Piano is one of the most tender musical instruments ever created – the soothing melodies one could play with it know no bounds, and it’s not a coincidence that you want to become a piano player yourself. We’re here to talk about digital pianos in general – what they are, and what you should know before purchasing one, among other things.
What is a digital piano – how is it different from the acoustic piano?
Basically, a digital piano resembles a traditional piano (acoustic) – all models have “keys” which sound more or less the same unless certain effects or modes are used, but the truth is, digital pianos are far more versatile.
In fact, there’s a plethora of differences between a traditional and a digital piano, with the only resemblances being their design and purpose:
Portability
Most of us have had the opportunity to try a traditional piano during school music lessons, but even those that didn’t could see one in stores or movies. The first thing that comes to mind when you think about an acoustic piano is a scene where the player sits while playing because these instruments are very large.
Traditional pianos are not just bulky – they weigh quite a lot too. The first difference between them and digital pianos is that the latter are neither too big or too heavy. Storing a digital piano at home or in the back of your car will be far easier when compared to storing an acoustic piano.
Versatility
Even though acoustic pianos sound unique and exquisite, digital pianos (in virtually all cases) come with different modes and effects. These effects intend to simulate various other instruments or combinations of instruments, allowing you to produce any number of sounds. Speaking of combinations of instruments, some digital piano models have combo effects, such as octave+bass or strings+piano.
Recording Capability
Recording the sound of an acoustic piano can be done, but it’s a lot of work. Most musical producers do so by placing an overhead microphone just above the piano, and that usually does the job, but the tricky part is the reverberation of the room, the sound bouncing on and off – one miscalculation and the sound might appear too bright or too dull. So, in a nutshell, acoustic pianos are very hard to record.
On the other hand, most digital piano models come outfitted with at least one connection port, allowing you to plug it in your PC, mix, or whatever unit you are recording on.
Learning Tools
People who have never played piano before usually think that this instrument is quite easy to play. The fact is that it’s not – that’s why personal tutors and teachers are engaged, which, unless you have a pro friend, will cost you dearly. Now, most digital pianos come outfitted with a set of “learning tools” – special features which aim to help you handle the basics in the easiest way possible.
These learning tools include a metronome, which is basically a ticking timer which will “tick” at intervals you specify, backing percussions, which will allow you to “jam out” and practice more easily, and others.
Cost
Surprisingly enough, most Digital pianos are less expensive than acoustic pianos. They’re easier to maintain, and they are usually built from more affordable materials, which is just one of the reasons why they don’t cost so much.
Actually, the sole reason why acoustic pianos are so expensive is because they’re built in a very unique way – the process requires heavy machinery, and the technology simply isn’t developing in the way that promotes the manufacturing of acoustic pianos nowadays, so each model has to be expensive, otherwise the brands would give up on them.
Digital Piano Brands – who should you trust?
There are many names in the piano making industry – Roland, Casio, Kawai, and of course, Yamaha. The reason why you should be well informed about the big guys is because there are also plenty of underdog brands which offer you mediocre-quality models at basically the same price.
For instance, there is a plethora of high-quality pianos to be had for $100 - $200 from Yamaha’s stocks, so why even consider going with some low-reputation brand?
Yamaha
You’ll want to buy Yamaha digital piano for several reasons – these guys have been around for approximately 130 years, and that alone gives them enough credibility for us to conclude that they’ve did a very fine job.
Yamaha’s world-class “PSR” series includes dozens of premium-quality digital pianos, some of which excel in quality, others in versatility, some in both. One thing is certain, though, you simply can’t make a mistake if you get one of their pianos. What’s best about them is that you can order Yamaha Keyboards online with but a simple click – you don’t actually need to ride all the way to Asia.
Casio
Casio, just like Yamaha, originates from Japan, and they’re a bit younger (founded 72 years ago in 1946). They boast a huge catalogue of top-shelf products, so if you’re looking to order some Casio keyboard online, we warmly support you.
Some of their most renowned digital pianos are Privia, Privia Pro Stage, Celviano, and CDP, so make sure to check them out if you have the chance.
Roland
Again, we’re recommending that you give a shot to a Japanese electronics company – Roland was founded in Osaka, Japan in 1972. Even though Yamaha is nearly twice as old, Roland is a big name on the digital piano scene.
Their V-piano, RD-2000, RD-64, as well as the entire FP series earned quite some fame among professional piano players, so if the veterans liked them, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.
Final words
If you’re a beginner piano player, it’s good that you’ve come here – there are plenty of things you will discover in the vast musical world, and we’ve shared but a portion of what’s yet to come your way.
Choosing the perfect digital piano for you is one thing, but knowing what they are like and why you should consider them is perhaps even more important.
