Korg SP-200 opinions?
Evgeny Kumanov
keyboard action and the sounds. I have downloaded few samples in which
I've seen acceptable piano sound and very good wurlie, but I want to
hear other opinions. Does it have Rhodes and how does it sounds? What
about harpsichord? I love playing Bach with that sound :) Soon I will
have the chance to try this piano for myself with it's incredible
price 800€, however I am impatent to hear what you think!
Evgeny Kumanov
Today i tryed out the new Korg SP200 in the shop and here is what I
think.
First the keyboard action. Everyone knows how subjective thing is the
keyboard action, however I think it's among the best weighted piano
actions I've seen. I felt it like a lightened Yamaha action. I tested
it with power off and power on and definitely could say that it's a
bit lighter than the Yamaha. In particular the Yamaha P80 has very bad
connection between keys and the piano sound which makes it to feel
even harder. I have played only acoustic pianos all my life and when I
first tried P80 I was displeased at its heavier action and a little
bit longer key travel. In addition to that the keys were releasing
slowly and thus not allowing to play fast thrills. Well, it was very
realistic but like some of old german uprights. Who knows, I haven't
tried the real Yamaha grands - maybe they are the same. But I have
tried Steinway and it's action is definitely lighter - it's like the
Korg one! The bad thing is that this particular model doesn't have
gradded effect, but if you play the other sounds you wouldn't want it.
Kawai wooden keys, Yamaha GT and other similar are better, but you
have to look also in their prices.
The main piano sound is excellent. The other piano sounds are also
good and usable. Rhodes and Wurlitzer are very good and I can't hear
audible switching between the samples. At least it's better than P80.
However, the harpsichord is disgusting... Even my Yamaha PSR-280,
which is a toy, has better harsichord. The vibes are good but I don't
intend to use it anywhere :) The clavinet is good to my ear, but that
sound is alien to me. Almost all of the organs - jazz and church -
sounded good, but it's uncomfortable to play them with weighted
action. The strings and the choir were rather bad and who the hell
uses such nasty layering with piano. In general it's mockery to spoil
the piano sound layering it no matter with what.
The piano looks very stylish and is better in the real life than the
picture in the net. I prefer the rose silver model.
In conclusion, it's very good digital piano and taking in mind that it
costs 800 euro I could say it's the best digital piano for that price
range.
SomeGuyOnTheInternet
>> kum...@hotmail.com (Evgeny Kumanov) wrote:
>> Rhodes and Wurlitzer are very good and I can't hear
>> audible switching between the samples. At least it's better than P80.
Do you mean velocity-switching? Because if you do, I disagree. All the
Rhodes patches on the SP-200 have an obvious velocity-switch. Perhaps you
were listening to an SP-100? That doesn't have a velocity-switch on its
Rhodes patch. Personally, I think I'd take an SP-100 over an SP-200. And
it's cheaper, too!
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** The only good velocity-switch is an inaudible velocity-switch **
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Evgeny Kumanov
> Rhodes patches on the SP-200 have an obvious velocity-switch. Perhaps you
> were listening to an SP-100? That doesn't have a velocity-switch on its
> Rhodes patch. Personally, I think I'd take an SP-100 over an SP-200. And
> it's cheaper, too!
Well, I tried again and I think there was velocity-switching but it
was not so obnoxious as in P80. Maybe you are right that SP100 has
better Rhodes, but every other aspect of it is worse than SP200 - the
keyboard and piano sounds sucks. And I think that if I want perfect
Rhodes emulation I would use the keyboard as a controller for software
programs like Emagic EVP88 or Applied Acoustics Lounge Lizard EP-1. I
have heard mp3 samples of their Rhodes emualtion and I think that no
other digital piano, module or synth reproduces it better.
Al
> Rhodes emulation I would use the keyboard as a controller for software
> programs like Emagic EVP88 or Applied Acoustics Lounge Lizard EP-1. I
> have heard mp3 samples of their Rhodes emualtion and I think that no
> other digital piano, module or synth reproduces it better.
just going off at a tangent somewhat, I often wonder about our
(pianist/synthesists) obsession with emulating existing instruments.
It's not impossible just go hire in an instrument you need the sound of,
that way you get all it's sound and functionality. I'm as guilty of
this as many, but I often look at tools like the JV-1080 and Trinity
with unbelievable synthesis potential that just gets used to sound a bit
like something else. Many will dispute this, but most of my music (see
my website, I refuse to plug myself by putting the URL here) is based on
the GM soundset which is just about the worst example of emulation
synthesis (a term I just made up), but by not attempting to sound like
and instrument, I think you can get some pretty cool effects. It's one
of the things that winds me up about the acoustic versus digital debate,
if you want something that sounds like a piano and feels like a piano,
get a piano, I allude vaguely in various places in my posts that I eq
the crap out of my digital piano, I'm not looking for a _piano_ sound,
I'm looking for a sound that's kinda like a piano, but more appropriate
for the style of music I'm playing. It's one of the reasons why I'm a
dire classical pianist (apart from having relatively few playing skills
and no talent) but I truly feel happier going for something a tad off
the wall (those who've heard my music will be on the floor laughing
right now) than just trying to emulate something.
Incidentally, any synthesists out there with ability to play classical
piano, try playing a classical piece with a truly outlandish synth
patch. Keep tweaking it until you can get the same expression out of
the patch as you can with a piano. I think you may enjoy the results :)
Al
Evgeny Kumanov
I am not going to argue with you. I want just to expose my point of
view instead. I live in Bulgaria, work as a programmer which is one of
the best paid jobs here and my salary is maybe average or even above
average for that kind of job - 400 euro. After paying my flat and
other taxes and after excluding the money for food and so on the
remaining sum is 100 euro! How do you think I can buy Steinway grand?
My calculations show that after 60 years of diligent savings it would
be possible :) And what about other jobs here - they all are paid far
below that salary. I don't want to bother you with complaints but the
reality is that... I agree that no synth/software can simulate the
real thing and I would agree that the mentioned problem was problem of
my government and not yours but there are other reasons except that.
What about practicing at night? My neighbours are so disgusting that
they don't allow me to play music even during the day... Another fact
- how easy is to find good and preserved Rhodes and how would you
maintain it? And at the end - my personal taste is to play something
that is either very good simulation of a real thing either fully
different electronic sound. That's why I cannot understand your
inclination to use bad simulations that you think are proper for you
style of music.
Christof Pflumm
> I agree that no synth/software can simulate the real thing and I
> would agree that the mentioned problem was problem of my government
> and not yours but there are other reasons except that.
Do you have experience with Steinberg's "The grand"?
http://www.steinberg.net/products/ae/plugins/thegrand/index.phtml?sid=04393168&id=0303030508
I have read it sounds very good. You need a fast PC with lots of
memory, but as a programmer, you perhaps have that allready. Oh, you
also need a programm that can use VST instruments...
Bye,
Christof
Al
> inclination to use bad simulations that you think are proper for you
> style of music.
well... bad music doesn't deserve good instruments does it?
Al
Evgeny Kumanov
Of course I do :) My initial intention was to buy relatively
inexpensive hammer action controller to use with The Grand although I
haven't still tried it actually - only heard the samples.
> I have read it sounds very good. You need a fast PC with lots of
> memory, but as a programmer, you perhaps have that allready. Oh, you
> also need a programm that can use VST instruments...
Yes, the fact that I wanted to buy controller for The Grand, without
trying it personally, may show you how wonderful the samples was.
However the SP-200 has very good piano sounds too. I hope soon will
buy both and tell what my experince is.
Have a nice day!