Members dudespeakup Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 Hi - I'm looking for some recommendations. Going to set up this as completely as possible. Any help is much appreciated here. I'm looking for an 88-key keyboard with weighted action. I do not plan on gigging so weight is not a huge deal - this is more for home enjoyment/studio purposes. Will be using for:1) Piano playing - want realistic piano action and a -high- quality piano sample 2) Controller - plan to run through a DAW like Reason, Logic, etc. I consider the controller aspect to be a secondary but mandatory concern. Things I do not need:-Extensive synth capabilities (DAW will suffice)-Onboard speaker (headphones and external speakers are fine) My price range is under $1,000 - $2,500, leaning more towards the high-end as I want something quality that I can use forever and ever (well at least several years). I've been considering four options: 1) Roland RD-700SX 2) Kawai MP8 )3) Yamaha S90ES 4) A less expensive 88-key with good action but crappier piano samples, with the intent to run Synthogy Ivory samples via my PC (will need suggestions on what keyboard to get here. Synthogy runs $400-500) What do you guys think? Also please feel free to suggest anything different. This is just where I'm at right now. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cran Leavis Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 I've personally used the S90, and I'd highly recommend it, not least for its piano sound and responsiveness. If you really have * no * interest in anything other than piano sounds it might be slight overkill, with its range of sounds, but it's a great instrument for opening up other possibilities to the piano player besides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Pro Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 I was on a similar quest earlier this year... my final choice was the Yamaha CP300. Besides being an excellent piano and master controller for my studio I find that I get a lot of enjoyment out of playing it through it's own speakers. I realize you said that's not a requirement but it's just one more reason to consider the CP300 over other similarly-priced high-end pianos. it's nice to be able to sit and play without powering up a complete computer or studio monitoring system. I also believe that having internal speakers makes the CP300 more marketable if you decide to resell it locally since a wider range of potential users would be interested in it. The CP300 action is excellent and the piano sounds are as good as any other DP - that's not meant to sound like a lukewarm endorsement of the CP300 sounds but no DP sounds as good as the sample libraries like Ivory or Colossus. I use the CP300's own sounds for practice and enjoyment and use sample libraries for recording. If you are planning on using Reason anyway then you don't really need Ivory - you can use Reason Pianos which are excellent and a lot cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -groovatious- Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 I wouldn't recommend the S90 for acoustic piano. Maybe the ES, but the older S90 has serious phase-cancellation problems when played in mono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jez Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 So don't run it in mono... problem solved things like that are only a problem if you let it become one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Outkaster Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 S90 or S90 ES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EricM Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 I just bought an S90 ES myself. I can't recommend it enough. The action feels great, the best graded action out there IMO. I also think the piano voices are the best you'll find in a hardware unit. Great master mode, Mlan expansion, and can play the PLG boards, its a great deal. Not to mention it is one of the sleakest, classiest looking instruments out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Superace25 Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 Depending on the control depth you need, you might also consider an older Yamaha S80. It has a weaker soundset than the S90 & S90ES, but has an arguably better keyboard. The onboard pianos are fine, and they're cheap enough to leave money for Ivory, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jez Posted November 30, 2007 Members Share Posted November 30, 2007 Seconded - the S80 was a great board when it came out, and still holds its own today. A used S80 will whup anything new you could get for the same money... and you can always pimp it out with the piano plug in boards anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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