Casio Privia 310 vs M-Audio ProKeys 88

[d.r.e.a.m.i.s.t]

The Casio has been talked about much lately, and the PX310 model is priced at about the same as the M-Audio ProKeys 88. It is primarily for practice, but I want to use it as a controller, too.

 

Any thoughts?

[phatmann]

I have tried both. The action on the ProKeys is horrible, it's light and jiggly. It's too bad, since the sounds are very good.

 

I own a PX-310. I love the action, as it is heavy and you can really dig in, but it is tad sluggish for fast runs. The sounds are good, but not amazing. The grand piano is quite usable for most group situations, but perhaps not for solo work.

 

You can use either as a controller, but neither is ideal for this, given their limited configurability. I use my PX-310 to drive my Nord Electro 2, and I am happy with this setup.

 

For practicing, the PX-310 is the clear winner. It even has decent built-in speakers.

[Marillo]

phatmann...

 

I'm seriously considering the PX-310, but I understand it only has 32-note polyphony.

 

Do you find this a problem? I would be using it for some classical stuff, including some sustaining passages.

 

Also, how might the piano sound compare to a module like the Roland Fantom XR or Yamaha Motif ES?

 

Cheers for your time!

[AUSSIEKEYS]

I own a CASIO PX 300 AND an M audio keystation pro 88 the controller version [not piano] but with the same keybed as piano

the casio I prefer as the board is predictable regarding velocities,the m audio is not as predictable,but if a better velocity curve was available Im sure that would help]

the keystation curves are not great and quick retriguring of notes, will lag or volumes seem reduced,this is with sound modules not soft synth [not sure if piano version will do this,maybe sorted]

but if you are new to piano feel then the m audio is respectable.Unfortunately i cannot compare sounds

i am happy with casio sounds in the 300 and have heard that the 310 is even better plus with ADDITIONAL FEATURES

the 300's 32 note polyphony i havent found any problem even though i had hoped to get a 64 note piano

the physical low weight of the casio convinced me and now Im a huge fan..

I still own a casio AZ 1 remote sling on keyboArd which proved they were a force to reckon with even over 10 years ago[the best major manufacturers attempt at a keytar in the early days perhaps still the best,with aftertouch way back then]

i also own a GEM PRP 7 88 note piano which I love and can say it sounds and feels more piano like than either but now relegate it to studio use as it is 18 kg [26 kg in case]to lug as opposed to casios 12.5 kg [about 14kg in bag]

[ironically Im playing the casio more often than the gem cause i like it so much and having speakers is surprissingly a good feature i previously ignored]

casio has won me

[Loufrance]

Not to start a flame war but..... I don't know if I've played the Casio privia 310 you mentioned(I'll have to find a picture to see) I,ve played 2 (I believe) different casio privia boards on display, and didn't like the key feel on them. I found the action on them to be kind of.. well chunky ,and sluggish. I prefer the feel of my Prokeys88(Piano one) while It would be nice if the action was a little heavier, I think it's a good practice board the keys are well balanced and quick enough (without feeling un-weighted) the touch was easy for me to get use to also. Previous pianos I've played are a full grand piano (An old German Steinway I belive,reconditioned) and my old practive board a Yamaha PSR-282.

[AUSSIEKEYS]

Hi Lou

good to hear

 

do you know if your Prokeys 88 Piano is a different keybed to my Keystation 88 controller

Although I think they are the same maybe the sound block included in your piano is a good match to the keys..ie the velocity curves match up better to the dedicated soundblocks receiving side of it,and the quick retriguring of notes may not be sluggish with the dedicated sound block

[some have said that the keystation needed a module matched to its peculiarities although that shouldnt be the case for a controller]

This would be a good solution to the original controllers problems.Perhaps the piano is a well sorted choice now?????

Cant check this out in Australia. I dont think. as I havent even seen the piano here yet....well we are downunder

 

Yes there are a few Privias in the range now,

the most common was the 300 and the 100,some saying they felt different ,perhaps they are but I havent noticed although the new CDM 100 lowcost piano has less features ,feels similar ,so cannot tell for sure, but i would have thought that economies of scale would dictate the same keybed with different software features.

 

Still for me that light physical weight 12.5 kg,wins me for lugging and I find the feel very comfortable and predictable,and not far below the GEMs great feel.Except in soft passages perhaps.

thank god there finally is a choice in the portable piano stakes anyway.....and now my hearnia and stuffed lungs can still handle

lugging an 88

and now we all can ask which is better because there are choices.Thanks to Technics original p30 setting the standard for skinny lightweight 88s

cheers aussiekeys

[d.r.e.a.m.i.s.t]

Thanks...

 

Now it's much easier to decide.

[AUSSIEKEYS]

hey dreamist

hope we helped and it looks like you have a Kawai K5000W in your studio

awesome machine i have both that and the K5000S i record with both.

got rid of my vintage synths when i got these

cheers from downunder

[Loufrance]

Originally posted by AUSSIEKEYS:

Hi Lou

good to hear

 

do you know if your Prokeys 88 Piano is a different keybed to my Keystation 88 controller

Although I think they are the same maybe the sound block included in your piano is a good match to the keys..ie the velocity curves match up better to the dedicated soundblocks receiving side of it,and the quick retriguring of notes may not be sluggish with the dedicated sound block

[some have said that the keystation needed a module matched to its peculiarities although that shouldnt be the case for a controller]

This would be a good solution to the original controllers problems.Perhaps the piano is a well sorted choice now?????

Cant check this out in Australia. I dont think. as I havent even seen the piano here yet....well we are downunder

 

Yes there are a few Privias in the range now,

the most common was the 300 and the 100,some saying they felt different ,perhaps they are but I havent noticed although the new CDM 100 lowcost piano has less features ,feels similar ,so cannot tell for sure, but i would have thought that economies of scale would dictate the same keybed with different software features.

 

Still for me that light physical weight 12.5 kg,wins me for lugging and I find the feel very comfortable and predictable,and not far below the GEMs great feel.Except in soft passages perhaps.

thank god there finally is a choice in the portable piano stakes anyway.....and now my hearnia and stuffed lungs can still handle

lugging an 88

and now we all can ask which is better because there are choices.Thanks to Technics original p30 setting the standard for skinny lightweight 88s

cheers aussiekeys

If I understand you correctly, when I play the same note quickly it retriggers the sound just as fast, plus I feel the piano is a good choice and I don't think it has the same keybed I heard they changed it for the Prokeys 88. Also I think the sounds are pretty good, The keyboard also has a built in Midi interface I hooked it up to my Windows XP laptop last night and tried out some software the interface works pretty good all I had to do was plug it in and go. The part you may not like though is the fact that it ways about 40-49 pounds(Do you measure weight differntly there?)

[SilverDragonSoun]

You had better play both and see which one you like better. I can tell you for a fact the M audio key bed is least like a piano. I just sold the M Audio Keystation Pro becuase the action was so bad and not to mention the velocity curve issues.

 

The Sounds on the M Audio pro keys are pretty decent but when I tried it I couldn't get past the action, its simply not that good.

 

My advice is to save up and get something better like a used Yamaha S90. Your probably going to outgrow both the Casio and M Audio pro keys within a year or two.

[AUSSIEKEYS]

QUOTE"If I understand you correctly, when I play the same note quickly it retriggers the sound just as fast, plus I feel the piano is a good choice and I don't think it has the same keybed I heard they changed it for the Prokeys 88. Also I think the sounds are pretty good, The keyboard also has a built in Midi interface I hooked it up to my Windows XP laptop last night and tried out some software the interface works pretty good all I had to do was plug it in and go. The part you may not like though is the fact that it ways about 40-49 pounds(Do you measure weight differntly there?) "

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reply

Fantastic. So your PROKEYS is retrigering sounds better than the keystation pro I have...they must have addressed that problem...thats great

and you think the keybed is better.I hope it is.Then good on M audio for listening.positive

 

As "silver sound" said, he sold he's keystation and I too am selling mine as I didnt like it well enough.

the casio fills my desire for lightweight gig board while my GEM PRP7 piano suits my studio with a more realistic feel.I can recommend the Gem too.

 

But as I said Im playing the casio more and really loving it.And I may decide it fills both gigging and studio because i feel comfortable with it.Perhaps I may even sell the GEM because I may continue to prefer playing the casio?

 

Sometimes a particular digital keyboard can be more appropriate to an individuals style for gigging or midi recording than an acoustic piano can. hard for me to explain,but everything in life is a trade off.

 

my needs are the lightest physical weight,piano feeling gigboard that I can find that is still realistic enough to play,with an acceptable piano sound to me [what I consider is realistic enough]...and yes I like the piano sound and the fact that the bass notes do not dominate the upper register hence making lead lines predominant and it easily covers my desires.....

 

Listen to what people say,but go with your own feelings after weighing it up.

I listened to negative comments about the Keystation Pro and still bought it anyway [it was my decision to take],I found a good one after 3 tries,but still it didnt suit me,it was also too heavy for me to want to gig with it and thus i had only bought it for my studio while I left my Gem piano in its roadcase ready for the next gig.I have no use for the myriad knobs etc either,but when a cheap casio appeared second hand/ex rep,I could afford to take a chance on it,and so far Im excited.

 

Your needs maybe different,your comparisons too,but it comes down to fullfilling your list of needs and comfort level.

it sounds like your needs and comfort are fullfilled by the M audio Prokeys so thats great.

 

people will always want the next best thing,and everyone will tell them whats good and whats not.

some even forcing a decision on you.Most modern keyboards now are generally usable in fact desirable and a far cry from those of the past,gee we are spoiled.

 

Before the internet forums and online shopping everyone just tried what was in the shops,if they couldnt find one they didnt buy it.Now people can listen to others experiences and likes and dislikes,use it as a critique good or bad but by all means make your own decision based on what ever criteria you think is valid.Make a list and cross them off as you try them,

 

But it comes down to your final evaluation,good or bad,on a forum or in a shop,

if your not sure,play it again,ask more questions,rent one,borrow one,

or take a chance...but on your head be it.

 

Often when the novelty wears off you will want the next greatest keyboard that has appeared....hey welcome to the consumer world....keyboard players are gear junkies,get use to it,otherwise i wouldnt have owned so many keyboards over 28 years of performing.

[My first electric piano a yamaha CP 30 piano,great keybed but sounded like a carnival with terrible sounds and weighed more than my car.]

Youll be ready with money in hand when the next realistic piano hits the market

Sorry to say this but think of this purchase of your current piano as your interim keyboard till the next mega piano that fulfills your wildest dreams hits the streets.

When you finally find the ultimate piano you've been looking for youll be ready to be buried with it.lol tee hee

 

Tip of the Week

old digital piano cardboard delivery boxes make affordable coffins for old unaffordable keyboard players like me.......oh you say the money for your new keyboard was your rent money eh....and no food this week either.How sad

Well i suffered for my music to or was it really KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY / or THE JONES'

 

modern gear is so cheap compared to 1978 when a synth was worth a small car [in australia] now they havent gone up in price but everything else has.

 

gee we really dont know what spoiled is..tee hee

[Loufrance]

Thats cool, Like I said for me anyway the Prokeys 88 was a big step up compared to my unweighted Yamaha PSR-282. The key action is somewhat light but heavy enough for me right now, I haven't owned (or played well enough) as many keyboards as most of you have plus I have limited playing exp. with acoustic pianos (can't match the feel of a Steinway). Besides the Prokeys was all that I could afford at the time (I got mine for 460$). In the future when I can actually play and can assess my needs better I'll upgrade again.

[SilverDragonSoun]

Loufrance - Enjoy and jam away my brother!

[Loufrance]

Originally posted by Silver Dragon Sound:

Loufrance - Enjoy and jam away my brother!

I will!

[AUSSIEKEYS]

yep sounds good to me

you only need to please yourself

happy playing