The Piano Man

Totally agree! Two questions… 1. Do you carry a spare power adaptor for the Yamaha? 2. Do you carry a backup keyboard with you, just in case?

This thread prompted me to hook up my Korg Plugkey running Ravenscroft on an iPhone 8. The very old controller was a Roland Rhodes 760 (basically a rebadged U20) The amp was also old: Peavey KB/a60. I ran in mono. Being honest, I far preferred the playability of the inbuilt acoustic piano sound on the old Rhodes 760. For me, it’s the usual story… as with Nords, they sound great in decent headphones, decent in ear monitors or very expensive stereo powered cabs but dreadful in mono through a basic keyboard amp. Everyone will have different requirements but I just cannot see the need for an iPad solution for live sound but can see it being useful for recording purposes.

It would be great if there was an iPad made whereby you could plug in a power adaptor and have instant power on. I find that, if I have forgotten to charge my iPad, I could be waiting ages for it to turn on after plugged in. Seems to take forever to get to 1%. My second issue is latency. I really like Ravenscroft on iOS. The latency isn’t bad, and you can make adjustments in the settings… however, when doing faster passages on the stage piano, I notice the very very slight latency when compared to a hardware option. One final question for any Korg Module users. In terms of the split/layer upgrade, how flexible is this. Can you, for example, have two sounds to the left of the split and two to the right or is if more basic than that? Guessing it doesn’t have multiple overlapping zones? Thanks

As an aside, what’s your thoughts on Elton John’s piano sound? It’s a mix of old Roland and Yamaha modules, is very bright and is up very loud in the monitors. I don’t imagine the typical audience member cares or notices. Now, I’m not saying any of us can put on a show like Elton, but it is a reminder that the audience will probably be okay with your sound. Focus on getting it right for you and thus you can relax and put on your best performance.

If you are using a speaker-less stage piano and want that nice immediacy of quality sound as the performer without in ears, then you need a quality pair of speakers for stereo sound, in my opinion. Therefore, as mate stubb does, you could splash out on RCF TT08a’s. I couldn’t stretch to those but have been fairly happy with a pair of EV ZXa1’s. If going mono, I would personally go with something other than the Bose. I think they are okay for singer/guitarist types but I don’t think they have a good sound for piano. They worked fine with your Yamaha because, as you say, you had the immediacy of the inbuilt speakers. The Bose would’ve simply filled out the sound. Being honest, going mono, sometimes you are gonna be just as happy with a basic keyboard amp, perhaps on a stand to point it up towards you. It won’t sound anything like the stereo in ears, but you should be able to get a suitably bright sound that will cut. You can also try the R output with a dummy plug in the L output and vice versa, as well as trying different samples and cutting a touch of middling EQ. Basically, trial and error is key. Mate Stubb also makes a good point about checking the sound from the audience perspective. It’s a helpful thing to do. I remember, when I owned a Nord, that I was never happy with the sound personally but it did sound great from the audience perspective. Conversely, I have a 20 year old Technics piano that sounds a bit mediocre from the audience perspective, but it gives a very decent and direct sound to the performer, even in mono out of a basic keyboard amp. Finally, you could add a small pair of monitors such as the iLoud Micro Monitors, to replicate the effect of your Yamaha inbuilt speakers on the Numa. Good luck

Thanks for this. That makes perfect sense. The balance between functionality and simplicity is always very interesting. I still own a Technics P30 and enjoy the fact there is not a single button on the top panel and only a few on the side. I did own a Kurzweil PC3x and enjoyed the huge flexibility. I suppose, as often is the case, the answer to the gear acquisition process is “buy two boards!” 👍

You know, I have discovered one feature which is quite unique. In the latest Dexibells, you can route separate sounds to the XLR and jack outputs. I cannot think of any other board that lets you do this, with the possible exception of Roland RD2000 (which goes one further and has XLR outs, Jack main outs and sub outs) Yamaha CP73 and Korg SV have the XLR and jack outputs but I don’t think you can route different sounds/zones. And, of course, there are lots of boards where you can route to different sets of jack outputs. (Albeit it is a less common feature these days on all but the pricier boards) Also, as another user pointed out, the Dexibells have better zoning. That is, they allow two sounds to the left of a split whereas the CP/SV only allow one. One would think it would be a fairly easy software update for Yamaha and Korg to add these two key features for their XLR boards.

For balance, I have to say that I have owned several Kurzweil products and all have worked perfectly every time. I’m really sorry to hear of issues that folk have had but I really believe in this company and think it is important to share my positive experience. I have happily owned: PC3x SP4-7 KME61 Micropiano PC2r All absolutely rock solid.

I would just get a Nautilus if these features were my key requirements. And if I really needed inbuilt speakers, I’d probably get an RD88. I do wish Dexibell well. If they put out a sleek all black model with internal power supply (C14) and a reasonable price, I could certainly consider checking it out. YMMV

External power supplies on all models including those over £2000. Very pricey for what you get. Very odd colour scheme too. Cannot see the appeal at all. When you compare to Yamaha CP or Korg SV line, I cannot see why you would pick Dexibell.

I like the SV2. Hoping for a black version with speakers. The speakers add a nice vibration effect but I can’t stand the mixed color scheme. Reminds me of the Casio PX5s. I prefer when a board is all black or even all white. Anyway, back to the actual board. It has all the classic vibe of the SV1 but the acoustic pianos are a massive step up in quality. Action is the RH3. You would need to try it. I like it but can absolutely see why some piano players prefer the Yam CP88 action. Personally, I prefer the RH3. It’s also really good for EP and not terrible for organ.

In that case, my old Technics is like the old lady you meet outside the pizza/kebab shop at 3am. A little rough round the edges, a bit stained and smelly but she fairly does a job, so to speak.

I had two Nords. Stage 2 ex up76 and a Piano 2. Sold them both. Just use older gear now (Technics stage pianos). Perfectly useable for gigs and happy to have the cash instead of those pricey Nords. Bought both ex-demo so didn’t actually lose much at all when selling on. I just find it so difficult to justify owning such high value keyboards. I really don’t see how a Nord is worth £3000 or whatever when you can pick up a decent old Roland, Yamaha or Technics slab piano for a couple of hundred. Your mileage may vary!!

Absolutely! I understand. The problem is that the alternative is to keep lots of boards and have them sit, gathering dust. I recently sold my Kurz PC3x, perhaps for the same reasons you sold the RD700nx. Just too big and cumbersome these days. I’m actually thinking of going to the extreme and getting a Korg Liano instead. Enjoy the memories of the NX and enjoy the lighter weight and modern sound of your CP88 and YC73!

Agreed. I always find Kawai James wise and impartial. A good guy

Completely agree. Even Kawai James prefers Yamaha acoustics to Kawai digitals.

That looks really cool in my opinion. Sad to see it is discontinued. Only 20kg as well, not bad. If they could add a piano sample then something like that, with detachable legs, would be a great option for wedding ceremony work etc. I have one of those DutchGrand shells but it is bigger than that Crumar and is a little awkward for getting into the car. In fact, it doesn’t fit in my current car, a Mazda 3. Crumar Babygrand with piano sample would be great!

Sure, but a modern equivalent could be cool. Same design. Perhaps add wooden end caps. Improved keyboard action and piano sample. 88 note polyphony. (Or 128/256, whatever) 8 sounds? - German Grand - Japanese Grand - Upright - Rhodes - Wurlitzer - DX7 - Harpsichord - Clav

Get an upright acoustic piano?

Technics SX-P30 is still the coolest. Circa 1998 sure but sleek. No buttons at all on the panel. The Steinway sample is a little brisk and dated but just dial back the treble on your speakers of choice.

Well I think it’s safe to say that NAMM 2023 is not necessarily going to go down in history as a classic. So, what year or years would you say were great? Any memories of certain years when a lot of great things were were released? Or maybe it was something else that made a particular show memorable.

Chuck could put together a review video featuring the following 88 key models new Dexibell models, like S10 Korg Liano Yamaha P-S500 Yamaha CK88 Nord Stage 4 These are all fairly recent.

We demand a Piano Man Chuck video! He can review the new color options for the Korg Liano. If anyone can make that work, Piano Man Chuck can! I guess he has the Dexibells and the Yamaha CK88 to discuss.

Yes, I agree. YouTubers such as that Konaboy fellow have ruined NAMM 😂

Re the Yamaha P121. As this is USB rather than 5 pin midi, how does it work when hooking up to an iPad for, say, splitting a bass sound? On my Yamaha NP32, if I connect an iPad to use iFretless Bass, the bass sound comes out of the iPad’s 3.5” jack but also routes through the NP32 and comes out the headphone/output jack. I don’t want it to do the latter as I have the NP32 piano sound coming out of there. It means I get bleed of iFretless on that output, if that makes sense. Any advice? Presume P121 is the same.