I'm new to the forum, and considering a Casio Privia PX-S3100 digital piano with arranger functions. Has anyone had experience with this model? Thx
Casio PX-S3100
- Thread starter Korgmaster
- Start date
Welcome.
I looked at and played the prior 3000 model.
Sounds were OK, but to me just OK.
Short keys with a difference in feel between the white and black notes.
Despite watching some tutorial videos on the operating system and reading the initial section of the manual I was glad to have my iPad with me so I could refer to the manual as the Menu system was not intuitive for me.
It is probably me but I did have trouble with the touch controls, they simply did not respond. There was also a 1000 in the store and I had the same trouble with that. I also tried an X5000 and that to did not respond to my touches of the screen.
I then gave up on Casio all together.
So if you cannot try before you buy then do buy from a vendor who offers Free Returns.
Do checkout the Korg and Yamaha equiivalents.
I looked at and played the prior 3000 model.
Sounds were OK, but to me just OK.
Short keys with a difference in feel between the white and black notes.
Despite watching some tutorial videos on the operating system and reading the initial section of the manual I was glad to have my iPad with me so I could refer to the manual as the Menu system was not intuitive for me.
It is probably me but I did have trouble with the touch controls, they simply did not respond. There was also a 1000 in the store and I had the same trouble with that. I also tried an X5000 and that to did not respond to my touches of the screen.
I then gave up on Casio all together.
So if you cannot try before you buy then do buy from a vendor who offers Free Returns.
Do checkout the Korg and Yamaha equiivalents.
Great and valuable info. Thx !
The PXS is the sleekest of the portable arranger pianos (25 lbs vs Yamaha DGX670 just over 47lbs, Roland FPE50 just under 38lbs, not to mentino the PXS3100 is half the depth *and* thickness of the DGX)
*however*:
The piano on the Casio is pretty decent; since the FPE50's is modelled (ie not a sample, but synthesized) so a lot of people will find the FPE50's piano sound ''hollow" and the worst of the 3; Debatable if the DGX's is better on headphones, but the DGX has fuller sounding speakers than the PXS, so for me it wins there. The FPE50 has the beefiest speakers by far of the 3; the DGX's are in the middle.
The PXS's keys are the shortest and worst of the 3 (but as long as you play on the keytips, not halfway up the keys, I find it perfectly playable still). But I'll still take both the DGX and FPE50's keys over the PXS's.
The arranger is where it gets dicey; the PXS is definitely the most difficult to navigate. The DGX is a hair easier than the FPE50 to navigate, but the Yamaha and Roland are quite easy to navigate. Only the DGX offers Karaoke functions (scrolling lyrics on screen with compatible midis, and the ability to record all of that plus blue tooth audio input onto a USB stick. The FPE50 offers the same minus the lyrics, the PXS doesn't have a mic input or mic DSP's).
The PXS is the only one that can run on batteries (6 x AA).
This may come as a surprise, but for acoustic guitars & pipe organs, I'd put the DGX at the top and the FPE50 at the very bottom of the 3 (and Roland designed the styles around that limitation; avoiding acoustic guitar strumming in most styles, but when it is present it's pretty cringey). Roland has the best drums of the 3, powerful and punch. Casio's drums are pretty good *except* the default style (Bruno Mar's 24 Karat) using a *very* shrill drum kit, so much so that if you have it at full volume, and accidentally start the default style, your ears will hurt. The other styles sound *great* (Billie Jean, Moves Like Jagger), so I'm not sure why they chose that as the default .
DGX is the only one I know where you can output the style as midi data; the FPE50 only has a single channel midi out! that means the Roland will literally only send your keypresses literally all to channel 1; no way of grabbing any info on the styles or even sending out left hand split to another channel, rendering the midi functions almost useless on it. PXS is slightly better with 2 channels midi out on the right and 2 on the left, but AFAIK no way to grab the style info as midi either. DGX by far has the best midi implementation of the 3, will full multi midi out, separate channels for each style part and Right1,Right2, Left, as well as the only one where you can create styles on board and import new ones easily.
I don't think the Casio even allows importing; the Roland sort of can through Roland sound cloud, but obviously that's exclusively Roland's own (very well programmed if you want 80's pop/rock, modern pop, hip hop, R&B) styles. DGX has literally tens of thousands of styles available to download online.
HOWEVER the DGX is also the only one lacking proper line outs! (although you can record lossless audio internal via USB flash drive).
Sorry, I know that's a lot. Like Biggles said, nothing beats trying them hands on.
But in a nuthsell:
Mark
*however*:
The piano on the Casio is pretty decent; since the FPE50's is modelled (ie not a sample, but synthesized) so a lot of people will find the FPE50's piano sound ''hollow" and the worst of the 3; Debatable if the DGX's is better on headphones, but the DGX has fuller sounding speakers than the PXS, so for me it wins there. The FPE50 has the beefiest speakers by far of the 3; the DGX's are in the middle.
The PXS's keys are the shortest and worst of the 3 (but as long as you play on the keytips, not halfway up the keys, I find it perfectly playable still). But I'll still take both the DGX and FPE50's keys over the PXS's.
The arranger is where it gets dicey; the PXS is definitely the most difficult to navigate. The DGX is a hair easier than the FPE50 to navigate, but the Yamaha and Roland are quite easy to navigate. Only the DGX offers Karaoke functions (scrolling lyrics on screen with compatible midis, and the ability to record all of that plus blue tooth audio input onto a USB stick. The FPE50 offers the same minus the lyrics, the PXS doesn't have a mic input or mic DSP's).
The PXS is the only one that can run on batteries (6 x AA).
This may come as a surprise, but for acoustic guitars & pipe organs, I'd put the DGX at the top and the FPE50 at the very bottom of the 3 (and Roland designed the styles around that limitation; avoiding acoustic guitar strumming in most styles, but when it is present it's pretty cringey). Roland has the best drums of the 3, powerful and punch. Casio's drums are pretty good *except* the default style (Bruno Mar's 24 Karat) using a *very* shrill drum kit, so much so that if you have it at full volume, and accidentally start the default style, your ears will hurt. The other styles sound *great* (Billie Jean, Moves Like Jagger), so I'm not sure why they chose that as the default .
DGX is the only one I know where you can output the style as midi data; the FPE50 only has a single channel midi out! that means the Roland will literally only send your keypresses literally all to channel 1; no way of grabbing any info on the styles or even sending out left hand split to another channel, rendering the midi functions almost useless on it. PXS is slightly better with 2 channels midi out on the right and 2 on the left, but AFAIK no way to grab the style info as midi either. DGX by far has the best midi implementation of the 3, will full multi midi out, separate channels for each style part and Right1,Right2, Left, as well as the only one where you can create styles on board and import new ones easily.
I don't think the Casio even allows importing; the Roland sort of can through Roland sound cloud, but obviously that's exclusively Roland's own (very well programmed if you want 80's pop/rock, modern pop, hip hop, R&B) styles. DGX has literally tens of thousands of styles available to download online.
HOWEVER the DGX is also the only one lacking proper line outs! (although you can record lossless audio internal via USB flash drive).
Sorry, I know that's a lot. Like Biggles said, nothing beats trying them hands on.
But in a nuthsell:
Category........Best...-..Mid - Worst
Keys················DGX ~ FPE >> PXS
Speakers········FPE >> DGX > PXS
Piano sound··DGX > PXS ~~ FPE (all 3 decent)
Midi out·········DGX>>>PXS > FPE
Ease of use····DGX ~~FP >>>PXS
Mark
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OMG Mark, such a comprehensive, detailed answer and explanation on my query! Truly I already feel like I have a "Keyboard Family " to rely upon when needing occasional guidance. I hope in the near future to acquire enough knowledge to answer questions in the same timely and compressive manners you and others have shown already Thx to all !
Mark is a valued User here and respected by a lot of people including me ..
Rayblewit
Love Music / Love Life
and me . .
There is another contender Digital Piano with Arranger features that Mark omitted.
Korg XE20.
For what it is worth here is my suggested pecking order:-
Yamaha DGX
Korg Xe20
Roland FP
Casio PXS
Korg XE20.
For what it is worth here is my suggested pecking order:-
Yamaha DGX
Korg Xe20
Roland FP
Casio PXS
Let’s take a step back.
What do you really want?
A digital Piano?
An Arranger?
A Digital Piano WITH Arranger features?
What is your skill level?
What music do you want to play?
What do you really want?
A digital Piano?
An Arranger?
A Digital Piano WITH Arranger features?
What is your skill level?
What music do you want to play?
Mostly arranger that's portable and inexpensive. What's your opinion on the Roland GoKeys 5?
Also it is very interesting - what is your opinion about Modart Pianoteq pianos https://www.modartt.com/pianoteq_overview
By the way, this software "understand" semi-sustain pedal!!
By the way, this software "understand" semi-sustain pedal!!
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Before I answer you question, I would like to point out that the Roland FPe weighs in at 37.75 lbs and the Yamaha DGX 47 lbs so neither is easy to move around. This is due mainly to having 88 keys and a heavier acoustic piano like action v most other Arrangers. Of those listed the Roland’s action was the one I found the best to use.
Now if it is mainly an Arranger you seek then the options are:-
Yamaha e series
Casio X series
Korg EK50
Roland Go series
With the Yamaha and Casio there are a few options within the ranges.
If you check the thread
Yamaha PSR E483 and PSR E583
What is the difference in Yamaha PSR E483 and PSR E583? Which one is good ?
you should find that the Yamaha PSR e583 would probably fit your requirements best
(£420 and 18.3 lbs)
The Roland Go Keys 5 is the second generation and has better reviews and user comments than the first generation which I can best describe as like an 80’s Bontempi aimed at 6 year olds.
The GoKeys 5 is sold on Amazon here for £380 but if you do buy online do check the return policy, often it will say “returnable within 30 days” but that does not necessarily mean Free Return and shipping a large heavyish box can be costly.