Yamaha MM6 Music Synthesizer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Got more then expected. Lightweight with great sounds, especially Live! ones. Good synth suitable primarily for performace. Easily programable for fast patch switching.

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Power and control, two elements that can make all the difference in your music, whether you compose, create or perform. The MM8 and MM6 Music Synthesizers deliver all the musical power and creative control you need - and a whole lot more. Taking their sounds from the highly popular pro-level MOTIF series instruments, the MM series have an enormous variety of dynamic, authentic voices to help you create and perform in virtually any style of music. These powerful instruments also give you total control over your sound, letting you dynamically change sonic textures as you play with real-time tweakable knobs. Also built-in are special Patterns that provide full instrumental backing - drums, bass and chords - to accompany your live performance and song creation. The MM8 and MM6 have 418 Voices and 22 Drum Kits on board, all based on the dynamic, realistic sounds of the advanced MOTIF series synthesizers. These exceptionally high-quality sounds range from authentic acoustic instruments to wild, unique and in-your-face synth Voices. An extra set of GM Voices is built into the instrument as well, giving you all you need to play back songs recorded in that popular format. With so many Voices to choose from, you might think it's difficult to select the ones you need. Not so. The convenient Category Search function lets you choose the type of instrument you want to play - organ, guitar, synth, lead, strings, whatever - then select the specific Voice. All your favorite sounds are right at your fingertips, ready to play when you are.

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Casio CDP-100 88-Note Weighted Hammer Action Digital Piano Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased a used version of this based off the previous reviews. I definitely agree the weighted keyboard has a nice feel to it (this is coming from someone who's used acoustic pianos in the past) and the keyboard itself is very slim & not too heavy...easy to carry around.
What was really disappointing was the sound...it sounds a little masked, not sharp/crisp. I'm not very picky, I just wanted a full keyboard to practice on, but this was something that bothered me. I actually was able compare it to a Casio WK-200 (which is a cheaper keyboard) & surprisingly the CDP-100 sounded worse than it's cheaper counterpart.
I brushed off someone's previous comment about the sound because I figured it couldn't be that bad. It is that bad, so take this into consideration if you're planning to purchase.


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It all starts with the sound and feel, and thanks to the carefully sampled grand piano sound and scaled hammer action, the Casio CDP-100 Digital Piano gives you both. The HL Sound Source and 88-key, naturally scaled hammer action with three levels of touch sensitivity give you a realistic and satisfying piano experience in a portable, affordable digital piano. The Casio keyboard has five sounds including stereo grand piano, 32-note polyphony, eight digital effects, five demo songs, layer and transpose function, speaker system, MIDI I/O, plus headphone and sustain pedal jacks. The Casio CDP-100 digital piano comes with a sustain pedal.

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Yamaha DGX-230 Keyboard Bundle, 76 Keys - Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the yamaha keyboard for my wife for Christmas expecting
a middle of the road keyboard,We are both impressed with the quality,workmanship and endless features of this product for the price. We would recommend this to anyone from a beginner to an advanced player.

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If you're looking for a reasonably priced piano-style keyboard, look no further than the DGX230. It's great for veterans and students alike, with 76 non-weighted keys that not only look like piano keys but have a Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, making it easier for a budding musician to move to an acoustic or digital piano.

2-Way Speaker System Separate woofers and tweeters deliver sounds in crystal-clear stereo, for more lifelike instrument voices.
Bass Boost System A special port on each speaker adds a impact to low-ed reproduction.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Enhance sound quality with sophisticated digital effects like Harmony, Reverb & Chorus.
Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) Yamaha Advanced Wave Memory technology delivers amazingly realistic sound.
Full Keyboard Mode The DGX230 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The DGX230 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.
Yamaha Education Suite The DGX230 has 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on included CD-ROM 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.
Learning features are plenty. Waiting Mode stops the song until you find the right note, Your Tempo Mode matches the song's tempo to your playing speed, and Minus One Mode plays the song without your chosen part, so you can play along.
The DGX230 will monitor your progress, giving you grades for each lesson. A Chord Dictionary is also included, displaying notes and chord names on-screen.
6-Track Sequencer Imagine capturing your child's first performance or writing and recording your own songs. With the DGX230, you have the equivalent of a built-in multi-track recorder to record one or multiple instrument parts at a time and assign each part to a different track. Six tracks are provided to accommodate sophisticated melodies, chord accompaniment and rhythm parts.
Computer Connectivity: USB and Flash ROM The DGX230 comes with 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on an included CD-ROM and an interactive lesson system, divided into left and right hand parts, for learning them. In addition, you have the ability to connect to a computer via USB, download more songs from the Internet into the internal Flash ROM (PC only), and use all of the Yamaha Education Suitefeatures to help you learn to play them. Yamaha makes it easy to get connected with the new PC button. Now, instead of wading through function menus and fighting through a maze of selections, one button is your expressway to music on the web and your computer. In addition, once connected, you can play your songs into the computer (PC and Mac), edit them if necessary, and e-mail them to your friends and family. And with General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatibility, song data always plays back with the correct sounds.
Digital Music Notebook Digital Music Notebook is a multimedia internet service that enables you to preview, purchase, download and print learn-to-play music books and chart-topping sheet music. From scales to chords to your favorite riffs, Digital Music Notebook is jam-packed with all the secrets you need to master your instrument. Add accompaniments, record and mix yourself, sing karaoke with friends, learn new techniques while having a blast--Digital Music Notebook delivers everything you need to bring music alive! And it's included with the DGX230.
Ease of Operation There are many tools in the keyboard that make it easy to be a power user from the first day you own the keyboard.
Expandable Music Database: Complete keyboard setups by song title. The keyboard selects an appropriate voice for the right hand melody, the correct musical style and the correct tempo. Simply call up a song title and start playing.
One Touch Setting (OTS): Provides you with a recommended voice with effects for each style. For example, on a jazz style OTS might be piano, for a Latin style it might be acoustic guitar and for a rock style it might be a guitar with overdrive etc.
Registration Memory: Set the keyboard up just the way you like and take a digital snapshot by memorizing it to one of the Registration buttons. Load and save up to 16 Registrations to User memory. The Registration buttons are conveniently located just above the keyboard.
Performance Assistant Technology: Performance assistant technology is a feature from Yamaha that guarantees that you can't play a wrong note or chord. Here's how it works. Select a song, press the Performance Assistant button and play the keyboard--any notes you like. Every note you play will fit the music. If you move up the keyboard, the pitch goes up. If you move down, the pitch goes down. Play a perfect arpeggio, or play chords in time with the music, or really "go for it" and play a solo. As long as performance assistant is "on," you're "on." In addition to working with any of the internal songs with chords, this feature also works with XF MIDI files.

Master EQ: Tailor Your Sound Five different master equalizer (EQ) settings are provided to give you the best possible sound when listening through different reproduction systems—the instrument's internal speakers, headphones, or an external speaker system. You're in control.
Easy Song Arranger You can change the "feel," or arrangement, of songs by simply pressing the Easy Song Arranger button, allowing you to re-mix any MIDI file. For example, you can try your favorite song with a Rock feel, Hip Hop, then Jazz. It's fast, powerful and one-button simple.
Realistic Sounding Voices The DGX230 comes equipped with 116 panel voices, 12 drum/SFX kits plus 361 XGlite voices. Included in this selection is stereo-sampled Piano, a selection of special voices including brass, woodwinds, electric pianos, organs and more.
2 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. The DGX230 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.
Digital Effects 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 DGX230 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 and four chorus effects that add richness to electric pianos and guitars in particular. You'll also find 26 types of Harmony effects for your melody part.
Metronome Just what the teacher ordered! A fully adjustable metronome is just a button push away.
Auto Accompaniment Styles In addition to the 100 songs mentioned above, the DGX230 also has auto accompaniment styles that "follow" your playing. Simply select a style of music from the 160 built-in styles (example Rock) and start playing. The DGX230 will create a backup band (bass, drums, strings, guitar etc.) and "follow" you through the song. You can play your songs and try different genres of music. And if you can't find the right style for your song, you can go to www.yamahamusicsoft.com, preview from the selection, purchase and transfer it to your keyboard (PC only).
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 DGX230 Portable Grand piano. And of course, the keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.
Connectivity The DGX230 features USB MIDI, Sustain Pedal jack and a Headphone jack for private practice.
What's in the Box DGX230 Keyboard, Music Rest, Accessory CD-ROM, User's Manual

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Yamaha YPG-235 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Premium Pack Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received this keyboard on 2/2/11. As always, I was impressed with how quickly I received my order from Amazon.com. However, within minutes of setting up the keyboard, I noticed that two keys on the right side of the keyboard didn't work. One key simply didn't work AT ALL, and one key seemed to have a short and would only play after pressing it like 3 or 4 times in a row. Amazon is making it easy to return/exchange this keyboard, so I'm hopeful that the replacement is decent. However, after this experience and reading other reviews online of this exact problem, I am very concerned about the build quality of this keyboard, despite having heard good things over the years about Yamaha.
I'll update this review after I receive the replacement in a week or so. Hopefully I won't have to switch to another brand, but Casio maybe the next one I look at (need to keep this purchase affordable).
UPDATE: I received a replacement keyboard in record time: less than 2 days! I was at first bummed that I wouldn't be able to test the new keyboard over the weekend, but Amazon got the replacement out immediately and it was here early Friday afternoon (I had only submitted the return early Wednesday evening). Amazon did create some confusion, however, by on the one hand telling me that UPS would be picking up the defective keyboard from my house, and then e-mailing me a label and instructions for dropping the keyboard off at a local UPS center. Then UPS added to the confusion when I called to confirm the pick-up at my house: they said that one hadn't been arranged. So then I bring the keyboard to a UPS center, and then find a UPS pick-up attempt label on my door. Whatever...I got the defective keyboard to UPS and back to Amazon.
As for the keyboard: it sounds great. I've only just begun to play around with it, but the keys feel good, and the variety of quality sounds is incredible. I'll be combining this keyboard with Ableton Live Intro to create music. I spent several hours after receiving the keyboard testing the keys (I was concerned after the defective unit) and checking out the various functions. I haven't even scratched the surface yet, but I am giving the keyboard a decent rating. I'll report back if my opinion changes over time.
The headphones that were included with this package deal are ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. It's not worth my time to return them, especially since I already went through the hassle of returning the entire first keyboard package. The right channel of the headphones didn't work AT ALL right out of the package. These no-name, god-awful headphones are already in the trash. I ordered the package to get the power adapter and the stand anyway, so it's not a big lose. Still, you don't like to feel ripped off in any way.
The stand that came with this package is quite sturdy. It certainly isn't anything fancy, but it was easy to put together and it seems strong enough to last years.

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If you're looking for a reasonably priced piano replacement, look no further than the YPG-235. It is the music student or professional musicians' answer to 'I need more keys!" and many music teachers encourage new students to get a keyboard that will grow with their needs. It features 76 non-weighted keys that not only look like piano keys but have a Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, making it easier for a budding musician to move to an acoustic or digital piano.The YPG-235 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The YPG-235 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.The YPG-235 also has 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on included CD-ROM 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.This package includes a pair of professional closed-cup headphones, X-style keyboard stand, and power supply.

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Casio PX-130 88-Key Digital Stage Piano Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My first keyboard was a Casio. My brother bought it for me when I was 12. It was little more than a 24 note toy, but it was mine and I was proud to own it. As I grew into my music and more serious about performing, I became jaded and picky about my instruments. Casio had a well earned reputation for being cheap, low end starter boards. The most expensive keyboard I ever owned was a Yamaha DX7 FD. Until now, I never owned a full sized, 88 note keyboard, let alone, a keyboard with realistic action.
Enter the Casio PX-130.
Exit all my preconceptions about Casio.
Look and Feel: I love the classic, uncluttered look of the instrument. It has minimal buttons and lights. There is no screen. It first and foremost wants to be a piano. It succeeds. It will look right at home in a studio, a church, or a living room. As for feel, when playing, I have to remind myself that it is not an acoustic. My fingers are convinced that these keys are attached to a big, wooden cabinet in the form of a traditional piano. I did not get a chance to see one of these in a store before buying. I was worried the keys would feel cheap. Needless to say, my expectations were blown away from the first touch. You will not be disappointed.
Sound: If you know what a piano sounds like, you know what this sounds like. I won't pretend to know how all the high end electronic pianos sound, but they can't possibly be head and shoulders above this one. Just as my fingers are easily convinced they are playing an acoustic piano, my ears are equally convinced. If you are thinking about buying an acoustic piano for your home, do it only for the value of a classic piece of furniture, not for the sound. This casio sounds so much better than 90% of the pianos I've played in the homes of people I have visited. The speakers are more than sufficient for most common uses. High notes sound like they originate from the right of center while the opposite is true for low notes, just like you would expect from an acoustic piano. Such full and realistic sound from such a compact package is shocking. You will not be disappointed.
Features: This keyboard has several other sounds besides the traditional piano. To my ear, they are all quite good. Not everyone will find use for all of the sounds, but all of the sounds will be useful to many people. I will not take the time here to describe each sound. There are YouTube videos that do a good job of that. IMO, this keyboard would be well worth it just for the piano sound; the others make for a great bonus. You can split the keyboard to play two different sounds, or you can combine two different sounds to make one composite sound. There is a library of songs built into the memory that are readily accessible. You can even transfer files from your computer to be played on the keyboard. Speaking of computers, this is a great companion for a midi enabled computer, Mac or PC. I use a Mac. After connecting a USB cable, I was instantly able to use the keyboard to trigger the midi in all three of my music creation programs: GarageBand, Logic Studio, and Band in a Box. I experienced no detectable latency in any of the programs. It just worked. You can even record your performances directly in the piano's memory and send them to your computer for editing and use with other programs. There are many useful features. You will not be disappointed.
Value: It is worth every penny of the asking price. Even so, you can find even better deals if you are willing to do a bit of searching. Yes, this is a Casio. No, this is not even the top model in the Privia line. Do not let the low price or the name brand trick you into passing this one up. From now on, I will look at Casio before looking at Yamaha or Roland. Yes, I feel just as silly writing such a thing as you do reading it. But there it is. I have got to believe that the Casio PX-130 is the best keyboard value going right now.
Cons: By no measure can this be considered a toy. Having said that, it is still made out of plastic. Nor is it that good polycarbonate stuff Apple uses for the white MacBook line. It is not industrial grade anything. It is just plain old cheap plastic. I suggest you buy a good case if you are going to travel with it. Also, be prepared for a small learning curve. Because there are so few buttons, most of the functions can only be accessed through the use of a function key paired with one or more of the 88 playable keys. That is a slightly annoying, but acceptable trade-off for having an uncluttered look. Finally, I wish there was more than one USB port. Once you have such a useful device, you will think of many ways to use another USB port or two. That is more of a wish list item than a complaint.
Conclusion: Despite the minor gripes, I gladly gave it five stars. In fact, I plan to buy another one specifically for travel. I do not write many reviews, but I felt it was important to do my part in getting the word out about this product. Casio should be rewarded for what they have done. They have successfully reinvented themselves and we are the beneficiaries. You will not be disappointed.

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The new Casio Privia PX-130 redefines the digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance in a sleek package that is supremely portable. Featuring all new grand piano samples and a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard and weighing less than 25 lbs., the Casio Privia PX-130 is versatile enough for home, church, school or on stage.

Realism, Expression and Dynamics The grand piano sounds in the PX-130 delivers an unprecedented level of realism and expression. Four dynamic layers of stereo piano samples are integrated with Casio's proprietary Linear Morphing System, resulting in a grand piano sound with seamless transitions and a superior dynamic range. For added realism, the PX-130 simulates the sound of the open strings when the dampers are raised by the pedal using Acoustic Resonance DSP. The PX-130 also has 128-note polyphony, enough horsepower for the most demanding musical passages and the ability to layer sounds and use the damper pedal without worry of dropped notes. The result is a grand piano experience that is unmatched at any price.
Expressive Touch The Privia PX-130 features a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard. Casio's superior engineering has resulted in an authentic piano touch that captures every detail and nuance of your performance.This scaled hammer action provides the weight, feel and resistance without sacrificing the portability of the instrument.
Education Features In addition to the superior keyboard action and piano sound, the PX-130 is the perfect instrument for music education. Featuring Casio's Duet mode, the keyboard can be split into two equal ranges, allowing student and teacher to play at the keyboard simultaneously.The PX-130's built-in 2 track recorder and metronome allows you to practice any tempo and later listen back to what you just played.The recording features can also be used to capture moments of creativity and remember song ideas. The optional SP-32 pedal board simulates an acoustic grand piano by providing all three pedals - soft, sostenuto and damper.
Connect and Create It's easy to connect the PX-130 to your computer with its built in USB MIDI interface. The PX-130's 88-note weighted scaled hammer action keyboard makes it an ideal controller keyboard for using with music software applications. The USB connection also allows you to move songs to and from the computer into PX-130's flash ROM, allowing to you save songs you've created.
Versatility, Portability and Design Whether you're at home, church, school or on stage, the PX-130 was designed to tackle it all, making it a valuable investment. With its light weight, you can easily take the PX-130 from home, to the classroom or even to the gig and back with no worries. It connects easily to your computer via USB, and its Duet mode is perfect for student and teacher practice. The technology in the Casio PX-130 allows you to do it all.
Plenty of Variety Choose from 16 built in tones, and combine if desired--layered or split. Further define your sounds with four digital reverbs, four choruses, along with a brilliance and acoustic resonance setting.
Two Headphone Connections The PX-130 features two headphone connections, ideal for the duet function.
Powerful Speaker System The PX-130 features built-in speakers, with 2 x 8 Watts of output power, to fill a room with sound.
Accessorize With the optional SP-32 three-pedal unit, add damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals to the PX-130.
Optional Custom Wood Stand The CS-67 custom wood stand is available for adding a bit of elegance and holding your PX-130 at ideal level.
What's in the Box Privia PX-130 Keyboard, AC Adapter, Music Stand, User's Manual

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