Hello all,

Well I did a search (came up with some topics) but when browsing through the posts didn't really come up with a short answer..

So...
When using weighted keys what do you find the best setting is to build up strength (muscle memory) to allow switching between digital & acoustic the best?

1. Normal
2. Hard/Hard 2
3. Soft

I had my current DP set on soft but have now switched to hard/normal so I can practice better between DP and my teachers acoustic.

Just wondered what you all were using our there..

Thanks
SC

I tend to like my roland fp-7 with the key touch on the "Heavy" setting. I can't say much about switching to an acoustic though as I don't have access to any.

The default setting is medium on digital pianos.
I've tired the so-called "hard" setting and
could not tell the difference, and so I
just use the default, medium setting, because
it's the most convenient.

A better way to change the "weight" of
a dp's action, in my experience, is to use the
volume knob. If you play at a lower vol.,
you'll tend to press harder on the keys, which is
similar to a piano with a heavier action.
At higher volumes you don't have to press
as hard on the keys, which is like a piano
with a lighter action. Each setting of
the vol. knob, in effect, is like a different
piano, so you get a whole bunch of
"different pianos" with a dp--just one
more of the many advantages dp's offer
to a player.

It depends on dp, and on grand. When I played on Korg sp-250, there were only three levels: soft, medium and hard. Soft wasn't good idea, because it was hard to control the dynamics, it was narrow = less possibilities of expression. Normal was optimal for me. Hard was a little to hard for me (it needed some practice), but I felt it gave me really wide dynamic range.
Although the hardest isn't always the best, of course I suppose practicing at "normal" should be enough to play at any grand. Anyway, you have to experiment.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I think I'm going to pop it back into Normal (medium) and as G suggested tone down the volume so I have to work harder to get the same sound.

Right now I am torn between trading up my CVP-401 for a CLP380 or stepping into real acoustic world but we really want a grand

On my Yamaha CLP-240 i use the "soft" setting.

With this setting the piano uses the 3 sample layers, so the full potential.
With the "medium" setting, only 2 and with "hard" only 1 sample is used.

You can experience that by pressing keys soft,harder and hardest; the timbre doesn't change in "hard" and changes most in "soft"

Second reason is that my teacher says that i tend to play to loud, so the "soft" setting helps to practise a more subtle touch.

And third is that i find this setting the closest to the KAWAI Grand RX-3 i have my weekly lesson on.

Very interesting info, I'll have to see what I end up with (CLP or real one) and then check details / setting accordingly..

gyro has a excellent point/suggestion. I know you mention your teachers piano specifically, but generally folks have a tendency to say "like an acoustic" as if every acoustic made has the exact same action feel. Practice using different settings, if you do any non studio recitals and/or competitions you will undoubtedly run into all manner of different stringed beasties, and getting yourself used to adjusting to the instrument (vs the other way around) is a good skill to have.

Save for the grand and keep your 401

Also very true, but since the digital world moves quick I could maybe upgrade in the 1yr meantime and enjoy much better action (sound) on the CLP380 so we'll see..

Still have a couple of months to figure it out..

Thanks for the tips/details.
SC