Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards What's the lightest digital with decent sound?

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...