Key weight, action, escapement.. How important for learning?

[thercman]

Hello Everyone!

So about 6 months ago I purchased a synth and recently synth number 2. They are great to mess around with. However I really wanted piano sounds so I added a VST for my 61 key synth. That led me to piano lessons so I could actually play the thing. :-) So I had my first lesson last week and I need to purchase a digital piano with 88 keys. My instructor and others say weighted keys that are velocity sensitive are a must to learn on. This makes perfect sense to me. What I am wondering about are the other options such as escapement, and the action. Are these just personal preference and not going to hinder my learning at all? The reason I ask is that after serious looking, playing, and asking questions on forums I have my selection down to two stage pianos, the RD700NX and the Nord Piano 2. To me the Roland's key bed is awesome, very realistic with all the above features. The Nord's key bed is not as good but people say they are able to be very expressive with it. Overall I am leaning towards the Nord for its sound and versatility with upload-able sounds. So do I need the better action of the Roland to learn on? Oh, although I am planing to be classically trained, my ultimate goal is to play a variety of music and not be tied to the piano per say.... Thanks in advance...    

[faulty_damper]

How much time did you spend playing on each of them?  I would spend even more time playing including playing with them turned off so you can get a better sense of feel for them.

[thercman]

Well, I spent an hour or so playing with the Roland FP-7f and my class is being taught on it as well. It does have the same keys as the RD700NX to my knowledge anyway. I haven't spent as much time on the Nord. Maybe 30 minutes or so. Although it didn't feel as nice as the Roland I don't think it would it hinder me in anyway. Just felt different. The action is a bit lighter but very responsive. If Guitar Center is open I will probably go back to the store tomorrow and play on it some more. When i say play, I really mean push the keys in some random order that may but most likely not sound like anything resembling music. lol

Edit: So is my assumption correct that it is more of a personal preference on weight and action so long as they are weighted and have velocity sensing. So the escapement is not a necessity?

[faulty_damper]

If you haven't had enough experience on a real action keyboard, then I wouldn't worry about it.  You don't have the experience to feel the difference and for that difference to make a difference.

However, I would notice that difference.  But it's not that big of a deal for me as I'm more annoyed by the lack of sound quality than the touch.

You should also try something that I've wanted to try to a DP: multi-note polyphony testing.  This just means to hold down the pedal and play as many noes as possible before it can't play any more.

[hfmadopter]

Well, I spent an hour or so playing with the Roland FP-7f and my class is being taught on it as well. It does have the same keys as the RD700NX to my knowledge anyway. I haven't spent as much time on the Nord. Maybe 30 minutes or so. Although it didn't feel as nice as the Roland I don't think it would it hinder me in anyway. Just felt different. The action is a bit lighter but very responsive. If Guitar Center is open I will probably go back to the store tomorrow and play on it some more. When i say play, I really mean push the keys in some random order that may but most likely not sound like anything resembling music. lol

Edit: So is my assumption correct that it is more of a personal preference on weight and action so long as they are weighted and have velocity sensing. So the escapement is not a necessity?

Escapement gives you more of a real piano feel to the action . It helps simulate the let off in the keys of a grand piano for instance. That RD 700 NX is very convincing, I've been to Guitar Center and played a bunch of stage pianos there and that piano was closest of what I played to resembling my grand piano here at home ( my grand is heavier in the bass).. Now that doesn't say a whole lot because various grand pianos can be different from one another as well but at least that one feels like some kind of real piano to a large degree. I've played several brand grands over the years, all different from mine to some degree. So the 700nx comes closest to mine but maybe not someones Steinway for instance or someone elses Yamaha etc.

 Escapement or somneting there of is important to me, you are in the right class of pianos to simulate let off of a real piano. nOw find the one you like. To me this is more important than sound, because VST can simulate any grand piano sound to a large degree that I would be interested in.

All the pianos in this class are highly tweekable as far as on board sound goes, so don't think what you hear in the store is what you get exclusively. That 700nx is a powerful tool.

[thercman]

Thanks guys... I also spent a fair amount of time with the Kawai ES7. I really enjoyed the feel and action of those keys as well. So that put the MP6 on my radar especially for the price. The outdated sounds deterred me however. But as you mentioned with VST's does it even matter? However VST's do tie me to a computer. Someone somewhere on the forums mentioned a type of midi box. Is that a way to have your VST's available to you without a computer? If so what is the technical name and relative price?

faulty,

As you said, I probably will never be able to tell the difference or miss the action since I have never played a real piano. I suppose since I am so new playing it is import for me to make the correct choice in instruments that will last for years. Essentially I do not want to outgrow it anytime soon. So maybe my concern with key action etcetera is really me just over thinking it. Also, if I am playing a Roland in class and say a Nord at home it may even help me become more versatile by not getting used to one specific type of action and not being able to quickly adapt. *shrug*       

[nystul]

All I would say is you are talk about several instruments that one might see played by an experienced professional jazz pianist at an outdoor festival or such where a grand piano might not be available.  They are that class and caliber of instrument.  So it's not like someone who is looking at the $200 Casio with 61 keys and wonders if he will outgrow it after a year of lessons.  At the same time they will never be a "real piano" either.  And there will always be some better stage piano coming out in a couple years too.

There is just a certain point in the process where you have to forget about all of the reviews and stuff on the internet and just go with your own impression from trying the instruments.  Which one are you going to enjoy playing?

[thercman]

There is just a certain point in the process where you have to forget about all of the reviews and stuff on the internet and just go with your own impression from trying the instruments.  Which one are you going to enjoy playing?

So true! I think I have reached that point! :-)

[hfmadopter]

So true! I think I have reached that point! :-)

Yes, if you are seriously looking in this class you then indeed have reached that point.