Originally posted by Hybr1dz:
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.