Help choosing 88-key stage piano/MIDI controller

Hi! Keybeds are VERY subjective, but you basically have the Roland PHA-4 covered with your first three. It seems that you don't like the (supposedly higher tier) Roland PHA-50 action, which is interesting, but might track to other manufacturers too (similarly, you didn't like Kawai's flagship action).

I kinda agree with you on Roland ... and in a recent visit to Guitar Center I actually found myself liking Yamaha's actions better than Roland's for piano playing. In the Yamaha world, you have (among others) the GHS action (e.g. on the P-125) and the GH3 action (e.g. on the P-515). Try them both if you can; I suspect you might actually like the P-125 better. I thought it had a nice feel. Also, the Yamahas sample their CFIIIS concert grand which is significantly more satisfying than Roland's attempts at piano sound (at least to me).

I never liked the feel of Korg's keybeds but some people love them -- just be sure you try them (if you can!). To me, their action feels "thick."

Casio's action is not to be overlooked, incidentally. It's surprisingly good. You may or may not like it. Most people seem to think they sample the Hamburg Steinway.

Finally -- and on a personal note -- I have a Kawai MP7 which I've been playing for a number of years and it's been a delight. The current model is the MP7SE which is beloved. If you can try one out, it would be worth a test-drive. It's a fun keyboard to use with Pianoteq and is the only way I know of to play a sampled SK or EX or SK-EX

One thing to be careful of:

• StudioLogic SL88 Grand: Fatar TP-40W (most people like this keybed)

• StudioLogic SL88 Studio: Fatar TP-100/LR (most people hate this keybed)

• Kawai MP7SE: Kawai's own Responsive Hammer III keyboard (unrelated in any way to Fatar)

See also https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=5536 for some notes on the StudioLogic keyboards.

If possible, you should try both the SL/Fatar boards and the Kawai one.

A final wrinkle -- different manufacturers can use what is nominally the same Fatar keybed but due to unpublished custom tweaks (such as replacing the springs) the final "feel" can be quite different!

A side note, which may or may not be useful.
It was a conundrum how to have both the piano and the computer available, either together or separately. My solution was to modify my desk. When I use the computer alone the piano is underneath the desk and the mouse and keyboard on top. When I use Pianoteq I slide the desk top back revealing the keyboard. The Hercules piano bench KB200B was a great buy. It's comfortable and sturdy, has 4 height positions plus an adjuster wheel, and can be folded. If I'm feeling ergonomic I raise the bench up one click for typing, and back down one for playing.

A Roland RD-2000 might take full advantage of all the available potential of PIANOTEQ, since in addition to note-off velocities the keyboard can transmit HiRes MIDI messages to the software.  Probably few portable keyboards offer any form of HiRes MIDI capability coupled with variable note-off velocities, all of which found by a piano coming with both a large price tag and cabinet like that of a YAMAHA Disklavier or any of the ROLAND LX-700 Series.

I think the Roland FP30x would be good because it has the full weighted action. I'm not familiar with the others.  I'd be very curious about why you didn't like the FP90x.  Someone on a learning site I belong to is always pushing me on why I am so happy with my Roland RP501 (which is equivalent to an FP30, except it's a console).  He thinks the action on the 30x and my 501 is inadequate and swears by the FP90x, which has the higher-end Roland action.  I think mine is perfect, and I don't want anything else.  No temptation to upgrade!

Yes, it's totally personal, but I have to tell you that I feel vindicated by your comments!  I have a Roland RP501, which I bought last year, when I returned to piano after *60* years.  (I took lessons in elementary school and was good for my age, but I hadn't touched a piano until this past September.  So I'm a beginner once again.  Zen mind, beginner's mind!)

A member of a Forum elsewhere has been trying diligently to convince me that I am wrong in my happiness with the Roland's PH4 action, which seems perfect to me.  He went through a gazillion pianos, in search of the perfect action, and settled on the FP90x.  I shared a clip from your comments with him, and he responded with a detailed analysis of everything that is right with the FP90x and wrong with the PH4.  I was especially pleased with Phil Best's comment comparing it with the Steinway.  That thrilled me! He also recommended a dozen ways to alter my Pianoteq setup (which he hasn't seen, of course), until I told him that my favorite techie motto is "never mess with a running system."

Meanwhile, they will have to pry my RP501 from my cold, dead hands.  I think I am a piano monogamist in terms of equipment, even though I am now becoming wildly promiscuous with the different pianos here at Pianoteq.  Viva la difference!