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Recs for upper-end 88-key keyboard...


dudespeakup

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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