Generalmusic Gem PRP7 a review
micha...@my-deja.com
portable piano. It is based on the Gem Pro1 and Pro2 Real Piano series,
and is very reasonably priced.
It is mechanically well built, having a solid steel case with nice wood
end pieces. It looks good, except for the brick on a rope!! IMHO The
nicest part of the PRP7 is the Keyboard action which is a TP23 Fatar
action, the same one used by Fatar in their Studiologic 880, 990 and
1100 master keyboards. The Fatar action has a nice feel, not too light
and not too soggy. The keys are nicely finished, and its even got that
bit of felt strip across the edge of the keys!
The sounds ah well!! The PRP7 GM preset sounds are only average. The
main sound, which is the Grand Piano (remember this keyboard purports
to be a piano) is, if anything, below average and but a pale shadow of
the Pro Real Piano series. The Grand Piano itself sounds boxed-in and
lacks resonance. It sounds to me like the people at Gem started out
with the Real Piano Pro sound and then used a pliers and a hacksaw to
chop chunks off, leaving the piano equivalent of mock cream. You have
to use the on-board effects and work hard to get any decent sound out
of the Grand Piano. If you are looking to buy a portable piano as a
main instrument this is NOT the keyboard to consider. Instead go for a
Technics or Yamaha Stage Piano or indeed Gem's Pro1 or Pro2 Stage
Piano.
The DSP on-board effects are basic but adequate. MIDI facilities are
very basic but OK. The keyboard can access standard MIDI palette of
sounds when driven from an external source BUT cannot use these sounds
from its own interface - WEIRD!! There is also a bog basic sequencer on
board.
If you have a Master-keyboard and want really a good piano get a Gem RP
Expander. I love this little box, it is the reason I bought the PRP7. I
foolishly thought that the piano sound would be a reasonably close
clone of the sire - IT IS NOT!!
I have been playing keyboards for more than 10 years and own a GEM Real
Piano Expander, an Ensonic TS12 and a PRP7, I borrow a few other bits
from time to time. If the PRP series had a half decent piano which came
even close to the Real Piano series, it would be very good value for
money, BUT it does NOT, so it is NOT.
Maybe the good people at Generalmusic will re-issue the sound eprom for
the PRP7, like they did for the Real Piano Expander. If they put a
decent piano sound in this board it would be a nice one. Guys if you
are putting out a better eprom, and I really suggest you consider it, I
am first in the line to claim one.
Tony McGinley. Ireland.
michael...@esatclear.ie
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