Hello!
I'm helping to setup a small two-room studio/music space at a new art center that has largely visual art studio spaces but it's setting up two small rooms for music. One room is a ~12ft square, and the other is about ~7x10". The rectangular room will host a studio desk with a computer/monitors/interface/microphones while the square room will have a some seating, music stands, mic stands, space for drums, and will remain somewhat open and modular and partly serve as an additional multitracking room for the console in the smaller room. The square room is getting a digital piano of some kind, for which I'm looking for suggestions.
The center has started working with a high school band director who suggested a Yamaha p-45 for $600. I've played these and really am not a fan of their feel, sound, or functionality. They only have a tiny handful of unimpressive sounds. Yes, this space will need a basic digital piano that serves piano teachers, music therapists, small classes, practicing students and choirs and jazz trios. BUT, the space will also be a modest but fully functioning studio used by younger folks, electronic producer types, rappers, DAW kids, folk artists, rock bands and whoever to produce whatever. It seems like a digital piano that has more a full and varied soundset and functionality would go much further than a p-45. We'll have a separate midi controller keyboard for the rectangular room with the computer station, so I'm just asking about what we should put in the larger square room. I would guess 88 keys, fully weighted is a must.
I'm trying to present options and so I'm looking for something in the 500-750 range, something in the 750-1100 range, and something in the 1100-2000 range. I'm unconvinced spending more than 2000 will get us anything but diminished returns, and I would bet around 1000 is the sweet spot.
Thanks for any and all related or unrelated advice! Cheers!