Auto Accompaniment

You don't want amps. You'll probably want monitor speakers - 1 pair of them. You'll also want headphones.
 
hi-fi will work, but it's more a matter of whether you like the sound that will be coming out of those speakers.

cheez, many korg keyboards can do the slow leslie rotor acceleration! models from the trinity onwards. haven't had the opportunity to play around with older korg models though. the trinity has one hammond patch with a particularly nice leslie sim. so rich it sounds virtually stereo even in mono!
 
Iansoh, that's nice to hear! I haven't tried the Triton much. Must really try them one day. As for the Trinity, the last time I played it was eons ago. Can't remember it that well...
 
Oh ya. Was just checking Kawai out.

They definitely won't bring in the MP4 but said they might bring in the ES4.

http://www.kawaius.com/es_4spec.html

Would similar keyboard action and graded hammer keys mean that the ES4 would feel like the MP4? forgot to ask them when they'll be bringing them in so we could try......but it's apparently about $2.7 per piece
 
They definitely won't bring in the MP4 but said they might bring in the ES4.

http://www.kawaius.com/es_4spec.html

Would similar keyboard action and graded hammer keys mean that the ES4 would feel like the MP4? forgot to ask them when they'll be bringing them in so we could try......but it's apparently about $2.7 per piece

Thanks for the info. BTW, which branch did u go to?...Really damn that idiot who told me that the MP4 was still in the box!!!

Anyway, since u r at the kawai webpage, check out the hammer action page which will highlight the difference that sets the MP4 and ES4 apart. Happy reading - http://www.kawaius.com/digital_actions.htm
 
Oh BTW, stumbled upon an article I have on electronic kybd music (I think I got it from one of the posts in this forum):

http://www.tweakheadz.com/tips_on_buying_a_keyboard.html

It should answer many of your qns and doubts. Anyway, from the way u r enquiring about getting your ULTIMATE kybd, you may well have saved enough to get that 4K RD700SX at the end of that searching journey. :lol:

Anyway, don't sway off from your initial expectations that u have written in your 1st post...remember (same old saying) that there can never be an ultimate kybd and what u own today may not be the one and only that you will own forever (that is if you relentlessly explore the world of electronic music like some of the kybd dudes in this forum)!
 
Yes, I did so like the idea of the wooden keys of the MP8!!!!!!! Oh well, no way am I leaving the country anytime in the next few months to try that unit or buy it so looks like I'm going to have to settle.

Silverbeast - I haven't yet been to Robert Piano yet...I think I called the east branch and they directed me to call Carl at 63339495. You might like to call him too to further enquire? I'll prob drop by this Sunday or sthg.

At the end of the day, I think I've decided I've got to at least like to "caress" my keyboard keys, and it has to produce good piano sounds...that was the whole initial idea anyway - what I had in my head is that my "piano" or any other musical instrument should be an extension of me - will let you know verdict after I go try out Roland tomorrow, if I arrive at any.
 
Oh and hey, thanks for the "dummy" article :) Will go check it out.

I'm starting to think maybe buying an acoustic piano was a whole lot easier.....and I was hoping that I'd have my hands on the keys like yesterday haha! These fingers are still itching and I've got so many tunes now playing in my head now that this can has been opened that I'm going bonkers, not to mention the new possibilities now of mixing and matching music at some point in the future!
 
sunshinesarah said:
I'm up to investing (well, not anything more than $4K!) to bring my previous hobby back into long term mode with possibility of expansion beyond just classical piano in the longer term, ......

B4 you do anything you might want to listen to these to see how they compare to ANY digital piano sound you've heard:

http://www.synthogy.com/pages/audio.html

If you're aiming to go beyond "auto-accompaniment" to MIDI sequencing, orchestration etc, and do not need to perform "live" with your instrument, I'd say, spend the $4k to get a DAW based enviroment (decent computer, audio interface, monitor speakers, and the "software piano") and you may still have change to go on a short weekend trip o/s.

Just my $0.02
 
I'm a advocate for software sampling. I use Gigastudio for all my works including piano - none of my sound comes from hardware at the moment. But in your case, I think it is better to hold it off for a while. With software, you still need a keyboard controller. What is important here is touch - based on your piano background. Unfortuantely, it is hard to get keyboard controllers with very good touch (ie as close to the real piano as possible). Plus, it takes a bit of learning curve to get the software and keyboard to work together. There will also be a very slight latency which may not be advisable for you at this moment - since you're just coming back to the piano after a while.

My suggesion is still get a keyboard with good touch and relatively good sound. Software-wise, can hold off for a while. It is always a struggle to balance between keyboard touch and samples - we tend not to get graded keyboards when we do sequencing (ie heavy lower keys and lighter higher keys) as it will be difficult to sequence some parts like drums. Some also go for unweighted keys - easier to sequence strings with unweighted keys.

It is also true that no hardware can compare with software/sampler pianos. This is because of the limitations of hardware in terms of memory.
 
Thanks for the thoughts.

At the end of the day, I think all I want to do, more than anything else, is just to play the piano again, and feel and hear the instrument deliver the very notes I produce. Just figured if I'm going to blow about $3-4K on a digital piano, maybe I should think about all the other things that I can do with it, maybe not now, but at some later point - value for money and all that jazz. With the digital piano, a whole new world of possibilities are suddenly open, and so yes, the kiasu syndrome has set in!!

And if in the end, after I try out the Roland, and it seems I won't be able to have my cake and eat it too, then heh, I'll see how I should settle...:)
 
Just started following this thread.
Sunshine, how about the Yamaha Clavinova? Esp. the CVP series. These are in the $4K range and are in Yamaha's "top of the line" models of digital piano.
Even comes with Auto-Accompaniment, when needed! As well as built in MIDI sequencer and multiple (GM) sounds and such.

QF
 
Overcast - Nice demos of the 3 grand pianos

Sunshine - You are indeed lucky that you are being entertained by so many people in the so many threads that you have created. Despite wanting to know more about electronic music, you have revealed your most basic desire and that is to (and I quote you) "more than anything else, is just to play the piano again".

Synth kybds nowadays are a vast improvement from their predessors and do come close to the real thing in terms of the piano sound and feel. When it comes to acoustic instruments, what a synth does is to EMULATE the real thing. Even if any synth or sampler can produce the best sound and feel, there is always the X element missing when COMPARED PARALLEL with the real thing. The key phrase is "they come close, but they are not the real thing".

Since you have loads of songs in your head, play them when you demo on the kybds that you are testing even though your skils may be rusty (It would be good too to have a pair of headphones on when doing that). If you like what you play and hear, then congrats to you that you have finally found the r!ght one to CARASS!

Good luck with your search!
 
Sunshine is here again?
Good Day Sunshine?

I guess people are attracted to Sunshine
than Dark-force...
May the Sun be with you?

Good to see contributions from
forumers here, keep the threads alive!
 
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