BradleyG

I use a Yamaha Reface CP for this. Only 37 keys, but the action (despite mini keys) is quite terrific due to the velocity curves. The effects are controlled with knobs, so no menu diving ever. In a live string, all the electric pianos sound good. Plus, it’s battery powered and speakers sound decent. I often pack it into a tiny Analog case and take it to karaoke at friend’s homes with me. I had a Reface DX before, and it was equally good for this, but for the effects requiring menu diving.

I’ve had mine for about 12 months now. Nothing in the mechanics of the keyboard I’d complain about, other than the slightly slim width of the keys. Definitely no reliability or noise problems. It feels a world better to me than the Nord Electro I tried out at Guitar Center, but it could be that the board on their floor took a lot of abuse before I sampled it.

I had a CP4 for years. I loved the action, the CFX samples, and all of the electric piano sounds. The latter actually included some physical modeling parameters like hammer attack that were pretty fun. You do a lot of menu diving, and then scroll wheel turning. If you are only dealing with a single parameter live, not that bad. If you expect to change multiple parameters on the fly, forget it. I have a YC61 now, and it’s a world easier to tweak effects. Pluses: + pianos sounded great + great action, especially for Rhodes sounds + insanely light Negatives: - parameters were all menu diving on a tiny screen - body is mostly plastic, hence the weight savings - no escapement - limited resonance modeling