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julian_r7 « Excellent choice for an student »
Published on 09/02/14 at 11:22I bought my SP250 when I first started studying piano back in 2008. As a student of orchestral conduction, I was looking for an instrument that could help me as a tool. I looked into cheaper options (such as Privia, some Yamaha, some other Korg models, etc.), but I couldn't find a piano that really satisfied me in matters of weight and feel until I found the SP250. The piano sounds are really decent, and the price wasn't sky high, so I decided for it.
Now, when I reached this point I realized that, if I was going to buy an electric piano, I should go for the most transportable choice. I'm also a rock musician and I correctly guessed that, eventually, I was gonna need the instrument to play gigs. Sadly, even though the SP250 comes with a removable support, it's so heavy and large that it is practically impossible to lift by one person alone. It's also quite big, so it won't fit in most cars easily.
That being said, its a simple, straightforward and resistant instrument. It has 88 keys and includes a support, sheet music stand, sus pedal (that attachs itself to the support so it doesn't get loose), mono/stereo output, and MIDI in/out, 2 phones out (which cancel the speaker). Not too many sounds (6 pianos, 6 e-pianos, harspichord, clave, funk clavinet, vibes, xylophone, nylon guitar, 3 church organs, 3 hammonds, 3 string sections/pads, 3 choirs). They can't be really edited, as the only parameters available for change are reverb and chorus. It isn't actually necessary, as the instrument has MIDI capabilities.
UTILIZATION
The setup of the instrument is as easy as it gets: plug and play. The manual is absolutely detailed and clear, and comes in several languages. The effects selection system is really simple, with a particular button for each 'type' of sound, and then another button for selecting a patch inside that first selection. There are controls for reverb, chorus, touch sensitivity, transposition and metronome. Two sliders, one for volume and one for metronome speed. You can also perform control combinations in order to achieve certain transpositions or particular effects, like for example muting the audio output to work in MIDI mode alone.
SOUNDS
The sounds are realistic and effective. Of course, nowadays its easy to find awesomely realistic piano VSTs, but the SP250 built in sounds have always been enough for me when it comes to live setups or quick recordings. The electric piano sounds are subtle and vary their timbre according to dynamics. The harpsichord and clavichord are excellent, and the funky clav features a sort of built in wah fx. The organs are not mind blowing but they work really well. The only weak spot would be the string pads: you are offered a selection of 2 string sections that only vary in attack speed. The remaining string pad and the chorus-pads are average sounding, and I would not use them as my primary pads of choice.
OVERALL OPINION
The only thing that's really missing in this instrument is the presence of mod and bend wheels, though I understand those are features more commonly found in other types of keyboards. It has never had any technical problem, and the value/price ratio is excellent, so I would choose it again over many competitor models.
Now, when I reached this point I realized that, if I was going to buy an electric piano, I should go for the most transportable choice. I'm also a rock musician and I correctly guessed that, eventually, I was gonna need the instrument to play gigs. Sadly, even though the SP250 comes with a removable support, it's so heavy and large that it is practically impossible to lift by one person alone. It's also quite big, so it won't fit in most cars easily.
That being said, its a simple, straightforward and resistant instrument. It has 88 keys and includes a support, sheet music stand, sus pedal (that attachs itself to the support so it doesn't get loose), mono/stereo output, and MIDI in/out, 2 phones out (which cancel the speaker). Not too many sounds (6 pianos, 6 e-pianos, harspichord, clave, funk clavinet, vibes, xylophone, nylon guitar, 3 church organs, 3 hammonds, 3 string sections/pads, 3 choirs). They can't be really edited, as the only parameters available for change are reverb and chorus. It isn't actually necessary, as the instrument has MIDI capabilities.
UTILIZATION
The setup of the instrument is as easy as it gets: plug and play. The manual is absolutely detailed and clear, and comes in several languages. The effects selection system is really simple, with a particular button for each 'type' of sound, and then another button for selecting a patch inside that first selection. There are controls for reverb, chorus, touch sensitivity, transposition and metronome. Two sliders, one for volume and one for metronome speed. You can also perform control combinations in order to achieve certain transpositions or particular effects, like for example muting the audio output to work in MIDI mode alone.
SOUNDS
The sounds are realistic and effective. Of course, nowadays its easy to find awesomely realistic piano VSTs, but the SP250 built in sounds have always been enough for me when it comes to live setups or quick recordings. The electric piano sounds are subtle and vary their timbre according to dynamics. The harpsichord and clavichord are excellent, and the funky clav features a sort of built in wah fx. The organs are not mind blowing but they work really well. The only weak spot would be the string pads: you are offered a selection of 2 string sections that only vary in attack speed. The remaining string pad and the chorus-pads are average sounding, and I would not use them as my primary pads of choice.
OVERALL OPINION
The only thing that's really missing in this instrument is the presence of mod and bend wheels, though I understand those are features more commonly found in other types of keyboards. It has never had any technical problem, and the value/price ratio is excellent, so I would choose it again over many competitor models.