The demos and reviews on the new Roland V-Stage Piano are coming in.


Sound Demo of 14 factory presets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqTZvZrSoWc


30 Music demos, no talking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBXsBgXdYC4


Demo by Roland’s Scott Tibbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7DangsaXtU


Demo by Roland’s Ed Diaz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEQEDyKGl8g


Deep dive into all the features by Andertons Synths.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBx2nQxlaco


Unboxing and Jam by Doctor Mix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf_4U2S1CXI


Overview and specs
https://www.roland.com/global/promos/v-stage_series/



Note: For pianists deciding between the Roland RD-2000 EX and the new Roland V-Stage Piano, the RD-2000 EX has the better PHA-50 Action which feels more luxurious.

The Roland V-Stage Piano has the lessor PHA-4 action also found in the Roland RD-88 EX.

I have both the RD-2000 and RD-88 models. The difference in key action is readily noticeable.


MSRP:

88 key version = $4000
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VSTAGE88--roland-v-stage88-stage-piano

76 key version = $3500
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VSTAGE76--roland-v-stage76-stage-piano

Seems to me a roland VR 730 would do a decent job for a lot less money. Put it over a decent DP with weighted keys and your there. I'd rather have a full time piano and be able to jump to the second keyboard for other sounds. But thats me. 😎

Hi Bill,

I agree with you.

The ideal solution for playing the Piano, Organ and Synth sounds is to have a dual manual setup.

The lower manual can be the Roland RD-2000 EX with its superb Progressive Hammer Action (PHA-50) 88 weighted keys with escapement for playing the Piano voices that would satisfy a pianist.

The upper manual can be the Roland V-Combo VR-730 waterfall keybed with 73 semi-weighted keys optimized for playing the Organ and Synth voices.

The price of this combo would be $2,600 + $1900 = $4,500.

This is $500 more than the 88-key version of the Roland V-Stage Piano but is a smarter choice based on better usability and ergonomics.

That would be a bueatiful combo but if your a gigging musician I'd hate to have to move the RD2000 around. I have the FP90, the basic piano version of the 2000 and in its case it's got to be about 75 lbs. Its only been in the case once when I wanted to move it downstairs so I could use it after my surgery but wow, its heavy. I'd love to get a gig with my FP90, no amp, just sing and play thru the pianos speakers, they're really good, but again the weight.

Hi Bill,

Yes, I see your point.
I agree this combo will not work out for gigging musicians.

The Roland RD-2000 EX weighs 48 lbs. It is not easy to move around when you consider the extra weight of the necessary road case to safely transport it.

Next you would have to add the weight of the Roland VR-730 which adds another 21 lbs plus the keyboard stand. This could become unwieldy.

Weight is a very important factor for gigging musician. This could be one of the main reasons why the GENOS 2 weighing just 31 lbs is so popular.

The big problem with dual keyboard setups is, if the lower keyboard (usually the piano) has a ton of controls and displays on it, you can’t get the manuals close enough to move easily from one to the other, like you can on a B3 for instance.

The only way something like this would work for me is to get a dumb 88 controller with the best action possible, and sit the main keyboard completely on top of it, so the actions are close together and lined up.

Hi Diki,

I completely agree on your solution.

The Kawai VPC1 88-key Controller with the superb RM3 Grand Wooden Key Piano Action is designed for this scenario. It is heavy though at 65lbs.


https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VPC1--kawai-vpc1-virtual-piano-controller



Here is an excellent demo of the Roland V-Stage Piano by Roland’s David Ahlund.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9h0Gvbgg5U


Looks like the Roland V-Stage Piano is designed to be a portable version of the Roland FANTOM 8 EX Workstation that retails for $4,200 and weighs a hefty 66 lbs.


https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FantomEX8--roland-fantom-8-ex-synthesizer-workstation


This strategy is similar to introducing the Roland RD-88 as a portable version of the Roland RD-2000.

The Roland V-Stage Piano uses the same PHA-4 action as the RD-88.

If someone just wants a portable Piano for gigging they would chose the RD-88.

On the other hand if someone needs the Organ, Electric Piano and 2 Synth Voices layered on top with hands on controls, they would go for the Roland V-Stage Piano.

It is in direct competition to the NORD, but at a lower price point. The market will decide the winner.

Although trained as a pianist, I played all the other electromechanical keyboard and synths as a gigging keyboardist back in the days when there were no alternatives, no arrangers, no workstations, no controller keyboards. And by doing so, I found that the actions themselves became part of the sound. They defined what you wanted and COULD play on them…

I have a huge problem doing ‘normal’ organ techniques on fully weighted piano actions. Same with clavinets, synths etc.. Even Rhodes FELT and played rather differently than a piano. But organ especially, with the heavy palm smears, do it on a piano keybed and you’re soon slicing your hand on the sharp corners that take far more force to depress than a waterfall keyboard..!

Each sound needs its own action, and given that piano is just a small percentage of the sounds a gigging keyboardist uses, when faced with the need to not lug around two keyboards (with a double stand etc.) I go for a 76 plastic. Yes it’s not optimal for piano, but in truth, it’s optimal for 80% of the sounds I use. I’m not sure of the wisdom in using an 88 fully weighted action unless you play 80% piano… 🎹😎

Hi Diki,

I appreciate your well thought out reasoning stating the fundamental differences between the key actions of the Piano and Organ.

On an acoustic piano, the only control the player has over making a sound is the velocity by which their finger strikes a key. There is no concept of bending a note. So the focus falls on creating the best key action that can respond to all shades of note velocity from the lowest to the highest.

Furthermore, the escapement feature in acoustic pianos helps rapid repetition of the same note.

The fact that the lower keys appear heavier is because they need heftier hammers to strike the thicker bass strings.

The graded hammer action and rocking motion of a concert grand is best mimicked by the extra-long wooden keys found in the Kawai MP11SE. These keys are 13.7 inches long pivoting over a pin. Kawai calls this the Grand Feel action.

While this elaborate action is optimized for playing the piano, it is useless for playing the organ.
In fact, there are no Organ voices on the MP11SE and understandably so.

Organ players on the other hand need waterfall style light weight plastic keys with synth action to be able to play fast passages. The Roland V-Combo VR-730 is optimized for playing the Organ voices. The key action mimics a classic Hammond. The expression pedal becomes an essential accessory to vary the overall volume.

Ideally a musician trained on both the Piano and the Organ would prefer to have the Roland VR-730 sitting on top of the Kawai MP11SE.

This of course introduces the weight issue and kills the portability.

Every attempt to combine piano voices with organ, electric piano and synth voices results in a compromise design. One cannot combine the best piano action with the best organ action. It is a matter of physics.

I appreciate the effort of all these manufacturers trying to hit the right balance between the two actions. I could see why Roland decided to put the PHA-4 action on their new V-Stage Piano. A PHA-50 action would have been ideal for playing the piano, but not so much for playing everything else.

Korg did the same with the Kronos and Nautilus using their RH-3 action. It is not the best action for playing the piano, but a workable compromise when you have to play the organ and synth voices.

Finally, nothing beats the real thing. Most classical pianists will opt to perform on a Steinway Model D-274 on stage while Organists will seek out a massive Theater Organ with multiple manuals and a pedal board to showcase their talent.

Jack from Andertons Synths just posted an excellent demo of the Roland V-Stage sounds.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0TC9HAVZA


I think this is one of the best portable keyboards to have on stage that allows you to play the Roland Virtual Pianos sounds as well as the Organ, Electric Piano and Synth sounds. It does it all with loads of controls in a single unit.

This has been designed to compete directly with the Nord Stage 4

It is significantly cheaper than the 88-key Nord Stage 4 that retails for $5,700.


https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Stage4-88--nord-stage-4-88-stage-keyboard


Roland has struck the right balance between choice of voices, key action, hands-on controls, portability and price. They have a winner. It is perfect for live use on stage for a gigging musician.