Feed: History Of The Piano - AggScore: 23.1

E-MU EM8628 Proteus X2 is a 24-bit/192kHz Software Sound Module with E-MU Xmidi 2x2 USB/MIDI Interface & 3GB Sound Library Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Let me start by saying that Proteus X2 can only be used with the E-MU midi controllers... so buyer beware!!
This software is incredible!!! It turns the E-MU midi controller into a custom keyboard with more sounds then you could ever imagine. In addition to the 4 discs worth of sounds/drum patterns that came with this program, I purchased the E-MU xBoard25 which came with an additional 3 discs worth of sounds (Protean Drums, Mo Phatt, and World sounds) all out of the ESC soundsets. The proteus program in itself allows you to manipulate any of the included sounds to however you desire and provides you with limitless possibilities while creating music. I am using this program in tandem with Sonar 3 producer edition and after a little bit of work with the plug in's it was up and running without any problems. The Sound quality of the samples/sounds included are top rate as well.... Overall.. I Would highly recommend this software to anyone looking for a good sound bank!!

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E-MU's Proteus X2 is a 24-bit/192kHz software sound module for your PC that combines the sound quality, advanced synthesis and Z-Plane filters of legendary sound modules like the Morpheus and Mo'Phatt with E-MU's latest groundbreaking tools like TwistaLoop�, Morph Filter Designer and Multi-Function Generator. Proteus X2 is the culmination of over 15 years of sound module development, and offers an arsenal of unparalleled tools to effortlessly dial in the right sound in seconds.

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Behringer B2030A Active 2-Way Reference Studio Monitor Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these to use a piano monitors for a compact space. The sound reproduction is quite good, and it is really quite nifty that they come with a hand-signed frequency response diagram for each speaker to show that the response for the specific speaker you bought is flat across the supported spectrum.
Sound quality: I played various types of music through these, and also used them as monitors for a Yamaha Electric Piano. The lowest end of the bass seems a bit weak, but I'm used to a 3 cubic foot subwoofer, so I'm probably biased. I had no complaints about the volume levels. These speakers do not give any impression of being underpowered for filling an office-sized room. I was slightly disappointed in the output when used with the piano (which was the primary reason for purchase). They sound good, but I believe the bottom end was lacking enough to make it sound less like a real piano that I'd like. Word of warning for those using these with a computer: the inputs are all "line in" impedance matched. Hooking them to a headphone jack noticeably degrades the quality. Turning the input trims all the way down seems to help.
Inputs: 1/4" and XLR. Neither of these are impedance matched for headphone jacks, which means that your computer needs to have a true "line out". They work great with my Mac Pro, but my two MacBook Pro's only have headphone out, and this ends up causing some noticeable distortion.
Adjustments: Each speaker has it's own amplifier (and power cord). The amplifier has some switch-based adjustments to help with the sound of the speakers in various placements (from free-standing to in a corner). The input trims are useful if you are coming from a source that isn't impedance matched, or has a variable amount of signal-to-noise based on output (e.g., our electric piano puts out a better signal at higher volumes, but then is too loud without this trim turned down).
Manufacturing/Build: The first thing you'll notice: these suckers are _heavy_. This is a good sign, in that a critical part of good sound in a speaker is the neutrality of the cabinet. A lightweight cabinet almost always means a reduction in sound quality. These are designed in Germany, but built in China. I was kinda hoping this wasn't the case, but it is. I was hoping any of the materials would pass European indoor air quality standards, but I seriously doubt it. They smell very strongly of glue when you first get them. I ran a 40Hz waveform at high volume through them for several weeks in order to help get the smell out. They are much better now, but the gasses they were putting off made my respiratory system feel a bit bad (my throat got really scratchy, etc), and I felt a bit dizzy from them at first. I would _not_ recommend these to people who have environmental injuries (as my partner does).
Overall, these are good powered speakers at a great price. If you don't have a true "line out" on whatever source you use to drive them, you might be disappointed.

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High-Resolution, Active 2-Way Reference Studio Monitor (price per pair, only sold in pairs)

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Ensoniq Asr 10 Review

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(More customer reviews)Ah... the ASR-10. This was a pivotal sampling synthesizer back in the 90's when it was made. The technology behind this sampler still has musicians, engineers and songwriters still looking for some version of the ASR series (they made an ASR-10, ASR-10m rackmount, ASR-88 and ASR-X). It was a fully blown workstation sampler that gave you the ability to actually record a full song (vocals, effects and all) right out of the box. This machine had it all.
First and foremost it is a sampler. A 16 bit 40kHz sampler to be exact. While sample rates are at 24 bit and 192kHz these days back then 40kHz was the best to be had in samplers, and it's still full CD quality. On top of that you get a whole host of sample editing parameters like looping, crossfading, volume smoothing, time comp, and more. While that's nice and everything the editing really doesn't stop there. Keep in mind this is a sampling SYNTHESIZER. That means you have also all the benefits of having that sample be a wave form that you can edit with a host of parameters including LFO, two digital filters, three envelope generators, and 15 other modulation sources. Want a layered sound? No problem. The ASR-10 can layer up to eight samples together into a single patch.
Each of those patches you create with the samples can have some added juice with an integrated 24 bit effects processor. How many effects? Try 62 effects you can edit fully. These aren't just cheap reverbs and delays. These are the same effects found in the world class DP/4 and DP/2 effects processors. People are still raving about how lush the signal processing is. Choruses, flanges, multi-tap delays, speaker effects, distortion, reverb, phasers... you have it all in one unit.
I did say this is a workstation so you get a 16 track sequencer and 31 voice multi-timbral capabilities on the ASR-10. The sequencer is really easy to use and you can even sample while playing the sequencer. I used to work at a music store back when this baby was out and it was a HUGE seller in the hip hop music genre. While the Akai MPC series was a superior sequencer many artists prefer the sampling and synthesis of Ensoniq for their mixes. Some hip hop artists that used the ASR-10 in their recordings were Kanye West, Alchemist and Pharell Williams.
Remember when I said you can pretty much make your entire song with this one machine? Well you can, but it's tricky with the stock model (having only 2 MB of memory). Some of the "tricks" include things like sampling your vocals in pieces that can be keyed to cut down on sample time. You can also use the tape mode which makes the ASR-10 pretty much a two track digital recorder and record straight to memory or an external SCSI hard drive.
The stock ASR-10 didn't come with a lot of memory, but it can be upgraded to 16MB (I forget the specific kind, but it's was an industry standard a long time ago... check eBay for ASR memory). The stock unit also didn't come with the SCSI interface used for plugging in an external hard drive or Zip drive (100 and 250 MB capacity). I strongly recommend looking for that option as it greatly increases the ASR's capabilities. Other options include an eight output breakout box and digital out.
There is quite a sizable library out for the ASR-10. Many of the samples from that library have ended up in the Proteus X and Emulator X libraries. Again just check out eBay and you should find a ton of samples ready to go. Also you don't have to just settle for editing from the sampler's onboard LCD display. One good editing tool out there is Ensoniq MIDI/Disk Tools by Rubber Chicken Software. It makes sample editing a lot easier.
Does it all sound good? Well it's not. Remember this is a vintage sampler synthesizer. The thing has no internal storage space; which means you have to load the operating system and samples and sequences every time you turn on the machine. Just keep that in mind. If you are looking for a sweet hardware sampler with a ready made library of killer sounds then this may be a nice addition to your collection.

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ASR 10 This is a rare keyboard worth alot of money! There are no more left for real you are lucky to see this one trust me good luck it's here for you and comes with a flight case included in price.

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Kurzweil PC3X 88 Note Performance Controller and V.A.S.T. Workstation Keyboard, Hammer Action Keys, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I've just come back from my local music store after trying the PC3X and the SP2, and being assured by the earnest young sales clerk that the Kurzweil reps had told him their primary audience was not the workstation programmer but, as the name suggests, the "performer," who simply requires the best piano possible for his Saturday night gigging.
But no one could answer my questions about the instrument, nor could anyone draw up one of the many acoustic pianos for a head to head face-off between the PC3 and the SP2. This is a heavy board with everything on it and a steep learning curve--along with over a thousand voices and set-ups. Do I wish to spend a week learning how to call up a few of the most practical voices? Do I want to haul around 60 pounds worth of artillery (excluding power adapters, amplifiers, etc)? Do I really want an RMI piano sound (one of my first pianos, made by Rocky Mountain Industries, aka Allen Organ) and the Take 6 samples? (What! No Frank Sinatra sample?) Lastly, could I resist a price just under 2 grand?
The answer is yes. I decided on the SP2 (I've gone through three SP76s, and the SP2 has 76 notes plus semi-weighted rather than fully weighted keys. Significance: a keyboard you can actually carry). I have doubts about Kurzweil's concern for the performer even with respect to the SP line. While in the store, I couldn't figure out how to access the basses or layer on a ride cymbal. And the thing comes with a gratuitous drum machine. But it's at least 25 pounds lighter than the PC3. Nuff said.
(if you want a more practical piano, but only slightly less heavy instrument, with fully-weighted action, look at the recently discontinued PC1se, which the same Amazon vendor, 8th Street Music, is advertising at a great price (same as the SP2). I would have ordered it--but a roadie apparently doesn't come with it.)

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The PC3 series from Kurzweil is built on our Kurzweil custom chip technology. The PC3 chip allows for more polyphony, more effects power, seamless effects switching, superb sound quality and a long list of exciting new features.With a sleek new look on the outside, and an arsenal of Kurzweil's latest cutting edge chip technology under its hood, the 88 note PC3X delivers 128 voices of incredible sound quality along with a host of powerful, easy to use features. The PC3X is Kurzweil's ultimate performance controller keyboard, with an enormous collection of stunning sounds combined with comprehensive real-time controller functions. In addition to our renowned Triple Strike Grand Piano, the PC3X features hundreds of new sounds; basses, drums, guitars, and synthesizers suited for every style and taste, along with a collection of flawless vintage keyboard emulations, KB3 Mode and over 250 orchestral and string section programs. The PC3X's new Dynamic V.A.S.T. architecture is a huge step forward in synthesis, the fruit of several major strides we've made in improving processing power, flexibility and user-friendliness. Good news for synthesizer enthusiasts - the VA-1 Virtual Analog Synthesizer has been seamlessly integrated into the new system! For good measure, it includes an unlimited-track sequencer with 960 PPQ resolution and more effects processing power than our acclaimed KSP8 processor, making the PC3X a full blown music production workstation. Add in USB, flash xD card port, a newly designed keyboard action, and a new intuitive user interface, and you've got the next generation of Kurzweil instruments. It's a performance controller. It's a synthesizer. It's a workstation.

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Gator GK261R ATA Keyboard Case with Wheels Review

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(More customer reviews)An excellent case and must have for any gigging musician.
Well constructed and with those all essential wheels.
I have used my Gator GK cases (GK261R and GK276R) for years and my keyboards are totally safe.

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Gator Deluxe Molded Keyboard Cases are manufactured from military grade Polyethylene!Don't trust your favorite keyboard inside anything less.Gator Cases are loaded with features you can trust. Recessed zinc plated latches make this a true flight-ready case. For ease in moving your keyboard around, the case has built-in in-line skate-style wheels and a comfortable handle to pull it with. The interior features a Gator exclusive design that utilizes adjustable padded straps that allow you to strap your keyboard securely into place during transportation. Gator is truly the first hard shell solution for keyboards at a price that is affordable.GAT GK26161 Key Case; 44 x 17.375 x 6 inchesGAT GK276R76 Key Case; 51.25 x 18 x 6 inchesGAT GK288R88 Key Case; 59 x 19 x 6.625 inchesGAT GK288SLIM88 Key Slim Case; 54 x 15 x 16 inchesLimited Lifetime WarrantyThe people at Gator are proud of their products and want you to be proud to use them. If there is any defect, they will be happy to replace or repair it for you. Do not hesitate tocontact Gator Caseswith any warranty questions or claims.

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Alesis QS8.2 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought the original QS8 11 years ago... and just bought this for our church. Love the action! Lighter than the QS8, same sounds and quality. So far it has been a great keyboard! Too bad Alesis quit making them.

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An Alesis QS8.2 64 Voice Expandable Synthesizer gives you awesome sounds, great action and unbelievable value. It's loaded with stunning pianos and keyboards, a soup-to-nuts collection of orchestral instruments. The QS8.2 also has killer drum and percussion kits and enough synth textures, fat basses, and sizzling leads to keep dance musicians and remixers grooving into the next time zone. Deep programmable synth architecture and four-bus effects processor add the finishing touches. Add fresh samples from the extensive QCard library. The QS8.2 keeps your fingers flying for a down-to-earth price. Programmable pitch, modulation wheels and foot pedals Assignable aux. & sustain pedal MIDI in, out, and through QS Parallel Matrix Effects -4 independent stereo multieffect processing busses -- reverb, chorus, distortion, EQ, delay, rotary speaker simulation, and more Program mode -512 preset, 128 user Mix mode -400 preset, 100 user Expansion -Type I PCMCIA slot, compatible with QCards, SRAM and flash cards (up to 8MB) with 120ns access time or faster Audio outputs -Stereo L/R (1/4), headphone (1/4) Power -Internal transformer Dimensions(HxWxD) -4.3 x 50.5 x 13.5 (110 x 1283 x 343 mm) Weight -48.0 lbs (21.8 kg)

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CAKEWALK Dimension Pro Virtual Synthesizer Win/Mac Review

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(More customer reviews)I started with Dimension LE bundled with Cakewalk Home Studio 6 XL, but upgraded to Pro when they ran an upgrade deal. The more I use Dimension, the more I like it... it's now the primary synth in my virtual rack. Free upgrade sound packs and a software update are available on the Cakewalk web site, be sure to download. The grand piano is particularly striking, as are all the string patches in the Garritan Pocket Orchestra; very realistic sounding.
The manual is pretty weak in terms of describing how to create new sounds beyond the presets (there are whole books available on that topic), however the synth is capable of quite an array of sounds and includes a large number of built-in effects that can be chained together. The envelope generation editors allow envelopes to be applied to just about every facet of the sound module; thus using the included analog waveform samples (saw, square, etc.) you can actually make some pretty interesting analog synth-style sounds; check out some of the presets to see how this is done.
So right in the box you get a very nice sampler synth, that also can be programmed like an analog synth using raw waveform samples and the effects/oscillators, capable of stacking up to four samples at once each with separate envelopes and useful effects, that is even capable of firing MIDI sequences/loops as well, with MIDI controller/note mapping any of the settings in the patch... this is pretty much a "work horse" synth.
As a result I find I reach for Dimension as my first choice when adding a virutal synth. It's simply a great, versatile, all-round synth with a huge library of presets (counting the free downloads something like 8 _Gig_ of samples!) and an amazing amount of control to find that perfect sound. The user interface is indeed a bit daunting, so I would probably recommend getting one of the books available on Amazon if you want to dig deeper than the presets (of which counting the free addons must be around 2000 or so presets).
It may not be the perfect sampler synth, or the perfect analog-sound synth, or the perfect loop player... but it does a very decent job of all three of those with a high degree of controllability for the musician, so it's quite a nice "1-stop shop" once you get to know it.

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Dimension Pro combines real instruments with advanced synthesis. This two-DVD sound library has over 1500 sound programs, with tools that are ideal for preset addicts, while its deep editing and sound generation capabilities should appeal to sound designers. It offers n abundance of sounds that range from pristine realistic acoustic instruments, thumping basses, cutting leads, to complex, evolving atmospheres.Multi-stage effects sections and filters -insert and send effects for each part including -Bit reducer and Decimator 16 filter types; 5 tone drive modes; 3 stackable parametric EQs; 6 delay types; 3 chorus types; LFO filters; Autopan Room simulation and modulation effects Mix and layer up to 4 stereo parts per program Vector Mixer for real-time sound morphing - morph sounds by gliding between the different elements of a program Drag-and-drop MIDI into host applications for groove manipulation

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Ivory II: Italian Grand Review

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(More customer reviews)I just received my copy of Ivory's Italian Grand II and I am very impressed with the sound and sensitivity of this instrument. I also own Ivory Grands and my favorite among those (Bosendorfer, Steinway, Yamaha) is the Steinway. My setup is Mac-based. I have a Mac Pro set up with a striped RAID array for video and Ivory pianos and I use an EMU 404 USB for the MIDI input. I use Bose headphones for playback.
The Italian Grand II blew me away. I will be spending many hours recording on this piano. The sound is magnificent. I have been waiting for 15 years for the technology to get this good. I am not sure if I will get better results from my 7ft 6inch Kawai grand but I will have fun comparing them. If you enjoy playing piano and you have a decent computer setup (external firewire 800 drive or eSATA or RAID array, 2GB RAM (or more) and dual processors) and MIDI keyboard, this product is a no-brainer. You're going to have fun - I guarantee it!
Rumor is that this is a Fazioli and I would not be surprised. I played a Fazioli once in a store and it is exquisite. This makes you want to take out all your music out and settle in for the day! Fantasic value!

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Ivory II Italian Grand is the second product in Synthogy's newest generation of virtual piano technology. Featuring a greatly expanded sound set of the extraordinary 10 foot Concert Grand Piano, and fully integrated with the powerful new Ivory II piano DSP engine with Harmonic Resonance Modeling for true Sympathetic String Vibration, Ivory II Italian Grand shines like never before.This exceptional piano is one of the world's greatest and most sought after Concert instruments. Handcrafted in Italy, it is also one of the world's most expensive and exclusive Concert Grands, renowned for its expressive dynamics and full-bodied character. Its tone is remarkably versatile, equally at home in large scale classical works, intimate jazz playing, as well as a full range of pop styles. The beauty of this instrument is captured in greater detail than ever, with up to 18 velocity levels, additional soft pedal and release samples and pedal noise enhancements. Synthogy's decades of expertise in piano development, along with proprietary "timbre interpolation" technology combine to deliver the unrivaled playability and expressiveness that Ivory is famous for.Ivory II Italian Grand is the second product in Synthogy's newest generation of virtual piano technology. Featuring a greatly expanded sound set of the extraordinary 10 foot Concert Grand Piano, and fully integrated with the powerful new Ivory II piano DSP engine with Harmonic Resonance Modeling for true Sympathetic String Vibration, Ivory II Italian Grand shines like never before.

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Yamaha PSR-E213 61-key Portable Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)It really does not look like a professional keyboard but it could be a beautiful present for a beginner. Got it for [...] so its well worth the money. I would recommend the starter kit that comes separate for [...] more. It includes a headphone,footswitch,an adapter and a DVD.

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The perfect beginner keyboard, the Yamaha PSR-E213 with Portable Grand stereo piano and the Yamaha Education Suite also features 'Listen and Learn' function for learning songs, and is General MIDI (GM), and XGlite compatible. In addition, the PSR-E213 is an unbelievable bargain as a full-size MIDI controller.

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Yamaha DGX200 76-Key Electronic Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)I have plyed piano professionally and have a degree in music. i have a very expensive Yamaha Clavinova (as well as a real piano)
i bought this thinking of it as a toy for my 22 year old who suddenly wants to play. it has a fabulous piano sound (better than the expensive triton). the built in piano lessons are really helpful. my favorite part is when i taught piano, i could never get kids to practice one hand at a time. this keyboard will play the left hand for you as you play the right and vice versa. my daughter loved that it would record and play back what she had just played.

i always discoraged parents from having their kids practice on keyboards but the touch of these keys is very realistic. i would recommend it to someone starting out in piano not wanting to make that huge investment until they were sure they would continue.
but, as a keyboard (not a tiny piano) there are enough sounds and gimics for a beginner in keyboards but not for someone who really is into all the synthesizer effects.
But, what is this? no power cord? and no sustain pedal. the pedal i can understand but no power cord - that is just too cheap. they should at least put a huge notice on the front of the box that you're going to have to buy one separately.
still, i was shocked at the quality considering the price.

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Yamaha DGX200 76-Key Electronic Keyboard

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Yamaha PSR-295 Portatone 61-Key Touch-Sensitive Musical Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)[Please note that this product is available from Amazon under three packagings: PSR-295 (no adapter) PSR-295AD (includes adapter) and PSR-295MS (includes adapter and stand). I bought the PSR-295MS package.]
I got this full-length keyboard at a great price of $190 with included adapter and keyboard. Both accessories are a must, since this thing is huge.
The product shipped in two days (from PA to MD) with free shipping. I was delighted to find a helpful instructional DVD in the package to get started with the basics, so I didn't have to go through the manual, except for detailed and advanced features.
Also included was a Song Book, with staff music for some popular songs. It's great for someone who knows how to read music - I'm still learning to. There's also software to transfer music between PC and keyboard.
"Portable Grand" is just a one-touch button option to set the keyboard to Grand Piano mode. Of course, this cannot be expected to sound as great or realistic as a high-end digital piano or an expensive wooden one. However, the touch sensitive feature makes it as realistic as possible.
Here are the features I liked:
* Display shows notes and chords being played in three ways - staff notation, note name (ex. E# m7 aug etc.), and graphical (actual keys on a diagram).
* Truly Touch (Force) Sensitive Keys (can be toggled on/off).
* 487 Voices (incl. ~360 XGLite voices).
* 136 Accompaniment Styles to play along.
* Built-in songs which can be practised using Yamaha Education Suite. (Buil-in feature).
* Jog Dial to move between voice/style/song numbers.
* Flash memory to record your songs.
* Direct USB connection (MIDI-USB connecter cable *not* required - that cable would cost around $40).
* Software to transfer songs and voices between PC and keyboard.
* Truly stero output (not just two speakers).
* Phono/Line-Out socket.
* Sustain pedal socket (pedal not included).
Here are some things I didn't like:
* USB cable not included. ($7 extra from Amazon).
* Volume sometime seems a little low. But then, you can always pass output through amps if you really need it that loud.
* No mic or line-in socket.
* Phono out uses 1/4 inch pin. Had to buy a 1/8 to 1/4 converter from RadioShack.
* LCD display is highly "directional", visible only when looking at a particular angle. This is not much of a problem when playing sitting. However, if playing standing, this may be a little inconvenient.
* No sustain toggle switch. If you don't have a sustain pedal, turning sustain on/off manually takes a couple of steps.
Overall, at under $190, free shipping and included adapter and stand, this is a great buy for beginners as well as advanced users.
I had a Yamaha PSS-11 long back. It was a good beginner keyboard but it soon outgrew me, since you couldn't play it with two hands. Overall, I like Yamaha quality and find their keyboards much more professional than Casio ones (maybe I'm wrong). Of course, "real" professionals would use KORG, but that'll be upwards of $1000! :)

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Yamaha PSR295 61-Key Touch-Sensitive Keyboard Musical Instrument - The Yamaha PSR295 represents a breakthrough in interactive playing, learning, and offers new horizons for the musician. In addition to MIDI connectivity, this is the first time that Yamaha has been able to offer USB on a portable keyboard at such a breakthrough price. Its 'one cable' setup makes it easy to connect the PSR295 and your computer. You can have the ability of creating, editing, and scoring compositions using software on your PC system. The opportunities are virtually endless. Other features include a 6-track sequencer for recording songs and performances, plus 487 selectable instrument voices, including Yamaha's ultra realistic Portable Grand Piano function. The PSR295 comes with 135 built-in styles which will follow your playing like a built-in band. Choose from one of the 30 internal or 70 CD-ROM songs, or download songs from the Web.Easy Song Arranger allows song playback in any of 135 accompaniment styles Portable Grand for the realism of a stereo grand piano Yamaha Education Suite with exercises, interactive lessons and the innovative Your Tempo learning mode, which allows the user to learn songs by progressing at a suitable rate; may repeat any difficult sections On-Board Sequencer records up to 5 songs in 6 tracks 2-way speakers, bass ports & Bass Boost System provide great sound quality Large back-lit LCD shows musical staff & chords Headphone & sustain pedal jacks (headphones and pedals are optional) Includes Digital Music Notebook software for Windows PC

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M-Audio Session KeyStudio Review

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(More customer reviews)This is probably a bigger keyboard than I needed, since it has a handy "up-down" scale button on the side. The program does work very well and it's easy to record all your own tracks with a wide variety of sounds and instruments. I find myself manually changing the latency in the options a lot whenever I go between different pre-recorded noises, but otherwise it all sounds right, although personally I could go for a few more instruments and adjustments than offered. Also, for some reason there isn't a USB Stop option in my Windows for these devices, and when I went to unplug the USBs anyway, it blue screened me. So now I restart the comp after each session. Oh well. Session is still a fine program for those who wish to compile their own music without learning or playing any expensive instruments (other than one keyboard). It may not be as good as it could, but honestly I think it's the best in it's field that you can install on a PC.

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M-Audio's Session KeyStudio is the make-music-now keyboard studio for the PC. Its combination of the KeyStudio 49-note USB keyboard and included Session music software gives you much more flexibility than standalone keyboards that have a limited number of built-in sounds. With Session KeyStudio, you can use the keyboard to play hundreds of different instrument sounds--including piano, organ, synths and more--in the included Session software. Setup is simple--just install and launch the software, plug in the keyboard and included high-performance audio interface, and start playing. Session KeyStudio also turns your PC into a full-featured recording studio that's so easy to use, you'll be laying tracks and mixing professional-sounding songs in no time.

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Yamaha DGX-205AD Portable Electronic Keyboard with Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)This keyboard seems to fall near the low end of Yamaha's middle series of electronic keyboards, judging by price and features. But it has everything I was looking for: large number of voices (400+), great sound, 76 keys, MIDI capability, USB interface. It also has teaching/learning tools, sequencing, styles/rhythms etc., but I wasn't as interested in those. The sound that comes out of this machine is wonderful. Even just the basic grand piano sound is terrific, and all the other instruments are incredibly realistic. The touch-sensitive keys are also a nice feature, and you can hook up an external sustain pedal (not included).
The previous reviewer who blasted this machine for having a long boot-up time and hissy sound is just plain wrong. This thing switches on and is ready to play instantly, and I haven't heard any kind of hiss, even at full volume.
This package came with a power adapter, which you would think is a given, but apparently is not in this product segment. It also came with a CD-ROM with software and drivers for the computer, and a DVD with some training videos. We've watched a couple and they're very easy to follow. The keyboard seems reasonably well built, but is also very light weight for its size so it should be easy to move around. I bought the Z-lock stand to go along with this also through amazon and it's a good fit. My only complaints are that some of the controls (like the jog dial and some of the pushbuttons) have a somewhat mushy feel that makes me wonder how they will hold up over time, and there doesn't appear to be a way to secure the keyboard to a stand. The piano keys themselves have a nice, springy feel with a decent amount of resistance that makes it easy to modulate the touch-sensitive response.

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For the more serious musician in your life, start them off right with the DGX205. It features 76 keys, double the power of the next model down and a professional pitch bend wheel for more expressive playing of brass and string instruments. The larger keyboard, important for professionals, is also valuable for aspiring musicians. In fact many music teachers encourage new students to get a keyboard that will grow with their needs. Learning to play songs moves to a new level of simplicity with the new "Your Tempo" learning mode. Call up a song, press left hand or right hand or both at once for two-handed learning, and the keyboard will speed up and slow down as you do, literally following you through the song. Once you get accustomed to where the notes are, you can keep the keyboard at one fixed tempo to learn correct timing. If you find one section of the song a little difficult, simply engage the "Repeat and Learn" button and the DGX205 will stay on that section, repeating it until you feel comfortable.The DGX205 has many state of the art features to make connecting to your PC as quick and easy as possible. These features include the PC Button, which takes a snapshot of your MIDI settings so that you can instantly return to them with just the press of a single button, and a USB port for transferring song data from your computer. In addition, the USB port acts as a MIDI interface, freeing you from having to purchase other MIDI peripherals like cables and adapters to play music. Simply connect to your computer, open your favorite music software program and hit PLAY. The DGX205 comes equipped with 487 voices that include stereo-sampled Piano, a selection of Sweet! Voices including Trumpet, Flute, Pan Flute, Soprano and Tenor Saxes, Cool! Organ and Electric Piano, 10 Drum Kits and 2 Sound Effects Kits. Sweet! Special voices from Yamaha that reproduce all the natural expression and vibrato of their respect

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Casio PX130 Privia Keyboard with CS67 Keyboard Stand Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I agree with the reviews that discuss the feel and the sound, truly remarkable for such an entry level piano, you could not possibly be disappointed. For $449 up here in Canada it included the stand and the three pedals and a fairly substantial four legged padded stool. The total package is very sturdy if you put it together properly. I have no idea where the $800+ price tag mentioned on this site comes from. I give it five stars and thank Costco for marketing it at a fantastic price, amazing value. Not a toy, not polished ebony, but a really inexpensive entry level digital piano that sounds and feels very impressive. Yes it's a Casio folks, get over it, accept the fact that they have just moved the bar to a new level.

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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.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.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.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.88 weighted, scaled hammer-action keys 128-note polyphony 16 tones (with layer and split) Reverb (4 types), Chorus (4 t

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Smokers Relight Deux (WAV, REX, Reason Refills) Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The first Smokers collection quickly became a user-standard, filling every inch of its product with usable, well-crafted loops and loads of deconstructed hits. All of the hype for Smokers 1 was for good reason.
No surprise that this sequel gets the same media treatment, much of it deserved. But a closer look at the collection exposes a slight flaw that keeps it from a 5-star rating: the beats are too much alike over too much of the disc. Sure, the drum SOUNDS are different, but the beats from folder to folder are mostly cut from the "Keep On Movin'"/Lisa Stansfield cloth. I'd have liked more variety in the rhythms themselves, more backbeats, more play. Some people would call this kind of one-beat regimen "working within the genre." Sure...if the genre is two songs deep.
That said, they compensate a great deal by offering "dropped" variations of the main beat (notice the singular) and more one shots than you can shake your hard drive at. if you like building your beats, this collection gives you some great fodder. It's a worthy addenudum to the original collection, if not quite the classic stand-alone that the previous incarnation was.
A final note: it's horrendously overpriced considering these flaws.

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The long awaited follow up to Smokers Delight is finally here!! 7 Gb on 2 DVD ROMS - Loads of weed smoking, velvet, souly, jazzy trippin, turntablebeats and samples.5000 24 Bit Loops & Samples in 3 formats; WAV, REX2 & a huge 2 Gb Reason REFILL.WAV SECTION (24 BIT) 5012 Loops & Samples in 80, 90 & 100 Bpm. Vinylstyle Break- beats, Hiphop Loops, Hh-Rim Dub Loops, Percussion Loops, Fender Jazz Bass Loops, Rhodes Piano Riffs & Chords, Turntable Fx & Music Loops. Flute, Tenor Sax & Trumpet Riffs, Electric Piano & Vinylstyle Music Chords, HipHop Drum & Fx samples.REX2 (Stylus RMX prepared) 1163 24 Bit Rex2 Loops & Multi-Rex Files. Breakbeats, MPC Hiphop Loops, Percussion Loops, Bass Loops,Rhodes Riffs & Chords, Fx & Turntable Music Loops. Multi-Rex Flute, Tenor Sax, Trumpet Riffs, RhodesPiano Chords, Vinylstyle Music Loops.REFILL (Reason 3.0) 4755 24 Bit Rex2, Multi-Rex & Wav Samples. Vinylstyle Breaks, Hiphop Drum Loops, Hh-Rim Dub Loops,Organ Beatbox Loops, Shaker, Conga & other Percussion Loops, Fender Jazz Bass Loops, Rhodes Riffs & Chords, Fx & Turntable Music Loops, Flute, Tenor Sax, Trumpet Riffs, Rhodes Piano Chords, VinylstyleMusic Loops, HipHop Drum, Fx & Percussion samples. Combinator, Redrum, NN-XT and Effect Patches.

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