Kurzweil SP88

The Kurzweil SP 88 is a quality instrument. It has various piano sounds and the other limited choice of basic sounds like organs, harpsichord, strings etc. The sounds can be edited and saved. The instrument is multi-timbrel. If memory serves me correct it doesn't have a sequencer. It has facility for splitting the keyboard into parts where different sounds are triggered on different sections of the keyboard. It has some cheesy drum sounds. There are the usual line outs, pedal outs, midi in/outs. The keyboard feels like a real piano. The piano is heavy.


UTILIZATION

The one drawback of this keyboard is that it is not user friendly when accessing the deeper functions which requires the manual to figure out. It is also very heavy but it is transportable.


SOUNDS

This digital piano sounds great! It sounds very much like a real piano. And the fidelity of the output sound is extremely good. All the output sounds sound very solid and strong with very low if any background noise. On recordings it sounds like a real piano. Not all of the piano sounds are great but there are a few great ones.


OVERALL OPINION

I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow one of these from a friend for a while when they didnt have space for it. Eventually I had to return it to the owner. I deeply miss the it now that its gone. However I am not a true piano player. I do most of my stuff in midi in a daw. The best thing about this digital piano is that it feels and sounds like a real piano. I like to play in a beautiful romantic style using the damper pedal. With this piano I could easily get into and feel inspired by the sound. I have looked for another digital piano since losing this one but I have been looking in the to find one in budget.

88-key hammer, with a range of connection and editable effects.
It does everything one would expect of him simply.

UTILIZATION

The hit is very nice: not too heavy.
It is in splitable 2 zone control with a midi channel per zone + the addition of a house. Good point.

The settings are quite simple but comprehensive controls on a small LED alphanumeric display 2.
It manages all outgoing MIDI parameters, but also the effects on the sounds settings +.

Note that the module can be used to adjust the volume of such pads on a piano + pads: one attack on a piano and we upped the pad fade in. Practical and intelligent.

In addition, switching from one sound to another without a break ... Everything has been thought.

SOUNDS

There are 32 sounds in total (and yes, it has some years ...!).

The piano sounds are just excellent, full, warm (quite the opposite of a Korg synth sample or a brilliant levied on a Yamaha synthesizer) in complete response with the keyboard.
Some variants of pianos that give a good pallette of use.

The electric piano sound.

Are the organ are using, but go well in a consistent mix.

The violins are beautiful.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 10 years.
This is a great companion, light and portable, it offers very good piano sounds.

A keyboard almost bare, yet everything is there!

On stage, I use it not only as a piano / e-piano but also as a master keyboard to add the pad synths and other sounds.

What I like least, its organs, but ... I have a hammond leslie + next to it.

Rare sale of occasion (we all care??) When it is found, c around 600 €, c I think today a pretty good deal!
At that price, I re-take without regard for its pianos, easy to transport and its side rather complete.

Keyboard 88 weighted keys, 32 sounds non-editable (same source as the expander Micropiano some reverb and chorus effects.
Connectivity standard for a digital piano: Jack Stero outputs, midi in / thru / out, pedal

UTILIZATION

The weighted touch is very nice, suitable for any type of game
Access to sounds childish, but when one wants to get into the finer adjustments (setting effect, split keyboard), it becomes more complicated.
MIDI settings are confusing enough for my taste and the record really does not help

SOUNDS

The sounds are good, except the organ which I find very disappointing for a keyboard this brand.
The acoustic pianos are a bit of clarity and depth.
on the other hand, we enjoy with electric pianos

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months. I was looking for a Kurzweil keyboard, not necessarily this model, but I found a good opportunity comes with a hard flight case.
I check E-mu sampler and with the MIDI settings are a real headache.
Despite all this keyboard is a great value, affordable and very versatile.
If I were doing, I think I'd go on a basic master keyboard with a piano touch to control my sampler.