Roland RD-88

CyberGene

I’m looking for a lightweight gigging board, as you probably know from my other discussion about Studiologic Numa X Piano 73.

I just discovered that Roland RD-88 integrates with Apple MainStage and you can even see the MainStage patches on the RD screen and also acts as a USB audio interface which means it should work pretty well for live situations without having the computer on top and fiddling with it. It also has speakers and supports the ZEN-Core engine which can even import virtual analog patches from Jupiter-X. And is very compact and lightweight. Seems like a perfect stage piano for my needs. Any opinions?

David B

Looks like a neat instrument, but it has the PHA-4 action and I just returned my Roland FP-30X because I could not get used to the action even though initially I thought I would. I exchanged it for a Yamaha P125 which I'll be uploading a short review of this week.

The PHA-4 action to me (a novice) seems heavy and sluggish to play. It's total personal preference and you might absolutely adore it if you haven't tired it yet. My counsel is make sure you really like the action because it doesn't feel anything like the folded actions that Yamaha or Kawai makes. It's a unique beast.

I find the GHS action on the Yamaha to be lighter, snappier, and less fatiguing to play. Nothing feels as natural as the N1X, but I don't feel like I'm fighting the GHS like I was with the PHA-4.

God Bless,
David

HZPiano

David B the PHA-4 action

I'm still happy with PHA-4 standard for playing piano libraries. I do understand everybody who mentiones it being on the heavy side; it is.

CyberGene, If your intended use includes synth and organ style playing, I wouldn't advice this action. In December I purchased Acousticsamples' B5v3 Hammond emulation, and the typical happy choppy swing I like so much in Jazz, is rather undoable on PHA-4. I'm currently looking into Casio CT-S100 and CT-S1 to use as a 61-key MIDI manual for this (both will arrive at my place this week to test their suitability).

Cheers and happy decision making,

QuasiUnaFantasia

I have the FP-30 with that same PHA-4 action, and I also found it heavier than the Yamaha and (especially) the Kawai actions when I bought it. It is, however, FAR lighter than the action on the acoustic grand I grew up playing (and still play frequently). I found the Kawai action (ES-110, or so?) completely flimsy and unreliable by comparison to the PHA-4.

CyberGene

I've tested FP-30 in a store some time ago and found that I liked the action but I played for only a little. But I also like the GHS action which so many people seem to hate. However I really hated the TP100/LR in my Studiologic SL73 that I sold for that reason because it felt very heavy and sluggish and I had to combat that action all the time. Since this will be a stage piano for playing non-classical music, I really prefer very light feeling keys. I will have to try the FP-30 again in the store. Wouldn't be surprised if there's a RD-88 too. Other than that, the features are really great for the price: compact, lightweight, speakers, DAW-integration, audio interface, sound engine that supports virtual analog patches and importing of such patches (including importing of samples), three zones. I can't think of any other stage piano that has all those for €1000, except for the Kurzweil SP6 but it doesn't have speakers and audio interface.

InstrEd

If you buy it let us know your thoughts on it.

Fleer

I just love mine, hooked up to one of those svelte M1 iMacs. And the action can be set using the key touch control button.

CyberGene

Fleer I’m still deciding between RD-88, CP73, PC4 and not buying any of them and simply keep using my MODX6 (hardly comparable to them, being 5-octaves of synth keys… 🤣)

CyberGene

HZPiano If your intended use includes synth and organ style playing, I wouldn't advice this action.

Thanks, I am aware of that. For these casual jams I always combine at least two keyboards, a hammer-action (SL73) and a synth-action (MODX6). I even used three-keyboard setup with the MODX6 as a second keyboard and my Hydrasynth as third but it's too much of a hassle 😃 I realized for the type of music we play (electro-pop) the MODX6 works great with piano and Rhodes patches and since I hated the SL73 I sold it and started using the MODX6 as a main board with a synth on top. But as a pianist I'm still tempted (if only by pride) to have a hammer-action anyway for those moments where I'm in the spotlight for a nice lyrical piano moment 😉

vagfilm

HZPiano I'm still happy with PHA-4 standard for playing piano libraries.

I remember that you have already explained this before (either here or in PW...) but may ask you again why did you return the Korg D1? (if I am not mistaking you by someone else...)

HZPiano

CyberGene in the spotlight for a nice lyrical piano moment 😉

😀

Maybe an ES110? It even has proper 5-pin MIDI in/out, line out jacks and includes a splendid pedal.

Cheers and happy gigging,

HZPiano

vagfilm

Yes that was me 🙂.

I liked the build quality of the D1 (mdf panels, sturdy keybed, decent connectors, good looks etc.) a lot over all the other plastic we know. I wasn't fond of the internal sounds, but didn't need those anyway.

But, this was the but, I had great difficulty getting a good nuance control out of it. I thought it was me, being a total beginner at that point, and that I just had to learn. I checked two different D1s, same problems on both. So, still thinking it was just me, I almost finalized the purchase regardless.

But one minute to twelve, I tested a D1 right next to an FP30 (then, not yet X), to double check… and found that the Roland did just as I intuitively would expect it to respond. And realized that on acoustic pianos, I didn't have the weird nuance control problems either.

Saved by that bell, it got through to me that it wasn't me after all, and went for the Roland action (FP-10 in my case) instead.

Cheers and happy saving Graces,

vagfilm

Thanks. It is difficult to find a korg to test at this moment, but I am curious about it.

HZPiano

vagfilm

I now see the D1 as a stage piano, a role in which I think it can serve well. Types of stage performances where nuance and good detailed and consistent velocity response is not the first requirement.

Its sturdiness, decent connectors etc. would surely make it suitable for that.

But as a piano piano, from my experience I wouldn't recommend it.

Cheers and va piano,

vagfilm

I got (more) curious after watching this:
https://youtu.be/OJB7-YpinAI

Her feedback is that those trills are as controllable on the D1 as on her kawai CA99, but were not doable on the fp30 or on the p125.

HZPiano

vagfilm

Well, in any case this Korg RH3 action is definitely not on par with a wooden Kawai GF3!

(And for what it's worth, RH3 is a dual sensor action, if I remember correctly).

Cheers and happy grains of salt,

EssBrace

That video is impressive. Not only does PianoTeq sound quite good (through my laptop's speakers, but nonetheless it sounds quite authentic), the repetition on the Korg certainly seems adequate. I've had a couple of recent Korg pianos (G1 Air and Grandstage) and I do quite like the Korg action. Two sensors, yes, but it doesn't seem like any impediment.