Archive-name: music/piano/digital-pianos-faq
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: September 15, 1996
Version: 1.3a


This is the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list for 
rec.music.makers.piano regarding digital pianos.

This FAQ list is intended to present information frequently 
asked in rec.music.makers.piano about digital pianos.  It is 
posted every month.  Updates, additions, suggestions and 
corrections are always welcome: send e-mail to the address at 
the end of this FAQ.

This FAQ is periodically posted to rec.music.makers.piano, 
news.answers, and rec.answers.  This FAQ can also be 
retrieved from rtfm.mit.edu via anonymous FTP under:

     /pub/usenet/news.answers/music/piano/digital-pianos-faq

If you do not have access to anonymous FTP, you may retrieve 
it by sending e-mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the 
message (leave the subject line blank):

     SEND usenet/news.answers/music/piano/digital-pianos-faq

You also have access to rmmp FAQs on WWW:

     http://web.mit.edu/isako/www/rmmp-faq.html


==========================================================
changes since version 1.2

[Q7]  added Dec/95 "Keyboard Magazine" buyer's guide 
[Q*]  minor updates

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Digital Piano FAQ

You may run a search on the topics using the [Q#] pattern
where "#" is the question number.

CONTENTS:

[Q1]  What are the differences between "acoustic",
      "digital", "electric" and "electronic" pianos?
[Q2]  Okay, now that I know the difference between
      acoustic and digital pianos, tell me more about
      digital pianos.
[Q3]  What are the advantages of buying a digital piano as
      opposed to an acoustic one?
[Q4]  What are the drawbacks?
[Q5]  Should I buy a digital piano or an acoustic piano?
[Q6]  What are the basic things I should look for in a
      digital piano?
[Q7]  Are there any magazine reviews on digital pianos?
[Q8]  What's different between the different manufacturers
      and the different models?
[Q9]  What are the most popular brands?
[Q10] What is the mean time between repairs?
[Q11] How much pounding can they take?
[Q12] Where can I get the best deal on a digital piano?


************************

[Q1]  What are the differences between "acoustic",
      "digital", "electric" and "electronic" pianos?

An "acoustic" piano is the traditional piano everybody is 
familiar with, that produces sounds by means of hammers 
striking strings.  It is generally referred to as "the 
piano."  The term "acoustic" is usually used when 
specifically making a distinction between other various forms 
of piano (digital, electric, etc.)

A "digital" piano is an instrument which does its best to 
duplicate the sound and feel of playing an acoustic piano.  
It uses digitally sampled sounds, amplifiers and speakers 
instead of strings and hammers to produce the piano-like 
sound.  They have weighted key action to imitate the action 
of an acoustic piano.

An "electric" piano is an electro-acoustic instrument 
analogous to an electric guitar.  It has a real action, some 
sort of metal tine or string which vibrates, and pickups to 
detect the audio signal for subsequent amplification.

An "electronic" piano, better referred to as an "electronic 
keyboard" is an instrument with a keyboard, but usually 
without the weighted key action or velocity sensitivity, and 
the sound is usually generated through synthesizers 
(computer-generated); however, some may have sampled sounds.  
This type of keyboard is the one you see most in bands 
playing popular music.


[Q2]  Okay, now that I know the difference between
      acoustic and digital pianos, tell me more about
      digital pianos.

A complete digital piano system consists of the following: a 
keyboard with a weighted key action, optical or other 
electronic sensors which detect the velocity with which you 
strike the keys, a digitized sound bank, an amplifier or two, 
and speakers/headphone jacks.  Usually the sound for each 
note has been sampled off a high-quality acoustic piano.  
When a key is pressed, the sensors detect the key's velocity, 
and a microchip produces the note with corresponding loudness 
(the faster, or harder you hit the keys, the louder), just 
like a piano.  Keys are usually weighted to approximate the 
feel of a piano's keyboard rather than that of an organ 
(soft, very little resistance, light).

Most digital pianos also offer other than piano sounds (such 
as pipe organ, harpsichord, etc.), plus miscellaneous digital 
technology "gadgets".  Since all the sounds are stored in 
electronic form, you can listen to the piano through 
headphones instead of speakers, thereby allowing you to play 
the piano without anyone else hearing it.


[Q3]  What are the advantages of buying a digital piano as
      opposed to an acoustic one?

The biggest advantages of digital pianos are:

(1) Relative portability.  Most digital pianos weigh less
    than 200 lbs., as opposed to 450--500 lbs. for a typical
    upright and much more for grand pianos.  You have
    the luxury of disassembling the major parts of the 
    digital piano, stash it in your hatchback, and drive away 
    with it.

(2) Does not need tuning.  If you have a piano, you will
    usually have to tune it once or twice a year.  The sounds
    for a digital piano are recorded and stored "digitally"
    within the hardware, so it does not go out of tune.

(3) Option to play silently.  By using headphones, you can
    play a digital piano as loud as you want whenever you
    want without producing any sound which others can hear
    (well, except for your fingers hitting the keys and some
    low-level noise from the keys moving).  If you live in
    close-quarters or in an apartment with poor sound
    insulation, this silencing ability is very useful.

(4) Relatively low maintenance.  Beyond the usual practices
    of keeping liquids away, keeping it out of direct
    sunlight, and occasional dusting, etc., digital pianos
    are virtually maintenance-free.

(5) Electronic interface.  Many digital piano models have a
    MIDI interface capability, which allows you to connect
    the piano to your favorite computer or other MIDI
    hardware and enjoy the benefits of digital technology.
    As you pay more, the built-in recording and playback
    capability available will become more elaborate.

(6) Many voices.  Most digital pianos come with several
    different types of piano sounds, plus the sounds of other
    instruments.  For example, with a press of a button you
    can make it sound like a harpsichord, a pipe organ or
    something else.  The variety of sounds you get differs
    among models, but generally as you pay more, you get more
    voices.  Some models come with a full orchestra sound,
    allowing you to compose a symphony right on your piano!


[Q4]  What are the drawbacks?

(1) Sound quality.  No matter how well the piano sound is
    sampled, you can never truly get away from the
    "amplified", "digital" sound quality.  As digital
    sampling technology improves, the gap between the
    acoustic and digital sound may diminish, but digital
    sound will never equal or be superior to those of an
    acoustic.

(2) Inability to produce a "color" to the tone.  In an
    acoustic instrument, by using various playing techniques,
    you can produce almost infinite kinds of "color" to the 
    tone.  Digital pianos can only produce sounds that were
    originally sampled (recorded), and thus very limited in
    terms of variety in the sound produced.  For a very
    accomplished pianist, the limited sound produced by the
    digital piano can be disturbing.

(3) As with any electronic mechanisms, digital pianos can
    develop problems like damaged spring action on the keys,
    bad contact, bad amplifier, bad speaker, etc.  Digital
    pianos in general are considered relatively robust, but
    there has been reports of key action break down, hissing
    and crackling speaker noise developing, and having
    difficulty in getting it fixed correctly.

(4) As with any electronics, the technology used to create
    the current digital piano may (well, almost certainly
    will) become obsolete in the near future.  Whereas, in an
    acoustic piano, one can assume if you buy a good piano
    and take good care of it, your grandchild or great-
    grandchild can still play it and will find someone who
    can maintain your piano.  This is not necessarily the
    case with digital pianos.  Digital pianos haven't been
    around long enough to really make a good case study of
    its longevity.  One reason to purchase digital pianos
    from a reputable company.


[Q5]  Should I buy a digital piano or an acoustic piano?

The technology of digital pianos has made some impressive 
strides in the last couple of years.  For between $2000 and 
$3000 (at the best available discounts), you can get some 
fairly satisfying instruments.  However, the current state of 
the art isn't perfect (yet :-) ), and for those prices you 
can pick up a decent used acoustic piano.  If your situation 
doesn't require the advantages of a digital piano (relative 
portability, and the option of practicing silently with 
headphones are the big ones), you might be happier hunting 
down a good deal on a new or used upright.  If you really 
want to splurge, you can get something like a Yamaha Silent 
Series, which is an acoustic piano with the digital piano 
silencing capability added.  You get the best of both worlds, 
but you also pay the price.


[Q6]  What are the basic things I should look for in a
      digital piano?

Before you set out shopping, fetch a good-quality (the best 
quality you can get your hands on) headphone sets and take it 
with you to the piano dealers.  If you're buying a digital 
piano instead of an acoustic piano, the chances are you'll be 
practicing through headphones a lot and should determine how 
it sounds through a headset as well as through the speakers.  
Using headphones is also practical because it is easier to 
hear many subtle defects which might be masked by the 
speakers.  Don't be afraid to play away on the floor models.  
That's what they're there for.  If you want, you can grab a 
friend who can play the piano well, so you can listen how it 
sounds while your friend plays it.  But don't be a passive 
observer.  Also, if the showroom also has fine acoustic 
instruments, use them for comparison.

Keep in mind that it is *you* who will be playing the digital 
piano, and not your friend or the salesperson.  Buying 
digital piano is like buying a stereo system.  You can spend 
almost infinite amount of money if you don't watch out.  Get 
what you are satisfied with, not what others say that you 
will be satisfied with.

Here are some common concerns for picking a good digital 
piano, whatever your needs.

(1)  Action.  Does it *feel* like a piano to you?
     Do the keys have the proper weight and do they move
     under your fingers the way you remember a good piano
     does?  Is it easy to imagine that you are picking up and
     throwing a hammer forward at the end of each stroke?
     Some pianos offer many levels of velocity-response (i.e.
     how heavy you have to hit the keys before you get a
     sound out), so check those settings also.

(2)  Dynamic range.  Does it respond to velocity
     properly?  How loudly and how softly can it be played?
     Is it easy to play and maintain an even dynamic level?
     Does the timbre change properly with dynamic shifts?

(3)  Sound.  Pick a note, play it loudly, hold it and
     listen carefully while it decays into silence.  Does it
     sound natural?  Does it take long enough? Does it last
     *too* long?  (Time a note at similar loudness on a grand
     piano for comparison).  Can you hear obvious, repeating
     patterns ("loops")?  Repeat this test, playing a chord
     instead of a single note.

(4)  Realistic sound source.  Play something moving up
     and down the keyboard (scales, arpeggios, etc.).  Does
     the sound "move" realistically from side to side (do the
     bass notes seem to be coming from the left side of the
     cabinet while the treble notes come from the right)?

(5)  Polyphony.  How many notes can you hear at once?
     Ones with less polyphony (12-16), you can run out of
     notes quickly if you start sustaining multiple notes or
     playing big chords, resulting in notes being abruptly
     "cut-off".  A good test is to hold down the sustain
     pedal, play the two lowest C's, then play a glissando
     about five octaves or more long.  Not-so-good models
     will prematurely and abruptly drop notes in a fashion
     that you can hear clearly;  the worst models will drop
     one or both bass notes.  The best models will chose
     notes that are acoustically masked by others.

(6)  Design.  Is the control panel (and the manual)
     well laid-out and easy to understand?  Some poorly
     designed panels have buttons which are too close to the
     keys, and while you play you may accidentally hit the
     control buttons and change the setting of the
     instrument.

(7)  Gadgets.  Does it have many bells and whistles?
     Are the ones it does have useful for you?  Is there a
     built-in key cover?  If you need some non-piano voices,
     does it have the ones you want? Are they good enough for
     your purposes?  Some models offer various levels of
     reverb, imitating the acoustic "echo" effect you hear
     when you play an instrument in different environment
     such as, room, concert hall, studio, etc.

(8)  Fine-tuning capability.  What kind of hidden
     "effects" does the model have?  Some digital pianos
     offer a few special purpose modes (like alternate
     tunings, variable harmonics, adjustable decay length,
     etc.).  Alternate tunings are useful if you play in an
     ensemble often, because you will be allowed to tune your
     piano to the ensemble.  Others are useful for those who
     like to fiddle with electronics to get the sound "just
     right."

(9)  Pedaling levels.  Does the damper (or sustain)
     pedals have multi-level of pedaling response, or is it
     just on-off?  In a piano, depending on how much you
     depress the pedal, you get different amounts of
     sustaining of the notes.  A simple "on-off" pedaling may
     hamper pianists who are trained to use half-pedaling
     techniques in a piano.

(10) How powerful is the amplifier/speaker system?
     Bigger amplifiers and multiple number of speakers
     generally give you a better sound.  You may not
     necessarily ever use all that excess power, but having
     that excess power can give you more balanced sound when
     you play (doesn't sound as if the speakers are
     straining, etc.).


[Q7]  Are there any magazine reviews on digital pianos?

The December 1993 issue of "Keyboard" had a review of many 
models, and the July/August 1994 issue of "Piano and 
Keyboard" had a similar review -- you might want to check 
your local library and see if you can find them.  

"Electronic Musician" publishes a yearly "Digital Piano 
Buyers Guide" (the last one came out around October 1994); 
you won't find any recommendations for specific models, but 
it gives a pretty comprehensive listing of *everything* on 
the market, and an easy overview of the current technology 
for people unfamiliar with it.  

The December 1995 issue of the "Keyboard Magazine" is a 
hardware buyer's guide, and it seem to have specifications on 
most digital pianos and synthesizers.


[Q8]  What's different between the different manufacturers
      and the different models?

As for *manufacturers*, they usually differ in:

  (1) how they sampled the sounds,
  (2) key action design,
  (3) sound output design,
  (4) overall appearance.

Thus each company's product line has a distinctly different 
feel and sound.  There are many makers out there.  (In 
alphabetical order) Baldwin, Casio, Kawai, Korg, Kurzweil, 
Roland, Samick, Technics, Wersi, Yamaha, to name a few.  The 
best way to decide what these differences mean to you is to 
go to a local dealer and try out the different brands.

Usually, the main differences between various models within 
the *same maker* are in:

  (1) the weighted key action (how the keys feel),
  (2) amplifier power,
  (3) number and size of speakers,
  (4) number of voices (piano and non-piano sounds),
  (5) polyphony (how many notes you can play simultaneously),
  (6) the miscellaneous "gadgets" (like sequencing
      capabilities, metronome, etc.)

In general, the more money you shell out for a digital piano, 
the more closely it imitates a piano and better sound.  The 
difference between a low-end model and a mid-range model is 
usually pretty dramatic.  Some low-end models do not have all 
88-keys.  Some may not even have a sound output system (you 
basically play it through your stereo speakers or use 
headphones).  The difference between a mid-range model and a 
high-end model is mostly in the "gadgetry" department and in 
amplifier power; most of the key elements don't vary a whole 
lot.  The majority of the digital piano market is in the mid-
price range, and that's usually good enough to keep most 
people happy.


[Q9]  What are the most popular brands?

For overall satisfaction within this newsgroup, the general 
consensus seems to center around Yamaha Clavinova and 
Technics Digital Piano series.  Roland HP series seems to 
have good reviews on key action and miscellaneous sounds, but 
they tend to be more expensive.  Kurzweil is another brand 
which is well received.  But as stated before, go check them 
out yourself.  Like/dislike is a very personal thing, and you 
should not make a decision based on what others say.

Also, the rmmp newsgroup maintains the Digital Pianos 
Hardware List.  This document lists the hardware 
specifications of many current or about-to-be-obsolete models 
of digital pianos available.  You can retrieve it through 
anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu under:

/pub/usenet/news.answers/music/piano/digital-pianos-list

You can also read it on www on URL:

   http://web.mit.edu/isako/www/rmmp-faq.html


[Q10] What is the mean time between repairs?

Nobody really seems to know the answer to this.  This is akin 
to asking how often does a new car or a stereo component 
breaks down.  There are many people who have had the digital 
pianos for 10+ years with absolutely no problem, and there 
are people who ended up with a "lemon" which needed frequent 
repairs soon after the purchase (within the warranty period).


[Q11] How much pounding can they take?

The general consensus is that digital pianos can take as much 
pounding as a piano can.  One would hope that the 
manufacturers have designed them with that in mind.  But 
there have been reports of people chipping the plastic on the 
key, or losing a spring which helps the feel of a weighted 
action and have been playing gingerly ever since, but this 
seems to be in the minority.


[Q12] Where can I get the best deal on a digital piano?

Prices vary greatly depending on the make and the model, and 
the suggested retail price (SRP) can range anywhere from 
$1500 to $7000.  Don't be daunted by this, though.  You can 
buy most of these from mail-order houses for substantial 
discounts, as much as 50% off the SRP.  Some local dealers 
may or may not try to match the mail order price.  You will 
just have to shop around and ask.  There are many mail-order 
firms.  Any copy of the magazines "Keyboard", "Electronic 
Musician" or "Piano and Keyboard" will have ads for them.

You might also want to take a look at the following WWW sites 
for price lists and dealers.

  Casey Palowitch's New Gear price list:
     http://www.pitt.edu/~cjp/newgear.html

  Aaron Oppenheimer's Used Gear price list:
     http://www.pitt.edu/~cjp/usedgear.html

  Chris Schumann's Electronic Music Software
  (New) Price List:
     http://oingomth.uwc.edu/~whizkid/emspg.html


**************************
end Digital Piano FAQ

I would like to extend my thanks to Michael Scott for his 
extensive contribution to this FAQ, and Philip Tompkins for 
giving me suggestions and corrections.  Also, to many others 
in the RMMP newsgroup for bits and pieces of information 
contained in this FAQ.  I couldn't have gotten this thing 
started without their help.

This document is copyright (c) 1995 by Isako Hoshino.  It may 
be freely distributed in its entirety provided that this 
copyright notice is not removed.  It may not be sold for 
profit nor incorporated in commercial documents without the 
author's permission.  This article is provided "as is" 
without express or implied warranties.  While every effort 
has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information 
contained in this article, the maintainer assumes no 
responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages 
resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Isako Hoshino
Internet: isako@mit.edu
US mail: MIT Rm 13-3082, Cambridge, MA  02139, USA
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