Casio CTK900 61 Full-Size Key MIDI Keyboard Review

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(More customer reviews)I had the chance to play side by side the Yamaha equivalent of the Casio CTK900 Keyboard, and I own a real piano and also a Technics weighed-keys full size keyboard. Of course, the sound is not the real thing, but it is realistic enough, and very pleasant, as far as the "grand piano voice" is concerned. The stereo effect is definitively a plus.
Now as far as the ease-of-use is concerned, I really prefer the Casio. Even a poor pianist (like me) can get some amazing results, and the "arranger" functions, or "transistion" are as good as was a $ 5000 instrument five years ago. I am impressed, and I was not impressed at all with the compertitors products.
This keybord is not a toy. This is a perfect beginner piano, plus many many hours of fun. The "speed sensitive" keyboard is well balanced and will simulate the weighed keys of a real piano pretty well.

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The CTK-900 makes it possible to produce very special sound creations - with 536 tones, 160 rhythms and 232 digital effects. Thanks to the integrated song memory you will never lose a note. And very practical too: The General MIDI interface means you can transfer music data easily. Other features include Casio's excellent, expressive ZPI sound source; IDES, Casio's Internet Data Expansion System and 32MB Flash ROM; a massive selection of 232 digital effects; Drawbar Organ sounds, 5-song onboard Memory; MIDI In and Out; and battery (6xD cell) or AC operation.

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Yamaha PSR-295MS Portable 61-Key Touch-Sensitive Electronic Keyboard with Adapter and Stand Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)[This review holds for Yamaha PSR-295. Please note that this product is currently available from Amazon under two packagings: PSR-295AD (includes adapter) and PSR-295MS (includes adapter and stand).]
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 PSRGX76AD 76-Note Touch-Sensitive Portable Electronic Keyboard with AC Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had been practicing on a 60 keys or so keyboard, that didn't have touch sensitivity, when I got into more advanced music. My left hand started running out of keys! This became very irritating very fast. So I set out to find a remedy. After sifting through almost all the keyboards , I decided on this one. The main reason was the 76 keys. When it arrived, I quickly plugged in and started playing. I was used to practicing with my other keyboard in my lap, but don't try it with this one! Get a keyboard stand as it is way too heavy! Anyway, the first thing I noticed was how realistic the sound was. And it had touch sensitivity too! The pieces I was playing sounded really good! There are also tons of different effects. You can make it sound like you are playing in a concert hall! I was really pleased with my purchase and my playing times became longer.
Then I tried taking the lessons that it includes. I was able to learn the right hand parts of songs when only one note gets played at a time. However I think someone recorded the song on the keyboard manually instead of by computer. The notes come out irregular when the pianist playes multiple notes with one hand in songs like Nocturne. I solved the problem by buying the sheet music for it. However I didn't buy the keyboard for lessons so it is a non-issue for me.
Now we come to the only thing I am really frustrated about. I have started playing really advanced pieces like Toccata & Fugue in D minor, Nocturnes, Ballades, and Sonatas. They will sometimes run off the board! Most of the time there is more than one note being pressed by the left hand so it doesn't sound quite as bad. But it unnerves me!
I don't mean to complain too much about this product as it is very good other than the lack of extra keys. For most people, 76 keys is more than enough. I'll just have to get a real piano sometime. But if you are thinking of getting a keyboard, don't even look at the others, you search has ended here.

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Work out your musical fingers on 76 full-size touch sensitive keys with the Yamaha PSRGX76AD. It features bass ports for upgraded sound quality and two-way stereo speakers. You can test your creativity with 256 instrument voices and 100 accompaniment styles, along with a DJ button for instant access to special dance voices.
Beginner and intermediate keyboard players will enjoy the Yamaha Education Suite, featuring lessons and grading. This keyboard includes 100 built-in songs to learn to play and a song book. For private practice, a headphone jack is provided. The PSRGX76AD also features a five-song, six-track sequencer for recording original songs. You can embellish using multifingering auto accompaniment, pitch bend wheel, DSP, chorus, and reverb effects. With 10 drum kits and 32-note polyphony, the PSRGX76AD provides the flexibility and basics you need in a keyboard.
It includes a music rest and a Yamaha PA3B power adapter. Alternatively, it uses six D-cell batteries.

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