So I am exploring the world of Roland digital pianos and there are two types of Touch Sensitivity adjustments

One has 5 levels, as does my current Kawai

The other has variables from 1 to 100 -- and I am wondering if any Roland users could comment on this -- is that much variation too much of a good thing?? Or, how have you found it to be useful.

I have a Roland RP301, so the five levels. It's an inexpensive entry level piano. I love my piano dearly and I spent absolutely the most I was willing to spend at the time, not being sure I would stick with it. But, in retrospect, I would upgrade.

I'm not sure about the touch sensitivity, as I am a beginner. I don't know how much of the problem is the machine and how much is my fingers. So I can't help you with that.

But I did feel compelled to answer, to mention another thing: SPEAKERS. I only play mine with headphones on. The sound through headphones is SO much better than out loud. I don't know if it's possible to expand on the sound by getting external speakers or something, but the ones built in my Roland model are clearly insufficient. It'll do, but I've had it less than a year and I'm already thinking "it'll do."

Maybe you have already considered this, but do pay good attention to the sound before you buy, compare the sound with and without headphones, and compare to other digitals, with attention to speaker quality.

I don't mean to grumble though. I do love my toy!

Thanks, LizAnne -- in the price range I am upgrading to the speaker systems are really good -- I am glad you are enjoying your instrument -- we all have to start somewhere and really the starting instrument taught me that I wanted to continue, my physical limitations, and therefore what else I might be looking for in a new digital. Still, I and my friend just can't imagine what one would do with literally 100 possible options for sensitivity -- I've always gotten such good info here it seemed like a good place to ask.

Hi,

I use the Roland RD700NX with 100 variable sensitive adjustments. But the only button I use is the on/off switch, heh.

The DP is without speakers, so I could choose my own monitors. I like very much the key touch and the superal natural sound. Besides that I don't need anything more. Maybe for a pro, performing on stage, it will be different.

There are so many parameters to adjust. I guess one wants the sensitive paramater to adjust as precise as one could do with the other parameters. It doens't make sense to have 100 levels for velocity, but only 5 for sensitivity. Do you need it for playing piano and to have fun? No, I guess not.

I just want to play piano and I'm more worried about my own techique than the technique of the DP.

This is staying OT, but my experience is that my playing (as well as the sound) ALWAYS sounds better with headphones than that generated into a room via speakers.

Some of this IS due to the sound and clarity, but there's something else going on that maybe sound engineer can explain.

My main point though is that if practising with a DP, whenever possible don't use headphones, or else you will never get used to controlling the dynamics, and harmonics (legato and sustain) generated by a DP and a piano live in a room.

My Roland (rd300nx) has the five settings for touch and then fine adjustments for the key touch offset with -10 to +9 range. The most I've used is the 5 settings though. The velocity range however is from 1 to 127 I believe.

I rarely every play with my settings though. Maybe once I get more experienced.

Thanks, Becca -- I'll look more closely at those other settings you spoke of next time I peruse the manuals

See, my problem is I have FMS and so I needed to play with the Kawai settings and right now I use LE1, which is one setting lighter than normal. I have a friend who just comes down for the winter and she has been a musician and teacher for many years and comes over to play for me -- her touch is quite heavy, so we set the piano for Kawai's HE1, which is one setting heavier than normal and it made a big difference in sound and control.

So I have really benefitted from being able to adjust the touch -- and I was hoping there was a Roland user or two out there who could comment on how useful the pretty much infinite settings from 1 to 100 were to help me narrow down a final choice after I get some prices from my dealer.