Portable Keyboard with A

[rightidea]

Been lurking for a while, but this is my first post (I searched the archives and didn't find anything).  I was at a piano store recently and heard a demo of the accompaniment features on a Lowrey EZP8.  The EZP8 is not portable, which I would prefer, but I understand the Kawai ES8 has the same accompaniment capabilities and it is portable.  So what are the opinions of the ES8?  Are there any other or better alternatives that will allow me to add accompaniment to my music?   TIA

[hfmadopter]

Most portable digital pianos have accompaniment capability built in. Not to mention that any MIDI capable keyboard you can hook to a computer and programming for studio quality accompaniment. My Kawai MP6 Stage piano has it built in but I also run a program called Mixcraft 7 which allows me to use any of the Pinaoteq sounds I have in Pianoteq and mix that with any number of combinations of about 2000 different instrumentation. So I can play a customized Steinway D sound in Mixcraft ( for instance), with say a choir and stringed instruments , or clarinet etc etc etc. It's fun, it records very well but it can also get old, to where I just want to hear and feel my real acoustic grand piano.

The ES8 is a very decent piano. As are any number of other quality choices in about that price range. My next digital will have no on board sounds, it would be basically a controller only and use virtual sounds. My next will have wooden key cores also, built on a long grand piano scale fulcrum.

[rightidea]

Most portable digital pianos have accompaniment capability built in. Not to mention that any MIDI capable keyboard you can hook to a computer and programming for studio quality accompaniment. My Kawai MP6 Stage piano has it built in but I also run a program called Mixcraft 7 which allows me to use any of the Pinaoteq sounds I have in Pianoteq and mix that with any number of combinations of about 2000 different instrumentation. So I can play a customized Steinway D sound in Mixcraft ( for instance), with say a choir and stringed instruments , or clarinet etc etc etc. It's fun, it records very well but it can also get old, to where I just want to hear and feel my real acoustic grand piano.

The ES8 is a very decent piano. As are any number of other quality choices in about that price range. My next digital will have no on board sounds, it would be basically a controller only and use virtual sounds. My next will have wooden key cores also, built on a long grand piano scale fulcrum.

Do you think there would be a way to cleanly add accompaniment to my Casio PX-150?  If so, can you recommend specific hardware/software?  Thanks.

[hfmadopter]

Do you think there would be a way to cleanly add accompaniment to my Casio PX-150?  If so, can you recommend specific hardware/software?  Thanks.

Your PX 150 should have it built in. What exactly are you trying to do ( be specific)?

[rightidea]

I've seen/played digital pianos that, when you play a chord with the left hand, an accompaniment begins in the key you are playing and in a style you have pre-selected (jazz, pop, country, Dixie, etc).  Then you can play the melody with your right hand and the result provides a much fuller musical presentation.  Depending on the style, the accompaniment may include strings, percussion, brass, and/or any number of other instruments/combinations.  It really is a neat way to enjoy music.  My PX150 has a fine sound/action and I would be okay with adding the accompaniment capability and keeping the PX150.  I just haven't seen evidence that that is possible.

[hfmadopter]

According to this older review site the PX150 can have both instrumentation and drum accompaniment, as I stated it's built in already. You can look for other features of the piano there as well, I only read that far:  http://www.digitalpianoreviewsite.com/casio-px150/

You can also use the PX150 as a controller and run it in Garage Band ( Apple) or a program like Mixcraft 7 ( Windows), there also may be other free ware out there that I'm not familiar with. And those programs will give you unlimited ways to play or record your PX150 via computer. I run my MP6 with old fashion midi cables, it will do midi via USB as well but I was concerned about tapping into facility sound systems so went this way with the external sound card. You possibly only need a USB midi cable to do what you want to do with external sounds ( opens more options than just the on board sounds).

About half way through this video he plays with strings and piano sounds layered I believe. Also, the sound is great I feel, but he is obviously playing out to a sound system:    https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=kraft+music+px150&view=detail&mid=DD8B2AF9EF1542C11EC6DD8B2AF9EF1542C11EC6&FORM=VIRE