🎹Digital vs Acoustic Pianos - What Should You Buy? What are the Differences?🎹
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
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We appreciate everyone joining us for another piano video here at Merriam Pianos! In this video, Stu Harrison dives into some of the critical differences between acoustic and digital pianos, pros and cons of both, and which option might be better for you . We hope you enjoy the video, and please chime in and leave us a comment!
ACOUSTIC VS DIGITAL: PIANO ACTION
Acoustic Action - Acoustic piano action design has continuously evolved for over 300 years now, with the goal of providing the player with the greatest possible control over the speed and expression, or volume, of the notes being played. Essentially, an acoustic piano action is a mechanical link between the key and the hammer, which strikes the strings of a piano at different velocities. With over 4,000 moving parts, acoustic piano actions are highly intricate.
Digital Action - The role of digital piano action is to simulate the feel of an acoustic action by sending an electronic signal to a computer when the key is pressed. The signal contains information such as how hard the key is pressed, and that signal is then interpreted through sensors and a modelled or sampled piano tone is generated. Much of the early criticism of digital pianos centered around an overall lack of sensor accuracy, unrealistic feeling keys, and the fact that the internal computers were not sophisticated enough to offer any type of nuance or dynamic subtlety. The overwhelming consensus from most pianos teachers was that a digital piano was simply not an adequate substitution for a student to learn piano.
ACOUSTIC VS DIGITAL: TONE
Acoustic Piano Tone: On an acoustic piano, when a key is pressed, a hammer extends and strikes the strings. The sound of the strings is then transmitted to the soundboard via the bridge. The soundboard essentially functions as a very large speaker, amplifying and projecting the sound outwards as it resonates. The higher quality the piano, the more the entire structure of the piano resonates to help produce sound.
Digital Piano Tone: A digital piano’s tone is re-produced the same way as a stereo. An audio signal is sent to an amplifier, which then powers a speaker system. Most digital pianos have two speakers, but certain models will be equipped with four or sometimes even more.
ACOUSTIC VS DIGITAL: PROS AND CONS
Digital Pro’s: One of the huge pros of going with a digital piano over an acoustic is the price. With technology and build quality in 2019, a digital piano for $1000 - $2000 can deliver a far better tone, action, and overall experience than an equally-priced acoustic piano. Although even the best digital pianos can’t simulate the resonance and tonal complexity of a high-quality acoustic upright or grand, the same can’t be said for an over-worn and poorly maintained used piano 30 years old or more.
A second pro is certainly the lack of needed maintenance - besides paying your hydro bills, there’s not much you’ll need to keep up a digital piano. Turn it on, choose your settings, and off you go.
Digital Cons: While a digital piano will be just fine for the first few years of learning, once the student achieves a certain level of progress, upgrading to an acoustic piano is necessary for continued progression. For those looking to avoid a “stepping stone”, going with a good quality acoustic piano right away takes care of the need for a costly upgrade down the road.
Acoustic Pro’s: A potentially important consideration and strong advantage of going with an acoustic piano is longevity - even a basic acoustic piano is going to provide you with 30-40 years of use.
Acoustic Cons: The big one here is of course maintenance. An acoustic piano needs to be tuned at least once a year, or if it’s receiving lots of use, twice a year. Humidity needs to be monitored and kept as stable possible since sudden and drastic shifts in relative humidity can lead to potential issues given all of the wood components found in a piano.
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For me the most important benefit of my Roland Hp603 is ability to play and listen on headphones. This way I can practice during evenings/nights without disturbing family members and neighbors.
Greg W same. As beautiful as an acoustic is - you can’t play it while your wife is sleeping!
Only one moment. Roland keys has a high noise while pressing. And it's can distrub your family even you play in headphones
@@alexanderdederer8250 I agree. It seems, most of the noise coming from key hitting the keybed. Are other digital pianos better in that respect?
@@gwojcieszczuk I tried only yamaha, kawai & korg. For me korg more silent. Next one - kawai. Yamaha also so loud.
@@gwojcieszczuk you can be interested in ua-cam.com/video/Xfee0c8ww2A/v-deo.html
This guy should be a tv presenter - on music documentaries or otherwise. Has a good presenting style.
Absolutely, his style is informative with detail but never over techie.
And he is so smart and good looking.
Draws you in also, the information can come across boring if not done right but Stu keeps us all engaged.
I think is worth mentioning the mantainance costs. You have to tune a real piano once a year. And if you want to move it to a new house, you have to pay someone specialized on moving pianos and after that you have to retune it.
He spends a couple of minutes on this, at the 21 minute mark.
A pianist told me that if you want to move a piano upstairs, movers charge by the number of steps on the stairs.
My main problem with my 6’1” antique Chickering!
I used to have piano lessons with a teacher of 35 years experience... his piano was built in 1895. . Was still absolutely beautiful to play... I have my own acoustic...pay £67 twice per year for maintenance tuning... my daughter has an acoustic built in 1950... tuned twice per year...Plays absolutely beautiful... my digital kawai starter keyboard is 3 years old.. I have has one technical malfunction...it has 5 year guarantee.. I expect the acoustics to have an excellent longevity and not my digital
i'm 14 and i have been messing about with a 200$ synth action piano for the last 10 years. no dynamicks. all the bad habits i have probably developed just make me cringe. don't worry now that i've actualy started actual lessons im going to buy a kawai ca 49 this christmas.
I've been practicing on a Roland FP-30 for the better part of a year now. Last week I finally had an opportunity to noodle around with an acoustic piano, and I was actually very surprised at how well the "mechanical intent" I had learned to develop on the FP-30 translated to the acoustic piano I was playing. I was expecting it to be an entirely different experience, like I'd have to spend half an hour just getting used to the way the keys felt due to all the information I've heard about digitals vs acoustics and how "different" the actions are.
Well, it really didn't feel all that different. Pretty much instantly I was playing it like my FP-30 and it was a fantastic experience. Interestingly, the only thing that took me some time to adjust to was the pedal. I was NOT expecting an acoustic piano pedal to feel as stiff as this one felt. It is the only thing that felt totally different and new to me. Digital piano pedals are quite loose and easy to engage by comparison. Real sustain pedals are actually quite stiff while the one I use with my FP-30 is very easy to depress. I wasn't really expecting that kind of feedback from the pedal, but I got used to it well enough.
The sound was absolutely incredible as well. The reverberations provided not only by the shape of the actual piano, but also the room it is placed in, lend a lot to the character of the tone. That right there is to me the biggest difference between digital pianos and acoustic ones and I was so thrilled when you broke it down and explained this as well. Over the months I have heard many people say "acoustic pianos are just different", "they just have a lot of subtleties", "there is more nuance to playing them". None of that means anything to me, it doesn't mean anything to beginners either. I feel like people who are privileged enough to own an acoustic piano forget that _a lot_ of people who are beginners have never even touched an acoustic piano, let alone heard one in person. So hearing someone finally describe the biggest, most obvious difference between the two is great.
In terms of which one is "better", I couldn't have said it better myself. There is no "better", they are just different instruments that offer their own pros and cons. Which one is "better" is entirely situational. In terms of actual sound quality I personally prefer an acoustic piano. I have heard some _very_ good digital pianos, I even have some _very_ good piano VSTs that sound very nice. But they just lack all of the character that you get from a genuine acoustic. The lack of TRUE reverberation just makes them sound very...pure and clinical. Most of the digital pianos and VSTs I've heard sound exactly the way I would expect them to: digital. Most of them do not sound like I am listening to a piano in a _real_ space. I have managed to find some that get very close to this kind of presence, be it with the use of additional plugins or not, but there is still something that just seems "off" about them.
Having said that, it is extremely obvious from my own experience with an acoustic that it is totally fine to practice on a digital piano. If the action is heavy enough, you will have no problems trying to play an acoustic piano if the opportunity ever arises. So from a purely practicing perspective, I think digital pianos are totally fine, and you hit the nail on the head with your suggestion there. As long as you get a decent digital piano, between $700-$1000, you will have no problems whatsoever. And even in terms of doing performances, with the right considerations for how you're trying to capture the sound and the kinds of post-processing you want to do to the audio, there are ways to make it sound almost just as good as if you were in a room listening to a real acoustic piano. Not quite exactly the same, but good enough. So I would say it doesn't _really_ matter which one you decide to get. The only reason I am pining for an acoustic piano is to have the opportunity to explore all that infinite chaos they provide with their characteristic reverberations. But even without all of that, I can still get my FP-30 to sound "close enough" when paired with some nice VSTs and plugins, and I'm okay with that.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
I have an fp 30x and have been looking for some feedback like this. Thanks for your input, I’m looking into buying an acoustic when I move just to get the authentic feel and sound. I do love my digital and being able to play quietly or in headphones is perfect for having neighbors or other housemates that may need some quite time.
@@TheTylerbowers I would highly recommend a console or studio upright, as these are typically small enough to fit comfortably against a wall. Elitist snobs will tell you "it's not worth getting an acoustic if you aren't paying at least 6 figures for one" but that's ridiculous. Piano is one of the ONLY instruments I've seen with a very snobby culture of gatekeepers. Imagine trying to learn violin and some clown says "if you aren't playing on a million dollar Stradivarius you're not learning at all :^)", complete nonsense.
On the flip side of things, I would completely avoid the digital upright pianos. I have no idea why these things even exist. These things are priced insanely high and you're basically paying for a $1000 digital piano attached to a fancy piece of $10,000 furniture. Not worth it in my opinion. If I'm gonna have something that huge taking up space in a room I'd rather it be an acoustic upright.
@@spartan456 I was definitely leaning towards and upright since they’re so compact and seem cheaper for the most part. I’d like to put around 5 grand or so in, I’ve got some decent money for spending but i don’t have 6 figures worth to spend lol. I would like to get a grand or baby grand if I have the room when I move but an upright would be great too.
Ted text
Such an incredible TED Talk. Thank you for sharing your experience. I have an Acoustic Piano, but unfortunately, it's not the best, it sounds fantastic when tuned, but as soon as it gets out of tune, it sounds terrible. It's true with even the best acoustic pianos, but the problem with my piano is it can't be in tune for a long time, a maximum of 4 months. Still, it should be in tune for at least 6 months; another thing is acoustic pianos are so loud. You can't play them whenever you want, which is a big issue for me, so I decided to go for a digital piano; of course, the sound is not even close, and the action of digital pianos feels very unnatural. But the convenience of putting on your headphones and playing in your private space is a massive win for me.
I think he does a really good analysis on digital vs acoustic differences. I totally agree with most of the things he said. Only one last point that piano reviewers usually tend to forget is that piano is the most universal instrument/ tool used by musicians in general. A composer/ arranger in the modern world would benefit from a digital because of a million reasons over an acoustic one. A kid or adult that needs to incorporate the piano as a second instrument can purchase a Shigeru Kawai if the wallet can hold it, but the lack of recording means and the many other features will only get on their way. Not to mention the maintenance. The One thing that people tend to forget when buying an acoustic is "Doesn't matter how much you spend on a piano, if the acoustics in your place are not good.... you are just buying expensive furniture, and it won't sound better there than a high end digital.
I just bought a refurbished acoustic upright piano, Kawai K50, for less than USD2000 over a Digital Kawai KDP110. For my children who are just started taking lessons. Hope i made the right choice.
I appreciate that he calls a spade a spade, and doesn’t try to “sell” the digital piano to increase his revenue or whatever. The digital piano has many advantages but on what matters to me as a pianist, I need an acoustic.
Totally in agreement
Acoustic pianos may cost a lot, that's for sure.
But damn.. I've never seen something more beautiful in my entire life..
right?
Lots of good information on this video. Well done.
You should compare same level/class of digital with same level/class of acoustic piano.
If you consider a grand acoustic, you should consider grand digital with sound board like Roland 607 or 609 or Yamaha CLP GP.
And if you have an + $8000 acoustic ground piano, you should bring a Yamaha hybrid like N3 for comparison,
I think it’s proper to compare the digital you have with a - $1000 upright.
True that, but you still won't need similar amounts of money. A few thousands will get you one of the best digital pianos.
Stu, the word I liked best in this video was "different". There will always be a difference, but as you said, it's not necessarily a question of better and worse. Future digital pianos may have sounds or actions that make them more desireable than anything else for certain pieces of music. Why should The Piano (in whichever configuration) stop evolving? Even grand pianos can improve.
But the most realistic comparison for now is digital vs upright. Like you, I always say that you have to spend several thousand dollars to get an upright really worth having. Ergo, a new 1500 dollar digital piano will usually trounce a secondhand 1500 dollar upright, because that upright with its boxy sound and sluggish action is too cheap. It will outlast its digital rival, but maintenance will double its cost in about 12-15 years, so there's no economic gain, and an ambitious student would soon outgrow it anyway.
Unable to compete on both price and quality simultaneously, I see upright pianos getting squeezed out of the market, but they may still be good for schools and other places where rough treatment can destroy a plastic slab in a couple of years.
The best thing about digital pianos is that many poorer people can now afford to buy an instrument worth having. Effectively, they have democratised piano playing, offering a secluded world of music possibility to almost everybody in the developed world. Just look at Spain where the guitar was the only polyphonic instrument found in working class homes, partly because of price, and partly because of size. Thanks to the digital revolution we'll see generations of Spanish pianists popping up in all genres of music.
13:00 (ish) - this is only accurate at low to medium budgets. At a higher budget, digital pianos are starting to use transducers to vibrate soundboards to get the tone and vibrating feel of an acoustic piano. Of course, at that point they are only marginally more transportable than a full acoustic (upright) piano. (Though at this point we're starting to get into what's often referred to as 'digital hybrid pianos'.)
The main selling point of digital (hybrid) pianos for many people who would have the budget for an acoustic version is that they're far more apartment friendly, being smaller, lighter and (potentially) more quiet than an acoustic, especially if you're using headphones.
Another big advantage with the digital pianos: You can practice playing it in the middle of the night without waking up your family or neighbors by wearing headphones. I am writing this in 2022, and there are some great quality basic digital pianos to consider now at lower prices, as technology has moved forward in the last 2-3 years since this video was posted.
This is why i just bought one.
One important point is that with a good digital keyboard and a good set of headphones the performer hears from the vantage point of the best seat in the concert hall. You will hear the instrument as you would hear it in a recording. Playing an acoustic piano you do not get the bloom of the sound that you are used to hearing in recordings… This can be very disturbing because you could be playing perfectly but it just doesn’t sound as good as a recording that you may be using to judge how a piece should sound. The better keyboards have very realistic ambience features so that you can replicate what you are used to hearing on recordings or in the concert hall.
I have owned a Bechstein concert grand with ivory keys for over 30 years now ... arguably one of the finest pianos in the world… And yet I still enjoy banging out my finger exercises on an electronic keyboard. And of course I love doing my baroque repertoire on the electronic’s harpsichord sounds. So I enjoy them both but I have a strong emotional attachment to my piano that I will never have for an electronic. There is a place for both individually and together in my home.
I have both an acoustic upright and a electric keyboard. Best of two worlds by practicing using
keyboard with headphones so nobody can hear then play on upright for acoustic sound. Good for the piano salesman. Twice the sales commission.
So don’t get this confused. Keyboards and digital pianos are different from each other. I hear you saying digital keyboard, but it is a digital piano. Their are differences between a digital piano and keyboard. Digital pianos are mimicking the acoustic piano with its action and G.H.s. And weighted keys. A keyboard has semi weighted action or spring loaded action and mot of the time the keyboard is smaller. A keyboard is played also differently than a digital piano is. As well. So don’t get that confused. I know what you mean though. Sounds and performances yes. Also many people call digital pianos electric pianos which is totally the wrong verbiage for a digital piano. Electric pianos are not digital pianos. They work totally different. The electric piano was like an acoustic piano but with tunes instead of strings. The electric piano did not at all sound like an actual acoustic piano but with bell tones. They didn’t have the sounds like on a digital piano. They worked almost like an electric guitar did so the digital piano is not an electric piano. The days of the electric piano are gone. That was back in the 1970’s. Digital pianos came about in the 1980’s 1990’s. So their is a big difference that many people don’t know. So their is a huge difference between an electric piano that we once used to today’s digital pianos. Their is a big difference their.
Can't you get that benefit with a silent acoustic piano?
i disagree,a good acoustic piano would product not only rich,high quality sound but also the acoustic effects suck as resonace and somehow it still feel cool.Yes,a good digital piano or keyboard will produce warm and perfect pitch/frequency.However the price of it won't be low.The feel in a real acoustic piano is still different to weighted keys on digitals,but it doesn't mean acoustic piano is harder to play but in fact.The plastic key of Roland digital makes me feel annoyed and confuse to play,a real piano is sometimes easier to play.
Agree... I have both... I used the digital for night plan and fun with the voices...but my absolute joy is my acoustic
Thank you for this content. I found it very interesting. I’ve been learning the piano for a month now, I have a digital piano at home, however I have weekly lessons, during which I play on an acoustic. Last week, for the first time, I could “feel” the piano as I played - and as for the sound, I really love the sound and feel of my tutor’s acoustic piano. I’m doing my research and weighing up the pros and cons of both. Also, with my digital piano, I appreciate the convenience of being able to plug my headphones in and practice without disturbing anyone else. I see myself with an acoustic in the future though.
You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to check out our videos and write in! There is definitely a greater sense of emotional connectivity when it comes to playing an acoustic piano. Hearing and feeling the actual vibration of strings and a soundboard has a certain magic to it that is hard to replicate. With that said, having a digital piano on hand for late night/quiet practice is really handy. The best of both worlds solution is to have...well...both an acoustic and digital piano on hand (or, perhaps, an acoustic hybrid!). Thanks again and happy playing! :)
Such good info. You can really tell Stu (sp?) has a lot of knowledge driven by a passion for not only the piano as an instrument but music generally.
Very informative. Really exciting to see the action of a grand piano!
What a wonderful informative video. Found your channel a few weeks ago and think I have watched all your presentations and you have a great presentation style. Thank you for your time in making these videos for us to enjoy.
Thanks for finding us Stephen, and so glad you're enjoying the content. We certainly love making it, helping people understand a bit more about pianos and how to find. a great one for themselves is a genuine passion for us. Take care, look forward to more comments!
A correctly comparasion:
A kawai ca series or a casio gp vs a grand piano :)
One of the most interesting and informative videos! never seen an acoustic mechanism in this scenario. Thanks for the review! I also think that it's time for Stu to shoot his music channel for television :) I agree with previous comments: just imagine, Merriam-TV on the central Canadian television! )
That would be amazing! With that said, the exciting thing about UA-cam is the global reach! It is fantastic to see piano enthusiasts from all over the globe connecting via our videos and channel. :)
when he pulled the hammer action out of the grand i started crying
I look at it from a slightly different perspective. EVERY parent tends to believe that their kid is going to be a "superstar" at whatever they engage in. In my family of 5 siblings, ALL except me being the youngest, were given piano lessons. Of those other 4, only one progressed to a grade 8 level in PIANO, even though we are ALL musical and have played different instruments well and we all sing. Due to the cost of piano lessons (and the other expenses of raising 5 kids), I was never offered the opportunity to take piano lessons. Of my own two children, only one was offered piano lessons and she dropped out at about grade 2 level but she played a flute very well. My son had no particular interest in the piano but is a superb drummer and plays guitar nicely. So my point is this: Why would I go to the expense of purchasing an acoustic piano, with it's huge upfront and maintenance costs along with non portability, when a VERY credible digital musical alternative is NOW available? Chances are high that my child is NOT going to advance to high levels in the piano world anyway.
I look at digital pianos much like digital cameras. In the beginning they were crap. But as the cost of processing power and electronic memory has plunged, manufacturers have been able to produce better and better algorithms with greater polyphony to more authentically replicate the sounds of acoustic pianos (as well as a host of other instruments) within the same unit. In the last few years, great enhancements have been made to the action/feel of electronic keyboards as well. My wife has grade 9 piano and she was pretty stunned when trying out a Casio GP500 Hybrid Piano. I would agree with Stu that a very suitable electronic instrument can be found in the $1,000 price range with exceptional units in the $5,000 range. Technology progresses and it is my opinion that acoustic piano manufacturers have a relatively short survival time moving forward. Consolidation is happening more and more with Yamaha purchasing Bosendorfer and I've recently heard that Steinway is seeking a buyer as well.
Some great points. I don't want to dive into the education side of the discussion too much here, but I'm not a huge fan of the traditional 'conservatory' method...I went through it, as do most. You do a 'grade' once a year, maybe 1-2 recitals, and competitive festivals. All to build and test a skill-set that's supposed to be fun and social by nature. The truth is very few people engage with the isolated, academic dynamic that this traditional path normally provides, and I'm seeing a few music schools in Can / USA that are gearing towards social learning environments and better application of the knowledge are having far higher success rates with kids of even moderate "talent" levels. Anyway, some great points / comments here Clayton, and thanks for watching! -stu
great presentation, thank you
Best part of video is 11:20 to 13:00, I own two nice digital keyboards , but I crave the resonance that I’m missing.. I always thought grand is too expensive but the resonance might be reason to settle for upright than a more expensive hybrid like nv10 or nu1x digital. The emotional experience with the nice resonance is day and night comparing real to digital.. but I’ll continue to use and to develop on digital .. someday acoustic will be in my home 😁
EDIT: Stu: I would like to see a video that educates people on what increases the resonances and complexity of the acoustic piano sound, from relation to how the piano is made and what type of parts are used , and how it gives a better or certain type of resonance?
Surely bigger piano is bigger sound , but i'd think the component impact resonance and complexity of the sound
The room where piano is the most important one. What kind of wood, is it real timber or processed wood. Other moving parts and metal are reasonably ok in a decent piano. Bigger structure and sound board will be louder. Most important thing is room, room floor covering, other furniture and contents and placement make big difference.
I could nerd out on this all day long!
Thank you Stu Harrison for your clear and comprehensive advice. As always, very beneficial to hear your take on things. While I prefer an acoustic piano, I take online piano lessons on my digital, which I plug my laptop and headphones into. So, I'll hold on to the digital until I'm past the online stage of learning and then step up to an acoustic. I love to practice late at night when everyone else is asleep so I'll need to keep the digital for headphone use.
Roland vs Kawai vs Yamaha? Which brand should I go for, in digital pianos? Please suggest! My preferred models are Roland RP 302, Kawai KDP 110, Yamaha YDP 144. Which brand is better overall in terms of sound, touch, action and value for money?
Does he go the entire video without mentioning that practicing on digital can be silent to the entire house when used with quality headphones? How is that not the #1 benefit?
What is important people who loves music can afford to buy digital piano cheaper than 50grand grandmother piano.
Digitals are also a great entry to the world of home studios / Digital Audio Workstations.
When you mentioned that no one is going to attach a table sized speaker to a digital in 14:09, you reminded me of a speaker design I did a couple of years ago: I actually made a 6-foot long table from scratch with four 15" full range speakers, two 12" woofers for bass (all speakers in open baffle configuration), plus 8 tweeters. It was impractical of course, but I wanted to see how much a speaker setup as large as a medium sized grand piano could compare against an actual soundboard.
I thought about the one in Back from the future.
Hahaha, seeing the action just sitting out resting on his knees like that is making me super nervous! Put it back, I can't concentrate on what you're saying!! Brilliant video.
Lol - i know it looks more precarious that it actually is...20 years and I have yet to drop one!
Check Dexibell products if you're interested in seiing some instruments using resonating wood like a real piano.
For sure the grand piano is the best , but not everyone can buy.😎
Not every grand is a good grand.
Both correct!
True true true!!! I am a pianist for a living.. i have to say I do play both digital and acoustic. What many people don’t realize is that the digital is a totally different beast than the counter part the acoustic. Their is nothing like playing on a grand and getting the resonance. The digital however if you just play acoustic pianos is going to feel totally off. It is because of the way it works compared to the acoustic. The digital believe it or not I would tell many people is that it has a totally different feel than the cousin its acoustic counter part. Many people think that playing an acoustic is the same as playing a digital. Well, it is actually quite a bit different. The key and pedal action the way the piano works and much much more. A digital can do things that an acoustic can’t do which is produce recordings and you have a studio basically right their if you have the right piano. You don’t need to get a band to play with you. You can do all the work. With an acoustic though it is very expressive you have to set mics and get a band to play along with you if you want the outcome of drums and trumpets. Now if you are just playing yourself no. You are good to go. Both have their place and trim although digital pianos rule a lot of the music world now days. The thing you won’t see though is a digital piano in a classical concert hall. That is not the place for a digital. So playing both types of pianos really gives a very wide prospective on the piano world. You can play classical music on a digital but it is not going to sound the same no matter how great the sampling and modeling gets. It still sounds really different compared to a grand piano playing with a band. I give you this and totally agree. My feelings are not hurt from this because i do totally agree although my first love is the digital piano. We are always tuned up and always sound the same. Plus we can take everyone’s instruments and play them in one piano. Lol!!!!!! Great points her though. I don’t use a digital at work. I am always playing on an acoustic. They are all baby grands... the digital is at home which I am their now due to the pandemic so I don’t get to play on any acoustic grands but when I get back to work I will. Plus with playing both types of pianos you have to switch your thinking and mentality of how the play is going to bee. Going from acoustic to digital and back. It is pretty amazing when someone can play both pianos because our brains are thinking on one piano when we are playing it but when we have to switch and play another one example digital and acoustic we can easily switch. For someone that only plays acoustic pianos though it is a rather crazy and freaky feel sometimes.
I have a Roland FP-90 digital piano and one important advantage it has over an acoustic piano, which I have only recently discovered, is the ability to use the TRANSPOSE function so that if like me, you want to sing along with your favourite songs, you can take it a few tones up or down from the original so that it fits better to your own vocal register. Particularly with the Roland which has a Mic input. I have spent years straining to reach the higher notes (after learning a song which is usually published in the original key) or if it is a song by a female singer, the original might be far too high and singing it a whole octave lower is far too low. Anyway, this is an advantage of a digital piano which I have not heard mentioned much in comparison videos but, having discovered how easy it is to do, has been almost miraculous! I still have my acoustic piano, which I have had from new over 40 years ago and it still looks and sounds like new - it is virtually indestructible. So although the Roland is pretty sturdy, I doubt it will last over 40 years so the acoustic piano clearly wins on that score.
Great info! Have not heard anyone else make this point.
I also love the transpose function, but for a different reason. When you've played a piece 500 times, the sound is so ingrained in your mind that it's hard to feel the same way about it as you did at the beginning, even if you really like the piece. But transpose it down 2 semi tones and you have a completely fresh experience. I highly recommend it!
Totally agree. And that ability to transpose - and for me to sing along with my music (something which I was never taught at Music College - there you were either a pianist or singer!) has brought a lot of enjoyment to me. It has also brought a new level of warmth to my playing, because I now play 'like a singer' - with all the phrasing and 'breathing' in my playing that was missing before. Hope that makes sense.
That is a very insightful analysis in the differences between the two types of instruments. Thank you very much!
Thank you for making this video. You speak most of what I was thinking and hesitating to get an acoustic piano or a digital piano.
One other things I didn’t mention is that not on this channel but I think that their need to bee a video from you that talks about electric pianos and digital pianos and what the difference is. I don’t know how many times I have heard as a pianist many people including musicians they keep calling digital pianos electric pianos which is compleetly different. Things that many people get wrong.... digital pianos are not at all electric pianos. An electric piano was used back in the 1970’s and before and used tunes and it didn’t at all sound like an acoustic piano but that of a bell chime sound or tuning forks.... a digital piano has the actual sampling and modeling of that of an acoustic piano. I would love to see you do a video n this to help people really understand the differences of an electric piano versus a digital. Many people call digitals electric pianos because you plug it in but this is a very won’t term for today’s modern day digital pianos. They are not at all electric pianos. Actually,,,, the electric piano worked kind of like the electric guitar does. They have way pedals and different trimmalo effects for the phasers. Their was only so many things you could do with the sound. Taking out and putting in the road’s bark like sound and making it vibrate like a vibraphone. The modern day digital piano definitely makes the electric piano sick..... on the electric piano you could have many different pedals for the phasers and stomp boxes. So yea. People do get this electric piano thing confused with digital pianos. What people do not understand is they are totally and compleetly different from each other. Even the body of the electric piano didn’t at all feel like the acoustic piano. It felt like a suite case. That is why they called some of the rides pianos suit case E.P. You should make a video to inform people that electric pianos and digital pianos are not the same. Also what many people get wrong is they say and talk about a digital piano is the same as a keyboard in reality it is not though it is played by a keyboard. The keyboard is not a piano. It is a bit different instrument. A keyboard and synth usually do not have full keys like that of a digital piano and they are not G.H.S. Action. They are pretty much spring loaded so the key bounces back and when you play into a keyboard or synth their is not weigh as you press down into the keybeds. When you play a keyboard or synthesizer it is like pressing down on an organ key that doesn’t have any G.H.s. You find that on a pipe organ or electric organ. The keys are that of keyboard and synth keys. But a digital pianos keys is like that of an acoustic piano that has a graded standard hammer action which means that it actually simulates that of an acoustic piano as you and I know. The keyboard does not offer that fully weighted key action like that of a digital piano. They might have semi weighted and the length of the keyboard is different with the exception of some keyboards beeing a full 88 key but their again their is no actual piano action like that of an acoustic piano or digital piano’s G.H.S. The keyboard does not have that. Usually too the keyboard is so much more portable than the digital piano and they are smaller of course.plus with a keyboard it is played differently as well. It is used for. Background music of course where as a synthesizer is more background and solo or D.J. Types of instruments and the way I can explain it is this. A synthesizer gets it sound through waves like a radio. It doesn’t get its sounds through a computer. It is a radio receiver actually. So when you are pressing keys you are sending radio signals and the signals are coming back to crest the sound. A keyboard has moving parts and has a computer that generates the sound to bee brass or trumpets or what have you. So synthesizers are a bit different as well. A synthesizer generates it sounds through waves that are transmitted through the keyboard part of the instrument and the waves are brought back in a instrument form a keyboard has a computer to make it sound like it does and it does having moving parts. A synthesizer does not have moving parts it is like a big receiver. In the from of a keyboard. Many people do not see this and they wonder what the difference between all these instruments are. Now i just told you hahaha!!!
Hey Benjamin - good point, some people use these terms interchangeably...but electric can (and in this specific context does) refer to totally analog pianos with no digital circuitry whatsoever. Just like an electric guitar vs a digital guitar (there are a few out there...midi pickup etc), totally fundamentally different beasts. To piano players who mainly just know acoustic, it doesn't seem to be a huge deal to nail the terminology - but with DIGITAL pianos becoming worthy alternatives, it's time they brushed up a little on the nomenclature! Cheers, -stu
Merriam Music oh you are welcome. It would bee awesome for you to make a video on this to educate people on this someday. That would bee great. Yep we need to keep education others out their to use the right terms if possible. Because when people of a digital piano they automatically think of an electric piano because you plug it in to the wall and turn it on but yes. Like you stated. And as you, and I know digital pianos and electronic pianos are a totally different beast. That is like the acoustic piano and digitals. Yes. To some people they think of them the same and they don’t know the difference, but really the acoustic and digital are in the same family piano family but they are different beasts. Digital pianos as you and I know don’t have to bee tuned but you have to man them differently. You not only have the piano keyboard on it but you have the patches to work with wether the piano as little to no patches or many banks of patches. They are still different to man. And beeing a pianist who does play both they are different. The way that it plays they are different in their action. When you play an acoustic you can feel the mechanical movement in the pedals and key action slides over a bit on a grand but the digital doesn’t so when you step on the pedals it feels like something is broken and not working but it is. Digitals don’t have all that mechanism to move so you don’t get the othentic movement like that of a grand or even upright piano. You got a great video and I am so glad we can talk about this, but like I stated it would bee great someday when you can to get a video up of electronic pianos and digital pianos. That would bee great.
Great Job Sir!
Actually, Digital Piano with state of the act computing power and mathematical modeling is better than the Acoustic one.
Good thing with digital pianists is that we have multiple sounds 😎😎
Excellent. There is still one more option. The Kawai ATX anywhere or Yamaha Transacoustic or Disklavier types that are both real acoustic pianos that can be played as such but also have a mechanism that mutes the sound from the strings and is also a digital piano sound as well. However, those keyboards do make a pretty loud sound. And they are not portable and are quite more money than middle-level digital pianos.
Something else with a digital is that if you are a parent you can ask your kid to use headphones and not have to listen to their practicing. Believe me that’s a big win. And they can bang on it without worry. When I was a kid I learned on a 100 year old piano my neighbor gave me for free. I was so passionate about it and had such a great teacher that it didn’t matter. That said, if you’re an adult and have the money go get yourself a new full length acoustic grand because that will be far more enjoyable and you’ll want to spend more time at the piano. A great sounding acoustic instrument will soothe your soul and feel like your best friend.
You missed one of the most important advantages of a digital piano, which is the ability to practice with headphones.
Cost is such a big thing though. You could get a digital piano, a great sampled VSTi, and a table-sized speaker for much less than a grand piano.
My thoughts exactly. I can get a very high end digital piano for the same price as a cheap, low end, second hand upright piano
You never covered the types of sound creation in digital and it’s funny that you wouldn’t, as Roland is one of the biggest innovators of physical modeling technology.
I guess it depends if the student is rich. If i were rich, I'd go straight for an acoustic. Even if I can't play it, it would be an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture :)
I am no child and I am no beginner (obviously not a pro, but I can say above average). I had an accoustic upright, but it went out of tone several times a year and I couldn't afford tuning it so often. Then I had an accident and I cannot play fluidly with my left hand anymore.
So I sold my accoustic upright and bought a semipro digital Kurzweil and I'm in love with it. I can record my own tracks, my own base, play along with songs, plug another set of speakers if I want a really big volume or plug headphones if I'm playing at night.
I'm not going to be the next Einaudi or Lang Lang, so I'm not attached to an accoustic.
Said that, obviously I prefer the sound and feel of an accoustic as long as it doesn't empty my wallet.
Hi Eduardo! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! :)
I am very sorry to hear that you had an accident that affected your playing, but I am very happy to hear that you found an instrument that you connect with and are find satisfaction in playing. Digital pianos have come a long way and, for some, it is the ideal solution given the options and flexibility they present. It is also very exciting to see how far the technology is coming to bridge the gap between acoustic and digital pianos. We are all eagerly awaiting to see what the future holds!
Thank you, thank you very much for this wonderfully informative video.
One of the best out there.
I disagree with the idea of the digital piano being a "starter" instrument which you should eventually transition out of. I learned to play on a mid range digital, bought back in 2006, and I had no issue passing grade 8 with distinction. And I still play it now. If you want an acoustic, then by all means, but don't feel like it's something you "should" do in order to progress.
Thank you for the insight James! It is certainly true that there are a plethora of players out there achieving incredible levels of success and progress purely from digital instruments. I would also say that, as the technology and innovation continues to improve, the musical gaps between digital and acoustic pianos will continue to shorten. Congratulations on your incredible success and achievement and thank you so much for tuning into the channel! :)
Long last! What a pleasure to hear about pianos clearly and honestly by a very competent person and brilliant piano player too.
But now... 3 years later?
Just bought the Kawai NOVUS NV-5S ...
How far could I get learning on this piano ? Because this 'hybrid' electrical piano behaves surprisingly similar as an acoustic (although the sound is not as realistic, it sounds really really great)
Would it be a big jump from this to an acoustic piano?
I live in an appartment and practice on an acoustic piano is just not possible (My poor neighbours 😆)
The NV5S is fantastic and is definitely the closest thing you'll find to an acoustic upright piano in a digital form. With that said, there is a bit of a different sound and quality produced by hammers striking strings. However, the NV5S further bridges the gap sonically to an acoustic piano by having the TwinDrive Soundboard System. :)
Hahahaha!!!! I saw the comment that I posted a year ago and the thing I would like to add to this is that many people don’t realize this but laying an acoustic grand and playing a digital,,, well, many many people think they feel the same but really the digital is a completely different beast then the acoustic. The play is completely different. It fools you because the action feel like that of an acoustic but really it is completely different. So for a beginner to try, and attempt to play it when they go on an acoustic to play in a concert or recode, they are going to play badly because they won’t have the expressiveness which you get on an acoustic and the action is going to bee a lot different. Even as a working pianist,,, when I go to work and play on the grands, then, I go home and get on my digital I can truly tell. Many people make the mistake in saying it feels exactly like that of the acoustic but really it doesn’t. The action is a whole different beast and the keys play a lot different as well. If someone learns on a digital they when they get on an acoustic will suck because they are going to bee playing a lot louder than what they should and they are going to feel weird because everything moves. So the thing to do here as a beginner is learn on an acoustic then,,, as I stated on my other comment, go to a digital. Yes the digital is less expensive but it is about how to play. This is the true and ideal way. Also the sound is much different when you are sitting at each of the pianos. You get the harmonics on an acoustic and you get the true resonance of the strings. Yes a digital can replicate that but still it is no where near the othentic sound of the natural wood. So many people have this mentality of well, a digital sounds the same as the acoustic but it doesn’t. I love playing on digital pianos and they are my favorite piano to play on but for work you need to have the acoustic for performance. So the thing here about pianos is that if a beginner wants to learn try, if possible to get on an acoustic. Once you get the hang and feel of playing the piano and have a bit of knowledge then you can move to a different beast. For me,, I love being able to play both. Even from a life time of playing keys, I still notice the big big difference from playing an acoustic baby grand or grand and a digital. The feeling is just a totally different thing.
in case I connect a digial piano line out to a home stereo system, like the > 60W amplifer and subwoofer, would that make the difference in the sound system less significant?
If you are predominantly using some type of external amplifier or sound system, the built-in amplifier and speaker system will not be as big of a consideration as other factors such as the action and tone engine.
Really excellent presentation. Best I've seen on the differences between acoustic and digital. Unfortunately, budget and space will be dictating my choice.
Which would be better for someone who has hearing impairment?
Can you feel the vibration on the keys of an acoustic?
I have central auditory processing disorder and struggle with the lower range.
I’ve played on a Casio keyboard but it has failed. It didn’t hold up well.
I can hear the sound with more clarity when it comes to the acoustic.
There is certainly an added nuance and feeling of connectivity with the instrument when playing an acoustic piano. Especially with more sophisticated designs, much of the instrument is in vibration, which allows you to "feel" the sound so to speak. While vibration of the keys is an extremely subtle nuance, I would say that you may benefit from that extra connectivity and resonance you get from an acoustic instrument. Thanks so much for writing in with the question! :)
Just get a Kawai with wooden keys. The cheapest model will suffice - the most expensive will be superb.
If you get a second hand one, be aware that there will be wear in the keys - not the same as in a real piano, but wear none-the-less. It can be fixed perhaps but be aware of the possibility of this when you buy one and make sure you check the keys for it so that you can determine if you can live with the amount of wear present. It's also a good way to determine how much that piano has been used/abused.
If you can't get a Kawai with wooden keys, two options are available:
a) Get one by another make with wooden keys - invariably, this option is usually more expensive than the Kawai
b) Get a Kawai with weighted keys, as best a model as you can, or any other make's for that matter as long as the price does not come near that of a Kawai with wooden keys. If it does, just save up and wait for a Kawai with wooden keys. No other electric piano can offer the same feel. Just don't expect the sound of a real piano. Do expect a similar feel. You also get the usual benefits of an electric piano: portability, silent playing, electrical audio signal connections for recording etc.
Thank you for sharing your insights and thoughts! I definitely agree with the sentiment that Kawai digital pianos are very safe best in terms of finding a piano with the most authentic playing experience. The Kawai CA models (all of which have all-wooden key actions) are particularly impressive! Thanks again and happy playing! :)
basicaly what you wanted to do is compare dgiiital piano technolgy with acoustic piano technology.This is not the correct approach,What you should have done is get a Yamaha transacoustic grand or a KAWAI aures and play it first in acoustic mode and then in digital mnode and compare the two.That is afair comparison.Comparing a grand piano with a portable stage digital piano which is made for a completely different purpose doesnt make any sense.
We appreciate you taking the time to tune in and write in. With that said, it is important to note that unique hybrid technology like Kawai's Aures system is quite distinct and different from that within standard digital pianos. The Aures system essentially converts a 48" tall acoustic piano's high-quality soundboard into a giant speaker. Naturally, this is quite a different musical experience than a two or four speaker array. And, at the end of the day, these are all different tools for different jobs. Acoustic and digital pianos both have their place on the market because different customers have different musical preferences and needs. :)
what an amazing presenter... damn... If you're selling something to me, I'll probably buy it immediately lol
Thanks for tuning in! Stu certainly does an amazing job at presenting both pianos and information! :)
i have Yamaha dgx 640. i planning to go to school for electronic music degree. do you think my Yamaha is good enough?
Thanks
For everything except MIDI entry for piano tracks themselves, I'd say yes. A piano with a triple sensor will be needed if you get into some highly exposed piano tracking (IMHO). Thanks and good luck with the school! -stu
I believe the sound volume issue was overlooked, as Americans in general live in large houses contrary to us Europeans living in cardboard box flats. Even if you're a seasoned player, it takes many many many repetitions and long hours of making silly sounds trying to perfect a new piece, and I think the other people in the house or the neighbours must not be subjected to that torture! I love the digitals for the freedom they give. I can practice late night, I can play fast, aggressive pieces even at 3 AM when I'm not sleepy. I can practice with volume down and when I'm ready, turn the volume up so the neighbours only hear the good playing. :)
I also enjoy the fun to choose different sounds, when I'm playing Bach I prefer Harpischord to be more authentic or I choose more suitable sounds when I play pop, or even split the piano and play bass and piano at the same time.
Furthermore, about the sound and the action, I think the higher end digitals are way better than the average acoustics at the same price level. I'd prefer a CA79-CA99 sound and action over the same priced acoustic any time.
He is awesome
I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu! :)
Personally I think a quality digital with well designed weighted keyboard delivers more bang for the buck than most upright pianos. Of course the very finest upright pianos, such as a Bechstein Concert8, are very special instruments that make them a distinct class of instrument that isn't in the same realm as either typical (Kawai, Yamaha, Boston) acoustic uprights.
A good digital piano offers advantages over a < 15K upright that make it a more compelling choice, specifically very accurate, clean tone sampled from ultra high end instruments. Of course, unless you spend the money for a digital that has a true audiofile or especially engineered audio system, you can't hear the sampling with the degree of fidelity one might want, but with high quality headphones, you get a much closer to the potential of the piano sample.
By contrast, an upright has inherent problems, they don't stay in tune, and short base strings lead to loss of clarity and a tendency towards an overall muddy impression. The argument that the slight inconsistency of tone add the the character of an acoustic instrument may hold true for very high quality acoustic pianos, but the more typical consumer class acoustic piano isn't going to get more charming as it goes out of tune or has regulation issues related to design or manufacturing quality problems.
There is a reasonable argument that the distinction between acoustic and digital pianos is one which, in the abstract, is without a difference. Both are producing sound by causing a physical surface to vibrate, causing air molecules to vibrate in a way which reaches the sensory apparatus of the ear. Sound is a property of molecules moving in the air. If a digital piano can get those molecules moving in a satisfying, musical way, it doesn't matter that the source is a speaker cone rather than a wooden sound board. And a digital has some advantages at the source of the sound, samples that are recorded from 9' concert piano of the highest quality. Acoustic pianos have advantages as far as how the audio source is projected on the air (with a larger vibrating surface which moves a larger layer of air and consequently has more opportunity to bloom in a way that is readily perceptible, something that is less like to occur with digital pianos unless they use a transducer system like that of the Kawaii NV5.
Differences as regards how one's technique is conditioned by an acoustic piano's keyboard vs a digital keyboard are overstated. It is true that a cheap digital piano that has an insensitive mechanism is very limiting, but if the keyboard is well designed to be a true piano-forte with a reasonable dynamic range, it will provide all of the physical cues necessary to be compatible with playing an acoustic piano. They are different, but most people will adjust to any differences after playing an acoustic instrument for an hour or two, or at most, a week. The human autonomic nervous system is very adaptable and will make the necessary small adjustments. There are likely more differences between specific acoustic piano models (say, an upright with a light loose action vs a concert or semi-concert grand with a heavy, stiff action), than between the general or typical average difference between a high quality digital keyboard and a high quality acoustic.
Thank you so much for your insight and comment! While there is definitely some truth to the notion that, at certain price points, high-end digital pianos can compete (and, arguably, even outcompete) some consumer class acoustic pianos, particularly in regard to the touch. However, with that said, the piano playing experience is deeply personal and emotional, so the preferences will vary from person to person. The most important thing is to find an instrument that you connect with emotionally and that has a sound and touch that inspires you to want to play and practice daily. Thanks again for tuning into the channel and writing in! We sincerely appreciate it. :)
disagree, there will always be a huge difference between an acoustic and a digital, you could buy a digital for like 4k and i would still choose the crappy piano my grandma has lying around if it was tuned. the difference between the tone coming out of a speaker vs from actual vibrating strings is just a whole other world and no digital will ever replace it (except if they are hybrid but then again its acoustic and digital at the same time wow)
@@currentlyspeakingbmwmusic1793 Thanks for the reply. The difference between music produced by speakers and music produced by a wooden sound board is more or less noticeable, more on a low quality speaker system, less on a high quality speaker system.
You are probably right that even on the best digital piano, it is possible to hear a difference.
I usually listen with headphones, which turns the experience of playing into yet another thing altogether, which is certainly 'different' from either speakers on a digital piano or the sound from a wooden soundboard.
Personally I'd prefer to own the piano that was sampled for my humble digital piano, but that would set me back just shy of $250,000 US. (or more, what with global inflation raging as it is these days)
What I hear with headphones is nevertheless, for me at least, very satisfying, with a proper binaural representation of an unbelievably good 9' concert grand.
As Stu said in his remarks, different strokes for different folks. And if being able to hear the difference from a wooden soundboard and/or not having exactly the same touch response as a full acoustic (sic) piano action rule out any interest in an electronic instrument, even if what you end up with instead is a twangy, muddy, out-of-tune bar-room upright sound, with a broken down action and cracked soundboard...if that's preferable, because it fully satisfies your "must sound 100% authentically acoustic' criteria, there is nothing I can say that is likely to persuade you there might be some other musical criteria that are relevant.
This man must be real peofessional.
Thanks Tony! We love what we do, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the compliment, truly. -stu
With an acoustic piano, I fear that when the key gets out of tune, it will demotivate me to practice till the maintenance is made.
It all depends on how sensitive your ears are to slightly out of tune notes. Usually, high quality pianos do an amazing job of holding their tune though (especially when kept in an appropriate environment).
good job!
Good analysis indeed. One more thing to mention about the sound, apart from the involvement of sound board and the structure in producing the sound, which is the overall tone that comes out of acoustic piano well mixed with all resonance presence within the structure as sound waves before it come out of the piano. That make the sound natural.
Stay blessed brother 🙏 thank you for the video
Thanks for tuning in!
@@MerriamPianos your welcome 🙏
Help💘💘💘love a real Baby Grand Sound💘Have an old fashioned vintage mike sing too💘Want a digital that’s adaptable to my iPad pro with flash drive port & Bluetooth & weighted key action 4 recording * & live streaming*** concert grand level** Yamaha 660 .
Have decided I need an 88 key, fully weighted digital piano to learn properly. Currently have a Nord Electro with 73 keys, which is semi-weighted and good for organ and electric piano playing, but not a great simulation for a full acoustic experience. Wondering if I should get an 88 key, weighted midi controller, and connect it to my Nord or iPad? Or should I (attempt through financing) spend big dough on the Nord weighted digital piano? Missing my acoustic baby grand, lost it due to circumstances beyond my control 😞
Concerning the real resonance of a real piano cabinet vs a digital piano. How about a home hybrid!
I just tried something very revolutionary and never done before believe. I just bought a Casio PX S1100, the most compact digital piano and i already have a tall old piano. My old piano was in bad shape and is the reason in purchased this Casio
PXS1100. I took off the front panel of my old piano, took off the square frame around it and i took off the wood cover assembly that unfolds over the keys. So what i have in front of me is only the long wood keys exposed leading up to the hammers . I pushed my compact PX S1100 in there. Wow!. When you press a single key on a piano,,, that reverberation and resonance from all the other strings and wood frame is still there. I just sat the PX 1100 on the bare long wood keys. The speaker grills on the vertical back is directionned toward the inside and it really resonates. Looking at the size of the compact PX S1100, it looks like it would fit snug in the old piano s' key bed if i remove all the old keys. The thickness and length is spot on. I could insert it, put pack the square frame and wood panel. I could lift the top panel opening and front panel opening as i used to. And the small speaker openings that are about a 1/4" above the keys would still be opened in front of me along with the old pianos' frame cabinet resonating. So far everything looks like i could bring life back to that nice antique furniture piece and take advantage of it's resonance at the same time.
We all seen those old nice uninsurable fireplaces that we shove artificial fireplace inserts, i think something very interesting can be done with our out of order families' antique piano treasures that we just can't get rid of. Those Casio PX S have the compact size for this.
Maybe it's already been done, maybe i'm being nerdy, but i sure was impressed to what i heard just sitting it on top the old keys wide opened, and i can't help but think it would sound even better completely inserted and the other panels put back together.
There's a new one called a Hybrid Piano.
For sure! That is a very exciting category as well. We have tackled reviews and comparisons on several of the most popular hybrid options out there on the market currently. :)
Is the new Montage 88 Yamaha, a real step up in the real world against its predecessor Motif 88 ? Also does a Clavinova do every thing the Montage does ? Or is the Clavinova better at everything ?
What’s next is a Acoustic Grand actually ( all That) ? Can you buy an Acoustic Grand that has everything in it like a Synthesizer or a Clavinova ???
Excellent comparison between acoustic and digital pianos. May I ask why you didn’t explain how the piano sound is created on a digital piano, e.g. samples? And how this can affect the quality of the digital piano sound? Another advantage of the digital piano is headphones can be used to extend practice time. Apart from these couple of elements I enjoyed this video.
I will email the Internet and ask to cancel every other D vs A video because this was the best. Maybe headphone option was left out, in a condo you can play 24/7 with digital piano but not with acoustic.
One thing that actually makes a difference is the accoustics of a digital piano with a full body, and a digital stage piano you can carry in a bag. I thought something was missing with the sound of a far more expensive piano than my Casio Ap-470, the difference was that the wood resonates a bit if you increase the volume. So while main sound was better, the resonance of the wood wasn´t there. For a café or living room I would rather use the Casio piano, while the expensive stage piano would be superior on stage at a concert.
If I lived in a house an accoustic piano would be a great thing, but in an appartment like where I live now it wouldn´t be a good idea at all since I can´t turn down the volume. More wood that the tone resonates through makes a big difference as I said, if the volume is loud enough.
This is a very good point! The acoustic chamber of a digital piano does have an impact on the overall sonic experience. To that point, console/cabinet digital pianos will generally offer a more robust, full tone than a slab/portable digital piano. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! We appreciate it. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks
Does it make sense to transition from a Yamaha Arius to a Kawai NV5 hybrid after a few years instead of to an acoustic? Would NV5 be enough to prepare my kids for performances or recitals? Thank you!
Hi there! It is a matter of opinion and subjectivity of course. In my opinion, the NV5S is more than suitable for serious classical piano study/practice though. The piano's action is incredibly authentic and true to the feel of an acoustic upright. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you!
Struggled changing from unweighted keyboard to fully weighted digital piano. Would I experience the same difficulty again if I approached an acoustic piano?
Very good video on the differences and similarities between acoustic and digital pianos.
Different instruments, indeed. I have tried a high range digital piano and it does not sound as an acoustic, nor you are about to get all the nuances an acoustic can give you but…but for practicing, for studying, especially if you live in a condo or close to other houses… well you put your headphones on and you can study anytime you want.. I have both and when i practice i usually use the digital. I play the acoustic when i have learnt the piece well enough to to refine it to performance status. Both have their space
Excellent video!
I think I've found the Ted Talk version of Andertons Music. I love both
When the chess computers came out a good player could beat chess computer even at the highest level. Then around early nineties first time one of them beat a Grand Master. In 1997 a computer beat the world chess champion.
I predict there will be a time, sooner then you would think, electric piano will be better than the most expensive conventional piano.
I feel like they are very close. The Roland digital pianos have so many eq parameters to customize, that you can have a different piano sound any time you play. The simulated resonance is also a bit cleaner, like a Shigeru Kawai grand, which would be impossible for some pianos with lower db throughout multiple octaves (eg Bösendorfer grands). That added clarity can help while composing orchestral music in midi, to use later in something like Ableton for other instruments.
I would like to have heard the electric 'actually' being played... Doesn't really seem a fair comparison hearing a beautiful grand compared to... nothing...
Do you have a Model of a digital piano that is close to an acoustic piano in regard to action and feel of the keys. Kindly advice i am in the market for one
Check out the recent video about the Kawai Novus NV10: ua-cam.com/video/KRmVVNxgIZ4/v-deo.html
So you are saying that advanced players can have one very good digital piano and it wont be good for ultimate their technique. for example my case I have a bad acoustic upright, and isnt a good idea to switch to a good digital one, for example Yamaha CPL 675.
I find ANY acoustic instrument murders ALL my electric instruments...in the same room. But you can't record the difference. Consumer hype--gear lust, of which I'm very guilty also, makes this fundamental truth very hard to remember. Yours is one of the few videos I found searching "acoustic vs electric" which makes the plain case for acoustic sound quality. The acoustic flaw is limited potential monetization. Hard to share, hard to sell. My latest keyboard, the Osmose, beats all other keyboards for articulation, by miles. Yet it must still sound through vibrating cones.
The playing and listening experience will always come down to subjectivity of course. Beauty is in the ears of the beholder when it comes to musical sound. With that said, it is hard to argue against the magic of a real wooden soundboard and real strings resonating and vibrating. There is something very nuanced about that physical process that is difficult to achieve through speakers and recorded samples of pianos.
A follow-up comparison of the Kawai CA99 vs SK-EX and/or K-800 would be nice (or simular such as the Yamaha CLP-785 vs CFX and/or SU7).
Kept waiting for the comparison. Would have liked to hear the same piece played on the digital piano.
As a DIYer myself, regular tuning and maintenance of acoustic piano is not a bug but a feature!
Agree... just like you have to maintain a car...or a garden!!
Ce n'est evidemment pas les mêmes sensations,.. Quel phenomene que 'la resonnance par sympathie'..
Le prix aussi🤑
Why not both? I have both. Both has pros and cons. Digital has tons of voices and a pitch bender for playing different type of music and connection to MIDI software. Accoustic piano has that single focus sound on piano and yes, the whole cabinet reasonating from the soundboard is just something cant be replicated on a Digital.(I actually have pretty good speakers to boost the sound of my digital because the tiny built in speakers just don't do it justice). Frankly, I love both!
I certainly agree with this sentiment! They are different tools for different jobs at the end of the day. One can never have too many pianos! ;)
I just bought myself a Yamaha P125. If I live in a house I prefer acoustic, I live in an apartment. Fortunately it's always been an acoustic piano that I have an experience to start my piano playing with. Never tried an acoustic piano before except at the facility where I work digital was being used at the chapel and for some reason they got rid of all the acoustic in all the floors they were in big mistake in my opinion. At the current nursing home facility I am in a grand piano is available which have given me the encouragement to start playing again and using my digital as a practice tool🙂
That is fantastic to hear! Congrats on your P125! I am also happy to hear that you have access to a grand piano as well. That is a fantastic combination to study and learn on. Thanks for tuning in and happy playing! :)
I cant believe you had them one by one and didn't play anything Hahahahahaha
This video is intended to be a general overview and discussion about the differences between digital and acoustic pianos. There are a multitude of video reviews and comparisons on specific models that feature extensive demoing and demonstration. :)
I would completely agree that an electronic piano is clearly not in the same ball park, but would have to say that some of the electronic pianos these days go a long way to producing the sound that is close to pleasing enough.
I have found the Kurzwiel do a really nice piano sound and give you a choice of the type of piano sound you are looking for at about $4000 dollars which is still a lot cheaper than even most upright pianos.
There is one thing that was not mentioned, an acoustic piano requires something the a digital piano does not need, and that is tuning.
Even a good acoustic piano really needs tuning once or twice a year and finding a piano tuner these days is not so easy, and nothing is more off putting that a piano that needs tuning, even by just a little, not that its not worth the effort, but as yet, nobody has built an acoustic piano that stays in tune fo ever, strings do stretch fhey are in fact under a great amount of pressure, plus it is metal and this in itself changes during its life. Anyone who has played a guitar knows that a newly strung instrument sounds brighter, so i think this is worth mentioning, dont get me wrong, having a grand piano in my front room is a real dream, but ut is just that, i will never be in a position to arrive at that state but we can all dream, meanwhile i am still very impressed with the advancement of digital pianos, so much so because the industry really does go out of its way the better itself and you can hear the difference between a dedicated electric piano made today, that is to say a digital piano that is ONLY a piano and looking at the $4000- 5000 price tag.
Thanks for sharing your insights! You are certainly right about the gap being closed between digital and acoustic pianos. Also, there are a lot of perks and benefits that come along with a digital piano like you mentioned (no tuning, no regulation, less concern about humidity/temperature fluctuation, etc.). At the end of the day, both types of pianos have their place on the market. :)
thank you so much for your very informative videos.. I'm 57yrs old and just starting out on my piano journey.. have been reading a lot about and watching lots and lots of YT videos on piano reviews.. researching on what to buy as my beginner instrument.. thank you for sharing your vast piano knowledge and experience.
You're very welcome! Congratulations on taking the first step on your musical journey! We are very happy to hear that you have found the videos useful in your research process. :)
What you mention in minute 20 is the key.. Digital is not a million times better, it´s infinite endless times better. The possibility of launching midi to integrate the piano with electronics and a DAW-like logic, or Ableton makes the piano become infinite times more powerful. than a traditional piano. Comparing a classical piano with a digital piano is like comparing a 100-year-old typing machine with a last-generation Apple computer.
That is very true! There is no denying the infinite spectrum of possibilities in regard to potential tonal landscapes with the more advanced digital pianos out there. However, the nuance and warmth of real strings and a wooden soundboard in vibration has a special, indescribable magic to it. :)
@@MerriamPianos Ok . Agree. But you have one single magic... I connect the piano to a sampler like a Native instrument´s kontack or a synth like Omnisphere and I can find thousands of these magic sounds.
what an awesome, full of good information video. Thanks!
This guy can bore you to death
We have many videos that are focused on demoing specific models, but this particular video is more of an overview/discussion on things to consider when choosing between an acoustic and digital piano.