Below is my orgianl question about digital pianos:

I am planning to purchase a digital piano with sequencing capablities for use
at school (in addition to the acoustic pianos we already own).   I am
receiving bids on two brands: The Roland KR-577 and KR-377, and the Yamaha
Clavinova CVP-105 and CVP-107.  If you have experience/opinions about any of
these models, please respond.  Also, -if you have a favorite digital piano
with a 16 track sequencer not included in the above list, please elaborate. 
I am most interested in a true piano sound and action, and the sequencing
ability.

Responses:
I've had nothing but bad luck with clavinovas. My college's music lab was
full of them. They were only a couple of years old when I started, and they
looked like they'd been through a war. They don't hook up to music notation
software or sequencing programs really well, and the "networking" stuff that
we bought never worked up to the salesman's claims. I would heartily
recommend the Rolands. They might be a little more expensive, but in the end
you have a much better instrument.

Hope this helps

Just be sure that the keys are weighted. I have both types. The un-weighted
is hard to play and get accurate notation in sequencing.

I can highly recommend the Roland brand for anything from digital pianos
to higher level synthesizers.

>From our experience with the Clavinova, I's suggest you avoid it. There
are fine synthesizers available from Yamaha with excellent piano sounds
and ever fair actions, but the Clavinovas are not good; they were
designed for the home market, and simply do not last.

I encourage you to play the pianos before deciding on a purchase. Make
sure you can understand the features and warrantees, and are comfortable
with the touch and sound. If you are not a pianist, get a pianist you
trust to try them!

I own a Roland KR-570 - and older model of the KR -577 - It is great!!
It has the work station which is user friendly - Everything about it is good
except - when I work on something I have to save it before turning it off -
The Kurzweil, MArk 10,  we have at our church does not lose the song if you
turn it off.

The Roland has great piano sounds, as well as really good jazz instruments
sounds.

In fact our Kurzweil store sells only Kurzweils and Rolands.  I find that
interesting.  They are saying that Rolands are a good runner up to the
Kurzweil.  Of course the best to get is a Korg Triton, 88 key.  It has a
great workstation as well as sounds.  It only cost about $3000.00.

All I can say is "don't buy an Alesis DG-8!

My advice is to buy a good digital piano, and then buy sequencing software to
use with your computer.  It is a better set-up, and software is better with
more capabilities.  Then you can spend your money on a good piano.  This is
of course, if you have a computer.  Lynn

Stick with the Rolands!!!  No doubt about it!



Cindy Borik
cborik(a)aol.com
Portage Central High School
Portage, MI616-323-5333
616-323-5290 (fax)

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Dear Colleagues,

Many thanks to those who responded to my query regarding an impending
keyboard purchase. My original question is listed below, along with
responses. Lot's of good advice, but there seems to have been no real
consensus on a particular model.

Thanks again for all your input!

P. Kevin Suiter, D.M.A.
Music Program Coordinator
Appalachian Bible College
Bradley WV 28642
(304)877-6428, ext. 3255
ksuiter(a)abc.edu

ORIGINAL POST:

I have just received authorization to purchase a new electronic keyboard
for our travelling summer vocal ensemble. What are your recommendations
based on the following criteria?

88 keys, weighted keyboard
Since it must be portable, weight is a consideration (80 lbs. max?)
Authentic piano sound is a must
Would like an instrument that will layer sounds (e.g., piano/strings
combo)
Built-in disk recorder/sequencer perferred, though we could use an
external device

Can this be done for under $2500? Thanks for any recommendations you might
be able to make.

RESPONSES:

Yamaha makes a 40 lb piano P 120, that is exquisite. It's about $1,000 to
$1,200. All the other ones are very heavy. It will record. Two track
sequencer. Fabulous piano sound, and strings, guitar, harpsichord and organ
sounds are really good. splitting and layering all possible.

I'm in the process of buying one myself. There's one being sold on E Bay
for 999 as we speak (or write), though I think I'm going to get mine
locally.

* * * * * *

I use the Yamaha P80 electronic piano. Most recently used in a performance
of the entire Messiah at Christmas (along with a regular string ensemble,
of course!)

Piano sounds are great (no built-in speakers) and all six can be varied
once for a total of 12 piano sounds. You can also select various levels of
reverb, effects and touch. Also has: harpsichord, strings, pipe organ,
church organ, jazz organ and bass, each of which has a variation voice as
well.

88 keys, weighted, about 70 pounds
transposes, has metronome and very detailed midi control functions
no built-in disk recorder/sequencer / it does have memory banks (2-voice)
for session recording/practice
I paid $1100 for mine at a local instrument dealer.
has Mac/PC midi in/out, phono, headphone and audio ports
sustain pedal has to be purchased separately (about $25)

* * * * * *

I purchased a Yamaha stage piano with all the criteria you have mentioned 2
years ago, albeit with an external sequencer. I purchased a traveling case
for mobility and have found that it is as close to the accoustic sound I
could get. I believe the package with 2 Roland amplifiers came close to
$2800. Two amps allows for stereo sound, but it could be used with just
one. I do not remember the model of this instrument as I am writing this
from home.

* * * * * *

Make sure it is touch sensitive (so you can vary the dynamics) and has a
pedal attachment. Also check the polyphony so you can sustain the maximum
number of notes at one time. Most full sized instruments have these
capabilities. I have worked with Roland and Yamaha Clavinova. The Roland
had all of the above, with electronic piano, harpsichord and string sounds.
With instituational discounts, you should be able to find one in that price
range.

* * * * * *

I have a Kurzweil PC 88, which I have had about 5 years I guess, which is
my pro piano keyboard - I love the action (which is actually made by Fatar,
as are several competing brands of keyboards) - and I say that as a piano
player who has played them all - the piano samples are top notch too - you
can do some layering, although there is no real ability to edit the sounds
in terms of timbre - no sequencer on this unit - these features may have
changed on later models - this unit cost me about $1600 and is in that
70-80
pound range - it's not too bad in a soft bag, but put a flight case into
the mix and it would be a real beast in my opinion - you'd be well over 100
pounds

Kurzweil also made a unit called the 2500 which was a big workstation thing
with sequencing - that unit (or its progeny) would be nice, but it was
larger in size than the PC88 and therefore probably heavier

I personally don't care for the Alesis keyboards - they are cheaper in
price and have lots of sounds but I don't think their action is acceptable.

Roland also makes some nice units.

I'd start with the action first and worry about the other stuff second - if
you compromise on the action, you'll regret it, I think.

* * * * * *

There are many good 88-key weighted boards out there, but I seriously doubt
you will find one (with a sequencer) for under $3,000. Roland, Kurzweil,
Korg, and Yamaha are all good. I own an Alesis QS 8 that runs for $1800.
It is 88-key, hundreds of sounds and an infinite number of possibilities,
but it does not have a sequencer in it. However, it comes with a CD
(Mac/PC hybrid) that you can load onto your computer and do all your
sequencing and editing through it. There are PCMCIA card slots in the
synth that enable you to download your sequenced songs from the computer to
the synth, but the cards are sold seperately. If you had a little laptop
to lug around with the synth, that would work. The big concern is that
Alesis was bought by some other company, so tech support or repairs
probably won't ever happen.

* * * * * *

Look at Kurzweils...get your discount by buying last year's overstock and
it should come in around $2500. Also, shop the DC area (stores like Chuck
Levin's in Silver Spring, MD, are discounters). We bought a Kurzweil 2600
three years ago for the church where I serve. It has all the goodies you
seek, and we purchased it for less than $2300.

* * * * * *

Roland - it will take the beating, the sounds are great and they have a
disk slot.

* * * * * *

I would NOT recommend an Alesis DG-8!

* * * * * *

The Yamaha S-90 is an 88 weighted keys with an internal Hard drive seque
ncer. Approx. $1900 in price (leaves money for a heavy duty keyboard stand
and a good keyboard bench).

* * * * * *

This may be too late: I'm partial to Kawaii keyboards. I like the way they
sound and feel. It'a good line & travels well. I have an ES-1, but there
are others.

* * * * * *

I really like the Roland RD 700. The sounds are very good and it is very
well set up for live playing. It does not have a built in sequencer but a
lap top with good software might be much easier to use.

Kurzweil's always have really fine sounds but are a little harder to
interface with.

* * * * * *

I suggest you look into the Roland line.

* * * * * *

Look at the Kurzweil keyboards - they are supposed to be the best.

* * * * * *