M-Audio Ships ProKeys 88sx Digital Stage Piano

[bongman]

M-Audio Ships ProKeys 88sx Digital Stage Piano
22 February, 2006

M-Audio is proud to announce shipment of the ProKeys 88sx digital stage piano. This new keyboard offers many of the features of the popular ProKeys 88 in an ultra-lightweight package.

The ProKeys 88sx stage piano features an 88-note keyboard with high-quality semi-weighted action, allowing the unit to weigh in at only 17 lbs.—ideal for gigging musicians. Where most digital stage pianos cram as many as 128 instruments into limited space, the ProKeys 88sx dedicates all of its memory to seven sounds that players rely on constantly—devoting extra attention to the multi-layer stereo samples of a Yamaha C7 concert grand.

Piano 2 is designed to really cut through in popular music. Electric pianos are covered as well, including a Fender Rhodes, a vintage Wurlitzer and a classic Yamaha DX7. There's also a percussive Hammond B3—and the Clavinet has "funky" totally nailed. On-board reverb and chorus complete the package.

Unlike most stage pianos, the ProKeys 88sx also doubles as a USB MIDI interface and controller for recording and playback with PC or Mac—including class-compliancy with Windows XP and Mac OS X. The ProKeys 88sx also incorporates MIDI performance controls including pitch wheel, modulation wheel, two footswitch inputs (both sustain and sostenuto) and expression pedal input. A standard MIDI Out jack allows control of outboard MIDI gear as well. The unit ships with an M-Audio Sustain Pedal.

The ProKeys 88sx includes two 1/4" stereo headphone jacks right up front—perfect for practicing or teaching privately. Audio spec highlights include 20Hz - 20kHz frequency response and 108dB dynamic range.

For more information, visit www.m-audio.com.

 

[Cheez]

I'm sure M-audio knows that strings is now a very important sound keyboardist use. Interesting they only included hammer-percussive keyboard sounds. But then, if they have strings, they must also include a layer function, which will make this very much like its big brother Prokeys 88.

Also don't understand why they included a pitch bend. The sounds they included doesn't work well with pitch bend. If the pitch bend is meant for outboard sounds, then I would rather get the midi controller Keystation 88es - since I won't need the build-in sounds anymore with outboard modules and the keystation is cheaper. The idea of the prokeys is to have a lightweight easy to carry keyboard that has the most important sounds/features included. Usage of any outboard gears defeats the purpose of portability this unit is supposed to be.

Well, my usual negative take on things. But I'm sure some will find this keyboard useful for them, particularly since the price is low.

 

[Silencer]

perhaps the pitch bend is an added option for musicians who might want to use it as a controller at times and as a stand alone at times?

 

[Cheez]

Exactly my point. As a controller, the Prokeys 88es does not cut it. Compared to knobs and faders, pitch bend is way down in the list of importance. As a standalone - then there's no point having it. So, why not just get rid of it? Roland ep series digital pianos don't have any pitch bends/mod wheels - because they are made to be standalones.

 

[LuZeR]

Maybe it's just a marketing ploy to confuse people lol!

 

[LuZeR]

But how does the action feels? Anyone tried it?