Casio Privia PX-330

The Casio Privia PX 330 is spectacular for the price. The touch is wonderful (a fellow accompanist played it and immediately said I got an awesome deal). If you don't need something with tons of complicated buttons and settings, this is the way to go.


UTILIZATION

I easily hooked it up to my computer recording software - the directions in the manual are easy to understand. I got it specifically for the purpose of using it with my computer and because it has built in speakers that face out toward the people and toward me. It can also be hooked into a PA system or a just a free standing speaker with a 1/4" cable .Even has a stand for music plus at only 25lbs. I can carry it myself!

SOUNDS


The piano sounds and keyboard feel is really top notch. So far the only complaints are the buttons are hard to read in a dimly lit room or stage. And that you cannot turn off the internal speakers when hooking it up to a really good set of monitors. If you try putting a plug in the headphone jack to mute the speakers you get an expanded stereo/reverb out that sounds great through headphones but not good at all through speakers. That really was bad design decision.

OVERALL OPINION

I looked constantly for a mid-range priced keyboard (meaning I was desperately hoping I could find something decent for under 1k). I was hoping to spend around 600 tops. The quality and sound of this blew me away immediately so I bought it after seeing it for less than 15 minutes. It took me an hour to check out all 250 sounds and they are all incredible. The weighted keys are perfect for adding dynamics easily to your playing. If you play them soft they are surprisingly very quiet and if you pound them, they sound like you're pounding a piano. I can't say enough good things about this. I'm so glad that I found this. It really is a steal.

The Privia PX-330 is quite a gem among the sea of relatively inexpensive pianos. It competes directly with the Korg SP250, which it completely outshines in essentially EVERY regard, save for the Korg's marginal superiority with its electric piano sounds. I won't bother saying what else; think about everything you might want from a piano. It also puts it right above the Yamaha P95, which people may say sounds good, but is crippled by Yamaha's mysteriously convoluted decisions to limit the polyphony on their models.

If you look at pictures of these three, though, you can simply tell without any explanation that the PX-330 BLASTS the other two when it comes to features. It also has a pitch wheel. Make that note. Seriously.

Understand that the PX-330 is a digital piano, not a synthesizer, not a workstation, not an arranger. All this does is make very nice sounds. They are editable slightly. Reverb can be adjusted, for example, but don't expect anything in the way of knobs or sliders or faders of any kind. It's a piano first and foremost, and everything else that comes with it is a negligible, but certainly appreciated addition.

There are two pedals available: the sustain, and the sostenuto. I find this inclusion a very nice touch, as having a sostenuto can add a lot of life to the performance. It's one of those things that is easily missed, but obvious once it's gone.

The piano has stereo outs and STEREO INS. I don't know when that would ever come in handy, but it's nice to know it's there.

It also have MIDI in and out, as well as a USB connector for direct connection into your computer. I've mainly used the MIDI ports and have had no problems with it.

UTILIZATION

This piano's memory is entirely volatile, so there's no setting up at home before going on the gig. However, the ability of this piano to function in such a way that would require more than 30 seconds of setup is limited anyway; after all, it is at its best when it's not switching sounds and buried deep in the mix of a band. However, everything is quite intuitive.

The one gripe about this is that the buttons are absolutely impossible to see in the dark. Get yourself a light to use if you intend on darkstaging this piano.

Unfortunately, to access a few of the commands (they're not terribly important). The menu system is extremely convoluted. But then again, the fact that these are included at all already puts it above its direct competitors. It may not be the most intuitive thing, but I have peace of mind knowing that I am covered if I for some reason need these features.

SOUNDS

Remember that this is first and foremost a piano, and every other sound in the bank is appreciated, because it can work wonders for inspiration.

The others sounds are quite acceptable, but there are a few that stand out. First, you should know that the mainstays, the GrPianoModern, RockPiano, GrPianoClassic, Elec.Piano 1, and StringsPiano are all a joy to load up and use depending on your application. As for the non-keyboard sounds, the strings work VERY well. They are a bit synthy, but this is a stage piano; you're not likely going to be recording the on-board sounds often.

I'll say right now that when testing the PX-330 against the Korg and Yamaha, I found that despite Korg's marginal advantage in E.piano sounds, and Yamaha's slight edge in the piano sound, the PX-330 covers all the bases. It seemed that even if the Casio was never really a master of any domain of actual sound, every advantage that the Korg and Yamaha had could not make up for their respective fatal flaws (in my opinion). Korg's dorky piano sounds and Yamaha's arbitrary lack of polyphony (64 vs. Casio's standard 128) made them impossible to stomach.

The Casio was solid all around. Nothing may have been terribly excellent compared to a few features on the other two, but nothing ever seemed to be lacking either.

The touch of the piano was also my favorite out of the three. The public has a general consensus that the Yamaha felt the best. However, I maintain that even if Yamaha came closest to replicating a piano (in my opinion testing it), it is emulating a Yamaha. I grew up playing a Steinway baby grand, and while the Casio isn't perfect, it possesses the perfect amount of sponginess that the Yamaha completely eschews. Each key struck by a Yamaha felt better, but the overall playing experience on the Casio was far superior.

OVERALL OPINION

The PX-330 is a completely solid performer. Despite its convoluted controls for the most in-depth functions, it comes out on top of its competition because it HAS them. The only terrible gripe about it that I have is its unusability in the dark.

The PX-330 absolutely blows its competition out of the water in every way. Sure it may have features you don't think you need, and it may appear that Casio is loading it with gimmicks, but even if you take all of the bells and whistles away, you have a product that already trumps its competition based on baseline performance alone.

Casio's stigma is NOT well-deserved when it comes to this piano, but if you're that insecure, paint it candy red and put a sticker on it that says Nord. That'll fool them...

Heavy hit 88 notes (without aftertouch).
Over 20 sounds of acoustic pianos and over 10 electric piano sounds.
Other sounds categorized (Guitar / Bass, String ...) good bills.
Over 250 GM sounds.
The sounds are not editable.
Both effects are available (reverb and chorus / flanger).
A 16-track sequencer.
Arranger.
Jack MIDI IN and OUT.
Amplifications are good and excellent sound reproduction.

UTILIZATION

One of the best hit heavy for quality / price ratio (for me better than the Yamaha P-90 as it is in the same price range). This is really a great surprise, the piano is lightweight (about 12 kg) and is touched close to that of an acoustic piano. An excellent compromise weight / price / quality.
For the selection of sounds no problem, it is ultra-simple.
For the arranger as it is quite easy to use.
For the sequencer, remember, it is unmanageable, it is necessary to leave the manual every time you want to use. It is impossible to retain manipulations without the instructions so it's complicated to use (you have to press key combinations + other function keys). A key does not have the same function as the LED next to the button is off, flashes or remains lit. Unable to remember is undrinkable.
Fortunately, the manual is correct and MIDI Implementation too, which allows you to connect the camera to a computer and use it with an external sequencer (cubase, rosegarden ...)

SOUNDS

The piano sounds are varied and very good for this price. In my opinion, this is the value for money the most advantageous. Sounds have nothing to envy brands (roland, yamaha), whether acoustic pianos but also electric pianos, the wurly is really excellent and rhodes are good. Compared to the competition and staying in the same price range, this device offers a much higher sound range and good quality.
The drum kits GM Bank are correct and allow good compositions.
The effects are withdrawals. We do not hear nearly the difference between reverb (room and lobby are almost identical). You can also choose between a chorus and a flanger (the flanger is quite efficient for that matter).

OVERALL OPINION

Okay so this is where it goes bad! After three years my piano began to be a problem. Three keys remained insensitive to the sensitivity (these three keys always played fortissimo, sensor failure). Can not play it. I tried to get it repaired by authorized but not repair, I was told that the service was completely casio zero and the last time that such a problem had happened, they took several months before spare parts. I sent a registered letter to headquarters office Casio to express my dissatisfaction and whether they had a solution for me but they never replied letter. So, I gave my piano friends (well almost, they insisted on giving me 70 €). It will serve me a lesson, and I'll catch more buy Casio.

88 Key: 3 sensors to hit heavy, beautiful and good key difference between low and high, very natural, very good hit, as well as digital pianos to 500 € more expensive
128 polyphony: unique at this price!
type arranger yamaha tyros 2 (I have one too) with the same type of function and worse overall (behind realism but not ridiculous)
has two outputs and 6.3mm line in jack also two entrances and two real midi in / out
the kit is purchased with 3 pedals well: as the three pedals of a piano
I also bought the wooden stand for a real set
Casio 72 sounds and 178 GM's non-editable
within 72 casio sounds, 12 piano with acoustic resonance (active when pressing the pedal: nice and pretty)
the rest covers the current needs in all families with often sounds like fun "harpsichord" ep and the dyno ... but below an arranger or synthesizer

UTILIZATION

very good hit (is alone worth the price for this 9), as well as digital pianos to € 500 or more: to discover without snobbery!
Manual ok, not very clear on certain aspects such as harmonizing car right hand that does actually work with the coach (it's written anywhere!)
General simple config with the sounds, rhythms and accompaniments directly accessible
ability to split in two (adjustable with choice of voice) and a layer and more on his right hand (with choice of voice) or three voices at all
a menu function with other settings requiring the document to understand how to access it: noon and whose management function rigolotte duo to play two directly with two keyboards of 44 keys with the same range of notes available

SOUNDS

For myself and compared to samples Korg M3 and XS motif rack: all 12 pianos are at a very good gameplay and good realism in grades
effect of brightness, reverb and chorus are ajoutables direct access: not rendering evil
the other sounds (of 72) are set back from libraries M3/XS but still playable
GM sounds are sounds but GM makes a lot here
very good expression of the sampled pianos on four layers from casio, very realistic and a better keyboard tyros 2 and a 61 M3, good response, very good shades possible with the original setting (fortunately others are all or nothing)
no aftertouch but this is not the goal

OVERALL OPINION

used for a week (for my son as "the first true piano", I find myself rather than go play on my set "tyros 2, Korg M3 61 and motif rack XS" plugged on prodipe Pro 8: it supports comparison and it's very enjoyable to play and hear, even on small speakers embedded 8 w.
In testing with my headphones roland HR 300 (€ 200 memory, a copy of Sony monitors), it still stands comparison
Output line of a chain that's good too (the speakers are embedded unless you plug a headphone load)

I tried models to over € 1500 in Roland, Korg and Yamaha, I find that it plays in the same way for much cheaper
the PX 330 is a good digital piano with a very good value for money and gifts for the price functions (other sounds, arranger, recording tracks ... 16 noon), and features that will allow me to go play there often or to recover as master keyboard to attack my rack XS if my son gets tired.
But he is delighted, and find it much better than playing on my other 2 keyboards and so he plays more, for it is the same piano that he has ongoing concervatoire (this was the first goal)
Part arranger is not at a tyros 2 which cost € 4,000 but for that price, have a heavy hit, the piano sounds good, sounds good other exploitable, arranger functions, this gift is
same choice if I had to redo a need to first hit heavy piano with 88 notes and more enhanced features and a real piece of furniture to stand
Very happy with my choice that I made one, since there is very little opinion on the casio range compared to the ranges Korg, Yamaha and Roland digital pianos for: test of our large and without snobbery, you'll be surprised!