Hi,
I've been reading about these two keyboards to use as a controller to my soft pianos (Galaxy, Ivory, Imperfect Samples etc). I will use just with PC, so there's no need to have midi out, usb is enough.

At first, Studiologic VMK 188 plus seemed to be the best choice, because it has fatar keybed, and some knobs and sliders. But reading some user reviews, it seems that the VMK is not as good as would be to send midi values, ie, it don't generate all 127 midi values, having gaps between some values. It disapointed me.

On other hand, the new privia's x50, have had very good reviews about the key action (as i'm not concerned about the sound, just the key action).

Anyone has some expirience with the two keyboards? The privia's is capable to generate all 127 midi values?

ps: I've looked at studiologic SL990 XP / PRO, they use the same keybed as VMK, but they don't support half-damper.

Thanks

Hi renato,

Welcome to the forum. I have a VMK188plus and a Casio CDP-120. I also had the Privia PX-330. Recently I spent some time trying the PX150 and PX-350's also.

I wouldn't recommend the Fatar because,although it feels great, it's electronics are sometimes a problem. Specifically, it can send out midi messages such as damper pedal when you're not even using it, pitch bend messages, etc. And with some units, velocities can be abruptly loud, and uneven.

To me all these Casio's feel great, and very close actionwise to the feel of the Fatars. The CDP-120 and Casio PX130/330 series seem to have a more noisy keybed than the new PX-150/350 series, and also the newer ones have a simulated ivory key finish. There's a triple sensor beneath the keys of the new ones, which helps rapid repetitions on certain music. It's all in what you need. Personally, I'm happy with my CDP-120 as a controller. To me, the action itself doesn't feel much different from the more expensive Casio's, although the surface is different and the new action might be a bit more precise.

If sound is a consideration, the PX150/350's are quite a bit better.

Keep in mind also that you won't get half damping with any of the Casio's unless you buy their proprietary pedalboard, and even then I'm not sure if it's true half damping. IMO this is a mistake on Casio's part. Even the least expensive Yamaha, the P35, has a half damper input. The soon to be released PX5S might have an input for half damping, I don't know.

I don't know about 1-127 velocity response, but that's frequently adjustable in software anyway.

I hope this helps.

Hi Michael,

I was traveling and can't see the forum.
I appreciate your coments. Last week I have chance to test a privia px-150 and a studiologic sl990 pro (same keybed as vmk188plus).
About the studiologic, the key is really great, but the feedback of some users having trouble with midi velocity, and the lack of support of the studiologic in my location (I'm from Brazil) made me exclude from my list.

About the privia, also the key action was really good, but I fell the privia to plastic. It seems it will not endure so much with pressing the keys hard.

Also, I have chance to test a used yamaha p120, which uses the GH mechanism. Wow, what a difference from privias and fatar. Of course it is another range price, but the value of a used p120 is in the same range of a new privia 150 and lower than a new vmk188.

I decided to get the p120. To me it seems very very more sturd and robust than the other two.

Thanks for your feedback.

FYI the new generation of Privia's are the only digital pianos on the market that support the new high resolution MIDI velocity specification. Instead of 0-127 for velocity, they do 16256 steps of resolution. Some software instruments such as Pianoteq already support this specification.

Not sure I agree with your assessment. Privias are generally considered durable and able to take a pounding. I can at least say the one I own has in the 4 years I've owned it.

I'm sorry if I expressed bad about privia. The feeling after touch the privia and the p120 (as I said, is another price range) is that p120 seemed to be sturdier than privia.

As midi controller, I've read that yamaha DPs were not good to midi controller because it could not gerenate midi velocity above 110. I've checked in kontakt midi velocity and I can generate 127 velocity without problems, but I have to play hard (as it is suposed to be).

Another issue, beside privia can simulate half damper when you use the onboard sound, it don't send continuous midi values. (I've read this in another thread). The p120, with FC3 pedal send all midi values.

You're entitled to your opinion. So much of all this is subjective anyway when it comes down to differences between models and manufacturers.