Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Searching for a Digital Piano/MIDI Controller

I currently own a VERY old Yamaha PSR-195. It was what I used to first practice the piano before we bought an upright. Since then I've used it as a MIDI controller simply for note input.

Now I'm in search for a new keyboard to replace it. Here's what I'm looking for:

• Some where in the $500 to $1000 range. I can stretch the max to about $1300 but I rather stay below 1k unless there are really no options.
• Full 88-keys, weighted (as close to a real piano as possible in my budget)
• Great grand piano sounds out of the box for practice.
• MIDI control: pitch wheel, modulation, knobs not absolutely necessary but I would really like it. It has to at least be velocity sensitive for inputting notes.

I can't really try out any keyboards (well the ones I'm actually interested in) so I need to rely on the community's suggestions. I don't consider myself a real musician of any sort. More of a hobbyist who is adept at using Reason and FL Studio on my spare time and someone who plays the piano for pleasure. The only traveling this keyboard will go through is within the house.

I've looked at the M-Audio Prokeys 88. This would have been my ideal keyboard had it not been known for clunky action and not so great piano sounds. I couldn't find any other keyboard that can compete with the Prokeys as a piano/MIDI controller at that price range.

I've considered the Casio Privia PX-320. I know it has no pitch bend/modulation wheels but I heard it's a great digital piano. Great sounds and great feel at a terrific price. I just wished it had more MIDI controls.

Another keyboard I looked at is the Yamaha YPG-635. I heard the GHS action is not so great. For Yamaha models, I would prefer GHE action.

Two keyboards that are just out of my price range include the Kurzweil SP2X and the Yamaha CP33 both of which have all the features I'm looking for. They're just a bit expensive.

Are there any other keyboards I should look at? Do you think it's really worth it to go just a little beyond my price range?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I personally would try to find something with a pitch wheel. If it wasn't for that Privia's would be ideal.

Yes, I was thinking long and hard on whether or not I REALLY must have a pitch wheel. I do use pitch bend often and it doesn't have a natural touch when I do the bend with a mouse. I always end up having to tweak it by hand in software. At the same token, I can't find a nice sounding keyboard with a pitch wheel under $1K. I thought the Prokeys 88 was perfect until I researched it's feel and sound as a piano.

I agree, the Privia would be an ideal choice if it had a pitch wheel.

To date, there are only two Casio digital pianos that have pitch bend wheels and these are:

1) Casio Privia PX-410R/575R - this is an older model but the only Privia DP which has a larger LCD screen, several built-in drum sets, 6-track sequencer and a lot of instrument sounds.
Downside: 32-note polyphony

EDIT: There is an even older, discontinued model in the Privia series which happened to be the PX-400 (predecessor of the PX-410R); it has a pitch-bend wheel as well. Unlike the PX-410R, the PX-400 is no longer available...unless you find one in e-bay (as "used" or 2nd-hand, that is). The PX-410R, however, is still being sold in other on-line stores (or possibly in some music shops/stores).

2) Casio CDP-200R - this is a recently released 88-key digital piano that "mimics" the PX-410R in terms of larger LCD screen and some of its functionality. It has a basic sampler and arpeggiator as well in addition to a lot of instrument sounds.
Downside: 48-note polyphony (they should've made it at least a 64-note polyphony)

So there you have it...the only Casio DPs equipped with a Pitch-Bend wheel.

If you're going to be jumping into the VSTi bandwagon...and would be hooking up your DP to a PC via MIDI and using the various VST piano samples currently available, then polyphony shouldn't be much of a problem.

If you really want to have good MIDI control (sliders/knobs/faders and all), then you're looking into the $1,800-3,000 DPs from Roland, Yamaha, Kurzweil, Nord etc.

Or you have another alternative :

1. Get a sub-$800 or sub-$1,000 DP.
2. Then get a 25-key or even a 49-key dedicated MIDI controller like the E-MU Xboard 25 which you can use to add MIDI controller events like pitch-bend, modulation etc. to any particular MIDI note that you've already recorded via MIDI from your digital piano.

Thanks for the reply BeowulfX. I couldn't find the CDP-200R anywhere except from an online store based in the UK but it looks interesting.

Do you know of any other DPs that have a pitch wheel while featuring 88 graded keys?

Get 2 keyboards.
A casio for the 88 weighted keys.
And maybe a Roland PCR-800 for all the controls you can handle.

That'd be $500 + $300 or less...

That's what I did.
Well, I got a Yamaha CP-33, out of your price range instead of the Casio.
http://shazware.com/piano/rig.html

...Steve

Thank you for the replies. I did look into the cheap MIDI controller + Privia combination. But then I happened to find a Privia PX120 at BestBuy. I tried it out and while the feel seems good, the key edges are a bit rough. Not a problem most of the time but when I play tenths it's a cause for concern. Wasn't completely sold on the sound either but for the price I think it's a very good deal. Still, my experience with Privia has made me reconsider getting it.

Furthermore, I just realized zZounds is now selling the Kurzweil SP2X for 899.99. It's exactly what I want. I think I'll be going with the SP2X.

Thanks for all your help!

You might want to look into a Suzuki SS-90 or SS-100. They are not all that great sounding and durability can be an issue but they have the MIDI support you want, a decent fully weighted keyboard, pitch wheels and mod wheels and you can probably get one at closeout for around $200 if you shop around.

I would definitely recommend the CP33, although its out of your price range.

Would you consider buying 2nd hand DPs? You can probably get a better model for less money but I realize some people don't want 2nd hand items.

I'll consider 2nd hand DPs if I can try them out locally. I've looked around and unfortunately I didn't find anything of interest.