I have this piano. Pros: It was cheap. Keys are weighted. Sounds decent. Cons: Electronic display freezes and won't change to the alternate the voice I selected. Donner support would not fix it since they said it doesn't affect the play of the instrument.
I had the same problem and they sent a new one which did the same thing but also had a Sticky C5 key. I now have two of them and apart from the annoying bits they are great.
That’s an L for Donner. I was thinking about purchasing a board from them but now I will not because of this comment and their response. I try to only support businesses and companies that actually care about their customers.
Yes! All this is so true! I’ve been playing for ten years, but was only able to make the switch from unweighted to weighted keyboard a year ago. When you spend so long with a “lifeless” keyboard, you really get a sense for what an acoustic piano really does for the player! Keep it up! Definitely my favorite channel on piano technique! You’re awesome!
I have a Yamaha P-45. Love the simplicity of a digital piano without a screen. It feels like a fulcrum-weighted action. Graded hammer-weighted actions.
If you upgrade. Check out the P-125. I have it since 2019 and will never by anything g else. My second is an Arranger. E373. This has a fantastic organ. I use these 2 on stage and have never had a problem.
One of the big advantages of an electronic piano is that you can practise with headphones on. If somebody is a good pianist, listening to them may be a pleasure, but listening to a less experienced pianist learning a new piece and practising it over and over can be tedious. For the first 3 years, I had a practise room at boarding school, where I didn't bother anybody - but when I came home and was practising, I gave up piano because of comments by my sister. A disadvantage of an electric piano is that they come with all sorts of gadgets, and a large selection of pre-recorded tunes and sounds they can make etc, etc. Getting a young child to practice on one doesn't work, because there are so many other more entertaining things to do with it - that don't teach the child anything at all.
your actually right, because i remember when i was younger every time i practice piano after awhile i just start using the weird sound option and makes different sounds, but now im older and dont change up the setting that much
No estoy tan de acuerdo con tu último punto, esos "gadgets" son más bien para productores y compositores que para intérpretes, obviamente quizás no a nivel profesional, pero está bien que el teclado en sí, sin necesidad de estar conectado a un ordenador, y este tener un programa de edición de audio, puedas tener un repertorio de sonidos, ritmos, melodías y herramientas que te servirán cuando vayas de viaje.
@@jacky9575 Agreed - but the crux of my message was the last sentence. The gadgets have advantages for some people, but my experience of them was that when I passed on the keyboard to my two grandchildren, who were at the ideal age to begin learning something about music, all they were interested in was playing the pre-recorded tunes and messing with the sound effects, with the result that they don't know any music at all now. It turned a muical instrument into a toy. I live with my daughter and her husband and family, and they have the attitude of not obliging (they call it _forcing)_ children to do anything, so in that case, the gadgets took away from them the opportunity to learn music, because obliging them to learn something was frowned upon. If the keyboard had been more like an acoustic piano, there would have been only one thing to do with it - work out tunes and learn to play it. Their dad is Spanish and talks to them in his language all the time, and is proud of their bilinguality, but I'm sure he would have been proud of any musical ability as well - but he's not musical himself, so music a language he doesn't understand, and did not engage with.
What's funny is that is that professional musicians probably have practice sessions just as annoying as non-professionals, maybe even more due to perfectionism and repetition. Helps to reference the story of Rachmaninoff practicing Chopin's Op 25 no 6 at an unrecognisably slow pace.
At first I thought “nah this isn’t right. If your child don’t want to play the piano normally why would you force it? He has to realise for himself why he needs it. He should choose it by himself” but after reading comments I’ve got it. It is better to buy piano without those settings to make children want to play original piano and not those soundboards
I have the exact one and no complaints so far! I’m a music student, and I needed a cheaper option so I can practice from my dorm room and plug in to practice at later hours if needed, and this is great for exactly that. But definitely do make sure to buy a pedal and a nice and sturdy stand, even if it may run you around 50 bucks - wobbly keyboard is the worst.
I have had larger grands and other acoustics over the years. I switched to digital 6 years ago when I began focusing on solo piano again. What instrument to buy, big array out there? technology improvement has been rapid over the past 20 years. Touch and weighted keys are basic considerations. There are many more. It's about what ones needs are and cost point for budget. I would not now go back to acoustic even if I had the room; bunch of good reasons. The digital mode allows many more folks to take up piano who not otherwise do so. The advantages outweigh the deficiencies in my situation. This brand is a basic entry level instrument but one can learn on it; easily available. When I first was looking, ready to drop a bundle on digital, a guy in a thread voiced, "First learn to play the piano, then worry about upgraded instruments." I have been playing my Yamaha P-45 for more than 5 years after a year on an unacceptable cheaper Casio. Hopefully, within a year I will take the plunge to something like a Kawai CA-99 or it's successor. They have been hard to get here in the States for the last 3 years. This is now a topic that can't be avoided. Past timely. Most of the piano world is turning to digital mode on many good accounts. An acquaintance who has a Yamaha piano store for 30 years told me that the acoustic business is dying; he sells digitals at 20 times acoustics, trying to minimize that business segment. Reviews of nearly every model of digitals are now available online, mostly from music stores. That's, Craig, for putting this out there so clearly. We need more discourse on digital experiences. This upload will probably bring some rain.
I tried the Yamaha p45 at the store, but it felt too cheap. Since I wanted a light weight piano, I ended up buying the P-125. Yamaha is the only brand @ this point that I will buy…
David Miller - That's a huge leap from P45 to CA99, or CA901 as it now is. I don't think the action on the CA99 does justice to the instrument. The CA79 (now CA701?) With the same action seems a more balanced and cost effective solution, but I prefer the Yamaha CLP series anyway. My personal choice.
@ Yeah, thanks, big time topic. At this point, I've been on the P-45 for 6 years after many years on acoustics. Have been looking to upgrade as before but now, because the prices have gotten away from me, I began looking for a Rolan GP 607. It now has an upgraded model # for about 1200 more than the 607, exactly the same instrument as the discontinued 607. I deided to punt; went to the music store and 2 stereo Yamaha H5 amplified speaker monitors for about $400. While there the guy showed me a new version of the P-45, P-45 "B" which has been refigured with almost no thumping on the downstroke, very quiet and lighter finger action feel. Bot that one for $400. The monitors boost the weak original onboard 6 watt x 2, to a total of about 80 watts, 40 per channel. The boost in volume was of course dramatic, but also the quality of the sound. I would now compare the sound and action, when on external speakers to more like a $2-3000 piano, very comparable to that Roland I was looking at, new model series replacement now at $6,300. Still now tracking the Roland for developments but feel set for the forseeable future; plenty of sound volume and very dramatic quality improvement. New Yamaha's warranty is 5 years, transferrable. Roland gives 10 years but not transferrable. Fortunately, I have a tech within driving distance who is qualified both for Yamaha and Roland. He had maintained the already used P-45 I bot for $200. It's up for sale here in Western Oregon; if not, I'll give it to my granddaughter. Happy camper, here, for what it's worth to anybody. Good talk here about digitals; the coming, actually present and burgeoning, mode by far and away. My P-45 B and monitors was the right solution for me, for some time to come, as far as I can see.
These are not only good for people who may not be able to afford an acoustic piano,but for those who may not live in a good space for one! I live in an apartment and buying an acoustic paint, having it carried up stairs to my apartment, only to move in a year or twos time seemed silly! So, weight electric it was! Is till get to play without the headache of piano in apartment+
I started learning piano with a keyboard that does not have 88 keys or weighted keys… I still have and still use it and I’m (hopefully 🤞🤞🤞) going to get a new piano for Christmas!!
I'm playing on Electric piano for 8 years and I recently started to play in Musical group with acoustic piano and in my opinion the sound of an acousitc is unbeatable. It's so alive and an electric sounds to me sounds pretty much "dead". Overall Electric is a good price piano and it has a lot of features that acoustic don't have, but I definitely recommand to buy a good acoustic piano if you have the money because sound is important.
i just dont understand who these people are who 1) have the money 2) have the space and 3) dont need portability, but who are considering buying a digital over an acoustic? i feel like most people who consider buying digitals need digitals for the advantages they have over acoustics, in price, space, and/or portability. And everyone on like every video about digital pianos saying "get an acoustic!" is really weird, like telling someone who lives in an apartment and they dont have enough living space, "buy a mansion!" or you dont like commercial air travel, "buy a private jet!"
@@Zach-h2l Hey. Honestly I think my opinion have changed a bit since my comment because I have gained overall more experience. I honestly think acoustic only worth it if you have the place for it, money or you find it "Significantly" better. In my opinion the biggest problem of an acoustic is money because you have to pay for someone to tune your piano every month/year (I don't have an acoustic piano so I don't know the exact time you need) and It's pricey. And size is a huge matter if you don't have a place for it but there are uprights pianos which are built for an averge room. Digital in the other hand has a lot of advantages which acoustic don't have which is Price, size, portability and etc. Overall my opinion is go for digital. Yes, a great acoustic will always be better in feelings and in sound but if you aren't looking to invest a lot of money, looking for a good piano which you can port to places and don't want something which taks half a room, go for digital. This is my opinion and it can change over time but for now this is what I think.
Studying music since I was 10 I grew up with a vertical acoustic piano in my bedroom and I basically always had a piano around till I went to the conservatory and I moved from my hometown. There I couldn't keep a piano in my new apartment and I started using weighted keyboards since 18. Some of them are great, but the feeling you get even from the cheapest piano is something you can't replicate and you'll always miss that if you're used to it. Of course it comes with pros and cons, and electric keyboards nowadays are just mandatory in a sense, specially if you want to produce or compose. I still recall one day as a freshman at the conservatory, our usual classroom wasn't available so we moved to another one where I had the lucky chance to play this big concert Steinway (I was playing Hanon, lol). It's an understatement to say that the feeling of those keys stayed under my fingers all day after the lesson, and I still remember that sensation. It's hard to describe, like a sort of physical connection to the acoustic instrument that is reciprocal, it goes circular and not just one way like "lifeless" keyboards seem to be. This without even mentioning sound and acoustical matters. Hell, I still miss my cheap vertical piano.
@@daszieherfor many people though, this conversation is like comparing a porsche to a small hatchback when we only have the space or the budget for the hatchback or nothing. so compared to walking, ill take the hatchback. compared to not having a piano at all, having to wait to save up a ton of money and move to a different house, ill take my donner dep 20, cause the music i make with that sounds a lot better than silently wishing i had a real acoustic
@@michaelsmith697a well tuned concert piano, especially a steinway, is completely dead compared to my digital dep 20, because the concert is an intangible figment of my imagination and my dep 20 was purchaseable with the money in my bank account and is physicaly able to fit in my house lol. so ill take actually being able to play a real instrument over fantasizing over an instrument i cant afford or accomodate 😅
i think its important to note that this is if you are trying to replicate the playing of a real piano. There are reasons why an unweighted keyboard could be more suited for certain applications such as creating beats etc.
Never heard of Donner. How do they compare to Yamaha, Roland and Kawai? Those are honestly the only brands I would consider when buying a digital piano for classical music.
Yeah this is the achilles' heel of this "review". Any current DP will be "reasonable" by the given criteria. And then reviewer admits/excuses they really cannot compare...
there are so many reviews on RUclips and elsewhere of people saying this model is very good value for the money. And these are people from various walks of life, some of whom who review other digital pianos and play on good acoustics
It’s not good, basically a scam. In every single review of donner on youtube, Donner sends the reviewer the piano for free. It’s not honest reviews, it’s an ad.
If I could I would have an acoustic but due to small space have a weighted grandly digital piano and it really is fab , can practise and has pedals and before I used to go to library but had to wear headphones while playing. Although headphones are good when you don’t want to disturb 😊
i have a yamaha ydp144 and honestly, i've never felt a difference between it and an accoustic piano when it comes to playing especially because of the customisable sensitivity and other settings. would still prefer acoustic any day but that yamaha is still great
One important thing to keep in mind is that the quality of digital pianos vary enormously. Dealers like to claim that new digital pianos are far superior to 10 year old models. Not only is that an exaggeration, but it also ignores the fact that the cheapest digital pianos today are really bad and much worse than a midrange model from 2012. On the other hand it's strange to see how many classical pianists have never played a digital piano but have spent countless hours practicing on inferior old upright pianos. It's only when they start a family and are forced to get a digital piano that they realise how good they really are.
I went all-in and bought a Yamaha P-550 with the 3-pedal attachment. On balance, it's better than any acoustic piano I've ever actually played. It doesn't have the same acoustic resonance as the crappy uprights in the UNH practice rooms or my parents' cheap Kimball baby grand - but the tone is far better than any of those. Mind you I've never played a Steinway or Bosendorfer, and I've only plinked on the high-end Yamahas and Kawais in stores - I'm sure it's not as good as those, but it's a lot cheaper too.
Honestly, the best action approaching grand piano actions are the RH3 keybed and Roland's PHA50. The RH3 can be had in Korg's D1. Roland doesn't offer their action on their more affordable keyboards.
I have a Yamaha electric keyboard 423 but don't know how to bring out various levels of sound or play well. My children like the instrument so much they are praying for a teacher to appear. I would like to own a Steinway piano/keyboard made in Germany. How do I go about ordering one?
@@GabrielSiluyele which one? The Steinway or the teacher? For the Steinway try finding a piano store or dealer that sell Steinway pianos, but be warned they're pricey. For the teacher try asking a music school🎹🎶
My favorite part about electric pianos is that you don't have to tune them and they have different sounds and features that don't come with the normal piano. You get way more options and you save thousands of dollars. You can also hook up to speakers and plug in your headphones so you don't annoy others in the room while you practice.
What do you mean when you say make sure it can get 6-10 levels of sound from the softest pianissimo to the loudest ortisimmo? What do you mean by that exactly??
Hey Pianolab! I've had my Donner DEP-20 for a month , and I've been wondering...does the Donner DEP-20 have Ivory keys or Plastic keys? I've been trying to clean it but I have to determine which keys it has or I will damage it
I have a huge problem, okay, so I have an alesis preteige keyboard, and I didn't play any other piano for like 3 years, so that slanted back is just comfortability, and now acoustics with a back board are hard to play
Jokes on you i got mine as a hand me down from my grandmas husbands adopted daughter (he passed away in 2008 and she was less than a person) and its older than me. I have a yamaha psr 240 its from 1999 it is a year older than me but she still works fine
The only kind of digital piano worth buying purely for technical performance is a hybrid like the Kawaii Novus line. Pair that with VSL Synchron Steinway and you’ll have the closest you can get to the sound and feel of a real acoustic grand.
Take at least Roland FP30. Or FP10 if money is a problem. Wooden stand you could make by yourself. 3 pedal set is essential, unfortunately, it is impossible to connect it to FP10.
I get that pp, p, mp, mf, f and ff are 6 different dynamics, but why do you specifically say 6 and 10? Why not for example 6 and 8 or 6 and 12, etc...? 8 would be all 6 plus ppp and fff, 10 would be pppp and ffff. Do beginners really need to be (or are) able to play pppp or ffff dynamics? Please correct me if I misunderstand. Thank you for your help!
I don't want a keyboard for only the piano sounds. I want to learn piano yes but also I can do sooo much with a keyboard. I could basically play it as a electric guitar if I need. loop some drums n what not. make beats bro. remixes. if piano is ur passion get a piano. but if using ur imagination to create great music is your passion there's nothing in the world better than a good keyboard. I say for starters get a starfavor 88 key ita not that expensive but its the full pagage.
i have a 20 year old casio piano i tried to make it work again yet i dont know if i need batteries aswell because i have also a power supply for it yet it doesnt start i dont know if i should get it checked or am i missing something
wow, Donner sell direct so its impossible for us to try them before buying, I would also want to closely listen to the piano samples as they decay in different octaves, listen how the sustain pedal affects the sound.
lol who do you think is here, like "i can get an acoustic piano... no, ill get a digital instead?" dont most people who want a digital want one because they dont have space or money for an acoustic? you say get a "cheap" acoustic, are there ones for $360 or like i paid for mine, $217 usd??
I wish I had a real acoustic piano. Keyboards are great and all but they always sound fake and digital once you use them long enough. Even ones with professionally recorded samples that sound great still fall short of an actual cheap acoustic sound.
if you don't have a lot of money and wanna start playing piano, they are giving away pianos everywhere, just go and test em and pick one up that you like.
So you have tried 1 digital piano and all of a sudden you are recommending stuff? C’mon, the right answer would have been: “Sorry, I don’t know anything abou that.”
well he knows how much the monetary value of this keyboard is compared to other things that cost money. He knows what piano actions feel like. He knows what piano tones should sound like. So in all, he may not be able to say "this digital piano is better or worse than those digital pianos" but he definitely can say "if you paid this price for this action and these sounds, it's fine"
It's a useful short video with a couple of points that aren't discussed enough. So thanks. I think your presentation style is also very nice, and the disclosure about being new to this technology shows a modesty which is agreeable. But, please, never pick up a keyboard or digital piano like that! Squeezing that front panel that guards the keybed can easily warp the keys and effectively wreck the instrument. An amateur roadie wrecked my last digital piano that way. Just to clarify something on actions: As you the reviewer surely know, acoustic piano actions are not quite even from left to right, because they are graded. Most digital pianos incorporate this feature too, but at the fantasticly low price of this particular digital piano, I wouldn't expect such a refinement. Lot's of dynamic control is good, though how much you need does depend somewhat on style/genre. Those who play mainly Bach, Scarlatti or Fats Waller might not have the same requirements as those who play Debussy, Chopin or Bill Evans. In my case I prefer a fast action to a very responsive one, if I have to choose. Finally, let's not call these instruments "electric keyboards". That is so 1970s! Say "electronic piano" at least. Better still, say "digital piano" to avoid sounding like one of those "real piano" snobs who are out of touch with technology and the realities of the piano industry, ignoring the vast number of keen pianists who play digital pianos. Anyway, thanks again. I hope you will present more digital pianos and become a highly informed presenter of this exciting technology.
You nailed it, ticked every box from the "underclass" victims of traditional purist snobbery. Both feet right in the chest of the critics. Articulate, not just griping. Hail Mary touchdown. Fist pumps!!!
Hi. Can you tell us the right way to pick up a digital piano? it would be really helpful to those who are buying a new one so they can avoid potential damage. Thanks for the warning.
Big pitfall with electric pianos is that they can generate a note when you pressed the key way to soft so on a real piano you would not get a sound. Then you go and try to play a real piano and nothing happens....
This "sending a piano out for review" is something Donner is doing recurrently. Are the reviewers keeping the pianos? The ambiguous wording is odd. They should disclose either way. My spidey sense for "shady" has been activated. Another pianist appears to have kept her "review" piano - I've seen her playing it in duets with others. If they're giving pianos for reviews without disclosing is that's scandalous.
Idk why they are cosidered diferent instruments they kayboard is basacly justva piano in wivh you can change the sound it makes its the same thing that is like calling an electric guitar a diferent instrument that is not a guitar
Everything he says in this video is accurate. However you are absolutely throwing money away buying a Donner or Alesis. Get the extra money to buy a Yamaha or Roland or even a Casio. Any of these will last longer have fewer problems and have some value when it’s time to sell it and get something better. These things are the Yugos of the instrument world. No music shop takes these in trade. None.
I have a DEP-20 which as a longtime player I bought because of price. I now have 3(since 2021!) of them because they all developed a LOUD KEY problem& DONNER replaced my piano for free. well the 3rd one has the LOUD MIDDLE C KEY like the others & they aren't replacing this time. I have taken one apart but can't figure how to get the keys out,wish someone would do a repair video for Donner! It seems that after the 2 yr warranty on the FIRST PIANO is up, if a new one breaks after only a year it is not covered. 1 1/2 year mark is about the breaking time. I've taken one apart & the keys come out separately. I see that almost every brand develops loud key or dead keys,which I have both now. Am definitely going to try to fix, but if anyone else has same problem they fixed plz leave a reply!
It's good thing to advertise, it's bad thing tho to lie and destroy young wannabe pianists. This Donner is practically a toy and has terrible action and sound
I have this piano.
Pros: It was cheap. Keys are weighted. Sounds decent.
Cons: Electronic display freezes and won't change to the alternate the voice I selected. Donner support would not fix it since they said it doesn't affect the play of the instrument.
I had the same problem and they sent a new one which did the same thing but also had a Sticky C5 key. I now have two of them and apart from the annoying bits they are great.
@@bnb300 Thanks for sharing. I'm happy to hear it's not just me that had a problem.
Same problem. But plays great
😮
That’s an L for Donner. I was thinking about purchasing a board from them but now I will not because of this comment and their response. I try to only support businesses and companies that actually care about their customers.
Yes! All this is so true! I’ve been playing for ten years, but was only able to make the switch from unweighted to weighted keyboard a year ago. When you spend so long with a “lifeless” keyboard, you really get a sense for what an acoustic piano really does for the player! Keep it up! Definitely my favorite channel on piano technique! You’re awesome!
Thank you very much for your support!
How much is that keyboard, what model?
I have a Yamaha P-45. Love the simplicity of a digital piano without a screen. It feels like a fulcrum-weighted action. Graded hammer-weighted actions.
I have the same one it’s amazing.
I want to get a Yamaha PSR P52 or P51 since I’m a beginner. Can you advise me on this, please?
Thank You! Makes me want to be that cat… 🤓😍🥳😂🤘
Yamaha f30 is also good but 37 keys only
If you upgrade. Check out the P-125. I have it since 2019 and will never by anything g else. My second is an Arranger. E373. This has a fantastic organ. I use these 2 on stage and have never had a problem.
One of the big advantages of an electronic piano is that you can practise with headphones on. If somebody is a good pianist, listening to them may be a pleasure, but listening to a less experienced pianist learning a new piece and practising it over and over can be tedious. For the first 3 years, I had a practise room at boarding school, where I didn't bother anybody - but when I came home and was practising, I gave up piano because of comments by my sister.
A disadvantage of an electric piano is that they come with all sorts of gadgets, and a large selection of pre-recorded tunes and sounds they can make etc, etc. Getting a young child to practice on one doesn't work, because there are so many other more entertaining things to do with it - that don't teach the child anything at all.
your actually right, because i remember when i was younger every time i practice piano after awhile i just start using the weird sound option and makes different sounds, but now im older and dont change up the setting that much
No estoy tan de acuerdo con tu último punto, esos "gadgets" son más bien para productores y compositores que para intérpretes, obviamente quizás no a nivel profesional, pero está bien que el teclado en sí, sin necesidad de estar conectado a un ordenador, y este tener un programa de edición de audio, puedas tener un repertorio de sonidos, ritmos, melodías y herramientas que te servirán cuando vayas de viaje.
@@jacky9575 Agreed - but the crux of my message was the last sentence. The gadgets have advantages for some people, but my experience of them was that when I passed on the keyboard to my two grandchildren, who were at the ideal age to begin learning something about music, all they were interested in was playing the pre-recorded tunes and messing with the sound effects, with the result that they don't know any music at all now. It turned a muical instrument into a toy.
I live with my daughter and her husband and family, and they have the attitude of not obliging (they call it _forcing)_ children to do anything, so in that case, the gadgets took away from them the opportunity to learn music, because obliging them to learn something was frowned upon. If the keyboard had been more like an acoustic piano, there would have been only one thing to do with it - work out tunes and learn to play it.
Their dad is Spanish and talks to them in his language all the time, and is proud of their bilinguality, but I'm sure he would have been proud of any musical ability as well - but he's not musical himself, so music a language he doesn't understand, and did not engage with.
What's funny is that is that professional musicians probably have practice sessions just as annoying as non-professionals, maybe even more due to perfectionism and repetition. Helps to reference the story of Rachmaninoff practicing Chopin's Op 25 no 6 at an unrecognisably slow pace.
At first I thought “nah this isn’t right. If your child don’t want to play the piano normally why would you force it? He has to realise for himself why he needs it. He should choose it by himself” but after reading comments I’ve got it. It is better to buy piano without those settings to make children want to play original piano and not those soundboards
I have the exact one and no complaints so far! I’m a music student, and I needed a cheaper option so I can practice from my dorm room and plug in to practice at later hours if needed, and this is great for exactly that. But definitely do make sure to buy a pedal and a nice and sturdy stand, even if it may run you around 50 bucks - wobbly keyboard is the worst.
Thank you. I actually saved up enough to buy this keyboard so I hope this works well
and a good seat! I used to use a rolly chair when I first started and that set me up for bad habits as I move up and down the register
My only go to is Yamaha. I love how it plays and feels.
I have had larger grands and other acoustics over the years. I switched to digital 6 years ago when I began focusing on solo piano again. What instrument to buy, big array out there? technology improvement has been rapid over the past 20 years. Touch and weighted keys are basic considerations. There are many more. It's about what ones needs are and cost point for budget.
I would not now go back to acoustic even if I had the room; bunch of good reasons. The digital mode allows many more folks to take up piano who not otherwise do so. The advantages outweigh the deficiencies in my situation.
This brand is a basic entry level instrument but one can learn on it; easily available. When I first was looking, ready to drop a bundle on digital, a guy in a thread voiced, "First learn to play the piano, then worry about upgraded instruments." I have been playing my Yamaha P-45 for more than 5 years after a year on an unacceptable cheaper Casio. Hopefully, within a year I will take the plunge to something like a Kawai CA-99 or it's successor. They have been hard to get here in the States for the last 3 years.
This is now a topic that can't be avoided. Past timely. Most of the piano world is turning to digital mode on many good accounts. An acquaintance who has a Yamaha piano store for 30 years told me that the acoustic business is dying; he sells digitals at 20 times acoustics, trying to minimize that business segment.
Reviews of nearly every model of digitals are now available online, mostly from music stores.
That's, Craig, for putting this out there so clearly. We need more discourse on digital experiences. This upload will probably bring some rain.
I tried the Yamaha p45 at the store, but it felt too cheap. Since I wanted a light weight piano, I ended up buying the P-125. Yamaha is the only brand @ this point that I will buy…
David Miller - That's a huge leap from P45 to CA99, or CA901 as it now is. I don't think the action on the CA99 does justice to the instrument. The CA79 (now CA701?) With the same action seems a more balanced and cost effective solution, but I prefer the Yamaha CLP series anyway. My personal choice.
@@kaleimaileP125. Good choice!
I want to buy yamaha p125 too it's really amazing but it's outside my budget right now..can you sell me if you can ? I really appreciate piano.
@ Yeah, thanks, big time topic. At this point, I've been on the P-45 for 6 years after many years on acoustics. Have been looking to upgrade as before but now, because the prices have gotten away from me, I began looking for a Rolan GP 607. It now has an upgraded model # for about 1200 more than the 607, exactly the same instrument as the discontinued 607.
I deided to punt; went to the music store and 2 stereo Yamaha H5 amplified speaker monitors for about $400. While there the guy showed me a new version of the P-45, P-45 "B" which has been refigured with almost no thumping on the downstroke, very quiet and lighter finger action feel. Bot that one for $400. The monitors boost the weak original onboard 6 watt x 2, to a total of about 80 watts, 40 per channel. The boost in volume was of course dramatic, but also the quality of the sound. I would now compare the sound and action, when on external speakers to more like a $2-3000 piano, very comparable to that Roland I was looking at, new model series replacement now at $6,300. Still now tracking the Roland for developments but feel set for the forseeable future; plenty of sound volume and very dramatic quality improvement.
New Yamaha's warranty is 5 years, transferrable. Roland gives 10 years but not transferrable. Fortunately, I have a tech within driving distance who is qualified both for Yamaha and Roland. He had maintained the already used P-45 I bot for $200. It's up for sale here in Western Oregon; if not, I'll give it to my granddaughter.
Happy camper, here, for what it's worth to anybody. Good talk here about digitals; the coming, actually present and burgeoning, mode by far and away. My P-45 B and monitors was the right solution for me, for some time to come, as far as I can see.
These are not only good for people who may not be able to afford an acoustic piano,but for those who may not live in a good space for one! I live in an apartment and buying an acoustic paint, having it carried up stairs to my apartment, only to move in a year or twos time seemed silly! So, weight electric it was! Is till get to play without the headache of piano in apartment+
I started learning piano with a keyboard that does not have 88 keys or weighted keys… I still have and still use it and I’m (hopefully 🤞🤞🤞) going to get a new piano for Christmas!!
Same
I'm playing on Electric piano for 8 years and I recently started to play in Musical group with acoustic piano and in my opinion the sound of an acousitc is unbeatable. It's so alive and an electric sounds to me sounds pretty much "dead". Overall Electric is a good price piano and it has a lot of features that acoustic don't have, but I definitely recommand to buy a good acoustic piano if you have the money because sound is important.
i just dont understand who these people are who 1) have the money 2) have the space and 3) dont need portability, but who are considering buying a digital over an acoustic? i feel like most people who consider buying digitals need digitals for the advantages they have over acoustics, in price, space, and/or portability. And everyone on like every video about digital pianos saying "get an acoustic!" is really weird, like telling someone who lives in an apartment and they dont have enough living space, "buy a mansion!" or you dont like commercial air travel, "buy a private jet!"
@@Zach-h2l Hey. Honestly I think my opinion have changed a bit since my comment because I have gained overall more experience. I honestly think acoustic only worth it if you have the place for it, money or you find it "Significantly" better.
In my opinion the biggest problem of an acoustic is money because you have to pay for someone to tune your piano every month/year (I don't have an acoustic piano so I don't know the exact time you need) and It's pricey. And size is a huge matter if you don't have a place for it but there are uprights pianos which are built for an averge room.
Digital in the other hand has a lot of advantages which acoustic don't have which is Price, size, portability and etc. Overall my opinion is go for digital. Yes, a great acoustic will always be better in feelings and in sound but if you aren't looking to invest a lot of money, looking for a good piano which you can port to places and don't want something which taks half a room, go for digital. This is my opinion and it can change over time but for now this is what I think.
I have one like this and I'm really glad!
How much is the new price
I have tested this piano and it is really good I recommend it
You sure I’m gonna buy depending on your answer I’m new to this
@@K1ng_elated I really like this piano I recommend it,it has weighted keys,88 keys and lots of sounds and things you need like a metronome or more
Studying music since I was 10 I grew up with a vertical acoustic piano in my bedroom and I basically always had a piano around till I went to the conservatory and I moved from my hometown. There I couldn't keep a piano in my new apartment and I started using weighted keyboards since 18. Some of them are great, but the feeling you get even from the cheapest piano is something you can't replicate and you'll always miss that if you're used to it. Of course it comes with pros and cons, and electric keyboards nowadays are just mandatory in a sense, specially if you want to produce or compose.
I still recall one day as a freshman at the conservatory, our usual classroom wasn't available so we moved to another one where I had the lucky chance to play this big concert Steinway (I was playing Hanon, lol). It's an understatement to say that the feeling of those keys stayed under my fingers all day after the lesson, and I still remember that sensation. It's hard to describe, like a sort of physical connection to the acoustic instrument that is reciprocal, it goes circular and not just one way like "lifeless" keyboards seem to be. This without even mentioning sound and acoustical matters. Hell, I still miss my cheap vertical piano.
A real piano well tuned is alive compared to a digital. Especially a Concert grand - especially a Steinway!
@@michaelsmith697 its like comparing a Porsche 911 to a small hatchback.
@@daszieherfor many people though, this conversation is like comparing a porsche to a small hatchback when we only have the space or the budget for the hatchback or nothing. so compared to walking, ill take the hatchback. compared to not having a piano at all, having to wait to save up a ton of money and move to a different house, ill take my donner dep 20, cause the music i make with that sounds a lot better than silently wishing i had a real acoustic
@@michaelsmith697a well tuned concert piano, especially a steinway, is completely dead compared to my digital dep 20, because the concert is an intangible figment of my imagination and my dep 20 was purchaseable with the money in my bank account and is physicaly able to fit in my house lol. so ill take actually being able to play a real instrument over fantasizing over an instrument i cant afford or accomodate 😅
@@Zach-h2l some people will have a Porsche AND a small hatchback.
I should have added "horses for courses" to put my short comment into context. 😉
If I ever need a new keyboard or have the opportunity to get a new one, I'll definitely look into this
The Kawai ES120 is the benchmark for entry level keyboards. I love playing mine and have never had an issue with it.
I've had this donner dep20 for about 4 months now and I haven't had any issues so far
i think its important to note that this is if you are trying to replicate the playing of a real piano. There are reasons why an unweighted keyboard could be more suited for certain applications such as creating beats etc.
I would be thrilled for you to share with us an option you would be fully satisfied with! Thanks so much for your vid’s
Never heard of Donner. How do they compare to Yamaha, Roland and Kawai? Those are honestly the only brands I would consider when buying a digital piano for classical music.
Yeah this is the achilles' heel of this "review". Any current DP will be "reasonable" by the given criteria. And then reviewer admits/excuses they really cannot compare...
Don't sleep on the newer Casio pianos. I recently bought a Casio cdp s360 piano and love it!! DYOR!
there are so many reviews on RUclips and elsewhere of people saying this model is very good value for the money. And these are people from various walks of life, some of whom who review other digital pianos and play on good acoustics
I won’t buy anything unless it’s a Yamaha. I love the play and sound of a Yamaha.
It’s not good, basically a scam. In every single review of donner on youtube, Donner sends the reviewer the piano for free.
It’s not honest reviews, it’s an ad.
I habe a yamaha clp 775 and its really really great.
If I could I would have an acoustic but due to small space have a weighted grandly digital piano and it really is fab , can practise and has pedals and before I used to go to library but had to wear headphones while playing. Although headphones are good when you don’t want to disturb 😊
Make sure it's class-compliant if you plan to do any MIDI sequencing. My Yamaha EW wasn't -- all my Casios are.
i have a yamaha ydp144 and honestly, i've never felt a difference between it and an accoustic piano when it comes to playing especially because of the customisable sensitivity and other settings.
would still prefer acoustic any day but that yamaha is still great
One important thing to keep in mind is that the quality of digital pianos vary enormously. Dealers like to claim that new digital pianos are far superior to 10 year old models. Not only is that an exaggeration, but it also ignores the fact that the cheapest digital pianos today are really bad and much worse than a midrange model from 2012.
On the other hand it's strange to see how many classical pianists have never played a digital piano but have spent countless hours practicing on inferior old upright pianos. It's only when they start a family and are forced to get a digital piano that they realise how good they really are.
I went all-in and bought a Yamaha P-550 with the 3-pedal attachment. On balance, it's better than any acoustic piano I've ever actually played. It doesn't have the same acoustic resonance as the crappy uprights in the UNH practice rooms or my parents' cheap Kimball baby grand - but the tone is far better than any of those. Mind you I've never played a Steinway or Bosendorfer, and I've only plinked on the high-end Yamahas and Kawais in stores - I'm sure it's not as good as those, but it's a lot cheaper too.
You have the exact same voice cadence as Jeff Nippard
lol what an interesting comparison
I love the 🎹
I got the alesis myself prestige it has graded hammer action
Cant wait to get my hands on it😍😍
Did u get it?
did you get it?
@@FbiPlays7874 hi yes i got it
@@freerights6695 hi yes. I got it.
I just got one, Im liking mine so far
Yamaha p225 is better and worth the money and if you don’t want that one you can also get the p125. Or kawaii es120. Thank you.
Honestly, the best action approaching grand piano actions are the RH3 keybed and Roland's PHA50. The RH3 can be had in Korg's D1. Roland doesn't offer their action on their more affordable keyboards.
I have a Yamaha electric keyboard 423 but don't know how to bring out various levels of sound or play well. My children like the instrument so much they are praying for a teacher to appear. I would like to own a Steinway piano/keyboard made in Germany. How do I go about ordering one?
@@GabrielSiluyele which one? The Steinway or the teacher? For the Steinway try finding a piano store or dealer that sell Steinway pianos, but be warned they're pricey. For the teacher try asking a music school🎹🎶
My favorite part about electric pianos is that you don't have to tune them and they have different sounds and features that don't come with the normal piano. You get way more options and you save thousands of dollars. You can also hook up to speakers and plug in your headphones so you don't annoy others in the room while you practice.
Its just the best
Sound of Yamaha EW 423. Good but looking for a Steinway piano made in Germany.
How many types of 🎹 are there ?
Yamaha P-125. Perfect for any setting. Check it out.
I also am an electric pianist (casio)
hi is this a midi keyboard that connects to logic?
Not sure. But if you visit the Amazon store there should be details on the product. Hope that helps!
I have a grand piano that looks like your grand piano but the keys i think are old i think
I was waiting to hear him play 😅😅😅 but anyways i have a yamaha something and i just love the sound
Does anyone have any recommendations before I buy an electric piano? I’ve been looking at a couple Roland’s.
Have you tried yamaha p255 and roland fp 30x. Im confused to chose between them.
What do you mean when you say make sure it can get 6-10 levels of sound from the softest pianissimo to the loudest ortisimmo? What do you mean by that exactly??
Hey Pianolab! I've had my Donner DEP-20 for a month , and I've been wondering...does the Donner DEP-20 have Ivory keys or Plastic keys? I've been trying to clean it but I have to determine which keys it has or I will damage it
Little late but plastic, no piano has ivory keys anymore especially electrics
@@IndigoDellaBadia oh okay! Thank you so much lol. It's a little late but it helps! Also I got your notification like a month later lol
Why would your first electric be donner?
You mention links in the description but shorts don't have description. I don't see the link anywhere.
Shorts do have a description. Tap the three little dots on the upper right hand corner of the screen.
Thats my exact outfit and you have the same socks as me
I have a huge problem, okay, so I have an alesis preteige keyboard, and I didn't play any other piano for like 3 years, so that slanted back is just comfortability, and now acoustics with a back board are hard to play
Jokes on you i got mine as a hand me down from my grandmas husbands adopted daughter (he passed away in 2008 and she was less than a person) and its older than me. I have a yamaha psr 240 its from 1999 it is a year older than me but she still works fine
What about DDP-80?
I have a rockjam rj761 should I get a proper keyboard
The only kind of digital piano worth buying purely for technical performance is a hybrid like the Kawaii Novus line. Pair that with VSL Synchron Steinway and you’ll have the closest you can get to the sound and feel of a real acoustic grand.
Take at least Roland FP30. Or FP10 if money is a problem. Wooden stand you could make by yourself. 3 pedal set is essential, unfortunately, it is impossible to connect it to FP10.
im 33, is it too late to start? is it over for me /mu/ bros?
It's never too late to start! If you have a passion for music and you're willing to put the work in, than you can do great things!
Even? Maybe gradient, lighter in the treble?
can I get an electric peddle to go with it?
It comes with a pedal 👍
I get that pp, p, mp, mf, f and ff are
6 different dynamics,
but why do you specifically say 6 and 10?
Why not for example
6 and 8
or 6 and 12,
etc...?
8 would be all 6 plus ppp and fff,
10 would be pppp and ffff.
Do beginners really need to be (or are) able to play pppp or ffff dynamics?
Please correct me if I misunderstand.
Thank you for your help!
I don't want a keyboard for only the piano sounds. I want to learn piano yes but also I can do sooo much with a keyboard. I could basically play it as a electric guitar if I need. loop some drums n what not. make beats bro. remixes. if piano is ur passion get a piano. but if using ur imagination to create great music is your passion there's nothing in the world better than a good keyboard. I say for starters get a starfavor 88 key ita not that expensive but its the full pagage.
i have a 20 year old casio piano i tried to make it work again yet i dont know if i need batteries aswell because i have also a power supply for it yet it doesnt start i dont know if i should get it checked or am i missing something
How much does a piano cost?
You’d think you’d show us what it sounded like in the same video lol
Is it called keyboard or electric piano?
I think better we say Electric music keyboard.
I am the opposite. I've never owned an acoustic grand piano. My dream would be the Kawaii NV 10s
wow, Donner sell direct so its impossible for us to try them before buying, I would also want to closely listen to the piano samples as they decay in different octaves, listen how the sustain pedal affects the sound.
Why it shakes all the structure ???
Imo still better to get cheap, and not with very good sound acoustic piano but with healthy and even mechanism
lol who do you think is here, like "i can get an acoustic piano... no, ill get a digital instead?" dont most people who want a digital want one because they dont have space or money for an acoustic? you say get a "cheap" acoustic, are there ones for $360 or like i paid for mine, $217 usd??
If i record with it, there's no noise from outside in my recording, is it right?
The keyboard is shaking 😂😂😂
6 to 10 sensibilities? 5 are not enought?
for starters they can do alotttt more than a piano
I wish I had a real acoustic piano. Keyboards are great and all but they always sound fake and digital once you use them long enough. Even ones with professionally recorded samples that sound great still fall short of an actual cheap acoustic sound.
if you don't have a lot of money and wanna start playing piano, they are giving away pianos everywhere, just go and test em and pick one up that you like.
I thought you would play it so I can hear how it sounds
The problem I have with electric keyboards is the noise of the keys. It’s way too loud compared to an acoustic piano, kinda distracting in all honesty
That's so true. I hate that...
fun fact: the “replay” button has a typo! It’s spelled “RE.PLAY
edit: i realized my keyboard is the dep-10, not 20
So you have tried 1 digital piano and all of a sudden you are recommending stuff? C’mon, the right answer would have been: “Sorry, I don’t know anything abou that.”
well he knows how much the monetary value of this keyboard is compared to other things that cost money. He knows what piano actions feel like. He knows what piano tones should sound like. So in all, he may not be able to say "this digital piano is better or worse than those digital pianos" but he definitely can say "if you paid this price for this action and these sounds, it's fine"
It's a useful short video with a couple of points that aren't discussed enough. So thanks. I think your presentation style is also very nice, and the disclosure about being new to this technology shows a modesty which is agreeable.
But, please, never pick up a keyboard or digital piano like that! Squeezing that front panel that guards the keybed can easily warp the keys and effectively wreck the instrument. An amateur roadie wrecked my last digital piano that way.
Just to clarify something on actions: As you the reviewer surely know, acoustic piano actions are not quite even from left to right, because they are graded. Most digital pianos incorporate this feature too, but at the fantasticly low price of this particular digital piano, I wouldn't expect such a refinement.
Lot's of dynamic control is good, though how much you need does depend somewhat on style/genre. Those who play mainly Bach, Scarlatti or Fats Waller might not have the same requirements as those who play Debussy, Chopin or Bill Evans. In my case I prefer a fast action to a very responsive one, if I have to choose.
Finally, let's not call these instruments "electric keyboards". That is so 1970s! Say "electronic piano" at least. Better still, say "digital piano" to avoid sounding like one of those "real piano" snobs who are out of touch with technology and the realities of the piano industry, ignoring the vast number of keen pianists who play digital pianos.
Anyway, thanks again. I hope you will present more digital pianos and become a highly informed presenter of this exciting technology.
Totally agree! This stuff should have all been featured! Thank you for leaving it in the comments!
You nailed it, ticked every box from the "underclass" victims of traditional purist snobbery. Both feet right in the chest of the critics. Articulate, not just griping. Hail Mary touchdown. Fist pumps!!!
Hi. Can you tell us the right way to pick up a digital piano? it would be really helpful to those who are buying a new one so they can avoid potential damage. Thanks for the warning.
Wait im like 90% sure this model does have graded keys though
Kawai CA98 all the way.
Pienso usarlo como controlador pues su funcionamiento al cambiar de timbre es limitado.
Big pitfall with electric pianos is that they can generate a note when you pressed the key way to soft so on a real piano you would not get a sound. Then you go and try to play a real piano and nothing happens....
WEHRER IS THE DESCRIPTION
This "sending a piano out for review" is something Donner is doing recurrently. Are the reviewers keeping the pianos? The ambiguous wording is odd.
They should disclose either way. My spidey sense for "shady" has been activated. Another pianist appears to have kept her "review" piano - I've seen her playing it in duets with others. If they're giving pianos for reviews without disclosing is that's scandalous.
My keyboard only have 5 octave
Man that looks so unsteady
YOU NEED TO PLAY THE SONG FROM UP PLEASE DO IT
Its sounds good, I'm learning how to play it same piano
Is mine broken uhhhhg FAZLEY FKB-050
Idk why they are cosidered diferent instruments they kayboard is basacly justva piano in wivh you can change the sound it makes its the same thing that is like calling an electric guitar a diferent instrument that is not a guitar
Depends in what type of keyboard you got i have a yammaha dgx 360 it had everything you just described and it was 2000 dollars but its worth it
Me on a gas keyboard:
👁️👄👁️
Everything he says in this video is accurate. However you are absolutely throwing money away buying a Donner or Alesis. Get the extra money to buy a Yamaha or Roland or even a Casio. Any of these will last longer have fewer problems and have some value when it’s time to sell it and get something better. These things are the Yugos of the instrument world. No music shop takes these in trade. None.
🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠
✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻
I have a DEP-20 which as a longtime player I bought because of price. I now have 3(since 2021!) of them because they all developed a LOUD KEY problem& DONNER replaced my piano for free. well the 3rd one has the LOUD MIDDLE C KEY like the others & they aren't replacing this time. I have taken one apart but can't figure how to get the keys out,wish someone would do a repair video for Donner! It seems that after the 2 yr warranty on the FIRST PIANO is up, if a new one breaks after only a year it is not covered. 1 1/2 year mark is about the breaking time. I've taken one apart & the keys come out separately. I see that almost every brand develops loud key or dead keys,which I have both now. Am definitely going to try to fix, but if anyone else has same problem they fixed plz leave a reply!
I have the Donner TEK 610 and I do not recommend it.
I have no idea what any of the stuff he just said means..
ehmm the Donner DEP-20 ist a E-Piano, not a Keyboard...
Any professional pianist can play on any keyboard. This dude just loves the attention and to hear himself talk.
It's good thing to advertise, it's bad thing tho to lie and destroy young wannabe pianists. This Donner is practically a toy and has terrible action and sound
They ripped off the design of the Yamaha p115
I wanted to my name is Jacob boyetoe