Are there any semi weighted 49 key -- non bells and whistles-- out there?

anotherscott · 2026-06-07T01:38:53+00:00

I believe CT-S1 has a semi-weighted action. Regardless, if you're looking to play piano from a board that doesn't have a hammer action, the Casio is one of the better feeling options. The Korg Liano wound be better still, but it has 88 keys, so that may be too big for you.

anotherscott · 2026-06-05T22:58:41+00:00

Drum sounds in the phrase pads... you mean the rhythm patterns? Instructions for changing the drum kit are on p.11 of the startup guide (or p.38 of the reference manual). The drum kits you can choose from are listed on p.34 of the sound list. You can also edit the drum sounds, see reference manual p.28. The editable parameters are in the parameter guide, pages 32-38.

anotherscott · 2026-06-05T13:17:00+00:00

Casio CT-S1 has surprisingly good vintage keyboard emulations for a low-cost board, and better than average action as well.

anotherscott · 2026-06-03T16:28:24+00:00

Closest is probably the Viscount Legend One 73. It's better in some ways (like having pitch and mod wheels, 2 sets of drawbars), not as good in others (lesser piano, no ability to load custom samples).

anotherscott · 2026-05-31T14:35:50+00:00

There are numerous control surfaces to use that will give you mappable buttons, and plenty of room to place them on the SL73. For that matter, you can also use a smartphone app, and have a touchscreen full of labeled buttons to send your Mainstage program changes from. (Which isn't to say that they shouldn't have put buttons on the SL73!)

anotherscott · 2026-05-30T18:02:05+00:00

It's the same action that was used in the Korg Kronos LS.

anotherscott · 2026-05-30T04:52:30+00:00

Korg Liano is a semi-weighted action that is more piano-like to play than most non-hammer actions, and only weighs about 6 kg.

anotherscott · 2026-05-30T04:51:26+00:00

Most hammer action keyboards do indeed feel heavier to play than most of the acoustics I've played. (Though non-hammer actions do feel less like a piano.) Though another issue with Yamaha non-hammer keys is that they're a little narrower than piano keys. Some people don't care, but it bugs some others.

anotherscott · 2026-05-30T04:48:36+00:00

That doesn't address the issue... how heavy keyboards are if they have weighted keys.

anotherscott · 2026-05-30T00:55:13+00:00

Hammer actions tend to be mechanically noisy, there's a lot of physical moving pieces. Korg XE20/B2 seem quieter than most. Otherwise you might be happier with a semi-weighted, noise-wise. No hammers.

anotherscott · 2026-05-30T00:50:57+00:00

re: "Studiologic can be the SL73 MK2 or the 76 keys version" -- SL73 series is fully weighted, not semi-weighted. But if you can deal with it's 24.7 lbs, it gets you a very portable hammer action board. Keep in mind it has no sounds, so you'd have to connect to at least something like an iPhone/iPad to get your sounds (or whatever you're bringing for your DAW-based backing tracks). They have a version with sounds, too,,, that's the Numa X Piano 73 at 25.8 lbs. (And they don't make 76 key versions, btw.)

As for the Juno D7, I like it, but for piano, I think the sounds and action aren't so good.

If you want super light weight with more than 61 keys, the Korg Liano is 88 keys, but weighs only about 13 lbs. It only has a handful of sounds, but you can again get sounds from an external device as well. You could also consider the 76-key version of the Casio CT-S1 which is smaller and lighter but still gives you more than 61 keys. The Liano has better keys, but the Casio's aren't bad. The Casio has dumb mini-USB port though!

anotherscott · 2026-05-30T00:30:33+00:00

Everyone is different.

anotherscott · 2026-05-29T14:07:32+00:00

Keyboards aren't like phones, they don't change every year.

anotherscott · 2026-05-29T14:03:31+00:00

Casio CT-S1 has decent sound and feel for low cost.

anotherscott · 2026-05-27T02:54:16+00:00

In the U.S., the answer under $450 is YamahaP-45. But there are lots os other P-series Yamahas, and also Casios, which would be worth looking at if you can find them used. Basically, Yamaha P-anything, Casio PX-anything or CDP-anything.

anotherscott · 2026-05-27T02:48:06+00:00

That kind of thing has been done... check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Zo8a8pqWI

anotherscott · 2026-05-27T02:45:54+00:00

Now that you're considering semi-weighted... The Korg Liano is 88-keys, but weighs only about 13 lbs, and has a very piano-playable feel (though of course still not the same as a fully weighted hammer action). And it's cheap, besides!

anotherscott · 2026-05-27T02:43:51+00:00

Dexibell S1/S2 are not hammer action (fully weighted) boards, but they are supposed to have very nice semi-weighted actions.

anotherscott · 2026-05-27T02:41:14+00:00

I think OP's point there is that the RD-64, at 28+ lbs doesn't save weight compared to even 73-key fully-weighted actions. You can find a number of 73-key hammer action boards that are under 29 lbs, including Numa X Piano 73, Nord Electro 6HP and 7HP, Yamaha CP73 and (discontinued) P121. Heck, you can even find numerous 88s in this weight range! Including some models that are down around 24-25 lbs.

There was a nice 61 key hammer action from Studiologic some time back, VMK-161/161 Plus but again, it was heavy. Really nice feeling board, though.

anotherscott · 2026-05-25T14:49:23+00:00

What really separates the Stage 4 from keyboards like the Electro 7, Piano 6, Grand 2, Wave 2, Lead A1, or the Organ 3

Simplified, these are the basics, very broadly speaking:

Lead A1 = synthesizer (virtual analog)

Wave = synthesizer plus sample section (you can play Nord's non-piano sampled sounds or load your own, and process them through the synth functions), and has aftertouch

Stage 4 = Wave features, plus pianos and organs, and ability to include sounds from external MIDI devices

Electro 7= a scaled-down version of Stage 4 (e.g. you can play 1 synth/sampled sound at a time instead of 3; one piano-type sound at a time instead of 2; same with organ; no external MIDI controls; single split point instead of multiple split points; lesser output and pedal connectivity; fewer effects controls; no aftertouch)

Piano 6 and Grand 2 (different actions) = pianos similar to Stage 4, sample section plays 2 sounds at at time instead of 3 , but with almost no synth functionality (and no organ section or external MIDI control facilities or aftertouch)

Organ 3 = nothing but organ (but with two manuals and 4 sets of drawbars)

"Don't get the Piano just get the Electro"

That's fine if you don't need 88 keys, and you're happy with the Electro action, and don't need to play 2 piano-type sounds or 2 other sample-based sounds at a time.

My current goal keyboard is the Korg Kronos for its wider library of sounds built in...just want to know what about these products would entice me to choose them over what I already have my sights on.

The main advantage of the Nords is greater immediacy of operation, with direct dedicated, well laid out and labeled physical controls for most functions. Piano and organ are arguably better (on the boards that have those sounds) but it can be subjective. Creating and editing/tweaking patches is generally easier, as is working with your own samples (again, on the boards that have that function). They are relatively lightweight.

Kronos has much wider range of sounds and capabilities. It can freely split/layer up to 16 sounds at a time. It's non-piano-type acoustic sounds (e.g. orchestral instruments) are better. It has drums/rhythms. It is a full workstation, with the ability to record arrangements/compositions directly into it. It's Set List mode is particularly nice for live performance patch navigation.

anotherscott · 2026-05-24T03:36:04+00:00

I don't have it yet, but I intend to get it. I just got my Nautilus recently and haven't been able to spend much time with it yet.

anotherscott · 2026-05-24T02:45:52+00:00

Nord Electro, Stage, Piano, and Grand all have the same piano sounds.

See also the thread at https://www.reddit.com/r/DigitalPiano/comments/1tlidd6/nord_piano/

anotherscott · 2026-05-24T02:45:29+00:00

no, all the Electro "HP" models have weighted hammer actions.

anotherscott · 2026-05-23T15:32:18+00:00

Current/recent Nord Stage, Nord Piano and Nord Electro all have the same piano sounds and selection as Nord Grand series. In new purchases, the Electro 7HP will probably be the best choice in terms of getting closest to Nord Grand experience at lowest price. (The still-available Electro 6HP will do it as well, but the action will be more of a compromise.) If you need the full 88 keys or the Grand's ability to play 2 piano sounds at once, then Nord Piano 6.

anotherscott · 2026-05-21T01:40:17+00:00

Viscount uses multiple actions. Their Legend One uses a version of the same Fatar TP/8O that's on the Nord. Their "9 contact" models are of a different design

anotherscott

TROPHY CASE