Anybody have experience of using Yamahs’s new(-ish) P225 piano as a MIDI keyboard?
Tried one in a store today, I quite liked the feel. But I know previous P-series pianos have had issues with MIDI velocity apparently, e.g. low & high velocities not achievable.
Any thoughts welcome!
Yamaha P225 piano as a MIDI Controller
-
- KVRAF
- 7115 posts since 22 Jan, 2005 from Sweden
I used a P85 ten years ago, on the side, for piano stuff since keybed was quite ok.
What is missing as master keyboard is pitch and mod wheel.
Probably missing expression pedal too.
I find synths better overall for master keyboard stuff, and have piano on the side for when needing weighted keys.
What is missing as master keyboard is pitch and mod wheel.
Probably missing expression pedal too.
I find synths better overall for master keyboard stuff, and have piano on the side for when needing weighted keys.
-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 184 posts since 17 Dec, 2020
Good point, though I don't really use PB & mod wheels. I'm not a live player. I just want a decent feeling 88-note keyboard - most 88-note controllers have either sluggish weighted action or cheap, plasticy & noisy semi-weighted action.
I found the P-225 on the lighter side & quite responsive, which is ideal for what I want.
I found the P-225 on the lighter side & quite responsive, which is ideal for what I want.
-
- KVRer
- 19 posts since 10 Feb, 2024
My impression is that digital pianos are just not meant to produce full range of velocity when used as a keyboard. With mine (another Yamaha), I cannot get even close to maximum and I've read people talking about similar experiences. There are plugins that can scale the velocity (like, Reaper has one built in), but it's annoying to have to rely on more software. Then of course with "cheaper" digital pianos you lose DIN MIDI, ironic that it gets to become a premium feature.
-
- KVRAF
- 7115 posts since 22 Jan, 2005 from Sweden
You can always check what curves for keybed is set?
- hard will make it hard to get fortissimo
- if normal linear too hard, set to lighter
Numbers is one thing, but will you actually feel loss of dynamics?
I did a lot of adjustments for my drum pads to get light enough for ghost hits on snare up to get full hit feel.
- so it feel as authentic as possible
Loads of settings
- lightest velocity was starting at 15 or so, and set max to whatever
- set loudness gain min and max too
- set curve between what result become
But have not seen so many settings for piano, especially on budget ones.
Listen for feel more than looking at numbers.
My Kawai MP7SE has a whole bunch though.
- filters touch on velocity to get a more mellow for lower velocity
- same with loudness
- and general curve and envelopes
- you can adjust volume of every key individually
- same with stretch tuning so to avoid harmonic beating doing certain chords
- same with volume each key
- same with tonal character each key
I've had 4 Yamaha pianos and none had these kind of settings, up to same price range.
But this could be done with midi plugins in a daw, adjusting to a piano instrument if not using the built in sounds in piano.
- any sampler would have this
- but using bought instruments like in Kontakt this can be locked behind passwords
- looking at Pianoteq it depends on how expensive engine you buy
- hard will make it hard to get fortissimo
- if normal linear too hard, set to lighter
Numbers is one thing, but will you actually feel loss of dynamics?
I did a lot of adjustments for my drum pads to get light enough for ghost hits on snare up to get full hit feel.
- so it feel as authentic as possible
Loads of settings
- lightest velocity was starting at 15 or so, and set max to whatever
- set loudness gain min and max too
- set curve between what result become
But have not seen so many settings for piano, especially on budget ones.
Listen for feel more than looking at numbers.
My Kawai MP7SE has a whole bunch though.
- filters touch on velocity to get a more mellow for lower velocity
- same with loudness
- and general curve and envelopes
- you can adjust volume of every key individually
- same with stretch tuning so to avoid harmonic beating doing certain chords
- same with volume each key
- same with tonal character each key
I've had 4 Yamaha pianos and none had these kind of settings, up to same price range.
But this could be done with midi plugins in a daw, adjusting to a piano instrument if not using the built in sounds in piano.
- any sampler would have this
- but using bought instruments like in Kontakt this can be locked behind passwords
- looking at Pianoteq it depends on how expensive engine you buy