Casio LK110 Electronic Keyboard Key Lighting / Midi Review

This exact Casio LK 110 can be purchased new for $69.00 at Guitar Center, Musician's Friend---just to name a few.

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Product Description:
The LK-110 is a perfect starter-keyboard for any player at any age. The key lighting feature helps players develop timing and accuracy, highlighting areas of concern so you can direct your practice for more efficient learning. With 100 songs, an interactive lesson function and a wide variety of tones and rhythms, you will be able to play a host of different musical styles and time signatures in no time

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Nord Electro 3, 73-Key Electronic Stage Piano and Organ (AMS-NE373) Review

I sold my Electro 2 so I could partially buy the latest model. After using it a few weeks it's clear how much better it could have been. Here are the good and bad:

Good:
- New sounds including Vox Continental, Farfisa, harpsichords and samples.
- Better Hammond organ sound.
- Better piano sounds but they take up a lot of memory and do not have keyboard resonance features of the Nord Stage EX.
- Sample software allows you to create your own sounds, organize your patches and is easy to use.
- More built-in effects including reverb, compression and 3 different amplifier distortions.
- USB MIDI interface.

Bad:
- Limiting up/down buttons plus A/B patch selector makes it difficult to get to the sounds you want quickly. The Electro 2 had 8 buttons plus bank up/down which is more useable.
- Unergonomic button layout makes navigation difficult. For example, the shift button is too far from the organ presets making it impossible to play and switch presets at the same time.
- Lack of effect amount knobs as on the Electro 2. You are stuck with toggling through only 3 preset amount settings.
- Ring modulation should not be an oscillator like tremelo. The Electro 2 is correct.
- New Vox and Farfisa sounds aren't that accurate.
- Only 64 MB of onboard sample library memory means you'll be limited to how many sounds you can use at a time.
- Sample software is limiting and doesn't allow for more than one sample per key, assigning polyphony, glide (portamento) or other patch functions.
- No pitch wheel. Nord provides many synthesizer samples but, there's no way to control them. The Electro 3 cannot receive pitch bend MIDI commands from another keyboard either.
- No modulation wheel. Why bother having any synthesizer sounds without modulation.
- Same non-weighted keyboard feels junky.
- Expensive.

[DW]

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Product Description:
How do you improve on a classic performance keyboard like the original Electro? You could take it gently, or you just do what Nord did with the Electro 3; push it as far as you can, and then a bit further. The demands from a performing keyboard player haven't really changed all that much, good quality never goes out of style. They just want to offer you some of the best stuff they have, in a affordable and easy-to-use instrument. They hope that you will have as much fun owning and using the Electro 3, as they have had developing it. The Nord Electro 3 is compatible with the new Nord Piano library. It takes full advantage of the Library's multitude of velocity layers, pedal-down samples and extremely high quality samples providing you with an unprecedented expressiveness. Any current or future piano that is available for the Stage family will also automatically be available to the Nord Electro 3.

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Casio WK-3800AD 76-Key Electronic Keyboard with Power Supply Review

The Casio WK3800 is a fun and very versatile keyboard with good quality onboard speakers.My previous keyboard, which I still have, is an older Yamaha PSR series.The WK3800 gives you a good deal of control and "fine tuning" for each of the preset digital voices/tones (e.g., attack/release, touch response, reverb, vibratto, resonance, octave, pan, equalizer, and other effects, which can be saved as new user tones ... and then mixed(using layer and split) onto the keyboard and saved as an entry in the register. You can monitor/record on several separate tracks of and, later, put them all together for a rich composition playback. The only downside with recording to the separate tracks is that you lose the layer/split functions during recording (a small hassle that I hope the next series of Casio keyboards will rectify). If you would like to have a layered and split recording (four tone settings used), you have to record each of the four tones separately (i.e., record yourself playing your song four times). This limitation of the record function is the only reason I did not give the Casio WK3800 4 stars out of 5, instead of a perfect 5.

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Product Description:
The Casio WK3800 keyboard is ideal for home/project studio use, open-mic performance, education/classroom applications, or simply for pure musical enjoyment.The WK-3800 76 Key Musical Keyboard with touch response, allows you to select up to 894 tones that include orchestral sounds, synthesized sound and more. The Auto Accompaniment that will allow you to simply play a chord and the corresponding rhythms, bass and chord parts play automatically. A big LCD screen graphically shows you fingerings, keyboard keys to be pressed, and notes, making keyboard play more informative and enjoyable than ever before.This powerful instrument features an on-board sequencer and a mixer, for unmatched creative possibilities, plus powerful 2-way bass reflex speakers to take your performance to the next level. Computer connectable via USB and also includes an SD card slot and floppy drive.AD-12 AC adaptor included.Casio WK3800AD FeaturesRich Advanced TonesA total of 400 Advanced Tones are programmed with DSP tones to make them richer and more powerful. Advanced tones like Stereo Piano and Tremolo Electric Piano enhance the Piano and Electric Piano tones to create a totally new sound.50 Drawbar Organ TonesThe keyboard includes 50 realistic drawbar organ tones. Drawbar organ tones can be controlled using nine digital drawbars. You can also select percussion or key click, and even edit the parameters of preset tone and save up to 100 original tones in user tone memory.Flash MemoryBuilt-in Flash memory lets you expand your selection of tones and rhythms by downloading data from the CASIO MUSIC SITE, or by the CD-ROM that comes bundled with the keyboard. You can also store up to 200 SMF format music files for playback.Piano Setting ButtonThe press of a button optimizes the keyboard setup for piano play.166 Preset Rhythms + 16 U

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Clavia Nord Electro 2 61-Key Stage Piano/Organ Review

For the gigging keyboardist, the Electro 61 falls somewhere between a Godsend and a no-brainer.It's hard to avoid hyperbole when discussing this instrument, but anyone who has toted a Hammond rig and a Wurlie and a controller and peripherals and every other blasted thing will get my drift.For 29 years, I've been condemned to driving a cargo van full of vintage keys which weren't designed to leave the living room in the first place.I've herniated myself in the process, and was almost killed in a rear-end collision that flipped my 'B' upside down.I have made every effort to 'scale down' -- Korg CX3, Micro B, Roland VK7, Oberheim, Hammond XM3, and oddball stuff.All of the aforementioned fell woefully short of Hammond heaven, and of course, didn't offer any EP features or anything else.

The buzz about the Nord was intriguing, so I checked one out at a local store.Typically, the young, cooler-than-thou clerk could barely get the thing to power up, and I was pretty much left to navigate on my own.But five minutes on the Electro made me a believer (of COURSE I ordered one online -- any dope on the floor of a music store who can't get a keyboard that produces five sounds to work doesn't get his commission from me).

Here goes (note -- run this guy stereo, even if ya have to buy a little PA to do so): the Hammond end of things is simply exquisite.I did a little EQ stuff (the Electro features EQ and presence knobs on the dashboard.What a concept!You know, you can actually tweak your sound during performance...), rolled back the key click, and entered my own registrations.Fat, juicy, and soulful.Big, even in the high harmonics.Not a trace of cheese.Outlandish chorus.Completely persuasive percussion.The best Leslie ever, and I don't mean 'pretty good.'It sounds like the real deal.I personally don't have an issue with the 'draw-buttons' and I like controlling the Leslie speed via footswitch.The last thing I want is another broken bakelite switch hanging pitifully on my 'board.

Rhodes: ya want Richard Tee?Yassah."Just the Way You Are?" (you'll actually want to play the old warhorse) -- roger roger.Steely Dan ala Victor Feldman and/or "Nightfly" stuff?Yes jones.Through the Electro, younger players might actually discover what a Rhodes really sounds like.Twenty years of screaching over-cranked synth knockoffs did the Rhodes sound no favors.

Wurlie: intitially, I couldn't find one quite 'mean' enough, but five minutes with 'presence' did the trick.Early Ray, in a big way.A little tremolo and it's Mussel Sholes central.Just like my 200.Plays like it too.Light, but CONFIDENT feeling.

Clavs: good grief.Perfect.

CP80:Back in the day, I wanted one desperately.But, of course, like every thing else back in the day, I coudn't afford one.Now I OWN one.I LOVE it.Newbies probably won't 'get' the CP80, but us old timers will have our fun.

Piano: contrary to most opinions, I think the piano is very good.I don't like it as well as my Kurweil 1200 Pro I, but it's entirely usable.I re-EQed it, rolling off some of the not-so-pleasant highs.Prior to a gig recently, I played some standards using the piano sound.I was testing the waters to see if the relatively short keyboard and on-board piano would work for jobbing.Absolutely.It won't cut stride, but an Evans-esque approach is A-OK.

Conclusion: the Electro 61 is hands-down the most impressive and exciting 'keyboard' I've ever owned, and I have had a ton of stuff.Unlike a synth, it is designed for the player to make music on it.In that sense, it is a bonafide musical instrument.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clavia Nord Electro 2 61-Key Stage Piano/Organ

Product Description:
The Nord Electro 2 is the next big step in the development of the Nord Electro series of stage keyboards. Among the features of the Electro 2 you'll find the new Mega Clavinet sound which offers all the filter and pick-up variations of the original Clavinet D6! This means that you'll be able to access no less than 60 + 4 different Clavinet D6 sounds in the Electro 2!Thanks to the remade piano sample playback engine, the polyphony for the piano sounds is now greatly enhanced. The new piano sample playback engine also made it possible for Nord to digitally model the sounds you get when you release keys on a piano instrument. For example, the Clavinet and the Wurlitzer have very characteristic key release sounds. In Nord Electro 2 this is very faithfully modeled. The new sample playback engine also allows for playback of stereo pianos. In the new factory sound library Clavia has included a great new Acoustic Grand piano - in stereo. The Electro 2 also features great new vintage-style effects in the Effects section. Nord has also beefed up the Overdrive distortion to sound more like an overdriven tube amplifier.Nord Electro 2 fully supports USB download of Nord Electro piano samples. Now you will be able to download new piano instrument samples using Nord's specially developed Electro Tool sample dump program for Mac and PC! Additional piano sounds are available on the CD-R that comes with the Nord Electro 2 and also for download at www.clavia.se - free of charge! More...

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Yamaha P155 Contemporary Piano with Mahogany Top Board, Black Review

After a year owning the Yamaha YPG 235 (still love it), I decided to move up to something more substantial, with weighted keys. My first gut reaction was a Kawai or Yamaha Clarinova, but the cost was a bit high, and I didn't like the fact that it was not portable. I wanted the features without the cost (typical consumer). So I looked at the P155.
This keyboard comes with 4-level AWS sampling, 128 polyphonic and GH effect (Yamaha's best) weighted hammers. The features are in line with mid-level Clarinovas. Yamaha did a great job reproducing there top of the line grand piano, trouncing the YPG-235 and the YPG-635. There are subtle sound effects from a real piano reproduced, making the whole experience very realistic.
The keys are extremely accurate, but somewhat heavy. The change over from the graded-tough YPG 235 to a super weighted keyboard took about 5 days. The advantage is being able toplay on a real piano without the fatigue, now that the muscle in my hands have bulked up.
This machine has real MIDI ports, 12 Watt speakers, 1/4" plug connectors for an amp, and up to (2) headphones. It has a USB port for storing songs onto ONLY. You cannot use this port for anything but storage (like a USB pen drive). The unit will format your "drive" to Windows FAT, but it is writable-readable on MAC/LInux . You will need a MIDI to USB adapter if you want to play on your computer.
Overall, I feel (as a novice still) that I took the right course, buying the YPG-235 and now the P-155. The P-155 is truly a mid-level professional stage piano, at a very fair price. The quantity of samples (instruments) is not as much as the YPG-235, but the trade-off is a really superior instrument.

Made in Japan. (Ok, Made in USA would be better....but it's a Japanese piano company)

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Product Description:
Whether you're practicing at home, playing with the band, or doing alive solo performance, the P155 series offers professional quality sound with our legendary touch. Thanks to top-shelf Yamaha digital piano technologies, musicians don't have to choose between portability and piano quality- the quality you expect from a company that's been building world-class acoustic pianos for over a century.

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Casio WK-200 76-Key Personal Keyboard with MP3/Audio Connection and 570 Tones Review

I played piano on my family's old baby grand piano all my life and then I went off to college where I had no piano. I finally asked for one for my birthday and this is what my family chose for me. The sound is GREAT (the 5 main piano tones are very nice, I love 002), the keyboards have a very nice weight to them that makes them feel like a real piano (not something cheap and plasticy).

Some accessories I'd recommend for any buyers:

Headphones-- This keyboard can go really loud and if you're around others, you may want to consider headphones so you can enjoy all the sound :) If you use regular stereo-mini phones (like iPod jacks), you will need a Stereo Mini Jack (1/8") to Stereo Standard Plug (1/4").

Pedal-- This is an M-Audio keyboard so it works with just about any pedal but I really love this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063678K

It has a very realistic feel to it; much better than those cheap plastic ones that you get from the manufacturerOver all a great keyboard, I couldn't be happier!

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Product Description:
The Casio WK-200 is an affordable instrument with a 76 Key Piano Style Touch Sensitive Keyboard, 570 total onboard Tones, 180 Rhythms and Reverb plus Chorus Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio's famous Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, Mic input, 10 seconds of sampling and a USB port for MIDI. All this makes WK-200 more realistic and expressive than ever before at this price range.
A feature-packed portable keyboard that's perfect for learning. Click to enlarge.


76 touch-sensitive, standard-size keys.


Intuitive editing and controls.


Built-in stereo speakers.


Standard-Size Keys with Touch Response
The WK-200 features 76 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones).


570 Built-In Tones
Find just the right sound with 570 built-in tones, from strings to woodwinds and plenty more. You can layer two different tones (such as piano and strings) or split the keyboard down the middle for an ensemble approach.


Reverb and Chorus Effects
Select from ten different reverb and five different chorus effects to add depth and shimmer to your performance.


USB Port
For many musicians, the computer has become a music-making center. Connect the WK-200 to a computer using a USB cable and exchange MIDI data between the two devices. Send play data from the keyboard to music software running on your computer, or send MIDI data from your computer to the keyboard for playback.


Built-In Sampling
You can use the WK-200 to sample a sound from a portable audio player or other device, and then play the sound with keyboard keys. Sample up to ten seconds, and store up to five sampled sounds to keyboard memory.


152 Built-In Songs and Ten User Songs
The WK-200 comes with a bank of songs for your learning and enjoyment. You can also record your own performances, using up to six tracks of different instruments.


Step Up Lessons
To master a song, it is best to break it up into shorter parts (phrases), master the phrases, and then put everything together. The WK-200 features a "Step Up Lesson" feature that helps you to do just that. The built-in songs are pre-divided into phrases to help you master keyboard play. Step Up Lesson takes you through practice of the right hand part, left hand part, and both hand parts for each phrase of a song. Master all of the phrases and you master the song.


Music Challenge Keyboard Game
Music Challenge is a game that measures your reaction speed as you press keys in response to on-screen keyboard indicators and fingering guide indications.


Auto Accompaniment
With Auto Accompaniment, simply select an accompaniment pattern. Each time you play a chord with your left hand the appropriate accompaniment will play automatically. It's like having a personal backup group along with you wherever you go. The WK-200 features 180 built-in rhythms, and you you can also edit and save up to 10 of your own auto accompaniment patterns.


Auto Harmonize
Auto Harmonize automatically adds harmony to notes you play with your right hand, which adds rich depth to the melody of your performances. You can select from among 12 types of Auto Harmonize to suit the type of music you are playing.


Arpeggiator
The Arpeggiator makes it possible to play an arpeggio pattern automatically. There are 90 different arpeggio patterns from which to choose in order to match the music you are playing.


Transpose Function
An easy operation instantly changes the key of the keyboard.


Line-in and Mic Input
Play along with MP3 or CD players or other devices by plugging them into the stereo mini input jack, or plug a mic right in and sing along.


Battery or AC Power
Power the WK-200 with six D-sized batteries or purchase the AD-5MR adapter separately to power from your electrical outlets. Built-in speakers make the keyboard entirely portable.


An Auto Power Off feature turns off the device six minutes after the last key is touched, helping you save batteries.


What's in the Box
WK-200 Keyboard, Song Book, Safety Precautions, Appendix, Warranty

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Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard Premium Package with Headphones, Stand & Power Supply Review

The keyboard is very nice. But,I was very disappointed when I plugged it in and it did not work on ac power, only with the batteries. For me to ship this back might end up costing me more than the board itself. So I am stuck with it. This really hurts. Other than that, it play's well and has alot of useful functions. would love to know what can you do for me amazon. I
ve already gone through 4sets of batteries.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard Premium Package with Headphones, Stand & Power Supply

Product Description:
A great choice for both piano beginners and intermediates, the portable Casio CTK-2100 personal keyboard offers 61 piano-style touch keys and step-by-step lessons that help just about anyone learn to play. Offering a wide range of features and functions, the CTK-2100 keyboard includes 400 tones and 150 rhythms, sampling function, an audio-in jack that lets you play along with your favorite songs, USB port for connecting to a PC, and AHL audio technology for reproducing amazingly real grand piano and acoustic musical instrument sounds. It's powered by 6 AA batteries.
This Premium Package also comes with professional closed-cup headphones, single x-braced stand, and power supply.

Key Features

AHL sound source (Acoustic & Highly-compressed Large-waveform):All built-in tones, including piano and acoustic instrument tones, now sound better than ever before! 48-tone maximum polyphony provides plenty of margin to minimize the chance of notes being dropped when tones are layered and when playing with Auto Accompaniment.
Piano-style keyboard: An easy-to-play keyboard with an appearance resembling that of an acoustic piano.
Digital effects: Use effects to add reverb for more depth and breadth in your music.
Step Up Lesson: Pieces are divided into short, easy-to-master phrases making it easy for just about anyone to learn to play. After you master a phrase you advance to the next one. With this new lesson function, you keep building up your collection of mastered phrases and soon you are able to play the entire song.
Scoring system: Your lesson score appears on the display screen.
Voice fingering guide: If the keyboard senses you are having problems, it will help you by calling out finger numbers in a simulated human voice.
Metronome for lesson support
Sampling function: Sample a sound and you can play it on the keyboard! You can create sound effects for a party or other events, or use sounds to compose music (1 sound; 1-second sampling time).The potential for fun is virtually unlimited!
Audio-in jack: Connect a digital audio player, CD player, or other audio device and you can play along with music played through the keyboard's speakers.
Wide selection of tones (400 high-quality tones) supports play of songs from various genres.
150 rhythms and auto accompaniments for Latin music and other styles from around the world. In addition to Bossa Nova, Samba, and other basic rhythms, you also get Cumbia, Reggaeton, Calypso, and more USB port for computer connection
General MIDI (GM Level 1) support allows connection with a computer or another GM-compatible device

Specifications

Keyboard: 61 standard-size keys
Touch Response: 2 types, Off
Key Light System: Up to 4 keys can be lit at the same time
Maximum Polyphony: 48 notes (24 for certain tones)
Effects: 10 types
Reverb: 1 to 10, Off
Metronome: beats per measure -- 0,2 to 6; tempo range -- 30 to 255
Step Up Lesson:

Lessons: 4 (Listen, Watch, Remember, Auto)
Lesson Part: L, R, LR
Functions: Repeat, Voice Fingering Guide, Note Guide.

Music Challenge: 20 notes
Auto Accompaniment: Rhythm Patterns -- 150; One Touch Presets -- 150
Musical Information Function: Tone, Rhythm, Song Bank, numbers and names; staff notation, fingering, pedal operation, tempo, measure and beat number, chord name, etc.
USB port: Yes
Sustain jack: Standard jack (sustain, sostenuto, soft, rhythm start/stop)
Phones/Output jack: Stereo standard jack
Output Impedance: 200 Ohm, Output Voltage: 4.8 V (RMS) MAX
Audio In jack: Stereo mini jack
Input Impedance: 40 kOhm, Input Sensitivity: 200 mV
Mic In jack: Standard jack
Batteries: 6 AA batteries

The 61-key Casio CTK-2100 portable keyboard makes it easy to learn to play the piano (see larger version of keyboard plus a detail of the keyboard controls.


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Casio CTK-3000 61 Key, Touch Sensitive Personal Keyboard with MP3 Connection and World Music Library Review

This keyboard is a great keyboard for the money! If you want the one that comes with the stand and headphones, order this - http://www.amazon.com/Casio-CTK3000-Keyboard-Professional-Headphones/dp/Casio CTK3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones/ref=pd_ts_MI_25?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments. The review above appearently did not read the discription as I did and I got the other one with the accessories. Mine came with the accessories and stated it in the product discription, you got to read to know what your getting not just look at pictures. As I said, great beyboard.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio CTK-3000 61 Key, Touch Sensitive Personal Keyboard with MP3 Connection and World Music Library

Product Description:
The Casio CTK-3000 is an affordable instrument with a 61 Key Piano Style Touch Sensitive Keyboard, 400 total onboard Tones, 150 Rhythms and Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio's famous Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, USB port for MIDI implementation and a pitch wheel for additional expression over sounds. All this makes CTK-3000 more realistic and expressive than ever before at this price range.


An affordable, full-featured portable keyboard. Click to enlarge.
Standard-Size Keys with Touch Response
The CTK-3000 features 61 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones).
400 Built-In Tones
Find just the right sound with 400 built-in tones, and select from ten different reverb settings to add depth.
USB Port
For many musicians, the computer has become a music-making center. Connect the CTK-3000 to a computer using a USB cable and exchange MIDI data between the two devices. Send play data from the keyboard to music software running on yourcomputer, or send MIDI data from your computer to the keyboard for playback.
Built-In Sampling
You can use the CTK-3000 to sample a sound from a portable audio player or other device, and then play the sound with keyboard keys. For example, you could sample the bark of your dog and then use the sound in a melody, or grab passages from a CD. The sampling feature is a fun way to create new sounds.
Note: Samples are not stored permanently. Turning off power will cause any sampled sound data on the keyboard to be deleted.
Internal speakers and battery-powering option for full portability. Click to enlarge.
View full control diagram. Click to enlarge.
110 Built-In Songs With Step Up Lessons
The CTK-3000 comes with a bank of songs for your learning and enjoyment, from classics like "Greensleeves" or "Auld Lang Syne" to holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells."
To master a song, it is best to break it up into shorter parts (phrases), master the phrases, and then put everything together. The CTK-3000 features a "Step Up Lesson" feature that helps you to do just that. The built-in songs are pre-divided into phrases to help you master keyboard play. Step Up Lesson takes you through practice of the right hand part, left hand part, and both hand parts for each phrase of a song. Master all of the phrases and you master the song.
Music Challenge Keyboard Game
Music Challenge is a game that measures your reaction speed as you press keys in response to on-screen keyboard indicators and fingering guide indications.
Auto Accompaniment
Simply specify a chord and the keyboard automatically produces the matching rhythm, bass, and chord patters. One-touch fill-ins make accompaniments sound interesting and natural. 150 built in auto-accompaniment rhythm patterns.
Transpose Function
An easy operation instantly changes the key of the keyboard.
Audio Input
Play along with MP3 or CD players or other devices by plugging them into the stereo mini input jack.
Battery or AC Power
Power the CTK-3000 with six AA-sized batteries (approximately four hours of continuous operation with alkaline batteries) or purchase the AD-5 AC adapter separately to power from your electrical outlets. Built-in speakers make the keyboard entirely portable.
An Auto Power Off feature turns off the device six minutes after the last key is touched, helping you save batteries.
What's in the Box
CTK-3000 Keyboard, Music Stand, Song Book, Safety Precautions, Appendix, Warranty

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Yamaha P-85 Contemporary Digital Piano Review

When a master controller keyboard started to go flaky on me, I started looking for a replacement, and since I didn't REALLY need anything but a basic piano at this point (already having other keyboards that can serve this purpose), the focus was going to be on having 88 weighted keys, but being lightweight and portable.In the start of the 90s, stage pianos that remotely sounded like the real thing were becoming affordable, though hideously bulky and heavy.Let's just say they wouldn't fit in my car so easily, which leaves you reliant on the rest of the band for your transportation.End of the 90s, Korg was selling their 88 key Trinity keyboards, one of which I had the pleasure to lug around in my car for 10 years (it just barely fit!) but ultimately wore out because I couldn't get a case or even bag for it - it was just too big.It still works but gets unpredictable when I move it, so I had to make the call, and buy a replacement.

I checked out some of the lower end piano models, Rolands P250, Korgs P250, Roland RD700s, and Yamaha not only sounded much better, but was jaw-droppingly cheap.I find Roland's sound sweet but a bit muddy or saturated, the action was not bad.Korg's P250 sounds nice but I find their samples are compressed too much and the decay sounds unnaturally fast.Yamaha hit the sweet spot with their piano samples, granted there's only two sets of samples for piano, but they both sound absolutely brilliant (especially considering the cost of the keyboard). The expressiveness you get out of this instrument is amazing - very careful attention to detail.(Compared to the 'honking' piano on the Korg Triton.)The key action is a bit heavier, I can see that I'll be doing scales for a month before I have the strength to really play that thing.That's ok, I'm still waiting for the stand anyways...Which brings me to :

(1) To incorporate built-in speakers, the bottom is not flat, it's basically a 'V'.It will not sit really stably in ANYTHING but the stand made for it.Acrobatics are right out.So you basically are forced to buy the stand which sells for extra.Give me a break.
(2) There are no stage outs on this piano (if you want to use this piano in a band and hook it up to an amp and/or mixing board), you have to use the headphone jacks (!)VERY odd omission, instead of offering both analog and digital outs, Yamaha actually regresses and doesn't even have stage outs.Anyways, you have to get a cord that goes from stereo 1/4" (RTS) to two 1"4 jacks (very common cord BTW, your music store will have it), you can't just use a standard 1/4" jack because aspects of the piano signal are heavily panned and you get a weird phasey sound if you try to just take one side of the signal.And since it sticks out the front, you need a 1"4 right angle adapter to keep it out of harms way.

Apart from that, the piano sounds very crisp and convincing, some nice onboard effects to enhance this.But basically it's just a piano, not a workstation.Use it for one instrument at a time (you can layer the instruments but I couldn't find a single combination that sounded better than the individual instruments).

There are other sounds built into this, besides piano.There are two electric piano patches - the first is a Fender Rhodes sound, with a DX-ey tinge to it, sounds beautifully full, if a bit tine-y.The second patch, kind of a Wurlitzer or (I guess) Yamaha CP type patch, is almost worth the price of the keyboard itself.Sounds very like Supertramp's keyboard sound, very expressive to play.

The organs are the worst of the samples.Honestly - they couldn't find better organ patches than this, at least after the very high standard they established with the pianos?These sound like a circus calliope (E. Organ 1) and a bad Soundblaster pipe organ patch (E. Organ 2)!They are absolutely terrible, but if you really really need a calliope or pipe organ sound and not one of your instruments does that sound, you might use it.

The strings patch isn't bad, isn't noteworthy either.Definitely usable.I would have liked to be able to apply an (onboard) phaser effect to it for instance.

There are two harpsichord patches that are fairly high quality, better than the Korg Trinity's, anyways.Layering them sounds cheesy, but onboard compression might have helped.Workstations have me so spoiled...

The vibes patch is pretty good too, clear and bell-like.'Tis purty.

All in all, this keyboard is an absolute steal at this price, once again the bar is raised in terms of quality and portability.You get bang-for-the-buck with this!It fits in the trunk of my car, just barely.Don't even have to put the back seats down!It loses 1/2a star for the stand issue, the lack of even a proper set of analog outs, and the wretched organ samples.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha P-85 Contemporary Digital Piano

Product Description:
Includes Yamaha P85 88 Key GHS Black Contemporary Digital Piano Owners Manual Quick Operation Guide AC Power Adapter Pedal FC5 Music Rest.

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Casio CTK-3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones Review

I really don't think I could have found a better keyboard at the price of the Casio CTK3000.After much research, I decided on this keyboard because of the number of keys and the fact that it came with a stowaway stand, headphones and charger.For me, an adult who is just learning piano, it was essential for me to have headphones so I wasn't disturbing everyone in the house.The keyboard is really easy to use.I didn't even read any of the instructions.I just plugged it in and started practicing.

The stand is a little difficult to adjust and it doesn't attach as securely to the stand as I would like it to, but it's not unstable or anything.The keyboard sort of just sits on top of the stand.This is not a problem for an adult, but if you're looking at getting this keyboard fora child, then you may want to take that into account.This keyboard also works great on a regular table, as long as you have one that is at an appropriate height for practicing.I use the keyboard on the tabletop more than I use it on the stand, but I'm glad I have the stand for those times that I do need to use it.

The keyboard also comes with a little bar that you insert into the back of the keyboard to hold your sheet music or lesson book.There is a groove at the top center of the keyboard to prevent the sheet music/book from slipping.I found that the other reviews I read and the product description didn't note that the keyboard does have a space to hold music.Of course that may be something that is just standard on keyboards, but, as a piano novice, I was not aware of this.

Bottom line, I think this keyboard is excellent quality for the price and will last a beginner quite a while.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio CTK-3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones

Product Description:
The Casio CTK-3000 is an affordable instrument with a 61 Key Piano Style Touch Sensitive Keyboard, 400 total onboard Tones, 150 Rhythms and Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio's famous Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, USB port for MIDI implementation and a pitch wheel for additional expression over sounds. All this makes CTK-3000 more realistic and expressive than ever before at this price range.


Everything you need to get started.

CTK-3000 Premium Pack

The Premium Pack bundles the CTK-3000 keyboard with a Yamaha power supply, keyboard stand and professional closed-cup stereo headphones.
Standard-Size Keys with Touch Response
The CTK-3000 features 61 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones).
400 Built-In Tones
Find just the right sound with 400 built-in tones, and select from ten different reverb settings to add depth.
USB Port
For many musicians, the computer has become a music-making center. Connect the CTK-3000 to a computer using a USB cable and exchange MIDI data between the two devices. Send play data from the keyboard to music software running on yourcomputer, or send MIDI data from your computer to the keyboard for playback.
Built-In Sampling
You can use the CTK-3000 to sample a sound from a portable audio player or other device, and then play the sound with keyboard keys. For example, you could sample the bark of your dog and then use the sound in a melody, or grab passages from a CD. The sampling feature is a fun way to create new sounds.
Note: Samples are not stored permanently. Turning off power will cause any sampled sound data on the keyboard to be deleted.
An affordable, full-featured portable keyboard. Click to enlarge.
Internal speakers and battery-powering option for full portability. Click to enlarge.
View full control diagram. Click to enlarge.
110 Built-In Songs With Step Up Lessons
The CTK-3000 comes with a bank of songs for your learning and enjoyment, from classics like "Greensleeves" or "Auld Lang Syne" to holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells."
To master a song, it is best to break it up into shorter parts (phrases), master the phrases, and then put everything together. The CTK-3000 features a "Step Up Lesson" feature that helps you to do just that. The built-in songs are pre-divided into phrases to help you master keyboard play. Step Up Lesson takes you through practice of the right hand part, left hand part, and both hand parts for each phrase of a song. Master all of the phrases and you master the song.
Music Challenge Keyboard Game
Music Challenge is a game that measures your reaction speed as you press keys in response to on-screen keyboard indicators and fingering guide indications.
Auto Accompaniment
Simply specify a chord and the keyboard automatically produces the matching rhythm, bass, and chord patters. One-touch fill-ins make accompaniments sound interesting and natural. 150 built in auto-accompaniment rhythm patterns.
Transpose Function
An easy operation instantly changes the key of the keyboard.
Audio Input
Play along with MP3 or CD players or other devices by plugging them into the stereo mini input jack.
Battery or AC Power
Power the CTK-3000 with six AA-sized batteries (approximately four hours of continuous operation with alkaline batteries) or purchase the AD-5 AC adapter separately to power from your electrical outlets. Built-in speakers make the keyboard entirely portable.
An Auto Power Off feature turns off the device six minutes after the last key is touched, helping you save batteries.
What's in the Box
CTK-3000 Keyboard, Music Stand, Song Book, Safety Precautions, Appendix, Warranty, Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Headphones

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Casio LK-100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package Review

We recently started suspecting that our 2 year old has perfect pitch, like her father and her grandmother before her.So all the little toy keyboards that she loved to play with which were all off-key were become problematic.However, it was almost impossible to find a toy keyboard that was actually in tune and not off key.We bought and returned probably a half dozen.Then, the grandparents stepped in and started laying pressure to buy her an actual keyboard.This was the result.

The keyboard has a wonderful sound and plenty of demo songs to keep young children busy.I love that it lights up and it helps illustrate the concept for children who are just learning about music and notes.The keyboard is lighter than I expected.And for the price, it was a good compromise over the toy keyboards.It's also great that it comes with a stand, headphones, and an adapter.Many of the high-end casio keybaords, for some reason, do not even include an adapter.

I do warn, however, that this is a beginner keyboard.It's good for exposing your child and just to test drive to see whether or not your kid's piano interest isn't going to be just a passing phase.However, the keyboard is not going to grow with any serious piano players.There is no touch sensitivity, which is so important to learning to play the piano adequately.And I was disappointed to see that there was no USB connectivity, which you can get with the slightly more expensive Casio models.

But, all in all, I'm satisfied that I'm getting my money's worth.But if you want more features and more piano-like sound/feel, then you'll have to pay more.

If you found this review helpful, please let me know!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio LK-100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package

Product Description:
The Casio LK100 Lighted Keyboard features 61 full-sized illuminated keys and incorporates Casio's 3-step lesson system to help you learn to play quicker by following the keys as they light up. The keyboard also features auto accompaniment system to generate complete backgrounds with drums, bass and chord parts with the left hand, while playing melodies and solos with the right hand. This package also comes with a stand and professional closed cup headphones.


Follow the lights on the keyboard to learn quickly and easily. 3-Step Lesson System
Develop your musical skills by following the keys as they light. First, you become familiar with the timing of the notes by watching the keys light as you playback one of the 100 built-in Song Bank tunes. Next, practice playing along at a pace that's comfortable for you. Finally, try playing along at the normal tempo. A simulated human voice is used during the Step 1 or Step 2 lesson feature to call out the fingers you should use to play the required notes (Voice Fingering). The timing of notes is also indicated on the display screen.
Features

Auto Accompaniment: Simply specify a chord and the keyboard automatically produces the matching rhythm, bass, and chord patters. One-touch fill-ins make accompaniments sound interesting and natural.
Easy-to-understand on-screen indicators help to simply keyboard play, even for novices
50 built in auto-accompaniment patterns
100 built-in Song Bank tunes for playback enjoyment or play-along practice
Transpose function instantly changes the key of the keyboard
Connecting to another MIDI device lets you sound notes on both this keyboard and the connected device by playing on this keyboard
Connect a commercially available microphone and you can sing along with Song Bank tunes

Specifications

Keyboard: 61 Standard-size keys, 5 octaves
Key Light System: Can be turned on and off (up to 10 keys can be lit at the same time)
Tones: 100 presets
Polyphony: 12 notes maximum
Lesson System: 3 Step Lesson System
Playback: 1 tune repeat playback
Musical Information Function: Tones, Auto Accompaniment, Song Bank numbers and names, tempo; 3 step lesson display, chord name, fingering, timing indicator, key lighting, voice fingering
Speakers: 10 cm diameter x 2 (Output: 2W + 2W)
Headphones/output: Stereo standard jack (Output is monaural)
Microphone/input: Standard jack (with microphone volume knob)
Power: DC 9V, or 6 AA batteries (approximately 4 hours of continuous use)
Dimensions: 37-1/4 x 14-11/16 x 5-5/16 inches
Weight: 10.4 pounds

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Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Sensitive Lighted Keyboard Bundle: Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply Review

This is my first real keyboard and I got it to learn to play piano. I've only had it a few days but I'm really impressed by it so far. The keyboard seems to be really good with teaching songs, not only do the keys light up but it tells you which fingers to use and it can teach one hand at a time which is nice for a beginner. I really wasn't expecting much but this thing sounds like a real piano and even the stand and headphones are pretty good quality.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Sensitive Lighted Keyboard Bundle: Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply

Product Description:
Never played piano or keyboard before? The EZ-200 lighted keyboard from Yamaha will have you playing songs from the very first day. Just call up a song from the 100 songs built-in to the keyboard, select if you'd like to play the left or right hand part and hit "Start". The keyboard will light up the key that you're supposed to play, and in fact, the song will actually stop and wait for you to find the correct key! All of the tools you need are found in the keyboard, including how to play chords. This bundle includes everything else you need, as well--a keyboard stand, headphones, and a power supply.


Learn to play today. Click to enlarge.
Expressive Touch like a piano
If you're buying a keyboard having piano in mind, you'll want Yamaha's Touch Response feature. On an acoustic piano, striking a key harder will produce a louder sound, striking it softer will produce a softer sound. With Yamaha's "Touch Response" the EZ-200 keyboard responds like an acoustic piano.
Portable Grand: Industry's best piano
You're never more than a button push away from the most realistic piano sound in portable keyboards today. One press of the Portable Grand button resets the entire keyboard to a stereo-sampled piano--perfect for when it's time to practice. Yamaha is known around the world for the quality of our acoustic pianos and this attention to detail is evident as you enjoy the warmth and clarity of the EZ-200 Portable Grand piano. And of course, the keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.

100 built-in songs for you to learn to play, using the Yamaha Education Suite.
The lighted keyboard will have you playing songs from the very first day.
Built-in stereo speakers for brilliant sound.
Bundle includes a keyboard stand, headphones, and a power supply.
Yamaha Education Suite: Helps you learn to play
The EZ-200 has 100 built-in songs for you to learn to play, using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary. In addition, the correct fingering is indicated in the LCD display.

Three keyboard lessons for each hand:



Lesson One--LISTEN & LEARN the melody or rhythm of a selected song.
Lesson Two--TIMING mode allows you to play the melody or chord by pressing any key using the correct timing.
Lesson Three: WAITING mode stops the playback of a song until you find the correct note and then continues.



Lesson Grading--monitors your progress as you practice each lessons two and three and gives you a grade.
Chord Dictionary--shows you how to play chords and tells you which chords you are playing by displaying the notes and chord name on the LCD screen.

Computer Connectivity: General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatible
The music pathway to your computer and the Internet is MIDI. It's the way that keyboards communicate with computers. And because the EZ-200 is both General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatible, you have access to thousands of MIDI song files on the Internet.
367 Voices and the One-Touch Setting
The EZ-200 has 367 Voices for you to choose from. For example, there are pianos, electric pianos, harpsichord, guitars, drums, bass, violins, brass and synthesizer voices. Pretty much every instrument in the orchestra is at your fingertips. And if you don't know which sound goes with what style of music, the keyboard can select an appropriate sound for you using the convenient One-Touch Setting.
Sound Quality: Real stereo (Not just 2 Speakers)
Some keyboards have two speakers but aren't stereo. Don't be fooled. Just because a keyboard has two speakers doesn't mean that it's truly stereo with two separate amplifiers. All Yamaha Portable Keyboards feature stereo-sampling technology.
32 Note Polyphony and 16 Part Multi Timbrel
In electronic keyboards, the more sounds made at the same time--polyphony--the more memory is needed. Obviously, more is always better, because too little polyphony can cause dropouts in dense passages of music. Some keyboards at this price point have only 12-note polyphony. The EZ-200 has 32 notes of polyphony and will play back 16 different parts or sounds at once (16-part multi timbrel); enough for the most demanding needs.
Reverb
Yamaha has long been a world leader in digital signal processing technology. In fact, Yamaha professional audio products are found in most professional recording studios around the world. The EZ-200 takes full advantage of this know-how, giving you an extensive range of nine, top-quality reverb effects that simulate playing in everything from a small room to a large spacious concert hall; a first in this price range.
Metronome
Just what the teacher ordered! A fully adjustable metronome is just a button push away.
Strike up the Band!--Keyboard Styles
In addition to the 100 songs found in the EZ-200, there are 100 Styles that allow you to play any song you like. It's just like having a built-in band. Call up your favorite style of music like Rock, Big Band or Country, press a chord or play Single Finger mode, and the EZ-200 will follow you through a piece of music, providing all of the drums, bass, piano, guitar, horn and string parts for you. With this instrument, you can make great sounding music with little more than 2 fingers, however as you learn to play, the EZ-200 will adapt to your new skills and automatically switch between single finger mode and fingered mode where you play all the notes of the chord.
Connectivity
The EZ-200 features MIDI In/Out, Sustain Pedal jack and a Headphone jack for private practice.
Don't forget your Survival Kit!
Designed to provide you with everything you need to get started. Kit includes a two-year extended warranty, power adaptor, foot switch on models that require it, stereo headphones, bonus coupons and a DVD-ROM. Look for it at a dealer near you.
What's in the Box
Yamaha EZ200 Keyboard, Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, Power Supply, Music Rest, Owner's Manual, Song Book

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