Modartt user forum - Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-11-08T02:47:27Z

I have both a Casio PX150 and a Roland FP30 (lesser version than RD800's) and Roland's actions are definitely a lot better. It's also much harder to control perfectly (like a real acoustic). Casios action -- which is the same across all their models below the Grand Hybrids -- is smooth and even throughout the keypress and makes it easy to play fast/slow/whatever. Roland has extra pressure at the bottom to simulate escapement on a grand piano which means it's a fine line between pressing too soft (getting no sound) and pressing too hard (too loud). But it has taught me a few better tricks/techniques -- like when doing multiple music lines on a single hand, it's way harder on the Roland to control the volume -- so I've learned to angle my hand so some fingers strike harder.

Now, the RD800 is like $2000-$2500 so that's at least double the price of a $1000 PX5S so we're not talking about the same price range.

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-11-07T12:28:56Z

I opened this discussion not because I wanted to bash Casio Privia.
I think the current generation Casio Privia keybed feels really awesome, but I tried Roland RD-800 and I think its keybed is spectacular.
I don't like the Piano sound of the Casios at all, and I think Roland inner sound piano is good.
All the none piano sounds of Casio PX-5S can be usable for a keyboardist IMO by the way, and its synth is pretty awesome.
The RD-800 can take a three pedal unit and an expression pedal and this is a big advantage over the PX-5S, but the PX-5S is the most compact 88 keys keyboard ever and this is where the PX-5S wins.

I wanted to know what other people think about the comparison between the two keybeds, since I can't really form an opinion about it as they both feels very delightful for me.

Ant about the MIDI controller capabilities - that's where I really need a detailed decisive answer, MIDI controller capabilities are very important to me.
Casio always flaunting about how great the PX-5S as a MIDI controller, and I read in some places around the web that the RD-800 isn't built to be a dedicated MIDI controller, then I saw some users around the web reporting that the RD-800 is a great MIDI controller, so I really confused about this issue.

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-11-03T20:45:51Z

thman wrote:

hag01 wrote:
fubarable wrote:
I've played them both, own a different Casio, and own the RD800. I think that the RD800 has the better action and that it's noticeable, but understand that this is all very subjective, and your opinion is all that counts. The Casio has other things going for it especially that it is much lighter and thus much more portable. It also has synthesizer capabilities that the RD800 doesn't have. If it were up to me, I'd own both!
And what would you say is a better MIDI controller between them both?
I would recommend you to have a look at the Roland A88 masterkeyboard. Much better action than any Casio including escapement and half pedalling. And it's relatively cheap.

how does the A88 compare to say the cheaper Roland FP-30 keybed ?

I've heard a lot of good things about the FP-30 and its very cheap ...

I've been between a PX-5S a FP-30 and a FP-90

I was looking at VPC-1 and MP11 but since Brexit prices in UK have sky-rocketed

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-11-03T20:06:58Z

thman wrote:

hag01 wrote:
fubarable wrote:
I've played them both, own a different Casio, and own the RD800. I think that the RD800 has the better action and that it's noticeable, but understand that this is all very subjective, and your opinion is all that counts. The Casio has other things going for it especially that it is much lighter and thus much more portable. It also has synthesizer capabilities that the RD800 doesn't have. If it were up to me, I'd own both!
And what would you say is a better MIDI controller between them both?
I would recommend you to have a look at the Roland A88 masterkeyboard. Much better action than any Casio including escapement and half pedalling. And it's relatively cheap.

If I've got it right it's the same key bed in Juno DS88 as the A88, right?

If that's the case, How does it work with Pianoteq?

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-11-03T18:09:36Z

beakybird wrote:

I have been playing the Casio PX-160 for ten months (same keybed as PX-5S) >2 hours a day. The already noisy action gets noisier as the months go by. I'm thinking of buying something else and getting this one repaired and selling it.

I use Px-150 for two years (3-4 hours daily) and didn't notice something similar) Guess, you are unlucky with particular instance.

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-11-03T13:39:38Z

I have been playing the Casio PX-160 for ten months (same keybed as PX-5S) >2 hours a day. The already noisy action gets noisier as the months go by. I'm thinking of buying something else and getting this one repaired and selling it.

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-11-02T22:03:28Z

hag01 wrote:

fubarable wrote:
I've played them both, own a different Casio, and own the RD800. I think that the RD800 has the better action and that it's noticeable, but understand that this is all very subjective, and your opinion is all that counts. The Casio has other things going for it especially that it is much lighter and thus much more portable. It also has synthesizer capabilities that the RD800 doesn't have. If it were up to me, I'd own both!
And what would you say is a better MIDI controller between them both?

I would recommend you to have a look at the Roland A88 masterkeyboard. Much better action than any Casio including escapement and half pedalling. And it's relatively cheap.

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-10-26T22:23:03Z

hag01 wrote:

And what would you say is a better MIDI controller between them both?

As far as keyboard action -- the RD800. As for other controller functionality -- I'm not sure what you need, and I can't speak for the Casio on this. The RD800 isn't built to be to be a controller, and has limited abilities in this regard. Much better would be to use a dedicated controller keyboard, but like say an alesis vi61 (which I also own), but here you gain great controller features, but sacrifice true piano-like action and internal sounds.

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-10-23T03:39:20Z

fubarable wrote:

I've played them both, own a different Casio, and own the RD800. I think that the RD800 has the better action and that it's noticeable, but understand that this is all very subjective, and your opinion is all that counts. The Casio has other things going for it especially that it is much lighter and thus much more portable. It also has synthesizer capabilities that the RD800 doesn't have. If it were up to me, I'd own both!

And what would you say is a better MIDI controller between them both?

Re: Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-10-23T03:28:55Z

I've played them both, own a different Casio, and own the RD800. I think that the RD800 has the better action and that it's noticeable, but understand that this is all very subjective, and your opinion is all that counts. The Casio has other things going for it especially that it is much lighter and thus much more portable. It also has synthesizer capabilities that the RD800 doesn't have. If it were up to me, I'd own both!

Casio PX-5S vs Roland RD800

2016-10-22T20:19:41Z

Which do you think is a better piano only in terms of keybad action, keybad realism and realistic expressiveness of the keybad?
And how big is the difference in your opinion?
When I'm controlling Pianoteq ofcourse, not talking about their internal sounds.