Casio Privia PX800 or Yamaha CP-33?

Hi guys!

Unfortunately I couldn't get much help in the forum last time I posted, so I decided to check some stores out and try some pianos. I tried the Yamaha CP-33, Yamaha P70 and the Casio Privia PX-800. though I realized the P70 is from a "lower" league...

Considering what I am looking for:

* 88 Graded Hammer keys

* Suitability for studies and home computer recording (Sibelius, Cubase) with the least delay possible

* Reliability

* NOT USING IT for live gigs, it is a keyboard to be used AT HOME

Could you help me make up my mind here? I'm not interested in sound bank quality, as I will use the computer for these (Garritan PO, EWQL, and VSTs). Is USB that important or it's better to use the MIDI ports?

Since the price range is not quite the same, which one should I buy?

Thanks!

Avoid a USB connection if you can, because it only increases your chances of latency. If your soundcard supports direct MIDI cable input then definitely use that.

If you're not using it for live gigs and you don't care about the sound banks, then I don't even understand why you're looking at those keyboards. If all you're going to be using it for is controlling your software synths on the computer, then you can save a HUGE amount of money by just buying a MIDI controller instead. It's essentially JUST the keyboard, without any sound banks or effects processors or the like. There are plenty of those on the market too and many have weighted keys.

So my suggestion is that you save yourself a lot of money and just go for a good MIDI controller instead of a full-out synth workstation.

Good luck.

I mean, the PX-800 for instance, has a MIDI connection, USB, SD card slot... Sure it has sounds, and I'm pretty sure I'm not using it for gigs, but you never know! I'm really leanning towards this Privia 800, but is it any good?

Regarding the previous answer...

Does this mean none of the digital pianos I mentioned is suitable as a midi controller, or you're just saying I could save some money by buying an actual Midi Controller (I can't find one with 88 hammered keys, though)?

Oh those are all good boards and would work fine as MIDI controllers, don't get me wrong, I'm just saying that from what you're telling me, you don't need a full synth workstation. You just need the keyboard.

So my suggestion is to keep looking for MIDI controllers. There are plenty of 88-key ones out there, just do a Google search.

Ok, I have been looking for midi controllers and compared them with the Digital Pianos I mentioned above (Privia PX800 and Yamaha CP33). I understand the pros and cons, but I feel that if I go for a midi controller I will be closing (pretty much) the door for live gigs. I'm not planning live gigs, but you never now.

That said, I'm definitely going for one of these:

Privia PX800

Yamaha CP33

Since the price is somewhat different (roughly 1000Eur for the Privia, WITH stand and pedals and 1190Eur for the Yamaha without the stand and the pedal, which I will need) I need to ask:

Which one is better?

I'd like to thank Marius for his patience and bearing with me along this thread =)

Thanks in advance...

Eduardo Hans.

The Yamaha is easily the higher quality board out of those two, but if you're not going to be able to shell out the extra to buy the stand and pedal separately then you're stuck with the Privia. I'm not sure about the Privia's soundbanks in terms of sound quality, but I know that Yamaha's are very nice, so for potential future gigging that's an important thing to think about.

Interesting choice, but for me it would be a fairly simple decision to go with the Yamaha - they make very good instruments.

Thanks Marius!

I AM thinking on acquiring both stand and pedal, so extra investment is not a problem. The question was really why the price difference, but I assume it can be easily answered with one word: "Quality".

Eventhough the CP33 has only 64 note poliphony against the 128 notes of the Casio, I guess a Yamaha is always a yamaha. Besides I don't think I would need more than 64 notes...I'm not that complex! :rolleyes:

Anyway, thanks for the tips Marius! You've been really helpful!

Musical regards,

Eduardo Hans.