Casio launching new Celviano digital pianos

Together with the new Privia PX-830 digital stage piano, Casio has introduced its latest Celviano digital pianos, the AP-620, AP-420 and AP-220 models.

In a compact case design not dissimilar to the Privia PX-830, features include a four-layer dynamic stereo piano sample, 128 note polyphony, 88-note Tri-Sensor scaled hammer keyboard, plus a resonance effect that mimics the sound of the dampers being released from the strings.

Available from the spring with prices ranging from $899.99 to $1,399.99.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Casio shows off new Privia PX-830 digital stage piano

About six months have passed since Casio launched its last Privia digital stage pianos and now we have the PX-830 to peruse.

Casio has certainly pulled out all the stops with this one, which offers four-layer dynamic stereo piano samples with seamless transitions and a wide dynamic range — in other words, more realism.

In-built is the simulated sound of open strings when the dampers are raised, thanks to the Acoustic Resonance DSP.

128 notes of polyphony should ensure complex performances, pedal use, and layered sounds don’t result in dropped notes.

How an instrument feels to play is critically important, and Casio’s “Ivory Touch” Tri-Sensor scaled hammer action keys should satisfy in that department.

There are 16 tones built in, a duet mode that allows simultaneous playing by two people in the same range, plus a two-track recorder.

Available from April, with a price tag of $1799.99 for the black polished cabinet edition or $1399.99 for the black matte version.

Casio

Popularity: 1% [?]

Casio intros two new stage pianos: PX-130 and PX-330

Rather quietly, with no obvious press release, Casio last week announced the latest in its line of Privia stage/studio digital pianos.

The PX-130 and PX-330 are relatively lightweight, portable block digital pianos featuring realistic grand piano sounds, a range of other voices, expressive touch thanks to the Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard, plus built-in recorder and MIDI.

The full specifications for both models are below:

PX-130 technical specifications

Keyboard	88 keys, weighted scaled hammer action
Sound Source	4 level stereo samples, Linear Morphing System
Acoustic Resonance	Yes
Polyphony (maximum)	128
Tones	16
Reverb	4 types
Chorus	4 types
Brilliance	-3 to +3
Layer (with variable balance)	Yes
Split	Yes
Duet Mode	Yes
Metronome	0,2,3,4,5,6 beats
Transpose	-12 to +12 semi tones
Tuning Control	A4=440Hz +99 cents
Temperament(preset scale)	equal temperament + 16 scales
Recorder	1 Song, 2 Tracks
Preset Songs	60
USB Storage (utilizing PC)	Yes
Speakers	(13cmx6cm) x2
Amplifier	8W + 8W
Terminals
USB to Host (USB MIDI)	Yes, supporting XP, Vista, Mac
Damper (Sustain)	Yes
Connector for SP32 (3 Pedal Unit)	Yes
Headphones	Yes x 2
Accessories
AC Adaptor	Yes(AD-A12150LW)
Music Stand	Yes
Pedal	Yes
Score Book	Yes, SP-3
Dimensions and Weight
Unit size – W x D x H	52.05” x 11.26” x 5.31”
Unit weight in pounds	24.7 lbs
Boxed size – W x D x H	57.48” x 14.53” x 8.35”
Boxed weight	33.52 lbs
Optional Accessories
CS-67	Stand for P-130/330
SP-32	3 Pedal unit providing Sustain, Soft and Sostenuto

PX-330 technical specifications

Keyboard	88 keys, weighted scaled hammer action
Sound Source	4 level stereo samples, Linear Morphing System
Acoustic Resonance	Yes
Polyphony (maximum)	128
Tones	250
General MIDI Compatible	Level 1
Rhythms	180
Auto-Accompaniment	Yes
Reverb	4 types
Chorus	4 types
Brillianance	-3 to +3
Layer (with variable balance)	Yes
Split (with variable split point)	Yes
Registration Memory	Yes
Duet Mode	Yes
Pitch Bend Wheel	Yes
Metronome	0,2,3,4,5,6 beats
Transpose	-12 to +12 semi tones
Tuning Control	A4=440Hz +99 cents
Temperament (preset scale)	equal temperament + 16 scales
Recorder	10 Songs, 16 Tracks
USB Storage (utilizing PC)	Yes
SD Memory Card Storage	Yes
Display	96×32 Back Light LCD
Speakers	(13cmx6cm) x2
Amplifier	8W + 8W
Terminals
Line Out 1/4”	R, L/Mono
Line Input 1/4”	R, L/Mono
MIDI	IN, OUT
USB to Host (USB MIDI)	Yes, supporting XP, Vista, Mac
Damper (Sustain)	Yes
Soft/Sostenuto	Yes
Connector for SP32 (3 Pedal Unit)	Yes
Headphones	Yes x 2
Accessories
AC Adaptor	Yes(AD-A12150LW)
Music Stand	Yes
Pedal	Yes, SP-3
Dimensions and Weight
Unit size – W x D x H	52.05” x 11.26” x 5.31”
Unit weight in pounds	24.7 lbs
Boxed size – W x D x H	57.48” x 14.53” x 8.35”
Boxed weight	33.52 lbs
Optional Accessories
CS-67	Stand for P-130/330
SP-32	3 Pedal unit providing Sustain, Soft and Sostenuto

Popularity: 16% [?]

Recommended Digital Pianos

Here is my current selection of favorite digital pianos that you can buy today.

Yamaha P-85 Digital Piano

More entry level digital piano with Yamaha’s realistic digital samples, realistic graded hammer touch, half pedaling and three pedal support, song recording, variety of other sounds.

Buy the Yamaha P-85 Acoustic-Like Touch Response AWM Stereo Sampled Tabletop Piano

Yamaha DGX630

Graded soft touch full size keyboard from Yamaha, featuring a 6-track recorder, DSP sound effects, a huge range of other sounds, virtual band, half-pedaling support.

Buy the Yamaha DGX630 88 Full-Sized Keys with Weighted Graded Hammer Action – AC Adapter Included

Yamaha P140

The digital piano I currently own. Has a great touch and good sounds. Though superseded by the Yamaha P155, still a recommended purchase. Half-pedaling support, graded hammer weighting.

Buy the Yamaha P-140 Portable Digital Piano

Yamaha CP300

This digital stage piano is specially built to withstand the rigors and requirements of gigging on the road. Authentic touch, a huge range of other sounds, 5-band equalizer.

Buy the Yamaha CP300 Digital Stage Piano

Casio Privia PX120

88-key piano keyboard with weighted keys, touch response, 128 note polyphony, various effects, Auto Accompaniment.

Buy the Casio PX120 Privia Digital Piano

Roland RD-700GX

88 keys PHA II Ivory Feel Keyboard with Escapement, Stereo Multi-sampled Piano Sound, range of other sounds, synthesizer capabilities, sound expansion cards.

Buy the Roland RD-700GX 88-key Digital Piano

Nord Stage EX 88

I love Nord’s range of keyboards, as much for their look as their capabilities. This 88 note stage piano offers both weighted keys and aftertouch, so it’s great for synth work too. Nevertheless, it’s lightweight, and comes with a range of sounds and effects.

Buy the Nord Stage EX 88, 88-Key Stage Piano

Disclaimer: I receive a small percentage of the sale price for anything you buy here, which goes towards maintaining this site. However, I fully endorse these digital pianos regardless of that, as I believe they are of high build quality and offer a great playing experience.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Casio CK-500 unearthed by Retro Thing

Now this has got to be one of the most bizarre keyboards I’ve seen in a long time. Of course, at the time the Casio CK-500 was cutting edge, but now it shouts 1980 very loudly with all the retro stuff it has on it.

Even ignoring the fact it’s got a dual cassette deck which can be used for dubbing tapes (remember doing that), the whole thing just looks so ancient.

Bohus at Retro Thing describes the electronic beauty that he still owns:

The keyboard is nothing special – it’s the same guts as their MT-68. It’s got those same lovable analog “blip blip” rhythms that you fell in love with on the organ at your grandma’s. The tones aren’t anything really remarkable either, though the built in mixer to adjust the volume on the various automated parts of your performance are a nice touch. To get started, just hit a punch-button to dial up your instrument sound, then select between a dozen rhythms and auto-accompaniment styles.

The real eye-catcher here is the dual-well stereo tape deck. The A & B decks are switched from where you might expect them to be, but you can still easily dub tapes (though not with a single touch as many decks of the era). Now if we could only figure out those cool turntablist tricks on dual tape decks.The buttons ka-chunk satisfyingly into place – no servos here! Another interesting aspect is that the radio features AM, FM, and shortwave. So if you’ve got six D cells tearing a hole in your pocket, you can bring the CK-500 along on your boat or while you’re DXing around the country, and not miss any of the thrills of shortwave radio.

I almost feel like getting hold of one of these just to record and mash up some weird sound mixes. I probably won’t though. For a start, I don’t own any cassette tapes any more.

(Via Retro Thing)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Casio intros two new Privia digital pianos: PX-720, PX-120

Casio has today announced the arrival of two new “world class” digital pianos in its Privia range.

View Casio PX-720 and Casio PX-120 on Amazon.

The PX-720 and PX-120 both feature 88 scaled hammer-action keys, and boast a slim design. In fact, the PX-120, which comes in a choice of silver and dark grey or silver and light brown colouring, is supposed to be the world’s smallest digital piano, measuring just 298mm (about 11.7 inches) slim.

The PX-720 comes in subtle ash-walnut, cherry, or maple shades.

Both digital pianos feature Casio’s Acoustic and Intelligent Filtering (AIF) technology, which produces sounds that resonate smoothly when played. The new Privas also come with tri-element sampling, which uses three real piano samples for each note, making it possible to reproduce real sounds in response to different key pressures, delivering the sound and expression of an actual acoustic piano.

It’s hard to tell immediately from the technical specifications posted on Casio’s site what other differences there are between the two models, other than the finish and a slight size difference. However, the specs don’t look quite complete. Though it’s possible to see that both come with a generous 128 notes of polyphony, plus layer/split, auto-accompaniment, 2-track recorder, transposition, tuning, and such like, there’s no mention of pedal options, for example.

The PX-120 has a retail price of £549.99, with the PX-720 coming in at £649.99 (UK prices).

Casio seems to load its digital pianos with more features than many of Yamaha’s Clavinova and P-series digital pianos (though some of Yamaha’s contemporary stage pianos have features such as accompaniment).

Whether you actually want these features if you’re shopping for a dedicated digital piano is another matter. You could argue that you might as well have the extra features, but I’m always concerned that additional features either push the price up, or detract from the “core value” of a digital piano — how it feels and looks.

Though, between the two manufacturers, Yamaha often has the name and the edge over Casio, these look like smart, decent instruments at a reasonable price. The truth will out in the playing, though.

View Casio PX-720 and Casio PX-120 on Amazon.

Casio PX-720 product page
Casio PX-120 product page

Popularity: 8% [?]

My First Keyboard: Buying a child’s first electronic keyboard instrument

I believe that the buyers’ guide I wrote a couple of years ago still stands as a good introduction to buying a keyboard instrument

However, in this feature I want to look specifically at buying a child their first “serious” electronic keyboard.

My Story

Every child is different, but let me tell you a little of my musical upbringing as it will give you a better idea of where I’m coming from, and hopefully give you some ideas on the way forward for your child / potential musical genius.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a home with an acoustic upright piano, which I started playing and picking out tunes on from a very young age (say 3 or 4). I think from this my parents realised that I had musical aptitude/talent, and I began taking classical-based piano lessons from around age 5.

I enjoyed this, and was incredibly blessed to have access to the piano (it’s probably why I love the acoustic piano, or as near as I can get to it, to this day). However, from the age of about 12, after seeing someone on stage playing some amazing synth lines and creating sound textures, I wanted to get into electronic music.

My parents agreed, and bought a fairly entry-level keyboard. However, it was enough to get me started in trying out new sounds, rhythms, and even doing some basic sequencing work on my computer.

The point to this is that, whether or not your child shows some interest and aptitude for music, and in particular a keyboard, it’s worth starting with a basic set up and building on that, rather than splashing out on an all-singing, all-dancing keyboard, digital piano, or even an acoustic piano, only for it to be a costly mistake.

Don’t force them – see the interest

I fell in love with keyboard instruments because that’s what was around, but I wasn’t forced to play.

Fashions come and go. Guitars are cool, and many kids want to play them. Don’t force them to play one type of instrument they’re really not interested in. Having said that, if they show interest in a piano (I’ve seen a great many children who love to try to play things on the keyboard, and it’s (arguably) an easier instrument to begin learning/experimenting on than the guitar, especially for small fingers) then go for it.

Make it fun

Though you may pay a bit extra, or sacrifice a bit of sound quality, by getting a keyboard with plenty of functions on, it will make it fun for your child to play, experiment, and learn about music.

If they really get a taste for playing seriously, and when they’re a bit older, they’ll probably find out what kind of things they want their keyboard to do. In fact, if they’re anything like me, they’ll be down at the local music shop every Saturday eyeing up the next model, getting the specifications and the price, and working out how to introduce the concept of a new keyboard to you.

In reality, even today’s relatively inexpensive keyboards do absolutely amazing things, and sound fantastic.

[Read more]

Popularity: 69% [?]

Casio CZ1000 vintage synth spotlight

Gnostic Rocket has posted a review piece on the Casio CZ1000 which he picked up recently. Plenty of shots, technical info, and samples of his creations.

Link

Popularity: 2% [?]

Casio CZ-101 vintage synth

Retrothing has an interesting article about the Casio CZ-101 which was Casio’s debut into the world of ‘professional’ synthesis.

It featured 4 octaves of mini keys (argh), 8 note polyphony, 8 oscillators, 4 parts, MIDI, and even clips for a guitar strap for those super-cool(?) synth solos at front of stage!

It just shows that you can’t dismiss old synths – they still have their fans and their uses, and in fact now sell on eBay for almost double their original US$109 price tag.

Popularity: 2% [?]