Hi everyone. I'm new in this forum. I've been living with Yamaha products for years.
(1) I'm thinking to get a digital piano about the same budget as Yamaha P-140 and considering Kawai MP4 and a Roland product. Can anyone suggest a Roland model similar to Kawai MP4?
(2) I'll place this digital piano at the basement studio connected to a mixer or receiver so I don't need fancy built-in speakers or piano cabinet. I have a Yamaha tone generator and computer that I'll connect the piano. Realistic piano sound, piano touch-feeling and midi compatibility are the priorities. Is the touch feeling of Kawai MP4 more superior than Yamaha P-140 ?
(3) Does anyone know the acousic piano model that Roland uses to sample its digital pianos?
Thank you.

I have an Mp4.. its a very good digital piano, perfect for gig´s just because its sound´s great on stage.

I think its better than any stage piano on the same level, $1000-$1300 .. but i am sure that is much better than roland Fp2 and RD170

Hi pikmin, welcome to the forum!

I read on some other thread here not long ago that Roland uses the Steinway D. Can't tell you if that's accurate or not. I know that I love the sound of the Rolands. Check out the Adult Beginner forum recital thread (stickied to the top of the list) and then listen to mr_super-hunky's and seaside lee's selections; they were both recorded on a Roland. There were other digital piano brands represented on the recital thread as well.

Good luck!

Hey all,

I can most definitely confirm that the piano used for the core samples for the Roland HP Series was in fact the Steinway D.

A very similar core sample would have been the one used on mr hunky's and seaside lee's recordings. (IIRC they both have KR-7's)

In terms of a Roland instrument similar to that of Kawai's MP-4, I would reccommend checking out the RD-700SX (slighty more $$$ I think) But you must play the "Superior Grand" and "X-Ultimate Grand" piano samples on board. Both sounds feature all 88 Keys sampled at 4 velocities. (I personally prefer the Superior Grand for live use and the X-Ultimate for solo playing) If your budget is less than that of the RD-700SX, try the RD-300SX that has the X-Ultimate sound.


Some like the sound some don't, bottom line is it's your ears assessing the sound and your fingers making it, so get what speaks to you..

PPBC

Just make sure you verify every sound through your very own familiar headphones. Stereo analysis and judgement of each sound sample is the most serious consideration for recording; playing aspects come second. Give the Roland "superior grand" a good listen. Compare it to the Yamaha P140. Make a decision.

The MP4 acoustic piano reminds me of the sample on the Kurz PC2X but its realy three-dimentional whereas the Kurz tired the ears pretty quickly.
The Rhodes is very playable and the MP4 has more effects to put it through (Ive got the ES4- effects on this are pretty basic.)
I dont know why people rave about the RD700sx piano even though they sampled every note they did not end up with a result thats perfect by a long way.
I sold the SX but the ES4 is staying - it was a hard choice deciding between that and the MP4 though.

The piano sound on the mp4 is calculated by a complex algorithm, that´s why the sample loop isnt noticiable.

Perfect? No. But it's the best on the market to my ears.