Best Electronic Keyboards
Keyboard pack includes a pair of Samson HP30 closed-cup headphones, x-style stand, and power supply.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon":). I asked around a lot to finally decide what to buy, since I was a rookie myself. The keys are not like the ones on the cheap keyboards (empty underneath), and you could really get a good sound out of them by pressing hard, or play a soft, smooth tune. Other perks include a USB outlet, which means you can connect the piano to your ipod or pc, great sampling system, and a song bank."
"Casio is the perfect next step for anyone looking to start creating their own music at home. It has so many great features and even though we have been jammin' on this keyboard for a few weeks now, I feel like we haven't even scratched the surface with what it can do. Features: Sound EFX Sampler. Built-In Microphone. Step-up learning system. 400 Keyboard Voices. 48 Note Polyphony (so you don't have to worry about dropping notes). 150 Rythms. 110 Built-in Songs. USB MIDI. casio keyboard. What makes this keyboard go a step further is the USB MIDI connection which allows you to hook this digital piano up to a Mac or Windows computer. To help them learn, there is even the Step Up Lesson system which shows players which keys to push. My kids love the microphone part of this keyboard where they can say something and have their voice be changed into silly tones."
"Just as you see in picture."
"Since Xmas I have received photo after photo of the keyboard being used."
"Bought for my 6 year old grandson for Christmas and he absolutely loves it."
"So called educational CD is whole another adventure... just to make it clear I'm an IT person and tried the CD or what should be educational CD...to runt it on multiple machines/PC."
"Arrived quickly, was able to easily wrap for a gift."
"This is a great value for the price."
New, intuitive sampling function with built-in microphone and power supply included.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon":). I asked around a lot to finally decide what to buy, since I was a rookie myself. The keys are not like the ones on the cheap keyboards (empty underneath), and you could really get a good sound out of them by pressing hard, or play a soft, smooth tune. Other perks include a USB outlet, which means you can connect the piano to your ipod or pc, great sampling system, and a song bank."
"Casio is the perfect next step for anyone looking to start creating their own music at home. It has so many great features and even though we have been jammin' on this keyboard for a few weeks now, I feel like we haven't even scratched the surface with what it can do. Features: Sound EFX Sampler. Built-In Microphone. Step-up learning system. 400 Keyboard Voices. 48 Note Polyphony (so you don't have to worry about dropping notes). 150 Rythms. 110 Built-in Songs. USB MIDI. casio keyboard. What makes this keyboard go a step further is the USB MIDI connection which allows you to hook this digital piano up to a Mac or Windows computer. To help them learn, there is even the Step Up Lesson system which shows players which keys to push. My kids love the microphone part of this keyboard where they can say something and have their voice be changed into silly tones."
"Just as you see in picture."
"Since Xmas I have received photo after photo of the keyboard being used."
"Bought for my 6 year old grandson for Christmas and he absolutely loves it."
"So called educational CD is whole another adventure... just to make it clear I'm an IT person and tried the CD or what should be educational CD...to runt it on multiple machines/PC."
"Arrived quickly, was able to easily wrap for a gift."
"This is a great value for the price."
Compact digital keyboard with 61 full-size keys, LCD screen, record and playback functionality, 100 keyboard sounds, 100 rhythms, and 50 demo songs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a great keyboard for beginners."
"Once you have everything tightened and the key board actually attached to it, it all feels very sturdy. I purchased this for my 5 yr old, (although it can be used for an adult as well), and the adjustable stand brought the keyboard down to just the right height for her. (it goes pretty low to normal height). SEAT: is not adjustable, but since the stand is, so it doesn't matter. CON: (-1 star) Every time you turn the keyboard on, the default volume is max, and you have to adjust it."
"We bought this keyboard for our 11 year old daughter, who already plays piano. The package also comes with headphones for silent playing and also a seat which is pretty sturdy."
"Cons: There is no midi/usb out for connecting directly to GarageBand. The stand is very wobbly when playing. I was expecting more diverse sounding tones, but then I found the percussion settings and that alleviated some of my tension."
"I got this as a gift for my nine year old grandson who expressed an interest in learning the keyboard."
"Bought this as a gift for all 4 kids (ages 14, 11, 8, and 6) and every single one of them loves it."
"My nephews teacher told our family he enjoys playing the piano at school."
"My son's favorite Christmas gift."
Best Digital Pianos
P-Series has long been known for its compact and stylish lineup of products. Yamaha is the industry leader in digital piano technology, and you can hear this in the sound of digital pianos that utilize the Pure CF piano sample. The Bundle includes knox double X stand an ultra sturdy stand that has been tested to make sure this piano sits stable on the stand.The stand adjusts to practically any height so you can play sitting or standing no matter what your height.In addition the knox bench is a large and stable bench with 3 height adjustments to match your preference. 192-note polyphony ensures the suppression of dropped notes even with simultaneous Dual and Split modes and a drum pattern playing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For playing middle C as 16th notes, it starts to get muddy around 120 with somewhat sloppy technique (but is fine on good technique), becomes significantly more difficult to play around 160, and becomes almost impossible at 200 even with the best technique. A note played and held without pedal sounds different from a note played and held with pedal. If you press the pedal, play a note, release the note, press the note again without making a sound, and release the pedal, the note will still be sustained. However, if you hold down one key without making a sound and play the same note an octave away (and release), the key will not sound, suggesting that sympathetic resonance is only simulated locally without regards to other keys which are pressed. This keyboard is for beginners who want a piano with realistic action but don't want to shell out thousands for an acoustic before deciding whether to continue learning piano, or advanced amateurs who used to play piano growing up but have now moved out and can't fit a real piano in their new place or justify the expense. We got an upright piano about 2-3 years into my learning, and before that I was playing on an unweighted Yamaha that couldn't even produce dynamics."
"By the way, I now hold the record for receiving the largest package at the post office."
"Second one purchased for my other daughter."
"Sound is better than expected."
"Piano is great."
"I needed a way to practice when not at home."
"Can't beat the price with all that is included."
"I love it."
Best Portable Keyboards
This listing features a Casio CTK2400 PPK 61-Key Keyboard w/ Samson HP30 Headphones Stand & Power Supply. Keyboard pack includes a pair of Samson HP30 closed-cup headphones, x-style stand, and power supply.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon":). I asked around a lot to finally decide what to buy, since I was a rookie myself. The keys are not like the ones on the cheap keyboards (empty underneath), and you could really get a good sound out of them by pressing hard, or play a soft, smooth tune. Other perks include a USB outlet, which means you can connect the piano to your ipod or pc, great sampling system, and a song bank."
"Casio is the perfect next step for anyone looking to start creating their own music at home. It has so many great features and even though we have been jammin' on this keyboard for a few weeks now, I feel like we haven't even scratched the surface with what it can do. Features: Sound EFX Sampler. Built-In Microphone. Step-up learning system. 400 Keyboard Voices. 48 Note Polyphony (so you don't have to worry about dropping notes). 150 Rythms. 110 Built-in Songs. USB MIDI. casio keyboard. What makes this keyboard go a step further is the USB MIDI connection which allows you to hook this digital piano up to a Mac or Windows computer. To help them learn, there is even the Step Up Lesson system which shows players which keys to push. My kids love the microphone part of this keyboard where they can say something and have their voice be changed into silly tones."
"It is NOT touch sensitive, regardless of how hard or soft you press it gives the same volume sound."
"I bought this for my 9 year old son who has started playing classical piano."
"Just as you see in picture."
"Since Xmas I have received photo after photo of the keyboard being used."
"Great sounding keyboard and quite easy to set up."
"I am returning the 2nd one of these for malfunctioning."
Best Production Stations
The Motion Control Synthesis Engine unifies and controls two iconic Sound Engines: AWM2 (high-quality waveform and synthesis) and FM-X (modern, pure Frequency Modulation synthesis.).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This review will be updated periodically as I discover new features and as Yamaha (hopefully) addresses concerns. I have continued to play for fun in a small church group (mix of contemporary and traditional) about once a month. While not having much more than a Kawai digital piano to play on at home, I've always managed to borrow boards from others, including Korgs, Yamahas, and even the occasional Roland. Granted, I remember feeling that way about my first Yamaha PSR, and it has been boxed up for years. - Envelop follower - this is one reason I purchased the board, and while I have yet to use it in a live performance setting, I'm excited to try. The ONLY reason I don't list it in the good section is -- 1) Of all the samples Yamaha provides, few of them actually use the full power of the MC. Even the Montage 8 key action, while better -- doesn't take advantage of triple sensor technology. Both sizes are huge when compared to something like a Nord or stage piano (e.g. smarter placement of wheels). It's like it was built organically, especially the newer features (selecting arpeggios, configuring Motion Contol, and editing FMX are a few I'm still struggling with). This is pretty typical in a hardware only device (controllers, especially those which work well with their software bundle often are better). Yamaha soundboards have motorized sliders, would it kill them to have that in a flagship keyboard? I didn't think I would miss it, as I expect to use a DAW once I get back to studio work. In the 10k number, include drum beats of every musical genre, guitar licks, symphony runs, etc. [Edit: I may have found a couple of decent workarounds for the lack of explicit sequencer, but I need more time to evaluate. If you're on the fence because of this feature, check out the Yamaha Synth forums for possible workarounds / solutions.]. If AWM and being able to play a variety of real instruments is your thing, this also will greatly please, though Korg is a very close option to consider. If studio work is your thing, again, consider carefully, based on what else you have that will complement this one's deficiencies. In short, this board is a master of some - even blowing others out of the water (e.g. as a Synth), but not a jack of all trades like the Motif was or the Korg is. If Yamaha was looking to recapture some of what was lost to PCs and VSTs, I'm not sure they're quite there yet (maybe some software updates). No doubt it is better than Mosaic now, and probably the best true modern synth on the market today."
"Overall, at this price range, IMHO the Korg Kronos is probably still a more capable instrument and is a better alternative, especially with it's much more advanced sequencer. However, if you don't mind paying the hefty amount, what you get is probably one of the world's most "sonically" powerful keyboard targeted for live audience."
"If you are looking for a unit that has beautiful natural and synth sounds, then this unit is for you!"
"The last time a keyboard blown me away was when Yamaha first introduced the first Motif, over 10 years ago. For those who sometimes (including me) judge the sound of instruments based on what we hear in YouTube, I will say this: Find a store where you could play this amazing instrument and ask if you could hear this keyboard trough a pair of professional monitor speakers (please do not listen to this instrument via a keyboard amp). This keyboard is very expensive and I hate when they hook something of this caliber into a cheap pair of headphones or some mono speakers. The Kronos is a very good keyboard not question but the Yamaha Montage is in a league on its own."
Best Synthesizers & Workstations
The Stylophone is a miniature stylus operated synthesizer invented in 1968 and used by such iconic musicians as David Bowie, Kraftwerk and Erasure. That's right, over four decades ago with computers the size of a gymnasium and nary a PDA in sight the Stylophone was a portable electronic music instrument with stylus based control. Built in speaker with volume control, Optional headphone jack.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"came nicely packed."
"It is the instrument I have always wanted."
"This thing is pretty damn cool!"
"Very cool requires musical dedication and the joy of experimenting."
"i have the stylophone and this device is even more fun."
"Fun toy but the wire is fragile."
Best Folk & World Keyboards
The melodica is a fascinating wind instrument, easy to learn and powerfully expressive. Range of over two and one half full octaves for soprano or alto.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I watched a video and followed the instructions; there is a "hit-or-miss" element to the tuning process (filing the reeds) because you can't hear the changes until you put the whole thing back together; then you'll probably need to fine-tune for the notes that you've over- or under-corrected."
"A good instrument but I'm not a great expert, just bought it for fun."
"Great product and fair price."
"I don’t know anything about Melodicas butting it made my young adult son really happy."
"I bought this on a whim because my friends and I were joking about incorporating this into our music to make it more fun."
"worth the price, really good quality."
"Sounds good?"
Best MIDI Keyboards & Equipment
Includes VIP3.0 - the ground-breaking, award-winning music software platform that provides musicians and composers with a powerful hands-on control solution for their virtual instrument and virtual effect collection.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Unlike a synthesizer, MIDI controllers do not produce sound without software. So after you've downloaded the software and plug it in, you will still not have any sound generated until you've set everything up properly and loaded sounds onto the pads. It would be nice for them to take the time to make more tutorials. Everything I found just had to do with setting up the software, nothing really about HOW to actually use it. I am still learning to use this but it has gotten significantly funner to use as I have learned more about it and found sounds I like."
"A unique feature is the 4 way joystick for modulation and pitch control. It really helps keep the size of the keyboard down since you don't have to include those bulkier pitch and modulation wheels. Of course this is not the manufacturer's fault, they list "mini keys" in the first description of the product so I am not going to knock any stars for that. But the upside is that it makes the overall footprint very small, smaller than my computer keyboard infact. I think would be really neat if they made this same controller with normal sized keys. They make one similar (Akai Professional MPK25 25-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with MPC Pads) but it has a lot more going on and is $80 more."