My, that's a plethora of virtual pianos. Very nice playing Woody. Would you ever stack all those in racks so they're setup permanently? Or space an issue?
hey alex, thanks, yeah a bit of a shame that they are not on display and hooked up, but don't have space unless I take over a 3rd of the living room. will work on that.
Personally, I like the sound of the Modx6 the most. Warm and subtle. Gymnopédies is probably not the best to be playing on a Korg, because of its harsh, compressed pianos. On a side note, very courageous to still be wearing shorts in October ;) Lastly, a tip is to place a sticker on every power adaptor with the model no.
I use tape on the top and mark them Voltage/Amperage/+ or - Center Post. Must have 25 or 30 of the danged things, and who can read that minuscule stuff on them? This works pretty good because most keyboards have the same info on or near the power outlet and some (like older Yamaha pss models) can use 9 to 12 volts. . Also: too many guitar pedals.
Why is it that you can play a piece perfectly in rehearsal, but when it comes time to record I always make mistakes? One of life’s unfathomable mysteries.
Because when you record it HAS to be good. That gives some tension, and that affects your playing. A tric I ,earned from a singer was when she she had to reach a certain, difficult note, she would concentrate on something else, like pull her sleeve, and yes, when I saw her performing live, I saw her do this tric several times, like adjusting her pants, touching the piano, to take the strain of reaching those hard notes. The release of the attention/focus gave her some room to move towards her goal.
Swap out the Triton for a Kronos 2. Doesn't really matter unless one is playing classical music in a quiet room. If one is at that level then they would be playing a real grand piano. For gigging musicians it comes down to a sound that can cut through the rest of the band. For example, I gig with a Korg 01-W/FD and use the default A01 and B01 piano patches because they cut through. I have a sampled grand piano on a card, but it's not loud enough when the band turns up. On the organ sounds, the Hammond (XK-2, XK-5) does make a difference, but most people in the crowd can't tell the difference. Organ sounds on a synth do sound electronic and the Leslie simulation is lacking, but there's pedals that can make up for that (Ventilator).
Your videos are always a treat and I really enjoyed this one and a very worthwhile comparison! Had my mug of latte too. So much better than television. 😁💜
I just realized we kept similar keyboards and pianos. I have a Kross 1, a PSR-S775, a P-125, and Addictive Keys from years ago as my VST of choice. I don't have a Modx or Triton equivalent since I'm not much of a synth guy 😅
Actually pulled the trigger and got myself a used Kross. The piano sound is definitely lacking and does not fit classical playing. Keys are okay but it's unweighted so again, not for classical. But I'm impressed how portable and light it is.
Actually I got a red and grey Kross 2 from the Neon limited series and I'm still amazed by how much this little tiny and feather light board can do. Definitely a steal for the price IMHO.
Great piano work, Woody - Very Nice played. My favorit is Modx, but still Korg Kross 2.. You really get a lot for your money... Love that little synth 😊❤️
Thoroughly enjoyed this Woody. A very instructive video and I stand in awe of your playing and the technologies demonstrated. I am a, very, amateur player of a Genos, but your videos have inspired me to learn more about synths so I am currently struggling to get to grips with Dexed via Cakewalk with my Genos as the midi keyboard. Should be fun.👍😀
You've got me seriously tempted by the Pianoteq now. Surprised that only one comment gave it the nod - it was by far my favourite (particularly the Cinematic patch), followed by the MODX's CFX and Bosendorfer. Beautiful playing, Woody - especially as you were having to adjust your touch to suit all those different keybeds.
Lovely video! I bought Pianoteq Stage 6 + M-Audio Hammer 88 Midi controller and I love them! The MODX sounds outstanding and the both Korgs sounds like the EMU ESI-2000 piano sample from the 90s house music!
Call me perverse... but I really liked the Korg Kross 2. Must admit that when I just want to chill to some lovely piano sounds, I use a vst sampled Steinway off my ancient Yamaha PSR-530 - did I mention that I love midi...?
To be honest I got interested in it after this video! I'm currently purchasing my first own keyboard for practicing piano, composing songs and recording audio. It's impossible to find any instrument that works for all of those. I might spend money on Kross if I have some extra later :D
Thank-you so much for this. It's all progressed very far - from the plug-plug plug of that early yamaha to the pianotq's vector dimensionality. Love watching you play and your enjoyment of playing. Never apologize for those hands, arms or legs. A human interfacing with a human-positive instrument is so much more impactfull. I wish I could type as well as you play :)
Hi Woody, so if I understand correctly, you don't have a "home studio room" where all your keyboard could be always ready to play on stands? You have to put them out of their bag each time you need to play them? By the way, would be interesting to know your feedback regarding the "keybeds" feeling on these synths. Are the PSR one crappy? I know the Modx is crappy because I have tested it in shops. My MOXF6 is better and this is not a top notch keybed. My PA4x is far better but still not exceptionnal. I miss the keybed from my EX7 :(
you're right, i don't have a space where I can have all my boards rigged up. i only play one at a time so pull them out of the case when I'm in the mood. i get on fine with the keys on the modx, they respond well and have a great connection with the sound. I should make a follow-up video with my review of each piano.
Wife: you gonna get that piano out of the kitchen? No, but I won’t drag the others in this week 🙂 No studio, gotta share space with family members. I feel it. Edit: the wife calls everything a piano, whether it’s an arranger, 4 octave controller, or an actual digital piano (very recently, yay!)
Interesting that you mentioned the velocity issue on your Novation keyboard. I have a Launchkey 49MkII and no matter how I fiddle with its velocity settings, it always feels off when compared to my Keystep.
Your video on the électrices was among the first I saw, a couple years ago, and it made me buy one, I’ms still happy with it, so cheers to you, thanks again for your videos !!
I have Yamaha p 115,the predecessor of p125/121. I could immediately identify the CFlll sample because I have the experience of playing it for last 5 years .This Cf3 sample has an unparalleled realism,an overall endearing hammer action and touch level.The piano sample has a bit granular amazing texture which is lacking in all other piano samples from other keyboards demonstrated in this video by Mr Woody. None of the other piano sounds(despite being regarded as superior cfx compared to cf3)from modx or hi end psr can come even an inch closer to the cf3 sample from digital p 121.The rumbling bass and lush thick,juicy mid and treble timbre of p121(or p115 in my case) is far too superior. The psr sounded sounded like an hollow sounding short sample with some effects . The Bosendorfer sample played on modx has some quality,while the main preset is thin sounding without any delicate character. The korg triton is antiquated and completely useless at present moment,as far as sonic nuances of piano sampling is considered. The korg kross is good and really shines ,considering its price point and sonic texture. The vst samples are pretty much worthless,although the vsts are duped as being taken from yamaha...but these vsts are far from being authentic in any sense whatsoever.Cold ,cheap and not lacking organic feel would be my description for the vst. In a nutshell, the p 121 digital piano is the epitome of execellence. Next in sequence would be korg kross followed by yamaha modx bosendorfer in 3rd position.Rest of everything else are out of the league ; korg triton, psr sx900,vsts are pretty good expnsive toys must I say I want to appreciate Mr Woody for his great labourious effort of going to such great extent of demonstrating all these heavy keyboards.However bringing in the Rolands would have been a further enrichment to this already amazing experience of auditioning of these great keyboards.
wonderful feedback, really enjoyed reading your opinions, hard to disagree with them, although a might shuffle the order around slightly, topic for another video perhaps!
@@WoodyPianoShack Regarding digital piano p121,3 things have to be activated for maximum sound power output.These are sound boost, IAC(intelligent acoustic control) and the third being reverb of the instrument set to concert hall.These can be activated by simultaneous press of metronome and pianist switches on the control panel in conjunction with variety of key presses on keyboard.By doing so I can tell you ,Mr woody ,that the p121 would be immediately turned into a fabulous sounding machine of unparalleled realism,that even most other products from other manufacturers would have a hard time contesting in next 10 yrs perhaps! i have been following your videos for last 10 yrs approx.I enjoy the enthusiasm of yours regarding keyboards,that distils and emanates from your videos..I wish you good health mr woody in these hard covid times
Thanks @@motif123456 for pointing out the 3 things. These do seem to work well! My tip: I found my P121's thin plastic parts vibrate too easily by key impacts, making rather loud noises when practicing with headphones. So I decided to open the body and applied some "sound deadening" pads for cars (butyl rubber + sheet metal) to every area of plastic that felt too flexible. That made my board feel much more solid, stable and silent, at the cost of some bucks and a half pound of added weight. Worth a try for those living small.
Bug Yamaha about getting a YC61 to demo, please. Of course it’s an organ, but I would really like to see how it “synths”, too. If I ever get to spending that kind of money on an instrument (vs 300 to 700 USD range), the “stage” layout looks far more enjoyable than the MODX (Montage) panel, after already spending 40 hours a week programming computers.
aaand at 23:45, Woody yanks me back to my childhood and the old NPR (national public radio) program "Adventures in Good Music," with Karl Haas. (The program used this piece as its theme.)
Woodie - highly recommend getting a PTouch style label maker, and marking up your power adapters! Saves a lot of time when digging around in the adapter storage bin :)
I'm probably a total heathen but the Yamaha SY85 piano is still my favourite despite it's simplicity with the Yamaha EX5 one in second place. The Bosendorfer one on the MODX sounds really good and I think I'll (finally) give it a spin today. The Kross was pretty impressive.
Very interesting to hear how far the modelling technology has come nowadays. It sounds like a high quality sample based piano, but with just a fraction of the size in terms of storage. Great video! Love the playing!
Korg Kross 2 is most realistic unprocessed upright piano sound! And fantastic processed last two VST . Why is that? Because it sounds perfect at all high, mid and low frequency. Most of digital piano sounds at lowes more like Bass.
If the stand collapsed and you went face first into the floor the video would be viral. I love the second playing. This is absolutely right, free time playing with emotion sounds the best. Manufactures now plan for wrong power supplies to some extent. They put a blocking diode in case you reverse the polarity of the supply. Lower voltage won't damage keyboards but higher voltage can if the keyboard isn't designed with it's own voltage limiter (regulator).
Hi from the other side of the planet, Newcastle Australia. Nice comparison and playing, Woody! I would not have expected the Korg Triton to sound as good as it does. The piano sound is very usable, not bad for 20+ year old tech! I think music tech is now chasing increasingly diminishing returns. I have to say I enjoy your playing, wish I could play as well! I know classical snobs can be very picky, which is boring! Music should be enjoyed by everyone!
Thanks for the video. Lovely playing, as always! If you could only have one keyboard to be used as a controller for your synths and pianos on the PC, which one would be?
Woody... I think that keybed like Montage are much better than any midi controller. I am not a pianist, I grew up with synths, so I don't like hammer keys, but Montage is the perfect compromise. Half weighted but with dynamics. Do you agree with me?
Personally, I think the action is as important as the actual sound when playing classical piano. The MODX sounds great, but foremost it’s an achievement to play so good on the synth action, in terms of velocity levels etc. Might get Pianoteq with a weighted controller someday too.
I just can‘t play pianos (acoustic, Rhodes, FM) on my MODX 7 keyboard at all. But the sounds are so good that I hooked it up to a Dexibell S7 and Roland RD-2000. Then it‘s fun!
Hi Woody. Love your style of mentoring/teaching us on your synths. Okay its not classical concert mastering but yiou can play reasonably good classical tunes. I even can use it to learn it myself since you show quite good your handsettings on the video. Pity to hear you 'lend' the Korg Triton. Although, with the Korg Kross you have found yourself nearby the master ;-). I have an option on a secondhand buy of a Triton for 450 euros, I think its a feastprice! My history: in the eighties I owned 2 Roland Juno 106s and a friend of mine had the Roland D50. All sold and he went over to the Roland D70 and I bought the Korg M1. Both again extreme fine synthesizers. Because of moneyproblems I had to sell the M1 and his D70 went into the shag collecting dust: we went over to sofware synths.. Computerwise we both evoluated from the Sinclair ZX81, ZX Spectrum to the Atari ST 1040 using Steinberg Pro 24 or Cubase and lateron PCs and lapops with midi, and I see you also like me are using Reaper :-). Im still learning that, my main DAW was long Magix Music Studio 15. Easypeasy . Concerning the softsynths, I bought by incident as a start the legendary 2: Hartman Neuron vst (fantastic) and the Native Instrument Absynth 4 ( even better). The rest is all copying from others or using utorrent ;-) . But my taste is still going more to physical synths. I was on the point of buying the Arturia Microfreak, or a decent drumcomputer, but I happend to stumble on that secondhand Korg Triton, so fingers crossed if he still have one :-) . Nice to hear your youtube movies every time. Cheers from Amsterdam, Frank Nederstigt, fneder@gmail.com . Hope to keep warm contact with you. You liook like a nice guy. Which country do you live?
The biggest change would have been if you had put in the M1 and compared it to the Triton. Even the Triton have a very decent Piano sound for being 20 years old. Its definetly still usabIe today for most musicians if you just need 1 board to cover your needs. I swear, I can almost hear that the Kross have either a horrible default velocity curve/worse keybed or no different velocity samples. It sounded a bit better than the Triton, but every note sound kinda like they are played at max velocity. In my book the Yamaha CFX samples are one of the best Piano samples I have ever heard, and I would really like to see a detailed comparison between the Montage/Modx/Genos for just that sound and hear a pianists opinion if there is a hearable difference between how it sounds on the 3 instruments.
I liked all of them but in terms of authenticity I liked the P121 the best, closely followed by the MODX. I’m amazed you did all that without stubbing your toe even once!
Interesting test, with results I pretty much expected. I'll throw in my thoughts on some gear that wasn't shown; all piano patches have a purpose and a proper place, even if they're not the most realistic. I love going back to my Kurzweil K2500R and PC2R, as well as the Yamaha Motif Classic Power Grand. As far as Roland goes, I typically never use their pianos (I have a good selection from the Fantom XR/XV-5050 back to the JD line). The Korg Triton Extreme has good pianos that aren't in the VST version. But I've got a PSR-S670 coming in the mail, because from what I've heard, it beats out all others in sheer playability.
Woody- You could work on playing Zez Confrey's "Kitten on the Keys" (rag) or Bolcoms "Graceful Ghost" (rag). Just teasing. I can't play these two pieces. Nice job on the piano playing. You played some of my favorite pieces. Gary
@@WoodyPianoShack I especially liked your past DX7 demos. I bought my DX7 in the late 1980s and still have it although I don't use it. I have two regular church jobs and I play gigs on an Electone ELX-1. Joplin? Try "The Ragtime Dance". I enjoy your videos.
Impressive collection! I miss seeing all of the old synths, but I understand why you got rid of them :). I've always loved Yamaha's pianos personally. Nice and warm sounding, perfect for every situation (imo). Even though the Triton piano sounded a bit dated, I really enjoyed that one! Very charming.
One criticism is I would have loved to have an acoustic piano in this comparison, just to have as a baseline sound to compare off of. Thanks for the excellent video Woody!
Bravo for the huge effort in setting up and playing throug all those synths!! Great work!! The Yamahas all sound relative good, to my year. The Korgs are terrible as standalone instruments, but they might work in a mix situation. What you really need is a NORD, of some kind... Electro, Stage, Grand... same engine all around. To me (but i am biased by owning one myself), they sound better... The problem is always the HEAFTY pricetag, but couldn't you send your kids over to the CEO and ask for a borrow? "Hejsan, min pappa MÅSTE FÅ LÅNA et instrument til sin You-tube kanal! Han vågar inte själv fråga!" ;-) ;-) ;-) Best greetings from Denmark
great swedish for a dane, or perhaps you're a swede in denmark, whatever, i have reached out to Nord before but I have a feeling that their artists are much superior performers to myself! :) not an issue tho, i pickup used nords on a regular basis.
@@WoodyPianoShack Trust me, I am a Dane with capital D... lool! But I normally don't have any problems with writing in Swedish, as it is not too different. I know that Nord typically aims for an "elite" segment, but with your following, they should treat you better than that... but they are soooo awesome to play! Keep trying, Woody!
For me the Modx6, sounds most realistic and satisfying. Frankly when I got my Triton 88, I was somewhat disappointed by the nasally character of the piano sample but after some time teaking and layering I've come to some peace. In bands, my M1 and O1W piano always cut through the mix but these days I'm much happier with softer, throatier tones with more dynamic range . These classical pieces you're playing compare that nicely.
I had the Kross for 3 weeks and was so disappointed about the sounds and the very complex and illogical screens, that I decided to send it back to the music shop. Now I ordered a MODX6. Much better !
I like that Bosendorfer sample. It alone would sell me on the synthesizer.
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The MODx sounded really nice, very rich. Also the Pianoteq was a surprise. Would love to see you playing a Kronos, which is what I have. Anyway, given the states of current models (Kross, Modx, even the most affordable Casios)... the state of affairs is that any board on sale will be more than enough. As with a good photo camera, it's the hands of the player what matters.
The triton is a bit deceptive (really muffled) but that a really old sample, the Triton extreme have a dedicated rom bank for piano sound and it sounds better, but clearly sounds dated too. I’m more and more attracted to modelling instead of sampling with latest computer/hardware power they made a huge jump in the last decade, and sounds really good, better than sampling some times. It miss some Roland hardware, would have loved to hear a comparison with the fantom modeled piano ;) Ive been super impressed by the RD piano sound from the Jupiter XM, either connect to my monitors but even with the embedded speakers, they sounds rreally good. My own piano test for modern stuff is playing the extreme and compare (lowest possible notes and highest and see how they behave and sounds, that’s were most samples base struggle and differ) And an Interesting take on Fur Elise! For the rest of hardware, it really more about preferences they all sounds good!
Gymnopédies....Wiki says: The work's unusual title comes from the French form of gymnopaedia, the ancient Greek word for an annual festival where young men danced naked - or perhaps simply unarmed.........oh er! Great playing. I really enjoy my MODX piano sounds.
I thought Noire was really good. VSTs may not be as good as hardware emulations in terms of sound but they are infinitely variable and highly convenient!
Just when you thought you had hidden that latest acquisition :). I think that Yamaha hit the mark for cost and quality for most musicians with the MODX. I still think a good 88 key bed keyboard for someone like you who actually plays piano piece goes a LONG way :). Even with my limited piano experience I immediately get a better piano when I have to work for my sound LOL.
Next step for you, Woody: the Keyscape VSTi from Spectrasonics, playing your favourite Howard Jones tracks like Greg Phillinganes? 😄 ua-cam.com/video/svX6WRWBP8o/v-deo.html
Nice comparison. Kross vs. MODX6: The Korg clearly wins. Reason maybe the default settings of the Yamaha, which has a terribly strong general (overall for each and every sound) reverb by default generating a kind of cheap, plastic impression. It took me a while to find this out. When the MODX pianos are played (more) dry they sound really good, especially the Bösendorfer. The Korg default patches sound much better, at least in my Kronos 2. Woody, what I would like to see some day would be a comparisons of the key beds and feeling playing these.
interesting you liked the kross best, i was using just the factory presets on all boards. yes, perhaps I will make a follow up video sharing my thoughts on each.
@@WoodyPianoShack Since you're using the factory presets on these boards, it would be interesting if you could demo how to go about adjusting them for an even better sound? I have the PSR-SX900, and not really sure how to get a better sound out. Much of it may come down to personal preference, and hearing, but some general guidelines on what makes a really good sound would be helpful. Thanks!
Woody already gave you the best answer, but just wanted to point out that On Stage makes a similar A-frame stand and they are inexpensive and pretty good. That said, my search for a really good stand ended with the K&M 18810 Omega Table-Style Keyboard Stand (I have huge and heavy Kawai MP11SE on that stand and it's stable).
Space and money, and family sanity - are great controls of one’s musical addictions. If you had none of these concerns, which three or so others would you have kept?
Woody Piano Shack now that adds a new constraint - weight! ....and room acoustics = money and space too. But yeah I agree, no substitute for the real deal.
The record button opens a wormhole, to another dimension where you get sucked into. And there’s another type of keyboard that just looks the same, but the keys are layer out differently. This at least was my hypothesis and argued it with Stephen Hawking. He just said, that I sucked... what did he know, right?!
@@WoodyPianoShack I think that would interest a lot of people, as well as me. Perhaps you could 'borrow' a Nord Electro, Korg SV-1 and Yamaha Reface CP to compare them with the MODX and other ones you think would be good contenders! Just an idea. Thanks again for the reply!
The technology has reached the stage that they all sound very good, it is more down to personal preference which you consider “best’.
so true.
My, that's a plethora of virtual pianos. Very nice playing Woody.
Would you ever stack all those in racks so they're setup permanently? Or space an issue?
hey alex, thanks, yeah a bit of a shame that they are not on display and hooked up, but don't have space unless I take over a 3rd of the living room. will work on that.
Personally, I like the sound of the Modx6 the most. Warm and subtle. Gymnopédies is probably not the best to be playing on a Korg, because of its harsh, compressed pianos. On a side note, very courageous to still be wearing shorts in October ;) Lastly, a tip is to place a sticker on every power adaptor with the model no.
I use tape on the top and mark them Voltage/Amperage/+ or - Center Post. Must have 25 or 30 of the danged things, and who can read that minuscule stuff on them? This works pretty good because most keyboards have the same info on or near the power outlet and some (like older Yamaha pss models) can use 9 to 12 volts.
.
Also: too many guitar pedals.
Why is it that you can play a piece perfectly in rehearsal, but when it comes time to record I always make mistakes? One of life’s unfathomable mysteries.
Because when you record it HAS to be good. That gives some tension, and that affects your playing. A tric I ,earned from a singer was when she she had to reach a certain, difficult note, she would concentrate on something else, like pull her sleeve, and yes, when I saw her performing live, I saw her do this tric several times, like adjusting her pants, touching the piano, to take the strain of reaching those hard notes. The release of the attention/focus gave her some room to move towards her goal.
@@fritsvanzanten3573 woah! Nice
Swap out the Triton for a Kronos 2. Doesn't really matter unless one is playing classical music in a quiet room. If one is at that level then they would be playing a real grand piano. For gigging musicians it comes down to a sound that can cut through the rest of the band. For example, I gig with a Korg 01-W/FD and use the default A01 and B01 piano patches because they cut through. I have a sampled grand piano on a card, but it's not loud enough when the band turns up. On the organ sounds, the Hammond (XK-2, XK-5) does make a difference, but most people in the crowd can't tell the difference. Organ sounds on a synth do sound electronic and the Leslie simulation is lacking, but there's pedals that can make up for that (Ventilator).
Great symbiosis of electronic instruments and unplugged classic pieces... Liked it a lot. Thanks!
Great playing! The MODX is a the best Synth I've ever owned, a wonderful instrument.
I want one for sure!
So now all your family members know how many keyboards you have scattered around the house. You have been exposed 😁😁😁
they don't watch my vids and I tidied up before they came home :)
Your videos are always a treat and I really enjoyed this one and a very worthwhile comparison! Had my mug of latte too. So much better than television. 😁💜
One of your best vids Woody. Big thanks for this one.
Oooh a mega video from Woody, right as I'm about to go to sleep. Guess I'm staying up 🎹
sorry to disturb your sleep!
@@WoodyPianoShack not a problem my man it's Friday (now Saturday) 👍
I just realized we kept similar keyboards and pianos. I have a Kross 1, a PSR-S775, a P-125, and Addictive Keys from years ago as my VST of choice.
I don't have a Modx or Triton equivalent since I'm not much of a synth guy 😅
I’m quite impressed with piano sound on the Korg Kross. It has some nice nuances to it.
hi dyko, yes, it faired very well, that keybed was hardest to play though tbh
Not to mention the light weight and portability.
Actually pulled the trigger and got myself a used Kross. The piano sound is definitely lacking and does not fit classical playing. Keys are okay but it's unweighted so again, not for classical.
But I'm impressed how portable and light it is.
Actually I got a red and grey Kross 2 from the Neon limited series and I'm still amazed by how much this little tiny and feather light board can do. Definitely a steal for the price IMHO.
Great piano work, Woody - Very Nice played. My favorit is Modx, but still Korg Kross 2.. You really get a lot for your money... Love that little synth 😊❤️
Thoroughly enjoyed this Woody. A very instructive video and I stand in awe of your playing and the technologies demonstrated. I am a, very, amateur player of a Genos, but your videos have inspired me to learn more about synths so I am currently struggling to get to grips with Dexed via Cakewalk with my Genos as the midi keyboard. Should be fun.👍😀
You've got me seriously tempted by the Pianoteq now. Surprised that only one comment gave it the nod - it was by far my favourite (particularly the Cinematic patch), followed by the MODX's CFX and Bosendorfer. Beautiful playing, Woody - especially as you were having to adjust your touch to suit all those different keybeds.
I totally agree - a sting in the tail!!
@@penponds I eventually succumbed and bought Pianoteq 7 - and was not disappointed!
What is your opinion about the piano sounds on the Yamaha Modx ? Will they cut through the mix ?
The modx piano sound is one of the best.
It's amazing how much piano samples have improved through time.
Lovely video!
I bought Pianoteq Stage 6 + M-Audio Hammer 88 Midi controller and I love them!
The MODX sounds outstanding and the both Korgs sounds like the EMU ESI-2000 piano sample from the 90s house music!
Call me perverse... but I really liked the Korg Kross 2. Must admit that when I just want to chill to some lovely piano sounds, I use a vst sampled Steinway off my ancient Yamaha PSR-530 - did I mention that I love midi...?
not perverse, a lot of folks in the comments digging the korg, it fared well.
To be honest I got interested in it after this video! I'm currently purchasing my first own keyboard for practicing piano, composing songs and recording audio. It's impossible to find any instrument that works for all of those. I might spend money on Kross if I have some extra later :D
Thank-you so much for this. It's all progressed very far - from the plug-plug plug of that early yamaha to the pianotq's vector dimensionality. Love watching you play and your enjoyment of playing. Never apologize for those hands, arms or legs. A human interfacing with a human-positive instrument is so much more impactfull. I wish I could type as well as you play :)
thanks for the kind and encouraging comment!
This is such a relaxing video. Thank you Woody
cool, that's kind of what i was aiming for. a pleasant way to spend/waste 25 minutes. :D
Hi Woody, so if I understand correctly, you don't have a "home studio room" where all your keyboard could be always ready to play on stands? You have to put them out of their bag each time you need to play them? By the way, would be interesting to know your feedback regarding the "keybeds" feeling on these synths. Are the PSR one crappy? I know the Modx is crappy because I have tested it in shops. My MOXF6 is better and this is not a top notch keybed. My PA4x is far better but still not exceptionnal. I miss the keybed from my EX7 :(
you're right, i don't have a space where I can have all my boards rigged up. i only play one at a time so pull them out of the case when I'm in the mood. i get on fine with the keys on the modx, they respond well and have a great connection with the sound. I should make a follow-up video with my review of each piano.
@@WoodyPianoShack Wow such a fast reply! thanks Woody, and yes a review on each keyboard could be interesting for a lot of viewers I think!
I love the key action on the montage
Wife: you gonna get that piano out of the kitchen?
No, but I won’t drag the others in this week 🙂
No studio, gotta share space with family members. I feel it.
Edit: the wife calls everything a piano, whether it’s an arranger, 4 octave controller, or an actual digital piano (very recently, yay!)
Cool video! Nice to have options. If you had to only keep just one hypothetically, which would stay?
the digital piano for sure, but i would buy a top-of-the-range model with the money I got from selling the othera :)
@@WoodyPianoShack do you think p121 piano sound is better than all of synth in your video?
@@TariganSuper i think the modx might beat it, more detail and character, a newer and superior sample set I believe
@@WoodyPianoShack i am sorry maybe too many questions, what about p121 vs korg kross 2? Which one do you think better? ( Just piano sounds compare)
Interesting that you mentioned the velocity issue on your Novation keyboard. I have a Launchkey 49MkII and no matter how I fiddle with its velocity settings, it always feels off when compared to my Keystep.
A ghost lowered the blinds at :15 ? You should get a Korg Kronos 2, you'd love it!
maybe, just maybe, i might have something coming up...
My favorite was the MODX, followed by PianoTeq.
Your video on the électrices was among the first I saw, a couple years ago, and it made me buy one, I’ms still happy with it, so cheers to you, thanks again for your videos !!
glad you're still here, and i still have a soft spot for that electribe, and curious if the kross is a suitable replacement
Im surprised with the korg kross piano sound. It's very awesome
Compare korg kross 2 vs p121 piano, which one do you think better?
I have Yamaha p 115,the predecessor of p125/121. I could immediately identify the CFlll sample because I have the experience of playing it for last 5 years .This Cf3 sample has an unparalleled realism,an overall endearing hammer action and touch level.The piano sample has a bit granular amazing texture which is lacking in all other piano samples from other keyboards demonstrated in this video by Mr Woody.
None of the other piano sounds(despite being regarded as superior cfx compared to cf3)from modx or hi end psr can come even an inch closer to the cf3 sample from digital p 121.The rumbling bass and lush thick,juicy mid and treble timbre of p121(or p115 in my case) is far too superior.
The psr sounded sounded like an hollow sounding short sample with some effects .
The Bosendorfer sample played on modx has some quality,while the main preset is thin sounding without any delicate character.
The korg triton is antiquated and completely useless at present moment,as far as sonic nuances of piano sampling is considered.
The korg kross is good and really shines ,considering its price point and sonic texture.
The vst samples are pretty much worthless,although the vsts are duped as being taken from yamaha...but these vsts are far from being authentic in any sense whatsoever.Cold ,cheap and not lacking organic feel would be my description for the vst.
In a nutshell, the p 121 digital piano is the epitome of execellence.
Next in sequence would be korg kross followed by yamaha modx bosendorfer in 3rd position.Rest of everything else are out of the league ; korg triton, psr sx900,vsts are pretty good expnsive toys must I say
I want to appreciate Mr Woody for his great labourious effort of going to such great extent of demonstrating all these heavy keyboards.However bringing in the Rolands would have been a further enrichment to this already amazing experience of auditioning of these great keyboards.
wonderful feedback, really enjoyed reading your opinions, hard to disagree with them, although a might shuffle the order around slightly, topic for another video perhaps!
@@WoodyPianoShack
Regarding digital piano p121,3 things have to be activated for maximum sound power output.These are sound boost, IAC(intelligent acoustic control) and the third being reverb of the instrument set to concert hall.These can be activated by simultaneous press of metronome and pianist switches on the control panel in conjunction with variety of key presses on keyboard.By doing so I can tell you ,Mr woody ,that the p121 would be immediately turned into a fabulous sounding machine of unparalleled realism,that even most other products from other manufacturers would have a hard time contesting in next 10 yrs perhaps!
i have been following your videos for last 10 yrs approx.I enjoy the enthusiasm of yours regarding keyboards,that distils and emanates from your videos..I wish you good health mr woody in these hard covid times
Thanks @@motif123456 for pointing out the 3 things. These do seem to work well!
My tip: I found my P121's thin plastic parts vibrate too easily by key impacts, making rather loud noises when practicing with headphones. So I decided to open the body and applied some "sound deadening" pads for cars (butyl rubber + sheet metal) to every area of plastic that felt too flexible. That made my board feel much more solid, stable and silent, at the cost of some bucks and a half pound of added weight. Worth a try for those living small.
Bug Yamaha about getting a YC61 to demo, please.
Of course it’s an organ, but I would really like to see how it “synths”, too.
If I ever get to spending that kind of money on an instrument (vs 300 to 700 USD range), the “stage” layout looks far more enjoyable than the MODX (Montage) panel, after already spending 40 hours a week programming computers.
know what you mean robo! yes, hope to try the yc one day, but especially for the organ tones...
@@WoodyPianoShack I would love to watch a video of you reviewing the YC61.
aaand at 23:45, Woody yanks me back to my childhood and the old NPR (national public radio) program "Adventures in Good Music," with Karl Haas. (The program used this piece as its theme.)
happy coincidence then1
Really enjoyed your piano playing in this one. This video must have been a lot of work. The pianos all sounded great in their own way.
thanks, what we learned today is all of the modern keyboards and software really do sound incredible.
Woodie - highly recommend getting a PTouch style label maker, and marking up your power adapters! Saves a lot of time when digging around in the adapter storage bin :)
Well done sir, this is a very interesting and enjoyable video.
I'm probably a total heathen but the Yamaha SY85 piano is still my favourite despite it's simplicity with the Yamaha EX5 one in second place.
The Bosendorfer one on the MODX sounds really good and I think I'll (finally) give it a spin today.
The Kross was pretty impressive.
lovely stuff, wish I could play one of those lovely pieces. would even look at dots if it helped!
Have you updated the Firmware for the MODX? (2.51) Some cool new features...
have not got around to it yet, the new features didn't attract me too much.
@@WoodyPianoShack Ah OK
Very interesting to hear how far the modelling technology has come nowadays. It sounds like a high quality sample based piano, but with just a fraction of the size in terms of storage. Great video! Love the playing!
Great, really enjoyed that. Thanks for posting.
Korg Kross 2 is most realistic unprocessed upright piano sound!
And fantastic processed last two VST . Why is that? Because it sounds perfect at all high, mid and low frequency. Most of digital piano sounds at lowes more like Bass.
If the stand collapsed and you went face first into the floor the video would be viral. I love the second playing. This is absolutely right, free time playing with emotion sounds the best. Manufactures now plan for wrong power supplies to some extent. They put a blocking diode in case you reverse the polarity of the supply. Lower voltage won't damage keyboards but higher voltage can if the keyboard isn't designed with it's own voltage limiter (regulator).
this is how i test the stand before putting expensive vintage synth on it :)
Woody hopefully has better reflexes than the keyboard, lol 😂
Hi from the other side of the planet, Newcastle Australia. Nice comparison and playing, Woody!
I would not have expected the Korg Triton to sound as good as it does. The piano sound is very usable, not bad for 20+ year old tech! I think music tech is now chasing increasingly diminishing returns.
I have to say I enjoy your playing, wish I could play as well! I know classical snobs can be very picky, which is boring! Music should be enjoyed by everyone!
Sir can you give a good quality of piano tone for Sx900?
At 9:31 is that a Yamaha PSR-SX900?
sorry, was i not clear? yes!
@@WoodyPianoShack Thank you
NO more DX7 D50 or M1 ????
They all sound pretty good, what was your FAV keybed to play on Woody?
hi cress, the 121 or modx, maybe a good topic for a follow-up vid!
Thanks for the video. Lovely playing, as always! If you could only have one keyboard to be used as a controller for your synths and pianos on the PC, which one would be?
guess i'd keep the 121
@@WoodyPianoShack Thank you!
Woody... I think that keybed like Montage are much better than any midi controller. I am not a pianist, I grew up with synths, so I don't like hammer keys, but Montage is the perfect compromise. Half weighted but with dynamics.
Do you agree with me?
i do, montage and the motif before it have wonderful keybeds
Personally, I think the action is as important as the actual sound when playing classical piano. The MODX sounds great, but foremost it’s an achievement to play so good on the synth action, in terms of velocity levels etc. Might get Pianoteq with a weighted controller someday too.
I just can‘t play pianos (acoustic, Rhodes, FM) on my MODX 7 keyboard at all. But the sounds are so good that I hooked it up to a Dexibell S7 and Roland RD-2000. Then it‘s fun!
This is what I do, a MODX6 on top and a Casio PX-5S on bottom.
Gustavo Elizondo How are the PX-5S pianos compared to the MODX?
I bought Pianoteq Stage 6 + M-Audio Hammer 88 Midi controller and I love them!
I love this kind of vídeo! Greetings from Brazil!
Nice one woody. Really enjoyed this one. Thanks..
Hi Woody. Love your style of mentoring/teaching us on your synths. Okay its not classical concert mastering but yiou can play reasonably good classical tunes. I even can use it to learn it myself since you show quite good your handsettings on the video. Pity to hear you 'lend' the Korg Triton. Although, with the Korg Kross you have found yourself nearby the master ;-). I have an option on a secondhand buy of a Triton for 450 euros, I think its a feastprice! My history: in the eighties I owned 2 Roland Juno 106s and a friend of mine had the Roland D50. All sold and he went over to the Roland D70 and I bought the Korg M1. Both again extreme fine synthesizers. Because of moneyproblems I had to sell the M1 and his D70 went into the shag collecting dust: we went over to sofware synths.. Computerwise we both evoluated from the Sinclair ZX81, ZX Spectrum to the Atari ST 1040 using Steinberg Pro 24 or Cubase and lateron PCs and lapops with midi, and I see you also like me are using Reaper :-). Im still learning that, my main DAW was long Magix Music Studio 15. Easypeasy . Concerning the softsynths, I bought by incident as a start the legendary 2: Hartman Neuron vst (fantastic) and the Native Instrument Absynth 4 ( even better). The rest is all copying from others or using utorrent ;-) . But my taste is still going more to physical synths. I was on the point of buying the Arturia Microfreak, or a decent drumcomputer, but I happend to stumble on that secondhand Korg Triton, so fingers crossed if he still have one :-) . Nice to hear your youtube movies every time. Cheers from Amsterdam, Frank Nederstigt, fneder@gmail.com . Hope to keep warm contact with you. You liook like a nice guy. Which country do you live?
i'm in sweden, good luck with your triton purchase!
@@WoodyPianoShack thanks. very anxious! :-)
The biggest change would have been if you had put in the M1 and compared it to the Triton. Even the Triton have a very decent Piano sound for being 20 years old. Its definetly still usabIe today for most musicians if you just need 1 board to cover your needs.
I swear, I can almost hear that the Kross have either a horrible default velocity curve/worse keybed or no different velocity samples. It sounded a bit better than the Triton, but every note sound kinda like they are played at max velocity.
In my book the Yamaha CFX samples are one of the best Piano samples I have ever heard, and I would really like to see a detailed comparison between the Montage/Modx/Genos for just that sound and hear a pianists opinion if there is a hearable difference between how it sounds on the 3 instruments.
Your skills have improoved regardless of your mistakes
Your window is haunted! @00:16
Or woody needs a new blind. 😄
What is the brand and model of yr keyboard stand shown in the beginning?
roland ks-12, still in production after 20 years :)
I liked all of them but in terms of authenticity I liked the P121 the best, closely followed by the MODX. I’m amazed you did all that without stubbing your toe even once!
or dropping the heavy triton on my foot :)
Pure Awesomeness💖💖💖
wouldn't go that far, but thx!
You can never have too many synths. 😄
Interesting test, with results I pretty much expected. I'll throw in my thoughts on some gear that wasn't shown; all piano patches have a purpose and a proper place, even if they're not the most realistic. I love going back to my Kurzweil K2500R and PC2R, as well as the Yamaha Motif Classic Power Grand. As far as Roland goes, I typically never use their pianos (I have a good selection from the Fantom XR/XV-5050 back to the JD line). The Korg Triton Extreme has good pianos that aren't in the VST version. But I've got a PSR-S670 coming in the mail, because from what I've heard, it beats out all others in sheer playability.
Woody- You could work on playing Zez Confrey's "Kitten on the Keys" (rag) or Bolcoms "Graceful Ghost" (rag). Just teasing. I can't play these two pieces. Nice job on the piano playing. You played some of my favorite pieces. Gary
thx gary, i never heard of those, could bash out some scott joplin for you though some day :)
@@WoodyPianoShack I especially liked your past DX7 demos. I bought my DX7 in the late 1980s and still have it although I don't use it. I have two regular church jobs and I play gigs on an Electone ELX-1. Joplin? Try "The Ragtime Dance". I enjoy your videos.
Impressive collection! I miss seeing all of the old synths, but I understand why you got rid of them :).
I've always loved Yamaha's pianos personally. Nice and warm sounding, perfect for every situation (imo).
Even though the Triton piano sounded a bit dated, I really enjoyed that one! Very charming.
hi xav, maybe it's because yamaha make real ones :)
BWV 846 and 847 always bring tears to my eyes.
Oh Woody I have been gone for a while I got sick and I removed my videos from youtube ,,, woody your one my favorite fellas on youtube ,,,
Those MODX piano sounds are astonishingly good! I love my Kross but I cannot pretend that the sounds compare.
the modx is indeed very fine, would love to compare to the kronos some time
One criticism is I would have loved to have an acoustic piano in this comparison, just to have as a baseline sound to compare off of.
Thanks for the excellent video Woody!
so true, if only I had one, or the equipment to mic-up somebody else's piano...
Bravo for the huge effort in setting up and playing throug all those synths!! Great work!! The Yamahas all sound relative good, to my year. The Korgs are terrible as standalone instruments, but they might work in a mix situation. What you really need is a NORD, of some kind... Electro, Stage, Grand... same engine all around. To me (but i am biased by owning one myself), they sound better... The problem is always the HEAFTY pricetag, but couldn't you send your kids over to the CEO and ask for a borrow? "Hejsan, min pappa MÅSTE FÅ LÅNA et instrument til sin You-tube kanal! Han vågar inte själv fråga!" ;-) ;-) ;-) Best greetings from Denmark
great swedish for a dane, or perhaps you're a swede in denmark, whatever, i have reached out to Nord before but I have a feeling that their artists are much superior performers to myself! :) not an issue tho, i pickup used nords on a regular basis.
@@WoodyPianoShack Trust me, I am a Dane with capital D... lool! But I normally don't have any problems with writing in Swedish, as it is not too different. I know that Nord typically aims for an "elite" segment, but with your following, they should treat you better than that... but they are soooo awesome to play! Keep trying, Woody!
For me the Modx6, sounds most realistic and satisfying.
Frankly when I got my Triton 88, I was somewhat disappointed by the nasally character of the piano sample but after some time teaking and layering I've come to some peace.
In bands, my M1 and O1W piano always cut through the mix but these days I'm much happier with softer, throatier tones with more dynamic range .
These classical pieces you're playing compare that nicely.
I had the Kross for 3 weeks and was so disappointed about the sounds and the very complex and illogical screens, that I decided to send it back to the music shop.
Now I ordered a MODX6. Much better !
You no longer have the Nord Electro 4?
gosh that was a while ago, i don't even remember which NE number it was any more.
I like that Bosendorfer sample. It alone would sell me on the synthesizer.
The MODx sounded really nice, very rich. Also the Pianoteq was a surprise. Would love to see you playing a Kronos, which is what I have.
Anyway, given the states of current models (Kross, Modx, even the most affordable Casios)... the state of affairs is that any board on sale will be more than enough. As with a good photo camera, it's the hands of the player what matters.
stay tuned for some possible kronos videos...
Woody Piano Shack for your backs sake hope it’s the 61 key version, the 88 weights like a damn submarine
Did you sell your Nord electro 4?
a long time ago...
All the Nord keyboards replaced with these?
for the time being, yes! but these things go in waves.
The triton is a bit deceptive (really muffled) but that a really old sample, the Triton extreme have a dedicated rom bank for piano sound and it sounds better, but clearly sounds dated too.
I’m more and more attracted to modelling instead of sampling with latest computer/hardware power they made a huge jump in the last decade, and sounds really good, better than sampling some times.
It miss some Roland hardware, would have loved to hear a comparison with the fantom modeled piano ;)
Ive been super impressed by the RD piano sound from the Jupiter XM, either connect to my monitors but even with the embedded speakers, they sounds rreally good.
My own piano test for modern stuff is playing the extreme and compare (lowest possible notes and highest and see how they behave and sounds, that’s were most samples base struggle and differ)
And an Interesting take on Fur Elise!
For the rest of hardware, it really more about preferences they all sounds good!
TacoTacoTacoTaco starting at 22:20 « Pianoteq » there are other on the market too
Get yourself a label maker, helps with with the power supply identification
true, or some tape and a marker pen as is more my style. must do that.
Gymnopédies....Wiki says: The work's unusual title comes from the French form of gymnopaedia, the ancient Greek word for an annual festival where young men danced naked - or perhaps simply unarmed.........oh er! Great playing. I really enjoy my MODX piano sounds.
Nice video Woody, thought the Modx6 sounded good, but you need to look at a Roland piano, thought the plug ins were really lacking
don't have any rolands at the mo, unusual for me. interesting feedback about the plugs!
I thought Noire was really good. VSTs may not be as good as hardware emulations in terms of sound but they are infinitely variable and highly convenient!
oooh I liked all your musical picks
I'm no kind of pianist, but I like the Yamaha Grand in Logic X.
Just when you thought you had hidden that latest acquisition :). I think that Yamaha hit the mark for cost and quality for most musicians with the MODX. I still think a good 88 key bed keyboard for someone like you who actually plays piano piece goes a LONG way :). Even with my limited piano experience I immediately get a better piano when I have to work for my sound LOL.
you're right, for bashing out synth riffs any 61 will do, but for stuff like this, a weighted 88 makes it so much easier to play expressively.
Never did like Triton's Piano's (and I own 2), they just don't sparkle at the top end like Yamaha's do. Great playing Woody.
I sort of forgot the comparisons and lost myself to the lovely classical pieces. Need to rewatch this when i'm in a more analytic mode I guess ☺️
ah you were in right side of the brain mode, nice!
Next step for you, Woody: the Keyscape VSTi from Spectrasonics, playing your favourite Howard Jones tracks like Greg Phillinganes? 😄
ua-cam.com/video/svX6WRWBP8o/v-deo.html
Bare foot over slippers any day :~)
You really put a LOT of work into this, Woody 👍👍👍
Nice comparison. Kross vs. MODX6: The Korg clearly wins. Reason maybe the default settings of the Yamaha, which has a terribly strong general (overall for each and every sound) reverb by default generating a kind of cheap, plastic impression. It took me a while to find this out. When the MODX pianos are played (more) dry they sound really good, especially the Bösendorfer. The Korg default patches sound much better, at least in my Kronos 2.
Woody, what I would like to see some day would be a comparisons of the key beds and feeling playing these.
interesting you liked the kross best, i was using just the factory presets on all boards. yes, perhaps I will make a follow up video sharing my thoughts on each.
@@WoodyPianoShack Since you're using the factory presets on these boards, it would be interesting if you could demo how to go about adjusting them for an even better sound? I have the PSR-SX900, and not really sure how to get a better sound out. Much of it may come down to personal preference, and hearing, but some general guidelines on what makes a really good sound would be helpful. Thanks!
Omg what is the name of your keyboard stand!!?
an ancient roland table top stand, don't know the number or if its still in production
Woody already gave you the best answer, but just wanted to point out that On Stage makes a similar A-frame stand and they are inexpensive and pretty good. That said, my search for a really good stand ended with the K&M 18810 Omega Table-Style Keyboard Stand (I have huge and heavy Kawai MP11SE on that stand and it's stable).
Cool video Woody!!
i'd ask you more about the haunting of your blinds !!
Do I see Mark Levine's Jazz Piano Book in the background?
yes, a firm favorite!
Kross sound pretty fine!
Thank you
Space and money, and family sanity - are great controls of one’s musical addictions. If you had none of these concerns, which three or so others would you have kept?
i'd probably take a nice baby grand over all of these plastic electronic devices! ;)
Woody Piano Shack now that adds a new constraint - weight! ....and room acoustics = money and space too. But yeah I agree, no substitute for the real deal.
The record button opens a wormhole, to another dimension where you get sucked into. And there’s another type of keyboard that just looks the same, but the keys are layer out differently.
This at least was my hypothesis and argued it with Stephen Hawking. He just said, that I sucked... what did he know, right?!
i'm surprised more people don't search out the Kurzweil's (Forte, PC3K88 etc.)
Please can you do the same but with electric pianos / Rhodes etc....
not on them all, never again, but perhaps a comparison of a few rhodes, been meaning to do it for a while
@@WoodyPianoShack I think that would interest a lot of people, as well as me. Perhaps you could 'borrow' a Nord Electro, Korg SV-1 and Yamaha Reface CP to compare them with the MODX and other ones you think would be good contenders! Just an idea. Thanks again for the reply!
Troy-meh-rye and Bur-zen-dorfer. ;)
5:03 i am just listening to the video while brooming so not a problem for me :D