Holiday 2012: Keyboards and Digital Pianos

What is a home keyboard?

A “home keyboard” can be different things to different people, so likewise there are many kinds of keyboards available to satisfy various needs. Some people want a simple instrument with lush sounds that essentially takes the place of an acoustic piano in their home. Other people want a portable instrument with built-in music lessons and a variety of sounds and rhythms to keep things interesting. If you’re looking for a keyboard that’s going to take the place of an acoustic piano, the category of products you should focus on is called “Digital Pianos.” If you’re looking for an instrument with built-in music lessons and a wide variety of sounds and rhythms, the category you should focus on is “Portable Keyboards.” If you really like the idea of having lots of songs, tones and rhythms built into the keyboard but you want a more professional instrument, then the category you should focus on is called “Arranger Keyboards.”

What is a digital piano?

A typical digital piano has a large keyboard (often with all 88 keys), built-in speakers and usually only a handful of instrument sounds. Digital pianos do their best to mimic the sound and feel of an acoustic piano, while being lighter in weight, relatively portable and much less expensive than a real piano. Digital pianos never need to be tuned and they all have headphone outputs. This latter feature enables the user to play the piano in total privacy without disturbing others.

Instead of having hundreds of instrument sounds, digital pianos usually only have a couple of very rich-sounding pianos, harpsichords, organs and strings. The piano sounds are lush, with detailed samples of each note struck at different velocities. The digital resources of the instrument are dedicated to quality over quantity.

What is a portable keyboard?

Portable keyboards are more affordable than digital pianos. They’re typically made out of lighter plastic and can often be powered by batteries as well as AC. They come in different sizes, but the most common portable keyboards have 61 keys. While Digital Pianos tend to have very few controls and a sleek, minimalist design, portable keyboards are the opposite. They’re usually filled with features and sounds, so there are typically many controls and graphics on the instruments themselves.

Should you be inspired to be accompanied by a smooth samba beat at any point when playing a portable keyboard, you can do so. A typical portable keyboard has a large variety of instruments, backing rhythms, full songs and built-in educational tutorials. Some models can even integrate the Apple iPad into their educational functions and storage capabilities. The size, features and velocity sensitivity all affect the overall price of a portable keyboard.

What is an arranger keyboard?

You can think of an arranger keyboard as a fully realized version of a portable keyboard. The main differences between a portable keyboard and an arranger keyboard are that an arranger typically has more sounds, with richer sound quality, a more fleshed out musical accompaniment ability, and larger song libraries. Most arranger keyboards don’t run on batteries.

These instruments are a great option for someone who wants to play with full instrumentation backup in a variety of musical styles. Arranger keyboards make it easy to call up a song, choose an intro and different segments of the song to get you up and playing in no time. Some arranger keyboards have more elaborate functions such as built-in karaoke systems with video outputs, microphone inputs, vocal effects and onboard mixing and recording abilities.

Does the keyboard feel like a real piano?

When you press a key on an acoustic piano, a hammer physically strikes a string inside of the instrument. The keys in the lower portion of the keyboard trigger heavier hammers, because the strings they strike are larger. Because of this, the keys at the lower portion of an acoustic piano have more resistance, while the higher you go on the keyboard, the lighter the touch is required to play a note (because the internal hammers get lighter and lighter).

An electronic instrument with a “graded” or “weighted-hammer action” keyboard imitates the resistance found in an acoustic piano, to create a more authentic feeling in your playing experience. The keys at the lower end of the keyboard have more resistance than the higher keys.

Historically, the keys on an acoustic piano were made of wood and ivory, which gave them that distinctive “weight.” Some keyboards found on home keyboards will feature weighted keys, because some players prefer the feel of a real piano. However, many organ and synthesizer players may prefer not to have fully weighted keys. If they have a fast playing style, a fully weighted keyboard will inhibit their abilities and put unnecessary strain on their fingers. That’s why some keyboards feature semi- and non-weighted keys.

What is “velocity sensitivity?”

Keyboards that have velocity sensitivity mimic the way an acoustic piano reacts to the pressure with which you play the keys. For example, if you press a real piano key very lightly, the note will be very soft. If you strike a piano key with force, the note will be much louder.

Portable keyboards that have velocity sensitivity mimic the soft/loud aspect of playing an acoustic instrument. Keyboards that do not have velocity sensitivity only have one volume level for a key, no matter how softly or forcefully the note is played.

Do home keyboards have built-in speakers?

Most home keyboards do indeed have built-in amplifiers and speakers. There are a few digital pianos that do not include built-in speakers, so that’s an important specification to double-check when you’re deciding which model best suits your needs. The speaker size, amplifier wattage and sound quality will vary from model to model.

Do home keyboards have headphone jacks?

Most home keyboards do indeed have headphone jacks. When you plug a pair of headphones into a home keyboard, the built-in speakers are muted. This enables you to play the keyboard silently without disturbing others. Some home keyboards come with two headphone outputs which make it possible to have a quiet piano lesson or a private and intimate performance.

Why does a home keyboard have a MIDI port?

Some home keyboards have a MIDI port on their rear panel. MIDI is a digital protocol that enables electronic instruments to communicate musical information. If your keyboard has a MIDI output, you could connect it to another electronic instrument with a MIDI input, and use your keyboard to trigger notes in the other device. If you have music-production software on a computer, and a computer interface with a MIDI input, you could use your keyboard to input musical data on the computer. Not very many people who buy home keyboards really need a MIDI connection, but nevertheless they’re pretty commonly found features.

Why does a home keyboard have a USB port?

The functionality that a USB port on a home keyboard provides can vary from model to model. Sometimes the USB port does little more than provide connectivity from the keyboard to a computer so you can update its firmware. Some instruments allow you to connect USB drives so you can play music files for practicing keyboard parts. Others let you record compositions and performances into the connected USB media, so you can transport the recordings to a computer to share them with the world.

What accessories should I consider getting for a home keyboard?

It’s usually a good idea to purchase a keyboard stand for your home keyboard.  Many keyboard stands are collapsible, so it’s easy to store both the keyboard and the stand in a closet when not in use. Buying a piano bench is also something to consider. There are benches available that also fold up for easy storage and transportation. A sustain pedal can also be a key accessory, especially if you’re a piano player. It’s important to make sure the home keyboard you’re interested in features a sustain pedal input. Keyboard cases can be useful if you’re going to be traveling with your instrument. Dust covers are nice to have if you’re going to be leaving your keyboard in one place for extended periods of time.

Quick Comparison Guide for Home Keyboards