what are the pros and cons of digital pianos?

General discussion about digital pianos

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forever_foolish
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what are the pros and cons of digital pianos?

Post by forever_foolish »

sorry i if sound like a newbie but i have been playing a acoustic piano all my life, now i am moving to university i was considering a digital one so i can carry on practising. What are the pros and cons of digital pianos and what make/ style would you recommend?

by constantly confused :?
annebjan
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Which digital piano?

Post by annebjan »

I'm not an expert on digitals, but from doing a lot of research and a bit of digital playing, it seems the Kawai CN range may prove to give Yamaha quite a bit of competition.

For a list of digital models accredited for grade exams, you may like to check out the AMER (Australian Music Examinations Board) website, via google.au . This is quite interesting.
ABRSM now officially endorses Rolands on its website.

I would look for a sound as close to "live" as possible, excellent and variable touch resistance, excellent repetition, 3 pedals that really work, a really good dynamic range, and long-lasting notes, even when only the fingers are being used to hold down the keys.

Happy hunting! :)
annebjan
PianoGuy
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Post by PianoGuy »

Pros:
Cheaper (slightly) than an acoustic
Lighter to transport and site
Can often be moved in an estate car
Are usually MIDI equipped to interface with other keyboards or computers
Never need tuning
Have other sounds available (harpsichord, electric piano etc)

Cons:
Sound is usually a recording of a concert grand piano, and little speakers can't cope with it
Depreciate heavily
Lifespan of 10-15 years (real pianos can last 100)
Keys and contacts are prone to breakage
Servicing and spares are expensive, and difficult after 10 years to obtain spares
Not as robust as a real piano
More prone to theft
Cheaper models sound unconvincing
Keyboard feel even on Grantouch types is 'dead'
Need electricity to work
Are uglier than real pianos in most cases
Cheaper models merely amplify a sampled sound for a louder effect, a real piano sounds different when played at different volumes
PianoGuy
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Re: Which digital piano?

Post by PianoGuy »

annebjan wrote: ABRSM now officially endorses Rolands on its website.
And I wonder how much Roland pay them?
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