Pick me up off the floor.......

He's done it, he's finally done it!

It had better live up to expectations or we'll all suffer...mark my words.

Congratulations Dewster!!!

Holy Santa Claus $hit!!!! Congrats Dewster! Man I look forward to a much more technical review.

Thanks all!

We did it mainly to get my wife off of the crappy Studiologic SL-880 that keeps injuring her arms (plus voice selection on the Yamaha Motif Rack ES it's connected to is quite cumbersome - there's nothing like an all-in-one unit) and partly for tax purposes. I'm very much looking forward to it but - it being a DP and all - I'm sure some parts of it will majorly suck! Were it looped I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Roland almost had me with the GXF, though the triple sensor keys and to a lesser extent the higher resolution screen in the NX are a plus. Crossed fingers that the ivory feel won't require a repair.

If it ever arrives (it's currently out of stock at RMC Audio with no ETA) I'll definitely run several of the voices (including the harpsichord) through the DPBSD gauntlet and do some review posts.

After lurking on these forums for years, I'm happy to finally be able to contribute back to the community! Be sure to share your review, Dewster.

I've noticed a problem with my damper pedal (I got the regular one)--sometimes it gets "stuck," I'll release it but my notes are still sustained. It goes away if I press the pedal again or give the casing a good kick. I can't seem to reproduce the problem as it seems to occur randomly, so I'm guessing (and hoping) it's a problem with the pedal, and not the keyboard software. Please let me know if any of you experience the same thing.

Another problem is that the highest key gets stuck on the down position. This is just shoddy, so I hope it's an isolated incident.

In case you're curious, I found RMC Audio by using Google and searching: RD-700NX "call for price". Vendors are prohibited by the vendor to advertise prices below a certain point (it seems like $2599 for the RD-700NX) to prevent a price war, so if you can find a place that isn't able to advertise the price, it's probably a better deal. Another good place is BPMmusic.com, about two years ago they had the FP-7 with stand selling for $1600, where the Guitar Center price was $2200. I almost bought it.

[edit] Someone was asking: The record function records a WAV file, and file sizes are about 10MB a minute. So far, both my generic 256MB and 1GB flash drives work. I don't have a bigger one to test right now. If anybody wants samples, let me know.

I've got my RPU-3 in today. Going to give her a test drive tonight. Let me know your thoughts dewster on how you like the RPU-3 with your new NX.

Will do PianoZac! I'd like to hear what you think of it as well.

Thanks for that search tip mah115! Question: did they charge your credit card immediately, or did they wait until they were just about to ship it? The credit card company called today to confirm it was a legit transaction, but RMC doesn't currently have any NXC's in stock (as per their web page: "Availability: Preorder - Shipping Soon").

Sorry dewster, I don't know. I didn't place an order then because they weren't in stock and no ETA, but they notified me when the units arrived and I ordered it then.

In re wandering pedal units:

I considered the G8, but it looks to me like something from an ice hockey game. I bought the Roland V-Stand (possibly no longer being sold by Roland, but still available I believe from Ultimate Support), Model KS-V7, for my new FP-7F. This is the ideal stage-piano stand IMO -- stable, snazzy-looking, not too pricey, incredibly easy and quick to set up (no tools needed, no add'l hardware, less than a minute); and my RPU-3 sits snug and motionless in the apex of the "V". The V-Stand was marketed with the FP-7 since 2007, and you can still see it on the Roland website and elsewhere in photos and videos of the FP-7.

BTW, thank you, you magnificent posters, for leading me to the FP-7F after 12 years of searching for a reasonably priced successor to my Kawai MP9000.

Putting the pedal on top of a small carpet mat can help considerably - I use an old car mat, which I find keeps the relatively light standard Roland damper pedal in place pretty well, but if you wanted to be sophisticated you could fix some Velcro hooks to the bottom of the pedal.

I had a V-Stand and while it's easy to carry and quick to set up, I personally found the arms had too much flex for me. Also, while great if you're using a single sustain pedal, the "footwell" wasn't so good if you also had an expression pedal and a couple of footswitches in the mix too, as I frequently had to.

Dewster, amazed but pleased you finally took the leap! I'll be interested to see how the NX works out for you as a real-life instrument. I finally sold my GX yesterday and part of me is very sad at letting it go. Both the GX and the CP5 are compromise instruments with strong and weak points, but last night at a gig in an extremely warm room, I really missed the more secure feeling of the RD's matt keys. It does bug me somewhat, too, that you cannot press a key down on the CP5 without triggering a sound, no matter how softly. Hmm, seller's remorse, anyone?

Have any of the new NX owners had the chance to use their axe in a band situation yet, and if so, did you use the Sound Focus feature, and did it help. If not yet gigged, can NX owners give their impressions of what this control is actually DOING? I'm guessing combined compression and high EQ boost but obviously I've not got one in front of me to try.

Congrats on your purchase! Being a GX owner from 2008 and converting it to a GXF, I will say you made a good choice. However, as far as the key wear concern, I had Roland replace my keybed (free of charge of course!) and they seemed to have improved the wear problem. Do not use instant hand sanitizers that contain alcohol on your hands, that seems to be the big problem in the premature wear of the keys. Just use regular soap and water or liquid soap that does not contain alcohol. I've been able to keep my keys pretty smooth for a while now following that tip. The keys do "change" in time, but don't necessarily wear. Roland even stated that about the keys, that they change over time. Good luck with your new axe and I think we all look forward to a technical review!

The Sound Focus feature seems like a combination of compression and EQ just as you observed. However, I think most users are interpreting the use of this control differently from Roland's intentions.

Under normal cirumstances to stand out in a live band performance or in a recording the audio engineer would increase the value of the mixer slider for the NX. The Roland NX video mentions using Sound Focus in an "ensemble" setting. This description has me wondering if the video actually means Sound Focus is intended for settings with quieter types of music than rock or mainstream popular music. The owner's manual documents how Sound Focus affects various tone parameters. The way Sound Focus works is complex and subtle, which again leads me to think this control is intended for performances where sound amplification is minimal or nonexistent.

Slightly off topic, yet still applies a bit I suppose, but I received my RPU-3 last night, and it's an amazing little addition to my GXF. Just makes playing the GXF that much more fun, and more and more authentic (for an stage piano). If I had kept the NX, and I didn't have the RPU-3 on order, I would certainly order one. As well, for all of you RD700SX, RD700GX, RD700GXF, and RD700NX owners who don't have the RPU-3, it's worthy upgrade. Great half pedaling, really nice damper, and great sostenuto pedaling as well. It does provide much more control over the dynamics, which is really important to a lot of us. The K-RD700GX1 SN upgrade helped leaps and bounds with the playability of the GX, and the RPU-3 really re-enforces that. I noticed a bigger difference on the SN pianos than on the standard pianos. Could have just been my ears.

If Dewster gives the NX the thumbs up, Roland should exploit that in their marketing. I can just see the glossy full page ad in Keyboard Mag now: "Even Dewster likes it". ;^)

Greg.

Well, without ever having laid on one, I can tell you there are things I pre-hate about it already. The joystick should be moved from the keybed area, or removed altogether, and the case shortened and lightened. It lacks a music rest, which is a rather large omission. Not being able to render a MIDI file to WAV is another. Speakers, even crappy ones, would have been useful. If the FP-7F proves to have a SN harpsichord and the NX doesn't, I'll cry. If the NX had a SN pipe organ I'd be jumping for joy.

I don't think the pipe organ is SN but it sounds great

"Introducing the Roland RD-700NX. Dewster likes certain aspects of it. And that's saying something"

(sorry I'll go now)

Greg.

Ha! I guess I'm the Mr. Cranky of DPs. Sorry for being such a negative vibe merchant - my expectations (to me anyway) don't seem all that high.

Nah, I don't think you have unrealistically high expectations at all, but yes, you do have a bit of a reputation, and I'm just having a bit of a lend of you.

Greg.

Ooh I think you work pretty hard on your Mr Cranky image, D - after all, an avatar that suggests you suck lemons all day long isn't the best way to start an upbeat thread

Seriously, though, some of your expectations, to me at least, do seem a bit out of kilter.

For example, I'm not sure why you're so keen on a "SN pipe organ" sound on the RD series. If you're a serious organist, surely you won't want to play that sort of sound on a piano-weighted action?

Any serious organist is going to buy a proper instrument for home practice, not use something clearly marked as a "stage piano". Roland realise this and thus the pipe organ sound is not a priority for them on the RDs.

Finally, something to remember when that NX arrives and you start growling with dissatisfaction – the current crop of top-end DPs are in reality all much better than a substantial amount of the "real pianos" out there, as this post of mine on another forum reflects.

That's sound not only unbelievable but also frustrating to me. Here in Italy the price is around 2.300/2.400 euro (more than 3.000 USD).

thomann.de price isn't different

The value added tax (19-25%) explains most of the difference. The sales tax in US is much lower and most online purchases are not taxed.

Most products have always been cheaper in the US and will remain cheaper for some time to come. Until the rest of the world stops sponsoring the American consumer habits and/or until the US government finally understand that you cannot close the budget deficit hole and provide for good social coverage, infrastructure etc for your citizens unless you raise taxes in some respect. Sorry for this side hit (correct English?), but it bothers many people outside the US; seems that on certain products companies loose a lot of money just to maintain/gain market share in the US and grab that money back by way overpricing their products in other parts of the world like the EU. And the rest is sponsoring our governments of course...

I hope I didn't start a war with this remark ;-)

I think one of the pipe organs in the FP-7F is pretty impressive. Nothing quite like the real thing but we know that already. I have the EastWest Silver library which has a very decent Pipe organ sound which I think sounds more authentic than the FP-7's but there isn't that much in it. Granted, i'm somewhat doing this from memory..!

Congrats on the NX by the way. I think it was the inevitable place for you to end up..

Regards. Rimmer

That avatar does kind of browbeat one. OK, changed to a non-threatening piece of toast.


My wife plays for a local small church and so often uses the pipe organ and string sounds. I love it when she plays Bach, and it would be fantastic if Roland would toss at least a small configurable positive organ in there - they already have the samples just laying around. I don't get why there aren't more keyboards aimed at church pianists / keyboardists.


Fifteen years ago or so I was in a piano store pawing the used stuff while my wife was shopping methods and sheets. I happened upon a tiny cheap (~$100) spinet with the lightest action I think I've ever encountered. It didn't sound anything like a piano, but it didn't sound all that bad either, like some different kind of instrument altogether. I still think about that instrument now and then - for all its faults it was very organic and real, much realer than any DP.

Lack of a music rest is annoying. I guess they figured that anyone worthy of playing their flagship keyboard would be so good they wouldn't need sheet music. I think I'll bend myself a clip-on stand out of coat hanger wire, covered with a silicone tube to prevent scratching the case.
The sticky pedal issue seems to have gone away. Maybe it just needed to be broken in. The sticky key is a bit less sticky now, it comes back up but there's still a bit more friction. But I don't think I'll ever use the highest key anyway, so I'm not in a rush to get it fixed (although I probably will eventually).

I'm a bit disappointed with the organs; it wish that they were more configurable. The organ is essentially a 17th century synthesizer, so I want to be able to adjust the stops and add a pedal board. But I suppose Roland wants to sell the C-330...

The RD-700NX is certainly better than my old Yamaha upright that could only play notes forte and fortissimo.

Here's the default piano tone without and then with Sound Focus [edit: SF set to max. It's a knob you can adjust.].
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15297977/SoundFocus.mp3
It distorts to sound to make it sound more "in your head" I guess...

RE: that Sound Focus demo, it sounds mono with Sound Focus on!!! Did something go wrong? Yuck!!

Greg.

Ehi, very nice! How can they get this effect?

Is that with the Sound Focus set to max? It does sound like the stereo field has been substantially collapsed and the result compressed, which is maybe what you want when sharing a PA with other musicians.

They must have put this feature in so as to staunch the endless whining I read about the RD-700GX "not cutting through the mix". Probably not needed so much for solo performance.

My main issue with it is that it stole a knob and switch from the effects section.

Sometimes I wish that Roland would dangerously skirt going belly-up. Like Kurzweil, this might force them to dump all their samples in a "kitchen sink" single keyboard, thus eliminating internal competition between models and finally giving us what we want.

Yeah, that's set to max. I think it's pretty much the same as the compressor but normalizes the volume, so I agree that the knob is better off linked to an effect.

Does anybody know what the compressor/sound focus actually does to the waveform? When I turn it on, it sounds like I've stuck my head into the piano. I wish I could take the board to work and hook it up to an oscilloscope, but it's too darn heavy.