The solution for a nomadic Pianoteq setup ?
https://www.clavierpiano.com/products/foldingpiano
For less than 250€, it makes you want to try it, doesn't it ?
I just spent three weeks traveling, maybe if I had seen this ad before I left I wouldn't have burden myself with my A49 !
I just spent three weeks traveling, maybe if I had seen this ad before I left I wouldn't have burden myself with my A49 !
Just be aware of what you're really buying - the promo video is out of synch... here's a user review
Thanks Smilie,
I don't speak English well enough to understand everything he says (especially regarding action), but it seems to me that what he says about this keyboard doesn't seem prohibitive for use as an alternative master keyboard... ? (and he recommends Pianoteq ! ).
the reviewer likes the product, but one thing confusing about his review is his discussion of the action. he says things like "Put a weighted-hammer action on this and you're done, you won't need another keyboard." but this seems to be a suggestion to the manufacturer. as far as i can tell the action on the keyboard is a very light synth-like action that is certainly not going to be usable by a serious pianist. maybe the company will watch his video and follow his advice ...
Unfortunately, the lightest hammer-action keyboards that I know of weigh in at about 12kgs, so it's a choice between light weight or decent action.
I guess that with a hammer action the price would not be as low !
I have to say...that's pretty cool! Just the folding part. What a good gimmick, especially since it seems to work.
I have a different traveling keyboard, a CME X-Key 37, which is thin and light weight, but it's only 37 keys, not 88.
;-)
The solution for a nomadic Pianoteq setup ?
Here's my most recent "nomadic" Pianoteq setup - the Casio CT-S1 keyboard + MacBook Air. I'm pretty happy with the portability. It's still a US$199 keyboard action, but the dynamics are decent for travel / home playing. Pianoteq in stereo thru the Casio's "surround sound" effect/speakers, sounds better than you'd expect.
Not as good as a weighted keyboard with large speakers, but a nice small step-up from the Roland Go Piano or Yamaha NP-32.
This is a solution for composing, not for practicing... at least "serious" stuff from the repertoire: you really need 88 notes and a "weighted" kb. But a weighted kb without the weight ? Why not... isn't it just a matter of adjusting the springs under the keys ?
Why not... isn't it just a matter of adjusting the springs under the keys ?
No, the effect is different. As a weight starts moving the feeling of weight decreases as it gains momentum (assuming you don't keep accelerating it). With a spring the more you compress it the stiffer it gets so the feeling of weight increases.
Weighted keyboards also have a simulation of the effect of the hammer releasing on real pianos. I've never looked at how weighted keyboards do that, but I assume if there was a good way to do it without weights someone would already have done it.
Luc Henrion wrote:Why not... isn't it just a matter of adjusting the springs under the keys ?
No, the effect is different. As a weight starts moving the feeling of weight decreases as it gains momentum (assuming you don't keep accelerating it). With a spring the more you compress it the stiffer it gets so the feeling of weight increases.
Weighted keyboards also have a simulation of the effect of the hammer releasing on real pianos. I've never looked at how weighted keyboards do that, but I assume if there was a good way to do it without weights someone would already have done it.
Regarding action, there are basically three types of keyboards:
Synth action, Weighted action, Hammer (or Graded hammer) action :
VERY interesting link... So, to sum up, it is almost impossible to get a weighted action without... weight! Too bad. But nevertheless, I own two kb with "graded" action (Casio PX350 and Yamaha MX88) which I like, even if the feel is, of course, far from my real 6' grand. I hope there will be more progress in this area.
Casio is probably the best compromise between the two. The other one is to catch a victim (usually big mouthed guitarists) and splith the moving weight.
Casio PX-5S or the like.
Yes, the Casio PX350 is more "piano like", but the Yamaha has its charm too. But both weigh three times more than the folding keyboard presented here... and they are of course twice as long. Too bad.
Another transportable 88 keys-keyboard, but even smaller !
A modular keyboard in 10 small pieces :
https://www.hsyho.store/products/factor...-piano-one
(At first glance the price could suggest a decimal point error ... )
Autant acheter un jouet, non ?
Rather toyish...
Another transportable 88 keys-keyboard, but even smaller !
A modular keyboard in 10 small pieces :
https://www.hsyho.store/products/factor...-piano-one
(At first glance the price could suggest a decimal point error ... )
Hmm, an interesting concept, but the key depth looks very shallow. Is it even velocity-sensitive? It doesn't say so!
I came across a portable modular keyboard that looks as if it's decent quality. Was quite interested until I saw the price! https://pianodevoyage.com/
... and the fact that you can't get a 88 keys "result": it's 73 or 97 !!! Or 49, but...
Those are interesting piano to buy for practice.
Casio also make the lightest 88 keyboard weighted graded with triple sensors that supposed to works better with Pianoteq. I'd love to see anyone posting the video for demonstration.
There was at least one (very, very) high-end keyboard that folded in the way that this cheap synth weight keyboard does. It was from a manufacturer called Vax - that keyboard had full polyphonic aftertouch!
https://youtu.be/m6jgMuZyrmk
Vax attempted to bring a much cheaper DIY solution to the market. Not cheap though - and I think it lost the folding feature too.