M-Audio ProKeys Premium Stage Piano | List Price: $749.99
Discount Price: Too low to display
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Brand: M-Audio
Binding: Electronics
Features: - Ease of use, sound quality and 88-note hammer action provides unprecedented value
- Stunning 3-layer stereo grand piano
- Large 64MB sound bank with 14 world-class instruments
- Built-in MIDI controller functionality
- Best digital stage piano value on the market
Good piano sound...but has some problems. [Posted on 2006-11-13]
Initially pleased when I received it.
First one I received had problems with a lower "E" key not sounding.
Also keys in the middle register banging against the case when returning
up. I returned the first one and received a replacement.
Everything was good for a while, but then it would go into different voices or demo mode while playing. Also developed a problem with keys not
muting after being played, and would continue sounding until struck again.
The action on this piano also is very heavy, and aftery playing a few hours, you definitely will feel it. Also the octave above middle "C" is
somewhat tinny. But it does have a good sound for the money. The quality
control on this product could be improved.
Excelent Piano [Posted on 2007-04-10]
The best Stage Piano ever, so easy to handle, you don't need to break your head to learn how it work
Excellent MIDI controller, only OK sounds [Posted on 2007-09-02]
I'm quite happy with this one. The hammer action, although heavy, does give quite a bit of room for expression, given the velocity curves.
I bought it to run through synth modules, and into a PC for controlling soft-synths, so I wasn't too terribly interested in the built in sounds, which is good, because the built in sounds aren't all that great. The Grand Piano sounds tinny, and the "warm pad" left me cold. However, the Rhodes and Wulitzer e-piano sounds are decent, and the Clavinet is quite funky. In addition by using the layers, you can create some interesting sounds....
As a USB MIDI controller, though, it is nice, once you figure out how to get Windows to use the proper drivers. Don't do the same thing I did, and plug the keyboard into the computer before installing the drivers. Windows will use a generic driver, and no matter how many times you re-install the M-Audio drivers using the included CD, it will use the generic "USB Audio Device" driver. (If you were unfortunate enough to make that mistake in WinXP, uninstall the "USB Audio Device" in Device manager, unplug the USB connection, THEN install the M-audio drivers.)
BUT for controlling soft synths, VST instruments, and Propellerheads Reason, this is a nice hammer-action controller at a decent price.
Very, very VeeRRrrryYyyy BAD keyboard [Posted on 2008-01-18]
I own this piece of ... gmmm... equipment for little over one year. I used it very carefully, never abused, never dusty and it has 3 (Three!!!) failed keys already! I am not keyboardist (I do play guitar) and whatever I played was far from elaborate passages of Chopin or Saen-Saens ;).
The feel of the keys is VERY heavy. Playing a song of one minor, one major and one dominant chords is a WORKOUT. The keys bounce back unevenly, with poor return velocity so even 16th notes to be played like a drum with a horrible knocking sound.
The action is SO high, and the back path is SO uneven it is impossible to play any meaningful arpeggio even on lightly moderate tempos.
It was my first purchase in keyboards and I was naive hoping that relatively inexpensive keyboard will be useful in the same way as inexpensive guitar. IT IS A MISTAKE!!! This is a bad keyboard and it affects your ability and you DESIRE to play it. Do not buy this trash.
Needles to say I'm not happy to drop this review as it is my admission of wasted $500 that is good money. If you want my advise, do not buy keyboards from M-Audio as apparently they are not competent in that field. They buy parts and assemble them but they do not have even near understanding and experience as Roland, Edirol, Yamaha,Kaway or Korg. I have their Axiom 49 that they call "best midi keyboard" as well as they call this piano "premium" and it is useable but very low quality keyboard. I have M1 keyboard from Edirol, that is cheap $150 keyboard, none of m-audio's is even near the awesome quality and solid feel and touch of Edirol! It is entirely possible that these m-audio products are premium articles among chinese peasants, but these are substandard trash by Western Civilization scales.
I am sorry that I have now to cash out more to buy a real thing. The resale value of it is zero.
One more word about sound quality. The sound of this keyboard is marginal at best. It is empty, shallow, lacking of presence. I do not compare it to some lush expensive units or multi Gb software samples. I compare it to most basic sounds from Casio, entry level Roland or Yamaha. The sound has very annoying modulation artifacts that becomes VERY apparent on decay.
If you are beginner, this piano will screw your techniques and defeat the inspirations.
If you are an advanced player, the artificial sound and horrible keyboard will be revolting.
If you are a musician who plays primarily another instrument but needs a MIDI keyboard that has some sounds for easier scatching it will let you down in all devisions.
Sorry but it is very poorly designed, substandard, low quality, heavy as a hell peace of "premium piano" for third world. This trash does not fit here in US.
Great Flexibility with this Combo Stage Piano and Midi Controller [Posted on 2008-07-25]
Got this for my husband's birthday a year ago. He fell in love with it and it has been such an inspiration with his current album. We live in an upstairs apartment, and an upright standard piano is not an option, so this has been a wonderful compromise.
We've had no problems with keys or electronics. The included sustain pedal works like a charm. The onboard sounds are an excellent bonus (some of the best you'll hear, even in electric pianos costing $1000 more), but we use Reason, ProTools M-Powered, and additional midi packages to give us nearly limitless quality sounds (e.g., the Abbey Road package). Regarding the weighted keys, I was nervous about this and had my husband actually try out the playability at a local music store first. Turns out that we both prefer this weighting style to the standard light or no weighted keyboards like the Yamaha he'd be using for midi before. Try it first if you can, though, because it is definitely more like a standard piano - but just a tad more stiff.
One slight drawback - this is one HEAVY keyboard. I wouldn't expect to gig with it without a good quality case.
We are both multi-instrument entertainers and have been so impressed with this purchase.
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