digal piano sound

[dazzzer]

I am just starting to learn piano and I ordered a new Yamaha clip 440 now I have a few questions.  On sound it does sound quite nice and to me it sounds like a piano,  but  some times I feel on the last 5  high keys the sound seems quite low even with the volume on full.  Am I right in saying when it comes to digital pianos and volume they are not meant to sound loud, not like when you turn your cd player up high?   When I first used it I felt there was something wrong with the sound volume after listening to some people play on u tube there’s seemed louder. 

[jimbo320]

Welcome to the forum Dazzer,
This might helpf you want great sound. I play DP's thru Behringer amps both on stage and practice. They are made to produce the full spectrum of sounds needed for piano sounds.
https://www.behringer.com/EN/Category/Instrument-Amplifiers.aspx?s=K100
I use two KT108's for practice and two K3000's for stage...

[starstruck5]

I am just starting to learn piano and I ordered a new Yamaha clip 440 now I have a few questions.  On sound it does sound quite nice and to me it sounds like a piano,  but  some times I feel on the last 5  high keys the sound seems quite low even with the volume on full.  Am I right in saying when it comes to digital pianos and volume they are not meant to sound loud, not like when you turn your cd player up high?   When I first used it I felt there was something wrong with the sound volume after listening to some people play on u tube there’s seemed louder. 

When I tried recently the Yamaha-CLP 440 and Roland HP307  -also the Kawai CA-63 -I found that the top notes of the Yamaha were not the greatest- one of the reasons I eventually opted for the Kawai.

Piano Volumes are relative, depending on room acoustics and soundboard. Digital pianos obviously depend on the amplification and speaker system -

[dazzzer]

Thanks for the info!  As someone new to the piano I don’t have anything to compare it to and never even had a piano of any kind to even understand the sounds it should be making.  Well I think the sound quality to me is  very good on the piano apart from  a few of the higher keys seem quite low in volume you have to hit them keys hard to get them to even make them  sound, I noticed on some of the other voice options the sound was more clearer on them higher keys,  I think in the future I would like to increase the volume some how with out losing any of the sound quality of the piano.

[quantum]

As noted above, the amplification system of a digital piano plays a large factor in the overall sound.  Just because a 9' concert grand was sampled with $2000 mics and a $4000 pre amp, doesn't mean it will reproduce with the amount of vibrancy and articulated clarity with which it was recorded.  Often the amplification system is the weak link.  

In playing various DP's I've found the built-in speakers to be less than adequate in several cases.  Playing for an audience with a DP's internal speakers can even prove problematic as the speakers are often oriented to be optimal only to the performer.  Look into getting some external amplification for a better sound.  Additionally, using a quality pair of headphones can be a drastic improvement.


If you are looking to get some excellent piano sounds you may also wish to consider virtual sampled pianos.  You run the software on your computer and connect your DP to computer through a MIDI cable.   

[derschoenebahnhof]

For what's worth with my limited experience with DPs (I bought a YDP-181 two months ago), I found out:

- The notes do not sustain long enough with the pedal, about 10 secs on middle C, more on the bass notes; this is short of the 15-20 seconds you would get on an upright (for a grand, I have no idea since I don't have one  ). It makes your playing appear crisper but it is harder to retain longer chords. PianoTeq (modeled piano software) sustains longer and sounds more realistic than the YDP-181 with the "damper resonance" option.

- The sounds improves quite a bit by connecting the DP to a home speaker system of reasonable quality. But then if the piano is not centered relative to the speakers there is some disconnect between the piano and the sound. This might also be due to the fact that I think you can feel some of the vibrations from the built-in speakers, which by default get automatically disabled when I plug a headset (on the 181 there is no line out, you have to use the headphones out).

- I wish there was a bit more volume on the notes in the treble. Some advanced piano software like PianoTeq (and assuming that you have the "pro" version) allow you to customize every single note to make it louder or quieter, and I think you can even adjust other properties (but I only have the basic version).

- I like the sound better with the headphones than with the built-in speakers.

CG

[john90]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the sound at all. Try and get to play on some acoustic pianos, at relatives, college, friends, shops even. As Jimbo said, you can use an external amp, or if you want to totally change the sound, a computer and Midi interface, or buy an old MIDI Digital Piano module, which comes with a fresh set of sounds built in. These are great if you like the 80s/90s digital piano sounds, and don't want the hassle of a computer.

[lostprin36]

There are lot of good advices. I think these are enough for solving your problem......

[lilyyeo]

I am just starting to learn piano and I ordered a new Yamaha clip 440 now I have a few questions.  On sound it does sound quite nice and to me it sounds like a piano,  but  some times I feel on the last 5  high keys the sound seems quite low even with the volume on full.  Am I right in saying when it comes to digital pianos and volume they are not meant to sound loud, not like when you turn your cd player up high?   When I first used it I felt there was something wrong with the sound volume after listening to some people play on u tube there’s seemed louder. 

My CLP-440 just arrived today. It has exactly the same problem. There are 8 keys on the right end that have very low and virtually no sound. I ask the guy from yamaha why you put the keys there if there is no sound.

The overall sound is also very low. Even at maximum the sound is still very soft.

[johnmar78]

Lily, I thought you can play the piano first beofre buying. Thi is my normal procedure, that when I go inteh shops, I play the piano/digital first-that I have own one for 15 years still same as day one nothing broken or loss sound-yamaha clavinova first generation. And If I were you, I will ask for refund, if not get another one. Worst case, go to counsumers trading affair ask for refund.-last resort.

[iansinclair]

There may be a volume problem in the top most notes -- but I'll go with the majority here: the playback sound system.  The piano is one of the most difficult instruments to reproduce properly with a sound system (although not quite as difficult as an organ!), and this is true whether the sound source is a sophisticated digital piano (as quantum noted, $2,000 mikes and $4,000 preamp and A to D sampling equipment) or an equally good recording on disc.  Many digital pianos have good preamplifiers, however, and good headphone outputs; when used with a quality pair of headphones the sound quality can be excellent (although quite unrealistic -- no room effects).  Plugged into a sound system, however... unless that sound system is capable of flat, undistorted response at full room listening levels from 25 hz to 14,000 hz, it's not going to sound like the real thing.  There are speaker systems which can do that.  They are neither small nor inexpensive...

[lilyyeo]

Lily, I thought you can play the piano first beofre buying. Thi is my normal procedure, that when I go inteh shops, I play the piano/digital first-that I have own one for 15 years still same as day one nothing broken or loss sound-yamaha clavinova first generation. And If I were you, I will ask for refund, if not get another one. Worst case, go to counsumers trading affair ask for refund.-last resort.

Yes, I tried the show room one and the sound is not the same with mine. But obviously the sound of the high keys even in the showroom is not that good. You need to hit very hard to get the sound out. When lightly touched, you get only the key touching sound or no sound at all. It is totally different from an acoustic piano.

This is the first time I purchased a digital piano and I am not a music expert, I wonder if a digital piano should be like that or there is something wrong.

[robson]

This is the first time I purchased a digital piano and I am not a music expert, I wonder if a digital piano should be like that or there is something wrong.

of course there something wrong. Digital pianos have many problems but never with the loudness
   BTW DP has velocity curve adjusting settings which may be set wrong on your piano.

[johnmar78]

Lily, in that case, the piano youare getting is not as good as you wanted to be. Try Yamah clp230, these are pretty good around 2000$ australian dollars. I have played them so a sin the church. The touch is way off better than yamaha's introductory series and early digitals like mine . Ok, spend more money and you WOULD NOT regret a later on you need to upgrade. Try between 2000-3000$ range digital only no mixers.

[jimbo320]

Keep in mind that when it comes to DP's you do get what you pay for. Although my PSR never had the situation like you're explaining. And I still use it after having it for five years.
Along with my PSR I also use a CP5 which is more costly.
Somewhere in the settings you should be able to reset to factory specs. Give that a try....

[timothy42b]

1.  Did you try it with a good headphones yet?  My digital piano (an older Yamaha) has fairly even sound all the way up. 

2.  Have you had a hearing test lately?  We lose our hearing from the top end first.