Yamaha CP4 Stage

I have to give an opinion on this keyboard that satisfies me on almost all points.
Connectivity is extensive, especially in pedal inputs
There are a slew of related sounds that are really very good
The effects are superb, especially the chorus, phaser

UTILIZATION

The feel of this keyboard is amazing
The duclavier touch: I do not know if I could find a better one day
And yet I think I had keyboards ... CLP 240, 307 HP (pretty noisy), Alesis Fusion 8HD (bad touch!), Fantom X8 (too soft and too noisy), Korg SV1, Yamaha CP50 Roland FP7-F over all keyboards "light"
The coating is superb and I really thought that my acoustic piano (a high-end model)
The feel is very close to my acoustic (although this is still not the same, but I never found the same acoustic keypad (except AvantGrand)
Mostly what I like is that there is no simulation of dual exhaust
My acoustic piano is an upright piano and the end of the race I have no particular key resistance
I wanted to find this sensation on my digital piano and CP4 is almost the last to not offer digital simulation dual exhaust
On my previous piano digital simulation of this dual exhaust made the limit of the hard key and therefore not consistent with what I feel on my acoustic
Especially on pianissimo, it was really problematic
There, now it's only happiness
The firmness of the buttons seems very well proportioned, neither too hard nor too soft
(At the risk of repeating myself it's still not the same sensation as a real piano)

SOUNDS

Regarding the piano sounds I have mixed feelings
I loved the sound of my old Roland FP7-F
It was more "romantic", "warmer"

On the Yamaha sound is purer, "air"

The ideal would be to have two (but I do not have the means)

I can not say that the Yamaha is better than Roland
But be careful you can not say that Roland is better than Yamaha
This is really a matter of taste

One thing is certain CFX is really powerful, the S6 is much more imperfect
These two pianos really have character and are complementary
The CFIIIS seems more bland

Regarding the Rhodes, there is a "sweet" side in which the sound can be divine
After this is not the same sound as Roland. I thought Roland was more "fit in" which can be interesting in some cases
You still need me to work a little more on this type of sound because I'm not a great expert more (I've never tried to Rhodes in my life ...)
Still, the effects allow sound incredible transformations
And you can have up to 4 sound effects (2 inserts and Sends 2)
I will not deny that I enjoy like crazy
5 there sounds very complementary electric pianos from each other


After we have the CP80, DX, Wurly and clavinet that I find really successful all

If we only talk about these sounds, frankly away with VST quality does feel Listens with very good quality and reaching the ear very carefully
Anyway for me the CP4 made unnecessary any VST (except for the pure sounds of piano because I like listening to other stamps from time to time)

After there is a whole bunch of other sounds: strings, vox, synth, bass, ...
Frankly there is also very good
There is very little to throw
I had a Roland Integra7 and see what I do musically CP4 totally enough for me
Buy expander now seems totally unnecessary
(Please note I am only a small amateur musician)

OVERALL OPINION

I 1 month ago
I use it every day
I dragged a bit to write this review because I could not find the time (between my work, my family and fun on the CP4)

I am delighted with my purchase
I think this one I have for a long time (I do not know what I might have better)

Everything has been said about the characteristics. Connectivity, a positive for the XLR outputs, and a negative no MIDI thru (which is heresy and a complete misunderstanding on my part, short ...) which requires me to have a small thru twelve o'clock on stage box solution, not cool ... a time of minimalism

The sounds and effects level, there is everything you need, see a "piano" ...

UTILIZATION

Touching excellent, because a good balance in the "hardness" to play the piano and Rhodes. Well I'm not very objective I've always had Yamaha.

The manual I know I have not opened!

Side programming, good when you put his paws on machines for 25 years, is going to make it! It is not always easy, because it's pretty full level noon layer split and ability to act controllers on a particular section from + the keyboard master ... All on a LCD screen straight out of the 80s (remember the Korg DS8 !!) and 4 buttons naviguation ... But that, and I would speak later suits me perfectly, it's like antiseptics that give bad taste to the pellets Drill, "TU THE DOG INSIDE ANTISEPTICS "

SOUNDS

Sounds suitable ... Me ... Side piano, I literally cracked the CFX!
I use the other piano sounds pretty rarely, but although they are it's useful. For cons, the absence of CFX on CP40 asks me the question of the usefulness of the latter! This is certainly a history of budget but truly prohibitive for me between the two difference.
Other sounds appropriate to me, all the EP DX are terrible, the Rhodes very well, I do not want to nitpick compared with competitors, it's so tiny, general sounds well I take it that there but just in case of need because it is "coupled" with Kronos ... This is primarily a piano, but with the advantage of having other sound and play audio files on USB for p 'Plans tits ...

OVERALL OPINION

I've had six months, but it has taken a while the guy !!! For many years I was looking to replace my old P200, and CP4 I fell in love at the announcement and photo appeared on the web. So why? Because I always play with 2 keyboards, a heavy touch and a light touch, a piano and a workstation, and I wish that the keyboard is very close to the top of the piano below. And will program and change the sounds on stage with a Nordstage and WS posed above ??
It's ergonomic design that pleases me the most, it is small, and all controls, buttons and LCD are very close to the keyboard, like that, with obviously hacked because it does not exist I want to stand Kronos above comes flush with the keyboard CP4 and at least I do not have a height difference of 40 cm between two hands! Added benefit, it is light !!!

So in conclusion: While it's plastoc BUT IT IS NOT AFFECTED YOU LIGHT certainly programming is not easy with this "small" screen and the "little buttons" if you do not usually, BUT YOU ARE NOT TOUCH WELL PLACED .... All that was conceived and organized around a "physical" ergonomics and weight that suit me perfectly.

It really is a stage piano, made for all styles, programmable for all circumstances, very docile and malleable with a workstation as master, and especially integrating all confiques. It is ridiculous to compare it to a SV1, which is a piano made to live "alone" given its shape and quickly programmable ... You do not buy an instrument because it has a sound of Rhodes 0.57% superior to the other, but for what he propose in ergonomics, opportunities to adapt to his personality and the type of work we do with.

Of course I would do this choice because given my criteria and needs, it is the only one on the market yet ...

To see the internet features, there is everything you need.

I use it as a piano, acoustic piano sounds, Rhodes and Wurly mainly.

The option play wav on USB key allows you to switch from one computer to the piano bar etc ...

The rest sounds or options (sound, split, layer) can help me out occasionally.

I do not use as a master keyboard.

UTILIZATION

Touch: I find the sensations of yamaha I tried it a few years ago, only better. I appreciate more and more with practice.

This is better than Fp7 the SV1 and the Nord Piano, better than the Kawai MP 10 (too heavy for a digital) but worse than the Roland rd 700. For master keyboard functions: no use to me, sorry.

Navigation through the menus to edit the sounds is not my forte and I got into it yet. (Never had yam) At first glance it is not easy and the manual is worthy of Japanese productions ... I understand!
You can tell me to put, but why make it complicated when you can make it simple? (SV1 and NP were still more ergonomic to use)

SOUNDS

Sound (speakers MSP5 yam) all the sounds from the ground (strings, choir, pad, synth, brass, etc ...) are correct, some excellent. I would have liked a few voices scat high quality.

Play the organ with such a keyboard is almost impossible for me.

Clavinets: very good, but with the touch a bit heavy it is not easy to measure.

Electric pianos 3 (cp 80 and DX7, the yam sounds): almost perfect but I never use them, and I hate EP typed DX7.

Electric pianos 2: Wurly, very good crew. Better than North in my opinion.

3 acoustic pianos are beautiful and varied, demos and Phil Blake Angelos Clendeninn clearly show their specificities. Basically I find the reverb a little too pronounced, but it is set, and it depends on the local. This is much better than the SV1 and there is only one sound Nord Piano I would have kept, the other will not fail me.

Rhodes (EP1): This is less flattering than the SV1 and the Nord Piano, at first listen, but more realistic, both in how to attack to sound, in sound reproduction. It's pretty gross, like a true remains to add the necessary effects if needed. The attack is progressive and feel matches the game of Rhodes, like a real one. The first choice of plant is not terrible, I put another.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a good week, extensively.

I owned a Roland FP7 and a Korg SV1 and I had a Nord Piano 1 I had the opportunity to sell.

CP4 attracted me and I cracked.

+: Touch, sound, weight with such a touch, wav playback option on usb key.

-: Less easy to use than the Nord Piano SV1 or less instinctive.

value for money well studied, more interesting than the Nord Piano, cheaper and lighter than the future RD 800.

Everything you need, see the site builder

UTILIZATION

The touch keyboard is excellent, the best I could find so far!
It allows expressiveness at the top, and a comfortable game more enjoyable!
The manual simply, it is not a gas plant either.
The general configuration is affordable without worry.
The selection of midi channels and patches and simple.

SOUNDS

The sounds are great, it's Yamaha, so it sounds Yamaha piano, with a vast choice of acoustic as electric which are also very good!
I use it in addition to many other machines, so already has among others a Hammond XK3C eg organ sounds do not interest me, but if I only had this keyboard, I'd be very happy with sounds found in general, and which are derived from Reason.
An important point is that unlike some other keyboards, all the sounds are playable here, it confirms one aspect of the Yamaha brand: it sounds and it goes straight to the point.
The expressiveness is excellent, the best I've experienced so far!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a month, I always SV1-88, I tried the RD700-NX that I liked, but once past the touch and some acoustic pianos, the rest is me not enchanted, North I tried did not have a touch that I liked the sounds were very nice, but the interaction between keyboard and sound level is less comfortable and expressive than the CP4!

I find this keyboard very well located at price, and I would do without hesitation that choice!