PSRS500 » Piano Keyboards

Yamaha PSR-E223 Entry-Level Portable Keyboard

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:31:49 +0000

With the PSRE223 digital keyboard, youre never more than a button push away from the most realistic piano sound in portable keyboards today. One press of the Portable Grand button resets the entire keyboard to a stereo-sampled piano, perfect for when its time to practice. Yamaha is known around the world for the quality of their acoustic pianos and this attention to detail is evident as you enjoy the warmth and clarity of this Portable Grand piano. And of course, the keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.

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The Advantages Of Electronic Pianos Over Acoustic Upright Pianos

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:03:42 +0000

Many years ago, almost every household used to have an upright piano. People took music lessons with a piano teacher. These pianos took a lot of space and had to be tuned from time to time, otherwise they would sound horrible. Today there are a lots of electronic pianos, which do not have this kind of problem and are also quite cost effective. A big advantage of choosing an electronic piano is that they are not expensive. They also do not require tuning and as they weigh less they can be moved easily from place to place. You can even buy a piano that will match your furniture at home.Before you buy one, you need to consider a few thing things. The first thing you need to check is whether it actually sounds like a piano. Also, check out the other sounds other than the piano sound. Many of these keyboards include sounds of different musical instruments as well so check them out. There are some models that will also provide drum sounds. The next thing you need to look for is that whether the piano has weighted keys. These weighted keys will make your electronic piano sound and feel real. If your child is learning to play then the option of weighted keys is a really a necessary one.Most electronic pianos have a midi sequencer onboard. The sequencer will help you record whatever you play. This will help you when you are composing and playing back music pieces. You can play tracks you have recorded later whenever you need it. The next thing to look for is whether the instrument has a built in sound system or whether you have to connect speakers to it to hear the sound. The final thing you need to look for is whether it as an 88 note keyboard. Acoustic upright pianos always have 88 notes. Sometimes, low priced instruments have fewer notes. Popular sizes are 49 note, 61 note and 76 note keyboards.

Choose Your Piano Keyboard Depending On Your Playing Style

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:07:44 +0000

There are a number of piano keyboards available on the market today but you cannot just go for any old keyboard. You have to know which piano is the best suited for you before you buy it and this, more often than not, depends on the style and the way in which you play your keyboard. Here we will discuss the various styles of keyboard playing and accordingly decide which keyboard to choose.The first style is the Improv style. This is more of what you like to do with your piano and has the least to do with a fixed decorum. If you are someone who, loves to let their fingers rush through the keys on the piano then you are a follower of this style. You love to create a new tune every time and just let your imagination flow. You are an instantaneous player and love to play the more unusual chords. If this is you then the best piano keyboard for you would be the Yamaha CP300 or the Yamaha P70.The second is the classic and the most common one. You are a classical performer when you use the keyboard to play expressively and immerse yourself in the sound of music. You can play your keys soft as well a hard and produce music that just touches the mind. You can fully control the keyboard and love this feeling of power when you do so. The best piano keyboards for you would be the Casio AP500, the Roland F50 and maybe the Yamaha YDPS3.Thirdly, we have the comp style in which you are basically someone to whom music is creativity. More than listening to the sound you love to create music. You love to play around with your keyboard imagining all the impossible sounds that you can only try to make possible. Your choice piano keyboards are the Yamaha MO8 and the Alesis Fusion 8HD.You could also be a rock player or trad player and if you define your self as the same then your choice must be the Roland Juno G, the Clavia Nord Electro or the Yamaha YDP213 and the Korg SP250 piano keyboards respectively.

Roland Keyboards

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:03:18 +0000

Roland Keyboards

A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the interval of an octave.

Roland Corporation was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. Today it has factories in Japan, the United States, Italy, and Taiwan. It has existed in different forms since 1960, making it one of the oldest still-operating manufacturers of musical electronics, and has survived changes in technology to become one of the most noteworthy and widely-used brands in electronic music and production today.

Roland involves in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic musical instruments including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion kits, digital recording equipment, amplifiers and audio processing devices.

Roland offers a full range of keyboards and synthesizers that lead the industry in performance, features, and ease of use. From the beginner to the professional, Roland keyboards and synths are among the most popular in the world.

Roland Keyboards include:

Synths & Samplers: Professional keyboards, synthesizers and music workstations.

Arrangers: A wide range of arranger-style keyboards for playing or composing with ease.

Controllers: MIDI controller keyboards and pedalboards.

Sound Modules: Professional tabletop and rackmount synthesizer modules.

Accordions: Roland is pleased to introduce a revolutionary new family of instruments — the V-Accordions.

VIMA: Video Interactive keyboard products for Recreational Music Making.

Amplifiers: The ultimate compliment to any performance or studio keyboard.

MIDI Interfaces: Devices for connecting your MIDI instrument(s) to a computer.

Timeline of noteworthy products

1973 – Roland SH-1000: Claimed by Roland to be Japan’s first commercial keyboard synthesizer.

1988 – Roland E-20: Roland’s first entry into the auto-accompaniment keyboard market, going head to head with Yamaha and Casio. The E-20’s descendants include the E-70, E-86, G-800, G-1000, G-70 and the current E-80.

1989 – Roland W-30: A sampling workstation keyboard

1992 – Roland DJ-70: A DJ sampling music workstation and synthesizer keyboard that featured the first scratch wheel pad.

1996 – Roland DJ-70mkII: Successor to the DJ-70, with more powerful features, including a DJ sampling music workstation, which featured a scratch wheel pad. It is essentially an S-760 sampler with a keyboard.

Piano Keyboards to Keep You Playing: What To Look For In a Keyboard

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:39:42 +0000

When looking for a new keyboard, consider the name brand manufacturers of piano keyboards. Look at your budget and then go from there. Does that budget allow you to check out some of the premiere makers out there? Does your budget require you to go with a lesser-known manufacturer?
Some of the names in piano keyboards are Korg, Kurzweil, Roland, Yamaha, Kawai and Moog. There are a host of others as well, some with a wide model line available. Check each manufacturer’s products from low-end to high-end and compare across companies for features offered. Sometimes a lower-priced model may suit you just as well as a higher-priced one that has many extra gadgets you may never use. The main thing is to make sure any model you choose has a clear, full sound resembling as close as possible a traditional piano sound. You don’t want a tinny sound that is more annoying than pleasing.
If you base your decision solely on price, investigate consumer reports and product reviews that may alert you to product flaws. You may find some high-priced models receive more bad press than lower-priced makes. Regardless, don’t let a piano keyboard purchase blow your budget. You can always upgrade down the road.
One important consideration when purchasing a piano keyboard is the warranty. If you’re buying a new brand, make sure the warranty is suitable with no unacceptable “except for” clauses. If you’re buying used, try to buy from a dealer who offers even a six-month warranty on a used product. They’re out there; you just have to look for them.
Consider the type of keys your fingers will run across when you look at piano keyboards. Do you want traditional weighted keys that have the feel of an acoustic piano? Do you want touch sensitive keys that spring into action with little downward pressure? Both are available, and checking them out will ensure that it suits your touch. I would certainly recommend that you get both of these features so your keyboard not only sounds but also feels like a normal acoustic piano.
Consider whether you want a full 88-key piano or one with fewer keys. It depends on what you plan to play, how much you want to spend, and the space you have in a room. You don’t want to feel cramped with a keyboard whose length barely fits into a small room. On the other hand, if you plan on getting better in a hurry, then get an 88 key keyboard from the outset so you won’t have to worry about outgrowing it.
Another thing to consider in a piano keyboard is the number of controls a model has for sound modification. Many keyboards come equipped with settings to make the piano sound like different musical instruments. Some also have voice settings, so certain keys sound like a choir singing. Again, if you want just your typical piano sound, you may not require all these sound controls. To keep your costs down, it’s best to buy a model with only the features you will use.
An important consideration, especially if you live in an apartment or condominium, is sound control. You want a keyboard that allows you to set the volume as low as possible while maintaining quality and clarity of sound. You also want a keyboard that allows for headphone plug-in, so you can play as loud as you need without disturbing anyone.
With today’s “going green” concerns, you may want to investigate the energy use of keyboards. Keyboards that are green friendly are sure to be the latest models and can save you dollars on energy bills. With that extra money, you can upgrade to a higher-priced keyboard later.
Additional things to consider are any special benefits or bonuses for buying. Some music studios sell keyboards and may offer lesson or music book discounts for purchasing from them. Some music stores offer music lessons on premises and may offer free introductory piano lessons with a keyboard purchase.
The final thing to consider when purchasing a keyboard is its capacity for attachments. Aside from the headphones (and you’ll want them for sure so you can practice silently), you may want outlets for an amplifier or a Musical Instrument Digital Interface outlet. This allows you to hook a keyboard into a computer. Of course, the computer also has to have a MIDI input. If your computer doesn’t, you have to buy a USB MIDI adapter. With the proper software program in place, you can play notes on a keyboard and have them show up as written music on your monitor. The computer plays the notes back, and the program stores the played notes on the computer. If this looks like an attractive option, seek a keyboard with this outlet.
Take the time to investigate all the piano keyboard options available to you on the market. There are makes and models to suit your exact requirements. All you need is an investigative attitude to search out the one that’s right for you.

Electric And Digital Musical Instruments Using Piano Keyboards

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:50:42 +0000

A keyboard is the part with which some musical instruments are played. The keyboards are the key to these instruments. Musical instruments like piano and synthesizer are two of the musical instruments that are played with a keyboard. The keyboards earlier used mechanical devices to produce sound but the modern keyboards are electronic. Starting from the traditional pianos to the modern day synthesizer all are dependent on the keyboard.The keyboards usually have keys some large and some small by pressing which the sound is produced. Some of the earliest keyboard instruments that were in use were pipe organ, clavichord, hurdy gurdy and harpsichord. Among these the organ is the oldest keyboard instrument. After this the piano came to be used and now the synthesizer is the sensation all over.The keyboards are available in various sizes and shapes and even in different colors. The keyboards are also portable these days. You can either buy these keyboards from the shop which sells musical instruments or can even get them online. If you notice and keep a regular check over the internet you will very often find that some great keyboards are on sale.You will also find out that there are many auctions that take place where the used keyboards are put up for sale. These keyboards are in a good condition and if you buy them from the auction you will even save some of your money. Keyboards today are electronic and the traditional forms of keyboards are almost obsolete today.The harpsichord and the clavichord were the two keyboard instruments that were used in the early 14th century. After that in the 18th century the piano came into being and was widespread and the earlier two instruments lost their popularity. Again in the 20th century, electronic keyboard instruments were developed. There was a search for an instrument that would sound like a piano. So, synthesizers were developed and this ended the search for an electronic piano.

Grab A Bargain – Buy Piano/Keyboards Online

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:50:46 +0000

If you are prepared to do a little searching and have a little patience, you can grab a cracking bargain. Buy your electronic keyboards at online auction sites like eBay.
Electronic keyboards have become very popular over recent years. The cost of a top end keyboards such as Yamaha Tyros 2, Korg PA2x Pro and Yamaha Motif XS keyboards are in the region of two to three thousands pounds, depending where you shop. They are even cheaper in the U.S. and cheaper still at online auction sites.
Can you buy the latest electronic keyboard at an auction?
Probably not, and if it is available it will most likely be new. If you see any silly prices, it could be a scam. For instance if you saw Yamaha Tyros 3 on eBay today for Five Hundred Pounds, you know its a scam because the Tyros 3 isn’t out yet and when it is released it will be in the region of Three Thousand Pounds. Just use common sense.
There’s thousands of keyboards for sale online
Okay we are talking about top end keyboards here but there are thousands of other makes available for bargain prices. Here are just a few top makes of electronic keyboards you can search for
Yamaha
Technics
Korg
Roland
Ketron
Casio
At the time of writing this article, the most popular electronic keyboard is the Yamaha Tyros 2. The recommended retail price for this keyboard is Three thousand pounds, you can probably find it at online stores for two thousands pounds and on online auction sites, there’s one on eBay right now for one thousand pounds. So, do you want a brand new one for between two and three thousands pounds or a used one for a thousand pounds, and that’s just one keyboard out of thousands available.
It’s a buyers market
The great thing about online auctions is that if you get outbid, there’s bound to be more available if not today then tomorrow and if you have the patience, you will get a bargain. Timing is also an important part of obtaining a bargain. For instance, I mentioned above that the Yamaha Tyros 3 is about to be released, this means that there will be more Tyros 2 keyboards available for bargain prices and even more Tyros 1 keyboards. If you do a bit of research, you can find out when new keyboards are to be released and bid on the previous model. Using this method of buying keyboards can save you literally thousands of pounds.
Obviously, there are going to be the die hards that want the latest and greatest musical equipment as soon as it released. That creates more choice for the rest of us that can’t quite afford the high cost of new instruments.
To conclude, if you want a bargain priced keyboard, do a bit of research on your chosen model then check the online auction sites every day. Be patient, you will get a bargain if you choose the right keyboard model.