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2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby ogunter » 13 Feb 2018, 16:27

Hello. I am looking for opinions. I have owned and played
Electoros for over 12 years, starting with a 2 73 and currently with 4 sw73. I have loved the instruments. My only
issue has been trying to play piano sounds. The actual sounds are great, the problem has been the actual keyboard feel of the
sw73. I chose the sw because i play a lot of organ at most gigs. So my need for opinion is very simple......what would you recommend for a 2nd keyboard
to use for piano playing? Not really looking for a controller, but a stand alone keyboard that I could also use for gigs where only need piano.
Don't need bells and whistles, just piano sound and maybe EP's. thank you
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2nd keyboard for piano playing


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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby anotherscott » 13 Feb 2018, 17:02

For gigging Nord owners, travel weigh is often a priority. So, sticking with things that are under 30 lbs, I think these are the best options (alphabetically):

Casio: PX560 or PX5S. As s stand-alone board, PX5S is more flexible, PX560 is friendlier. Piano and EP sounds are very similar between the two. At a lower price, you could also look at the PX360, same action, similar sounds, but does not have the "hexlayer" capabilities (among other differences), which also means it can't get some of the EP sounds of the others, but it sounds like that still may be plenty sufficient for you.

Kawai: ES110 - minimal functionality, but might do all that you need.

Kurzweil: SP6 - probably the best sounding pianos and EPs of the bunch. Arguably better EPs than the Nord.

Yamaha: I'll mention the MX88 though it's just a hair over the 30 lb mark.

Note that many low-cost 88s won't work as a controller with a simple direct connection between your boards because they lack a standard 5-pin DIN MIDI port, having only USB instead. Everything I listed above has the standard MIDI port you need.

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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby Rusty Mike » 13 Feb 2018, 18:07

anotherscott wrote:Kurzweil: SP6 - Arguably better EPs than the Nord.


Very debatable and subjective. The SP6 uses a very small subset of the new EP samples from the Forte. The demos I've heard are not to my liking.

I'll take the Nord EP samples over the SP.
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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby anotherscott » 13 Feb 2018, 18:24

Rusty Mike wrote:
anotherscott wrote:Kurzweil: SP6 - Arguably better EPs than the Nord.


Very debatable and subjective.

That's why I said "arguably." ;-)

(Also, it is possible to load additional EP sounds into it besides the ones you'd hear on the showroom floor, though they don't make it as straight-forward to load alternate sounds as Nord does.)
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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby ogunter » 13 Feb 2018, 18:38

thank you for comments and suggestions. I am happy with the Electro ep sounds.
So I am basically looking for 2nd keyboard to use for acoustic piano sounds with the feel of 'real' piano, something simple and
lightweight that could, as stated, be used for simple straight up piano gigs. I will quickly check in to suggestions made by anotherscott.
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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby Ignatius » 13 Feb 2018, 22:24

I use a Yamaha P-255 for this very purpose with an E5. Great key feel. I can choose to play the Yam grands, or use the MIDI cable to play the Nord pianos, everything from the grands or the tack hammer varieties. Highly recommend the Yam key bed, but this is a very individual matter.

The other P series Yams are cheaper, and you may find them acceptable. None of them are particularly heavy.
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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby fieldflower » 13 Feb 2018, 22:30

Ignatius wrote:I use a Yamaha P-255 for this very purpose with an E5. Great key feel. I can choose to play the Yam grands, or use the MIDI cable to play the Nord pianos, everything from the grands or the tack hammer varieties. Highly recommend the Yam key bed, but this is a very individual matter.

The other P series Yams are cheaper, and you may find them acceptable. None of them are particularly heavy.

I have the earlier P-155 and an E5 and fully agree with everything You say. LOVE the key bed!

Also LOVE to use the internal speakers also when just recording, to get the tactile feel of the string frequencies resonating through the keys when playing.
Feels a lot more like actually playing a piano.
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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby cphollis » 13 Feb 2018, 22:39

I'm surprised no one has suggested the Nord Piano 2 or (splurge!) Nord Piano 3.

I've got two NP2 88s, and love them dearly. Not too heavy to lug around at 40 lbs. Full 88 and an action I've grown to enjoy. Eminently suitable for a standalone gig. Same exact APs, EPs and DPs as other Nords plus plenty of room for layered samples. Very consistent control surface, short learning curve. Extremely sturdy and reliable. Makes a great midi controller for my Nord Stage 3 Compact, or play independently if needed.

Color coordinated, even. See picture at right?

It's at least worth considering. Used NP2s are quite reasonable, and if you want the newer model, meaningful discounts can be had by calling around.
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I think I have gear issues ....

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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby anotherscott » 13 Feb 2018, 23:02

ogunter wrote:So I am basically looking for 2nd keyboard to use for acoustic piano sounds with the feel of 'real' piano, something simple and lightweight

The things with the best "real piano" feels are, unfortunately, also the ones that are not the lightest in weight! Of the light models that I mentioned, I think Casio probably has the best feel, Kurz probably has the best piano sound, Kawai might be a good way to split the difference at a pretty low price. But a lot of this is subjective, too.

Ignatius wrote:I use a Yamaha P-255 for this very purpose with an E5....The other P series Yams are cheaper, and you may find them acceptable. None of them are particularly heavy.

The P255 is a nice board, but is a bit tubby at 38 lbs. I was looking at stuff up to about 30, but yeah, if you go higher, there are more choices. I don't think any of the current lighter and cheaper P models have MIDI jacks.

cphollis wrote:I'm surprised no one has suggested the Nord Piano 2 or (splurge!) Nord Piano 3.

Again, a higher weight range. In the lower weight range, of course, Nord makes the Electro 5HP/6HP (albeit with what most would consider a lesser action). But these are all pretty pricey options for someone whose primary use is as a controller, with a "backup" function of having it's own piano sound.
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Re: 2nd keyboard for piano playing

Postby cphollis » 13 Feb 2018, 23:49

ogunter wrote: Not really looking for a controller, but a stand alone keyboard that I could also use for gigs where only need piano.
Don't need bells and whistles, just piano sound and maybe EP's.


A controller isn't what the OP is after ...
I think I have gear issues ....
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