Stage Piano Akai

[Ken Reels]

Webuilt Stage Piano with piano players in mind, whether they are on-stage or in the studio. The plugin includes plenty of articulations and foot pedal parameters that give you the natural expression of a real acoustic piano. Each sample set offers separate pedal parameters that will let you adjust the level of sustain resonance, hammer falls, staccato release, and soft pedal to create a genuinely accurate piano performance. As a result, Stage Piano offers the most realistic and engaging piano sound you can hear in your MPC production system.

Stage Piano includes multiple effects like Flavor timbre control, EQ, compression, rich reverb, and delay. Create brilliant shimmers, dark haunting echoes, or spacey washed pianos with a cutting-edge effects engine built into the instrument.

The new MPC/FORCE sounds browser for standalone makes finding or saving your favorite patch a breeze. Sounds mode for MPC & FORCE Standalone lets you browse patches, change key ranges, and create massive performances!

Each Instrument has parameters laid out for touch screen control using MPC/FORCE QLINK mapping to put the most valuable instrument controls at your fingertips. Sweep filters on the fly, change waveforms with a turn, and pump up the volume with your QLINKS! The touch UI gives instant feedback, and straightforward touch controls get you deep into sound design territory.

This legendary piano crafted in Germany has one of the richest histories of all pianos. Bechstein upright and grand pianos use every well-known piano manufacturing process, resulting in instruments capable of subtle nuance and detailed responsiveness. This Bechstein upright model will have you playing classic piano tunes with one of the most iconic piano tones ever.

We built Stage Piano with piano players in mind, whether they are on-stage or in the studio. The plugin includes plenty of articulations and foot pedal parameters that give you the natural expression of a real acoustic piano. Each sample set offers separate pedal parameters that will let you adjust the level of sustain resonance, the hammer falls, staccato release, and soft pedal to create a genuinely accurate piano performance.

Although not a groovebox and possibly out of budget, the Dexibell SX8 is a good module for EP sounds. Essentially, it is a stage piano sound module. There are also legacy sound modules available on the used market, such as the Kurzweil ME1.

While the MPC One does have 1 free and 1 paid plugins for Electric piano sounds (along with sampled pianos), it demands a certain investment. None of the other choices listed are arguably the best for electric piano sound, you should get a dedicated module for that, with either a Reface DX or a Reface CP, or a workstation like the ModX or the Fantom-0

First post here. I'm a piano-oriented hobby singer/songwriter and composer looking to upgrade my setup with an 88-key stage piano that will also serve as a MIDI controller at my workstation (using Ableton Live and Cubase). My budget is up to 1200 USD. Of course my piano VST of choice is Pianoteq and I'd like a keyboard that makes good use of the expressive range that it offers.

At first, I was including 88-key MIDI controllers with no built-in sound, and had narrowed it down to the Studiologic SL88 Grand, Roland A-88 MKII, or Roland FP30X, based on key feel after trying them out in the store. (Some contenders that I ruled out based on the feel were the Arturia Keylab 88 MKII, Native Instruments S88 MKII, M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro, Roland FP90X and Kawai VPC1). The key action is the most important thing to me since I want to record a lot of piano-centric pieces in a neoclassical or hybrid cinematic vein, and I am used to playing acoustic piano.

After further consideration, I decided it would suit me better to get something that has onboard sound and can be used to get my toes wet with the occasional gig, jamming with friends, etc, as well. I don't have the space nor the money to have multiple types of 88-key keyboards, so it should be something that can easily be moved onto/off of my computer desk as needed.

So after more research I've created a short list of possibilities and it would be great to get some input as to how well each one might fit my requirements, or if there's something else that comes to mind:

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).

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

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....

I've tried the light weight digital pianos like the Yamaha 115 that I had and Casios but quickly disliked them but for their portability. Then I found a Numa Stage piano with what seems to be the same keyboard as the SL88. Not quite like the Kawai but pretty good for a 25 lb instrument. And it has basic stage piano sounds that came in handy on the occasions which I forgot to bring a USB cable to the gig.

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!

As mentioned, one's preferences regarding keyboards probably tends to be fairly subjective. To add my opinion, after trying a variety of popular and common keyboards and brands, I am fairly happy with the action of my Kawai MP11SE.

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.

Do you guys happen to know if the RHC2 with the triple sensor in the ES520 or KDP120 can do all that including note-off? I ask because I was going to get the fp30x but it's too stiff compared to my acoustic.

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.

Roland's actions are too stiff for me. Which is why I'm kind of stuck looking at kawai es520, since no one has vouched for its behavior on pianoteq, I'm blind on it, and they're not available at the store...

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