Yamaha YPT210 61 Key Personal Keyboard (Dent & Scratch) Review

Untill few weeks back I was an absolute 'monkey with a piano', I decided to take some lessons and my teacher recommended me a Yamaha with a metronome. I grabbed this one from a local Circuit City and I've been quite pleased with it since then.

Pros:
- Nicely priced
- Keys feel good when pressed (doesn't feel like cheap plastic)
- Built in metronome (you need it if you are new to piano/keyboard)
- Decent display that can display the musical notations as you play along
- Great learning features with lots of inbuilt songs (keys are displayed on the screen as you play along - works at your speed and can be split into either right or left hand or both - nice way to learn)
- Around 370 built in voices
- 61 keys (enough to start practicing with)
- DVD included which tells about basics of this piano (features of this piano NOT how to play)
- Light weight if you want to carry it around
- Input for sustain pedal (need to buy it separately)
--Overall nicely designed with other features)

Cons:
- Doesn't sound like piano but then I'm just learning
- You cannot control loudness/softness, I mean in a piano if you strike a key softly the sound produced will be different from when you strike the same key hard (loud), in this Yamaha there is no such distinction, sound produced is always the same irrespective of the way key is pressed (this should not matter much to a beginners)
- Power adapter not included, you need to buy it separately
- Notes(music) for inbuilt songs are not included, it would have been very nice if you can have them - makes practicing easier.

Overall, this is a nice keyboard for beginners but as you practice along and you are serious about learning you will outlive its usability and may need to upgrade to higher model or a piano :-).... but if are a beginner like me look no further.

Also, if you are serious about learning piano try this book:
'Alfred Basic Adult Piano Course Level 1" with CD.....great book for beginners.. good luck

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Product Description:
The YPT-210 features 375 natural sounding voices, including Stereo Grand Piano, 361 XGlite voices, 12 drum kits and a sound effect kit. The YPT-210 also has 100 accompaniment styles and 102 built-in songs. Use the Portable Grand button to instantly call up an authentic stereo grand piano sound. The instrument also has a rich Reverb effect that adds concert-hall ambience to any performance. The Yamaha Education Suite (YES) feature makes learning and practicing music more fun than ever before. Some keyboards have two speakers but aren't stereo. Don't be fooled. Just because a keyboard has two speakers doesn't mean that it's truly stereo with two separate amplifiers. All Yamaha Portable Keyboards feature stereo-sampling technology. It has 32 notes of polyphony and will play back 16 different parts or sounds at once (16-part multi timbrel); enough for the most demanding needs. The music pathway to your computer and the Internet is MIDI. It's the way that keyboards communicate with computers. And because the YPT-210 is both General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatible, you have access to thousands of MIDI song files on the Internet. It's the way to begin and play a musical instrument and a grand way to learn piano without occupying lots of space. Jack for optional Sustain pedal Auto Accompaniment features MIDI in/out Jack for optional headphone Dimensions - Width 37-1/4 x Depth 13-2/3 x Height 4-1/3 (945mm x 348mm x 110mm) Weight - 9 pounds, 11 ounces

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Casio LK-270 61 Key Personal Lighted Keyboard with MP3 Connection, USB Port, SD Card Slot, and 570 Tones Review

I have had my LK270 for about a month and am extremely pleased with it.This is a great family instrument with very good sound.Easy to add midi files with the SD card and do they sound great.The lighted keyboard picks up on these files and plays along. Only downside is that to get the wait for key lights for an entire tune takes a few changes and button pushes every time the the keyboard is turned on. Not real intuitive buttons at times and requires using the manual every time for awhile. Casio telephone support experience was very positive and a lot of help. This is not a toy but a musical instrument with a very reasonable price and the lighted keyboard only way to go as I see it for family use keyboard.Be sure to order SD5 power supply imediately !

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio LK-270 61 Key Personal Lighted Keyboard with MP3 Connection, USB Port, SD Card Slot, and 570 Tones

Product Description:
The Casio LK-270 is an affordable instrument with a 61 Key Touch Sensitive, Lighted Keyboard with 570 total onboard Tones, 180 Rhythms and Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio's famous Lighted Key Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, Mic Input, USB port for MIDI implementation. All this makes the LK-270 more fun and easier to learn to play music.


A full-featured portable with illuminated keys for learning. Click to enlarge.
Touch-Sensitive Lighted Keyboard
The LK-270 features 61 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones).
The "LK" in LK-270 stands for "Lighted Keyboard." Designed to provide a fun way to learn how to play music, the keys illuminate to show you what notes to play in lessons or built-in songs.
570 Built-In Tones
Find just the right sound with 570 built-in tones, from strings to woodwinds and plenty more. You can layer two different tones (such as piano and strings) or split the keyboard down the middle for an ensemble approach.
Reverb and Chorus Effects
Select from ten different reverb and five different chorus effects to add depth and shimmer to your performance.
Microphone and Karaoke Function
Have some fun with the included microphone and the LK-270's Karaoke feature. The karaoke feature can be used with 52 of the built-in songs, and lowers the volume of the melody part so you can sing along, just like a karaoke machine.
SD Memory Card Support
The LK-270 supports SD Memory Cards up to 2 GB, so you can store sampled sounds, user rhythms, recorded songs, and more, without running out of memory.
USB Port
For many musicians, the computer has become a music-making center. Connect the LK-270 to a computer using a USB cable and exchange MIDI data between the two devices. Send play data from the keyboard to music software running on yourcomputer, or send MIDI data from your computer to the keyboard for playback.
Intuitive editing and controls.
Internal speakers and battery-powering option for full portability.
Learn quickly with Casio's famous lighted-key "Step Up" lesson system.
Built-In Sampling
You can use the LK-270 to sample a sound from a portable audio player or other device, and then play the sound with keyboard keys. Sample up to ten seconds, and store up to five sampled sounds to keyboard memory.
You can also loop sampled sounds so they continue to play, or replace individual sounds on drum patches.
152 Built-In Songs and Ten User Songs
The LK-270 comes with a bank of songs for your learning and enjoyment, from classics like "Greensleeves" or "Auld Lang Syne" to holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells."
You can also record your own performances, using up to six tracks of different instruments.
Step Up Lessons
To master a song, it is best to break it up into shorter parts (phrases), master the phrases, and then put everything together. The LK-270 features a "Step Up Lesson" feature that helps you to do just that. The built-in songs are pre-divided into phrases to help you master keyboard play. Step Up Lesson takes you through practice of the right hand part, left hand part, and both hand parts for each phrase of a song. Master all of the phrases and you master the song.
Music Challenge Keyboard Game
Music Challenge is a game that measures your reaction speed as you press keys in response to on-screen keyboard indicators and fingering guide indications.
Auto Accompaniment
With Auto Accompaniment, simply select an accompaniment pattern. Each time you play a chord with your left hand the appropriate accompaniment will play automatically. It's like having a personal backup group along with you wherever yougo.
Auto Harmonize
Auto Harmonize automatically adds harmony to notes you play with your right hand, which adds rich depth to the melody of your performances. You can select from among 12 types of Auto Harmonize to suit the type of music you are playing.
Arpeggiator
The Arpeggiator makes it possible to play an arpeggio pattern automatically. There are 90 different arpeggio patterns from which to choose in order to match the music you are playing.
Transpose Function
An easy operation instantly changes the key of the keyboard.
Audio Input
Play along with MP3 or CD players or other devices by plugging them into the stereo mini input jack.
Battery or AC Power
Power the LK-270 with six D-sized batteries or purchase the AD-5 AC adapter separately to power from your electrical outlets. Built-in speakers make the keyboard entirely portable.
An Auto Power Off feature turns off the device six minutes after the last key is touched, helping you save batteries.
What's in the Box
LK-270 Keyboard, Music Stand, Song Book, Safety Precautions, Appendix, Warranty, Microphone

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Casio CTK-3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones Review

I really don't think I could have found a better keyboard at the price of the Casio CTK3000.After much research, I decided on this keyboard because of the number of keys and the fact that it came with a stowaway stand, headphones and charger.For me, an adult who is just learning piano, it was essential for me to have headphones so I wasn't disturbing everyone in the house.The keyboard is really easy to use.I didn't even read any of the instructions.I just plugged it in and started practicing.

The stand is a little difficult to adjust and it doesn't attach as securely to the stand as I would like it to, but it's not unstable or anything.The keyboard sort of just sits on top of the stand.This is not a problem for an adult, but if you're looking at getting this keyboard fora child, then you may want to take that into account.This keyboard also works great on a regular table, as long as you have one that is at an appropriate height for practicing.I use the keyboard on the tabletop more than I use it on the stand, but I'm glad I have the stand for those times that I do need to use it.

The keyboard also comes with a little bar that you insert into the back of the keyboard to hold your sheet music or lesson book.There is a groove at the top center of the keyboard to prevent the sheet music/book from slipping.I found that the other reviews I read and the product description didn't note that the keyboard does have a space to hold music.Of course that may be something that is just standard on keyboards, but, as a piano novice, I was not aware of this.

Bottom line, I think this keyboard is excellent quality for the price and will last a beginner quite a while.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio CTK-3000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones

Product Description:
The Casio CTK-3000 is an affordable instrument with a 61 Key Piano Style Touch Sensitive Keyboard, 400 total onboard Tones, 150 Rhythms and Digital Effects. Packed with great features such as Casio's famous Step-up Lesson System, audio inputs for a MP3 player, USB port for MIDI implementation and a pitch wheel for additional expression over sounds. All this makes CTK-3000 more realistic and expressive than ever before at this price range.


Everything you need to get started.

CTK-3000 Premium Pack

The Premium Pack bundles the CTK-3000 keyboard with a Yamaha power supply, keyboard stand and professional closed-cup stereo headphones.
Standard-Size Keys with Touch Response
The CTK-3000 features 61 standard-size keys and two sensitivity levels for a more piano-like experience, along with 48-note polyphony (24-note for certain tones).
400 Built-In Tones
Find just the right sound with 400 built-in tones, and select from ten different reverb settings to add depth.
USB Port
For many musicians, the computer has become a music-making center. Connect the CTK-3000 to a computer using a USB cable and exchange MIDI data between the two devices. Send play data from the keyboard to music software running on yourcomputer, or send MIDI data from your computer to the keyboard for playback.
Built-In Sampling
You can use the CTK-3000 to sample a sound from a portable audio player or other device, and then play the sound with keyboard keys. For example, you could sample the bark of your dog and then use the sound in a melody, or grab passages from a CD. The sampling feature is a fun way to create new sounds.
Note: Samples are not stored permanently. Turning off power will cause any sampled sound data on the keyboard to be deleted.
An affordable, full-featured portable keyboard. Click to enlarge.
Internal speakers and battery-powering option for full portability. Click to enlarge.
View full control diagram. Click to enlarge.
110 Built-In Songs With Step Up Lessons
The CTK-3000 comes with a bank of songs for your learning and enjoyment, from classics like "Greensleeves" or "Auld Lang Syne" to holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells."
To master a song, it is best to break it up into shorter parts (phrases), master the phrases, and then put everything together. The CTK-3000 features a "Step Up Lesson" feature that helps you to do just that. The built-in songs are pre-divided into phrases to help you master keyboard play. Step Up Lesson takes you through practice of the right hand part, left hand part, and both hand parts for each phrase of a song. Master all of the phrases and you master the song.
Music Challenge Keyboard Game
Music Challenge is a game that measures your reaction speed as you press keys in response to on-screen keyboard indicators and fingering guide indications.
Auto Accompaniment
Simply specify a chord and the keyboard automatically produces the matching rhythm, bass, and chord patters. One-touch fill-ins make accompaniments sound interesting and natural. 150 built in auto-accompaniment rhythm patterns.
Transpose Function
An easy operation instantly changes the key of the keyboard.
Audio Input
Play along with MP3 or CD players or other devices by plugging them into the stereo mini input jack.
Battery or AC Power
Power the CTK-3000 with six AA-sized batteries (approximately four hours of continuous operation with alkaline batteries) or purchase the AD-5 AC adapter separately to power from your electrical outlets. Built-in speakers make the keyboard entirely portable.
An Auto Power Off feature turns off the device six minutes after the last key is touched, helping you save batteries.
What's in the Box
CTK-3000 Keyboard, Music Stand, Song Book, Safety Precautions, Appendix, Warranty, Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Headphones

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