Showing posts with label instrument. Show all posts
Showing posts with label instrument. Show all posts

12/16/2012

Yamaha PSRD1 61-Note Dance and Techno Portable Electronic Keyboard Review

Yamaha PSRD1 61-Note Dance and Techno Portable Electronic Keyboard
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Why is it that musical critics who are accustomed to using $5,000.00 workstations frequently give the cheap, portable keyboard, the Yamaha PSR-D1 DJX, such rave reviews? Perhaps it is because underneath its tasteless, plasticy exterior looks lies so much uniqueness and potential for both the informal home hobbyist and the serious recording professional. In this price range, one would probably expect a "family" keyboard that entails multitudes of z-grade patches as well as limited effects and little or no MIDI implementation. However, the majority of the presets are deep, complex, and, most important of all, modern sounding. More amazing is that the sounds can actually be edited and implemented into serious recordings since the DSP, reverb, chorus, and arpeggiator effects are quite effective and innovative for a budget keyboard such as this. The MIDI functions of the DJX are also numerous, though it may be tricky for the typical user to program them into sequences at their fullest potential. Still, this keyboard is very unique and is one of the best keyboards, in any price range, for use in dance-techno styles. Overall, its value and its features makes it one of the few keyboards that is certain to please both the curious hobbyist as well as the recording professional.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha PSRD1 61-Note Dance and Techno Portable Electronic Keyboard

The Yamaha PSRD1 Dance and Techno Keyboard is a 61-key portable keyboard with many advanced features for creating techno and dance tracks. It's your one-stop groove station--complete with a built-in sampler and real-time control knobs. Sample your own parts (from a microphone or CD player), then play them from the keyboard. You can use the knobs, pitch bend wheel, and ribbon controller to change the sound. Simple-to-use editing controls let you fine-tune your samples and even loop them.
The Yamaha PSRD1 features 100 patterns to groove with, 15 drum kits, and 283 voices including hits, scratches, break beats, loops, and human voice samples (with 128 general MIDI voices). It is MIDI-compatible, so you can use this keyboard in conjunction with your PC for even greater variety and control.
Powered by either six D batteries or a Yamaha PA6 power adapter (not included), and weighing only 15 pounds, the Yamaha PSRD1 can go anywhere. This keyboard comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Yamaha PSRD1 61-Note Dance and Techno Portable Electronic Keyboard

Read More...

12/10/2012

Yamaha P37D Pianica, Keyboard Wind Instrument Review

Yamaha P37D Pianica, Keyboard Wind Instrument
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Yamaha P37D Pianica is really a good buy. It is portable and lite, and the sound quality is actually very good, much better than I expected. Volume and clarity of the sound is top notch. I have multiple friends who are musicians including my brother, whom I ended up giving the pianica to, and they all agreed that it's a pretty nice instrument. My bro occasionally plays piano with one hand and plays this thing with the other hand at times, and it works wonderfully. My only qualm about it was that it never feels like you fully get rid of all of the fluid by using the spit valve, but that might just be me being paranoid. Also a strap to hang this over your shoulder or around your neck would have been nice, instead of the hand grip/hand strap on the backside of the pianica. You may not look like the coolest person playing this thing while a tube is hanging from your mouth, but it does get a lot of looks and sounds great. I believe it is the same one that Masa Matsuda uses. [...]
Pros: Great sound quality. Portable because of size and carrying case. $100 is not bad at all for a good instrument that can be taken just about anywhere. Burgundy is a nice color.
Cons: Spit valve, it always feels like it still has some minute amount of condensation/fluid inside? Lack of strap to hang over shoulder/neck. You look goofy playing it :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha P37D Pianica, Keyboard Wind Instrument



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Yamaha P37D Pianica, Keyboard Wind Instrument

Read More...

10/21/2012

Casio CTK7000 61 Key Portable Keyboard Review

Casio CTK7000 61 Key Portable Keyboard
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have both the ctk 7000 and the wk-7500 and they each are worth more than the price. Casio has made a vast improvement on the key bed settings. The annoying click of the keys that plagued earlier models is gone.The keyboars is beautiful to look at. The layout of the switches, buttons and drawbars is very funtional and comprehensive. I did like the blue screen on the ctk 5000 but the well lit screen on the newer models is still pleasant to the eyes as arethe blue lights that indicate the instrument nd rhythym choices.
As I said with the wk 7500, the 7000 is not geared towards novice players in that there are no teaching tools of the 'how to play the piano' variety provided. Earlier Casio models have the play along features for beginners so if that's where you are at, try the Lk series. This is a serious workstation. With 16 tracks for recording per song, you can create incredible pieces for performances or personal satisfaction. An sd card (not included) allows you to save your creations for future use, though you can save up to six songs on the keyboard.The tone editor let's you modify any sound to the point where you can creat an jnfinite number of new sounds. The rhythym editor allows you to modify beats and rhythyms and to also create your own beats and rhythyms. The tones are incredibly realistic, rivalling boards that cause three times as much, and as I previously stated, you can edit what you don't like. The keys are touch sensitive but you canturn off the sensitivity for the entire keyboard or adjust the sensitivity for the individual tones. You can record sounds from outside sources and up to 10 minutes. You cannot change the sounds but you can use them in your compositions.On top of this you get a functioning drawbar organ that puts the organs of many high end boards to shame. This keyboard has 48 note polyphony.
The keyboard connects to the internet with a USB cord. There is however no midi connection with another key board. If you have an IPad, you can connect it to the keyboard to run Appss such as Garage band etc... If you are a serious artist, don't let the price of this board fool you. You get more than you pay for.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio CTK7000 61 Key Portable Keyboard



Buy NowGet 27% OFF

Click here for more information about Casio CTK7000 61 Key Portable Keyboard

Read More...

9/19/2012

Yamaha PSR-175 Music Keyboard with DJ Voices Review

Yamaha PSR-175 Music Keyboard with DJ Voices
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Before I go on, let me state for the record that I have been playing classical piano for over 15 years, and I bought this keyboard for jamming and multitrack recording (both midi/audio).
First, for those who are confused with the entry level Yamaha portable keyboards, the PSR-175 is almost exactly the same as the PSR-175AD and the PSR-172. The only difference is that the PSR-172 is much more widely available than the 175s. That said, let's analyze the more important features:
Keys: You get what you pay for. 61-keys is quite all right for beginners and for those who want to do some basic multitrack recording. Better players should go for a bigger keyboard, unless you don't mind using the transpose feature. However, I gave this keyboard a low rating because the keys are not truly touch-sensitive. These keys are not sensitive to the amount of force you exert on them -- the volume for each key remains the same regardless of the amount of force you exert on it. Instead, the keys are only sensitive to the length of time that they are depressed (this should have been called a portable organ instead). By playing on this keyboard, you will never be able to develop a feel for a real piano which requires varying amounts of force applied to different keys. Thus I would not recommend this keyboard for serious beginning piano players because it only hurts your musical foundation.
As for the other features, the sound patches are adequate for most users and are rather standardized in similar entry-level keyboards. I have no complaints because most of the main instruments are there and sound decent enough (piano, organs, guitars,wind, drums,etc). There is also an automated drum synthesizer that's been preprogrammed to different music genres (e.g. soul, rock, jazz, blues, etc).
Regarding size and weight, this is a small and light keyboard and I have no trouble carrying it around to jamming sessions.
On a final note, I recommend shelling out a little more (about $50) for the PSR-273, another 61-keyboard which is just one step higher and offers touch response keys that feel and react more like a real piano. A touch response key produces a louder sound when you strike it harder, vice-versa. Further, the PSR-273 is only slightly larger and heavier.
Hope this review helps. =)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha PSR-175 Music Keyboard with DJ Voices


Yamaha's 61-keyPSR175 is a full-featured portable, with plenty to offer the budding musician: Yamaha's rich "Portable Grand" sound, an education suite with 100 songs to learn (and several ways to go at it), a wealth of great voices and auto-accompaniment styles, MIDI connectivity, and more.


Yamaha's Portable Grand
The PSR175 may have an entry-level price, but it comes with a host of advanced features like the Portable Grand. The Portable Grand button is perfect for beginners and students. No matter what buttons and features you've been using (for example, the drums or DJ), one touch of the Portable Grand button instantly resets the keyboard to a great grand piano sound, with warm, clear stereo grand samples. And of course, the keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.

"DJ" Function
Get the world of Hip Hop, R&B, Techno and all the hottest music in a snap using your Yamaha keyboard. Push the DJ button, hold down a key with your right hand, and you're groovin'!
Conveinent display helps with songs and lessons.

Buy NowGet 37% OFF

Click here for more information about Yamaha PSR-175 Music Keyboard with DJ Voices

Read More...

8/10/2012

Lyons 25 Note (G-G) Bell Set with Case Review

Lyons 25 Note (G-G) Bell Set with Case
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
These bells are rather high-pitched, and need rubber mallets instead of the included plastic ones, but for the money it's a great value. They are well in tune and adequately sturdy. I'd prefer a less vibrant color, myself, but mostly I'm just glad to have been able to afford a fun instrument for my husband and kids.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Lyons 25 Note (G-G) Bell Set with Case



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Lyons 25 Note (G-G) Bell Set with Case

Read More...

7/19/2012

DBX Driverack RTA Condenser Microphone Review

DBX Driverack RTA Condenser Microphone
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I'm doing research on car audio noise due to subwoofer excitation. I am not 100% sure if this microphone is giving me adequate response for my study, but so far I am pretty impressed considering this is only $100. I'm able to easily quantify noise below 1kHz to at least 110 dB without any doubts. My only complaint so far is that I wish the technical information provided was more detailed but that's because I am doing research, which is more demanding than most applications.

Click Here to see more reviews about: DBX Driverack RTA Condenser Microphone



Buy NowGet 13% OFF

Click here for more information about DBX Driverack RTA Condenser Microphone

Read More...

7/14/2012

Hurricane Harps S32 Student Melodica with Two Mouthpieces and Canvas Case Review

Hurricane Harps S32 Student Melodica with Two Mouthpieces and Canvas Case
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
it was alright at first, but after 1 week it started to breakdown. Some of the keys got off tone and broke but other then that it was what i expected in a cheap melodica!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hurricane Harps S32 Student Melodica with Two Mouthpieces and Canvas Case



Buy NowGet 58% OFF

Click here for more information about Hurricane Harps S32 Student Melodica with Two Mouthpieces and Canvas Case

Read More...

5/30/2012

Essential Songs - The 1980s - Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook Review

Essential Songs - The 1980s - Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have been looking for a good 80's collection to play on my keyboard and trumpet... thankfully I found this. It has everything I could ever want. I do wish there was more but that is just my greed kicking in wanting everything. I think this is an awesome addition for any musician's collection. It is worth the money and is very informative.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Essential Songs - The 1980s - Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Essential Songs - The 1980s - Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook

Read More...

4/17/2012

Hohner S32 Melodica Student Piano Review

Hohner S32 Melodica Student Piano
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This melodica is nice because it's cheaper than Hohner's fancy professional models. And you don't lose much, it seems: it sounds like a melodica should sound, and it can be played with a reasonable degree of musicality, even by a novice like myself. The instrument comes with a little gig bag and two mouthpieces (a short one and a flexi-tube one). The construction and materials are of acceptable quality, I have no complaints.
Those of us with finicky ears are going to want to have this thing tuned, though. Music stores dealing in folk instruments ought to be able to do this, for a fee, or one can find DIY tuning instructions on the internet. Although the instrument is *mostly* in tune with itself, it will almost certainly need to be adjusted in order to play along with other chromatic instruments, or your Gang of Four records, or whatever. All that said, this would be a good instrument for the amateur musician or student to learn on. I keep it around for doodling and songwriting, and I use it on a home recording every now and then (whenever I feel like spending my time doing post-production pitch correction).
One final (miscellaneous) note: the sonic frequencies produced by this melodica are apparently unpleasant for cats to hear: mine get agitated and start to complain when I play it for them. I don't know if it's melodicas in general or just this one, but they don't like it. Anyone have any insight into this?

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hohner S32 Melodica Student Piano



Buy NowGet 66% OFF

Click here for more information about Hohner S32 Melodica Student Piano

Read More...

3/06/2012

Hohner Piano 32 Key Melodica Review

Hohner Piano 32 Key Melodica
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
You can easily find this instrument elsewhere online in the $160~ range. It is a fantastic device, and very fun to play... just don't pay $200 for it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hohner Piano 32 Key Melodica



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Hohner Piano 32 Key Melodica

Read More...

2/28/2012

Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba 17-key Treble Kalimba Review

Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba 17-key Treble Kalimba
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I proudly own a Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba. This is a very fine instrument so don't be put off by it's simple design. It is well worth it's price the minute you hold it & play it for the very first time....the best sounding kalimba on the market....anything else is ,in my opinion, an imitation of it, I know, I bought one of "those" too!!!
You have to play one to know what I'm talking about. A finely crafted product...Do I sound like a commercial??? I sing it's praises, but a Hugh Tracey Kalimba "speaks" for itself!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba 17-key Treble Kalimba



Buy NowGet 21% OFF

Click here for more information about Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba 17-key Treble Kalimba

Read More...

2/19/2012

Mbira Finger Piano with Cymbals - Zimbabwe Review

Mbira Finger Piano with Cymbals - Zimbabwe
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Most searches for "karimba" bring up kalimbas, mbiras, and assorted thumb pianos that do not match what I personally recognize as a karimba with buzzers, originating from the Shona people of Zimbabwe. The seller's photograph convinced me that what I wanted matched their product. The instrument was true to the photograph, the delivery was speedy, and the seller even included some extra tabs. Highly recommended!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mbira Finger Piano with Cymbals - Zimbabwe



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Mbira Finger Piano with Cymbals - Zimbabwe

Read More...

10/13/2011

Hohner Student Melodica, 32 Key Review

Hohner Student Melodica, 32 Key
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
In this price range you aren't going to find a better melodica. Great instrument to learn on or to have around to add spice to your home recordings. It doesn't come with any instructions, but all you do is insert one of the two included mouth pieces. One is short, one is long. With the short one you hold the instrument with one hand (slide your hand under the strap) and play with the other. With the long bendy straw mouthpiece you can set the melodica on a table and play it like a small keyboard. Good sound and easy to play. Have fun.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hohner Student Melodica, 32 Key



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Hohner Student Melodica, 32 Key

Read More...

8/20/2011

Yamaha DGX230 76 Full-Sized Piano Style Keys, 489 Instrument Voices Review

Yamaha DGX230 76 Full-Sized Piano Style Keys, 489 Instrument Voices
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I now own two these. One I leave at my band's practice site, the other I keep at home and then take with me for performances. At $200 there's no sense hauling the practice instrument back and forth. Of course, it's not a professional keyboard and will rate sneers from real keyboardists. But for my purposes providing chording and some embellishments for a couple of local bands, it works just fine . . . especially great sound for the "rock organ" setting . . . and I also use the violin voice for country songs and the various saxophone voices on occasion. I have no idea about the other features of the keyboard as a learning device . . . but for an inexpensive, good-sounding, sturdy and dependable keyboard, it's great.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha DGX230 76 Full-Sized Piano Style Keys, 489 Instrument Voices



Buy NowGet 50% OFF

Click here for more information about Yamaha DGX230 76 Full-Sized Piano Style Keys, 489 Instrument Voices

Read More...

7/29/2011

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

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

(More customer reviews)
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 for a 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



Buy NowGet 56% OFF

Click here for more information about Casio CTK-3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones

Read More...

7/16/2011

Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano Review

Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Before detailed remarks, here is my reference point. Having been spoiled with playing real pianos (I should say "acoustic", for PC :), I wanted a keyboard just to enjoy some classical music on my own, at my amateur level. I wanted it to be like a piano (in how it feels and sounds) but small and inexpensive.
PROS:
PORTABILITY - especially for an (almost) full-size keyboard. I really didn't want another piece of furniture. NP30 just lies on the table, which (to my own surprise) ended up as the deciding factor for me. YMMV.
SOUND. All the voices (including grand piano, organ, harpsichord) are well done and beautiful. (But see "CONS" below.)
KEY WEIGHTING. NP30's keys are something like "semi-weighted" and "touch sensitive" (but consult the official specs on this) and somewhat easy to press. But see "CONS" below. BTW I researched this "weighted" topic quite a bit and tried several options, but my practical conclusion is this. If you care about the feel, go more high-end or get the real thing (an acoustic piano, that is). Otherwise you will likely get used to what you have, even though it isn't perfect.
SIMPLICITY. The controls are few and quite intuitive.
PRICE. It's all relative, of course, but compared to other full-size keyboards out there, it's among the cheapest - $300 at Best Buys. (And that's without any sale discounds - Best Buys felt kinda thin on sales to me.)
CONS:
KEY WEIGHTING. While offering you an approximation of an acoustic piano's feel, NP30's keys are not quite there. First, they are hard to press if you place your fingers far from the edge of the key (i.e. towards the back of the keyboard) - I have never noticed this on an acoustic. Second, in some cases when I press several keys at once, NP30 doesn't sense one or two of them, whereas an acoustic piano would. I have to re-adjust the pressure to get NP30 to play them.
SOUND. While individual sounds are beautiful, their combinations may not parallel the richness of an acoustic piano's. This is probably because there is no is no resonating effect between the various strings. (Which is quite understandable at this price level.)
FEATURES (missing). The ones I cared about: additional voices (NP30 only got 10) and the 12 keys for the full-size 88-key keyboard. Again, it's all about a trade-off against portability and price.
ACCESSORIES (missing). Power adapter and the sustain pedal are not included, and Best Buys charges $25-30+ for each. This is a RIP-OFF, people. For power, look around; maybe you have a compatible one already (12V, 1500 mA, negative is outside) - or use rechargeable batteries. And maybe you are fine without the pedal (I am still to answer that question for myself).


Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano



Buy NowGet 32% OFF

Click here for more information about Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano

Read More...