Not for me.......I have a friend who is looking for an 88 key unit(portable) that will play midi files and display lyrics. He doesn't need arranger functions but if the board has them it will work for him. I thought PA588, but wasn't sure if one of the Roland RD series has that feature. Any suggestions? Thx

[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 03-23-2009).]

There is the Yamaha YPG635 which sells for around $900.00 and there is the Korg PA588 which sells for around $2500.00. The Korg has a much larger screen than the Yamaha and has alot more editing capabilities with the midi file tracks.
Both are 88 hammer weighted keyboards, and both are arrangers. Even though they both come on wooden stands, they both can be used on portable stands as well.
The Yamaha stores midifiles on a USB flash drive and the Korg stores midifiles on an SD card

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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566 www.kayesmusicscene.com

[This message has been edited by George Kaye (edited 03-23-2009).]

One thing, I think is easier to use the Korg PA588 but is only my opinion, and one more issue, the polyphony is 80 in Korg and you can load 2 SMFs and play one and if you want to crossfade from one song into the other one.
The Yamaha has only 64 notes.
I think Korg has one of the fastest dynamic allocation processors in any arranger, even in the previous PAs 50,60,80 and 1Xs, had only 62 notes and I never experienced note drops on choke.
So if your SMFs are "loaded" with notes and or controllers, the Korg may be your best instrument.

PA588 is the best choice.

Hi George ~

I've been off the Forum for a while, but am also interested in an 88 keys situation. If you had the choice (for live work as well as midi files), would you choose the Yamaha YPG635 or the s90 ES (I realize that the s90 does not play midi files), or even the MM8. As you can see, I am STILL a Yammy fan!


Angelo

Thank you George for your input. My friend seems to be thinking at this point PA588.

Cam8neel I see you're from Providence. I'm one city over in Cranston. Tonymads asked whether I knew you or not. Nice to see another person from Rhody here.

Make sure they want a REAL 88 piano action. Some of those 88's out there are cheap, lightweight, anything BUT 'piano touch'...

One other option is something like an S900, PA800 etc., and a decent 88 controller.

Best of both worlds...

Doesn't the 588 have one of Korgs top end weighted keybeds though?

Yes, the 588 has the only 88 weighted action Korg uses. Same as the Oasis, Tritons, SP250 pianos, etc. This action is actually a Technics. Korg bought all the keybeds from Technics when they went out of business. I've been told that these keybeds were all made in Japan. I have the new LP-350 contemporary piano which just came out and the action is stunning. Especially on a keyboard that sells for $999.00


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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

But that YPG you mentioned is NOT a 'piano touch' 88, is it, George?

That's why I brought the point up. A lot of people assume that 88 always means piano touch, and for a long time, it did. But more recently, 88's are appearing that have anything from poor to absolutely dreadful touch

Be sure you know what you are getting...

The YPG-635 has weighted 88 key Graded Hammer action according to: http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail.html?CNTID=5015193&CTID=205200

I really like the touch...it's the same as my P85, and with the upgraded pedals (LP-7) you can have half-pedaling.

I haven't played a Korg PA-588, but if it is the same action as their SP-250, which I have played, it is a very nice action...beautifully done.

Ian

Sorry, then. Have played SOME YPG's (don't remember the #) that weren't piano but very light touch.

My mistake...

Yeah...the YPG/DGX 5-series and under use a soft touch graded hammer...the 6-series are weighted graded hammer.

A friend of mine has arthritis in his hands and still wants the full 88 so be bought a YPG/DGX-530 with the soft touch....he loves it.

Ian