You have the option of adding up to 2 SRX Exansion Boards and I guess if you had a piano one installed then they would improve the piano sounds. I have the SRX Complete Orchestra and Big Brass Expansion boards fitted, the orchestral one is pretty good but the brass is disappointing. I would think the SoniocCell is better used live as a high-quality MIDIfile player than a specialist keyboard module. Otherwise a useful studio module too.

Yes, I was suggesting the piano expansion board, which is SRX-11. It's not as good as their "SuperNatural" but it's probably about as good as any Roland piano short of that. If that sound works for him, he can then find whatever lightweight board he wants and not worry about its sound. Of course, if he happens to find that he's okay with the piano that comes with the lightweight board, he could avoid the expense of the SonicCell and SRX altogether.

I have Casio px110, It's pretty much the same thing as PX310 with less feature.

I think if you want weighted keys, the Casio PX series are you best, but if you don't need weighted keys Yamaha Casio NP30 is the best one to get. I did try the NP30 once, and I really wasn't too excited about it. I might get it for doing casual gigs though. The PX110 is pretty light, but it's not light not to carry around in the train.

If you skip the internal sound part , because you use a laptop and/or sound module, you might consider the FATAR Numa Nano, which is very light too. If you want to have at least some piano sounds on-board, you might consider the Numa Piano. They are both light weight, seem to have a quite decent hammer action and have aftertouch (Nano) which is quite rare these days.

However, I've NEVER seen a user review of these boards anywhere, except for just one small article. And FATAR's can hardly be found in the shops, so the only way to try out how good/bad they are , is ordering one online with a good return-policy from the shop. I never dared to go that far.

I think I'm not the only one who wants to know more about use experience with these keybeds - but information is so hard to find; it makes you suspicious...