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Roland FP 30 Review (2020): Best Price-to-Value for a High-End Piano?

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Roland FP-30 88-key Portable Digital Keyboard with Power Amplifier and Stereo Speakers

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In this comprehensive Roland FP 30 review, we cover one of the few keyboards that the high-end keyboard company Roland sells for less than $1,000. With an excellent price to value ratio, the Roland FP-30 provides an experience that is anything but entry-level.

Known for its compact and portable design and powerful performance, the Roland FP-30 is one of the best options if you’re looking for a budget piano to polish your piano skills before investing in a more expensive, acoustic piano.

The FP-30 by Roland is also known for its excellent portability. It’s extremely lightweight, making it a great option for musicians who are usually on the go. The Roland FP-30 is a great keyboard for both home and stage use!

Let’s have a look at the power-packed Roland FP-30 in detail:

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Quick Navigation
Overview of Roland FP-30
Roland FP-30 Video Overview
Roland FP-30 Specs
Who is the Roland FP-30 is Most Suitable For
What's Included with the Roland FP-30
Roland FP-30 Features
Pros & Cons of the Roland FP-30
The Roland FP-30 YouTube Tutorial Videos
Roland FP-30 Manual
The Roland FP-30 vs. Yamaha P125
Summary

Overview of Roland FP-30

Roland FP-30 88-key Portable Digital Keyboard with Power Amplifier and Stereo Speakers

Unlike most entry and intermediate level keyboards, the Roland FP-30 is an 88-key digital piano that allows you to enjoy the experience of playing a full-sized acoustic piano. The progressive hammer action keys of the Roland FP-30 come with an Ivory Feel that makes your piano playing experience truly emotional and satisfying. The keys are touch-sensitive. The sensitivity level can be adjusted at 5 different levels to suit your requirements.

The design has been kept simple and elegant that makes the Roland FP-30 a visual treat. Weighing on 31 pounds, it is a perfect choice for musicians who are on the road often. The front of the keyboard features the controls and buttons, which is the only distraction on, otherwise, flawless, smooth and elegant finish!

The Roland FP-30 is equipped with technologies that you will only find in advanced, higher-level keyboards. Among many, some of the notable features include harpsichord and Celeste samples, Harmond-style Jazz Organ presets, and its ability to turn pages via the Bluetooth. The twin-piano mode, split keyboard, and Metronome, along with 8 basic rhythm patterns and 35 voices, are some of its typical features.

With the Roland FP-30, you’re in for a big deal! Priced similar to entry-level keyboards but equipped with features that are more commonly found in professional keyboards makes the Roland FP-30 a massive catch for musicians, beginners and intermediate-level players alike!

Roland FP-30 Video Overview

A ten-minute Roland FP-30 video demonstration with Alicia Baker from Kraft Music.

See Reviews & More for Roland FP-30

Roland FP-30 Specs

The specifications of the Roland FP-30 are listed below:

Specification

Description

Keys

88, fully-weighted keys

Keyboard

PHA-4 Standard Keyboard with Ivory Feel and Escapement

Touch Sensitivity

5 types, Off

Songs

SuperNATURAL Piano Sound

Polyphony

128 notes

Modes

Split, Duo (Twin Piano), Dual

Recorder

1 track MIDI recorder (3 songs)

Songs

30 built-in songs

Piano Simulation

Damper Resonance, String Resonance, Key Off Resonance

Metronome

8 rhythm styles

Speakers

2 speakers (2cm x 12cm)

Amplifiers

11W + 11W

Connection

USB to Device, USB to Host, headphone jack x 2, Bluetooth 4.0, Sustain Pedal jack

Dimension

51.2 inches x 11.2 inches x 5.8 inches

Weight

 31 pounds

Who is the Roland FP-30 is Most Suitable For

Considering the number and quality of its features, the Roland FP-30 is not just suitable for beginners but is a great choice for performing players and for the use in music classrooms. Its features are unlike any of the other entry-level keyboards. Starting from 88 keys to SuperNATURAL Piano Sound, the Roland FP-30 is nothing short of a power pack!

Its compact design makes it a perfect choice for on-the-go musicians. It weighs only 31 pounds, which makes it super easy and convenient to carry it along while you’re on the move.

If you look at the price, the Roland FP-30 falls in the category for entry-level keyboards, but when you evaluate its features, the Roland FP-30 features literally everything you’ll need in a keyboard for your stage performance! So, it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner trying to learn to play the piano or an intermediate-level performer, the Roland FP-30 will suit you best!

What's Included with the Roland FP-30

As a buyer, you’ll be interested to know what comes with the package. The Roland FP-30 comes as a complete package. The package includes an Owner’s Manual, a Music Rest, an AC adapter, a Damper pedal, and a power cord for connecting the AC adapter. You don’t have to worry about buying the basic accessories out of your pocket when you’re purchasing the Roland FP-30.

Roland FP-30 Features

When we say the Roland FP-30 is packed with powerful features, we actually mean it. It has all the features that contribute to enhancing your keyboard playing experience. Let’s have a look at its features in detail.

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Design

The Roland FP-30 has a super compact design that makes it fit for smaller spaces. You can even put it on a desk or a table without any problems. The size of this digital keyboard is smaller than other portable keyboards with a width of 51.2 inches, depth of 11.2 inches, and a height of 5.9 inches. Weighing only 31 pounds, the Roland FP-30 is surely a great catch for musicians who like to travel with their keyboards.


The left side on the top surface of the keyboard features the control panel with 13 buttons. The buttons on the panel include volume control, song recorder, Metronome, and instrument categories. The function of each key is marked inconspicuously above them. The headphone jack is recessed into the front panel. You will find the USB MIDI connectors and USB memory on the rear side of the control panel. All in all, all the control buttons and accessories have been arranged to keep the design of the keyboard as compact as possible. The clean design is what gives the Roland FP-30 a fresh and appealing look.

Keyboard

The Roland FP-30 consists of 88 progressive hammer action keys, which means that the keys on the low-end are heavier, and the ones on the high-end are lighter - just like an acoustic piano. The hammer action keys with Ivory Feel help users enjoy the experience of an acoustic piano at a much lower price.


The keyboard is PHA-4 Standard. PHA-4 Standard keyboard is the 4th generation action that the company just developed. PHA-4 action produces less noise and has an improved mechanism is particular. It also features a 3-sensor key detection system. As a result, the Roland FP-30 produces precise sound and delivers an authentic playing experience.


The keys are touch-sensitive, which means that the sound produced when you hit the key as hard as you hit them. The sensitivity level can be adjusted as per your preferences. Unlike most digital pianos that offer 3 sensitivity settings, the Roland FP-30 offers 5 options (Super Heavy, Heavy, Medium, Light, Super Light, and Fixed) that can meet your needs more precisely. If you want consistent sound, you can choose the fixed setting.


Ivory keytops, a reliable hammer action, and the 3-sensor technology provide you with an incredibly realistic feel of a professional acoustic piano!

Sound

The Roland FP-30 features the well-known SuperNATURAL modeling technology. Most digital pianos available today feature multi-layered samples that are recorded in different dynamics to ensure that appropriate sound is played in accordance with the force the under strikes the keys.


However, SuperNATURAL modeling technology uses full-length samples as in an acoustic piano. Hence, there is a smooth transition between notes, samples, and velocities. It is the reason why the Roland FP-30 produces such a fine sound.


The Roland FP-30 also features stretched tuning that makes the pitch of low-end notes lower and that of high-end higher, such as in an acoustic piano.


All in all, the Roland FP-30 produces rich and bright sound!


The sound-related features do not end here. Apart from the amazing piano sounds, the Roland FP-30 also offers other instrument sounds as well, which will help you unleash your creativity!


128-note polyphony won’t have you worried about having your notes cut-off when you’re playing challenging pieces or in the Dual Mode.

Speakers

The Roland FP-30 features two 2cm x 12 cm speakers with 2, 11 Watt amplifiers that deliver natural and rich sound with great bass response and resonance. The speakers are powerful enough for small performances.

Modes

The FP-30 by Roland features two modes; split-mode and dual-mode. Split-mode allows the user to play a different sound on each of the 2 sections that split-mode creates. The dual-mode allows layering two different instrument sounds. Whenever you play the Roland FP-30 in dual-mode, two instrument sounds are played at the same time.


The Twin Piano or the Duet Play is another interesting feature of the Roland FP-30 that splits the keyboard into two parts with the same pitch ranges, allowing two players to sit side by side and play together.

Recording Playback

This digital piano by Roland features a 1-track MIDI recorder, allowing you to record your performances in the internal memory or USB drive and listen to it later. Not only does the Roland FP-30 allow you to playback of your own recorded sounds, but you can enjoy 30 in-built songs along with any MIDI and EAV files from your USB flash drive.

Connectivity

You can connect two headphones to the Roland FP-30 at the same time. The USB to Host port allows you to connect your keyboard to your computer. Bluetooth MIDI allows you to connect your keyboard to your laptop or tablet wirelessly. USB to Device port makes it possible for you to connect a USB flash drive to your the Roland FP-30.

Pros & Cons of the Roland FP-30

The pros and cons of the Roland FP-30 are listed below:

PROS

  • Excellent key action
  • Gig-friendly
  • Incredible SuperNATURAL sound engine
  • Powerful speakers
  • 35 built-in instrument sounds
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Can play MIDI and WAV files from a USB flash drive

cons

  • It is a bit heavier than its competitors
  • Not much sound customization is possible
  • No Line-Out jacks
  • No lesson function

The Roland FP-30 YouTube Tutorial Videos

To understand how to use the Roland FP-30, you can always take some help from the YouTube tutorial videos. Some of the most helpful YouTube videos for the Roland FP-30 are listed down below:

Roland FP-30 Manual

You can go through the official user manual on the Roland website. Simply follow the link:

​​​​CLICK TO DOWNLOAD ROLAND FP-30 MANUAL

The Roland FP-30 vs. Yamaha P125

The Roland FP-30 and the Yamaha P125 are both great pianos in the category of stage pianos. However, despite being great in many aspects, they differ from one another in numerous aspects.

KEYS

The Roland FP-30 features keys with an ivory top that feel nice and offer an excellent grip, whereas the Yamaha P125 has standard plastic and matte keys, giving the Roland FP-30 a clear win in this regard.

OUTPUT

The Yamaha P125 has the edge over the Roland FP-30 with its Line-Out sockets that the Roland FP-30 lack. The only output that the Roland FP-30 has is the headphone jack.

SOUND QUALITY

The Roland FP-30 comes with the SuperNATURAL sound engine, which delivers a superior sound quality. Although the sound quality of the Yamaha P125 is great too, the Roland FP-30 wins by a slight margin in this regard.

weight

The Roland FP-30 weighs 2kgs more than the Yamaha P125. While it doesn’t sound like a significant difference, when you’re packing up after a long, tiring jam, the difference can feel a lot!

CONNECTIVITY

The Roland FP-30 has Bluetooth connectivity that not many keyboards in this price range have, giving the Roland FP-30 a significant benefit over the Yamaha P125.

After comparing the Roland FP-30 and the Yamaha P125, we can conclude that among the two, the Roland FP-30 is best for home use while the Yamaha P125 is more suitable for gigging!

See Reviews & Price for Roland FP-30

Summary

The Roland FP-30 is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a digital piano that delivers an experience that is close to that of an acoustic piano. Not many keyboards in this price range are equipped with such incredible features. In our opinion, the Roland FP-30 is worth all the praise and hype!

Roland FP-30 88-key Portable Digital Keyboard with Power Amplifier and Stereo Speakers

Roland FP-30 (click image for more info)

Roland Keyboards & Digital Pianos: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30: Features, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose

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Yamaha P125 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano Bundle with Knox Double X Stand, Knox Large Bench and Sustain Pedal (4 items)
Roland FP-30 88-key Portable Digital Keyboard with Power Amplifier and Stereo Speakers

The Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 are both excellent entry-level pianos for beginners, but with differing specs and features, how can you know which model is best for your needs? To help you make the best decision, we’ve put together this detailed Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30 comparison.

With the specs, features, differences, and similarities laid out for both models, you’ll know exactly which keyboard suits your requirements better.

Let’s get into it!

Quick Navigation
​Yamaha P125 vs. Roland FP-30 Specifications Compared
​Major Similarities Between Yamaha P125 vs. Roland FP-30
​Major Differences Between Yamaha P125 vs. Roland FP-30
​Yamaha P125 Summary
Major Features
Pros & Cons
​Roland FP-30 Summary
Major Features
Pros & Cons
Conclusion

​Yamaha P125 vs. Roland FP-30 Specifications Compared

Specification

Yamaha P125

Roland FP-30

Cell
Yamaha P125 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano Bundle with Knox Double X Stand, Knox Large Bench and Sustain Pedal (4 items)
Roland FP-30 88-key Portable Digital Keyboard with Power Amplifier and Stereo Speakers

Keys

88, Graded Hammer Standard keys

88, Progressive Hammer Action keys

Touch sensitivity Options

4

5

Polyphony

192

128

Rhythms

20

8

Voice

24

35

Sound Technology 

Pure CF Sound Engine

SuperNATURAL Technology

Recorder

2-track

1-track

Speakers

2

2

Amplifier

7 Watt

11 Watt

Line-Out

Yes

No

Bluetooth

No

Yes

USB to Host

Yes

Yes

USB to Device

No

Yes

Dimensions

1326 x 295 x 166mm

1300 x 284 x 150mm

Weight 

11.8kg

14.1kg

Cell
See Reviews & More for Yamaha P125
See Reviews & More for Roland FP-30

​Major Similarities Between Yamaha P125 vs. Roland FP-30

Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 are equipped with numerous features that are usually only found in high-end professional pianos, which makes it hard for anyone to pick one among the two. In this section, we’ve discussed some of the areas where the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 are similar to each other.

First things first; both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 consist of 88, touch-sensitive keys that give the user an excellent keyboard playing experience. Not only are the keys of both these keyboards are highly touch-sensitive, both of these pianos allow the user to adjust the level of touch sensitivity as per their needs, ensuring that every user gets to enjoy a fully-customized piano playing experience.

Another common feature between the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 is that they have a good range of built-in songs to help beginners learn to get hold of playing the keyboard. Not only can you play any of the built-in songs from the songs library, but you can also play the songs that you recorded on the keyboard’s memory. You’ll find this option in both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30.

Another similarity that is worth mentioning is the presence of multiple modes. Both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 comes with 3 different modes; Split mode, Dual mode, and Duet mode. The Split mode splits the keyboard into two, with each part producing the sound of a different instrument. The Dual mode allows the user to play the sounds of two different instruments at the same time. It layers the sounds of two musical instruments, so every time you press the key, the sound of two instruments will be produced together. The Duet mode divides the keyboard into two identical halves, allowing the user to practice with their teacher or partner.

Both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 are equipped with USB to Host connectivity that enables you to export songs other than the ones in the song library to the keyboard to practice further. You can also use an external USB to store more of your performances to enjoy later since the memory of the keyboards itself isn’t that sufficient.

Both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 feature a compact design that makes it quite easy for the user to transport the keyboard around. Both of these keyboards are great options for people who often have to travel with their keyboards for their stage performances.

The Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30, both have high-quality onboard speakers that enable you to play the keyboard out loud. Whether it’s at a gathering with friends or while you’re performing at the stage, onboard speakers are an indispensable tool!

Looking at the surface, both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 seem quite similar to one another, but when you look into them deeper, you’ll see how different they are.

Yamaha P125 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano Bundle with Knox Double X Stand, Knox Large Bench and Sustain Pedal (4 items)
Roland FP-30 88-key Portable Digital Keyboard with Power Amplifier and Stereo Speakers

​Major Differences Between Yamaha P125 vs. Roland FP-30

The first major difference between the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 lies in the keyboard. Although they both consist of 88 touch-sensitive keys, the levels of touch sensitivity are different. There are 4 touch sensitivity levels in the Yamaha P125; soft, hard, medium, and fixed, whereas there are 5 touch sensitivity levels in the Roland FP-30; medium light, super light, super heavy, heavy, and fixed. In addition, the Roland FP-30 features Ivory Feel keys, unlike the plastic keys in the Yamaha P125, offering a much more enhanced keyboard playing experience for its users.

The Yamaha P125 uses high-quality sound technology, the Pure CF sound engine, with 4-layer sampling. The addition of the 4th layer produces a smoother and more dynamic sound, which is closer to the sound produced by an acoustic piano. The Roland FP-30 features the SuperNATURAL modeling technology that gives each of its keys a very unique tonal character that varies with how soft or hard you struck the keys. It also uses the stretched tuning that makes low-end notes relatively lower and high-end notes a bit higher in pitch, producing a sound that feels great to the ears!

The next difference between the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 is the polyphony. While most keyboards, including the Roland FP-30, feature a 128-note polyphony, the Yamaha P125 features an incredible 192-note polyphony! The Yamaha P125 gives the users more freedom and allows them to add more layers to their music.

While both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 feature onboard speakers, they vary in quality. The Yamaha P125 comes with two 7 watt speakers, and the Roland FP-30 features two 11 watt speakers. However, the Yamaha P125 has the edge over the Roland FP-30 with its 4 speaker system. It has 2 full-range speakers on the top along with 2, 4cm tweeters on the underside. When the quality of the entire speaker system is combined, it comes up to an incredible 14 watts! It creates an all-surrounding experience for the users, which is what the Yamaha P125 is so popular for!

Another noticeable difference between the two is that the Roland FP-30 comes with Bluetooth connectivity that the Yamaha P125 lacks. Bluetooth connectivity is an excellent add-on as it opens doors to endless possibilities for the user who wishes to create, edit, and mix music using the numerous software and applications available for the purpose.

There are two headphone jacks in both the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30. Roland FP-30 doesn’t have any line-out socket, so if you wish to connect your Roland FP-30 to external speakers or amplifiers, you need to use the headphone jacks. On the other hand, the Yamaha P125 comes with an aux-out jack and separate ports for connecting headphones, and a sustain pedal.

Some of the additional features that provide the Yamaha P125 a slightly superior sound quality is the Sound Boost and Intelligence Acoustic Control (IAC) features that make the sound clearer and sharper.

​Yamaha P125 Summary

Yamaha P125 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano Bundle with Knox Double X Stand, Knox Large Bench and Sustain Pedal (4 items)

Major Features

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Keys

As mentioned earlier, the Yamaha P125 features 88, touch-sensitive keys with Graded Hammer Action that help create a sound that is similar to a classical, professional piano. Each key is touch-sensitive, and the touch sensitivity of each key can be adjusted to 4 different levels; hard, soft, medium, and fixed.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha P125 is equipped with the Pure CF sound engine, 192-note polyphony, 24 voices, and 20 rhythm styles that allow the user to create high-quality, real sound, similar to that of an acoustic piano.

Onboard Speakers

There are two 7 watt speakers on the top side of the Yamaha P125 along with two tweeters on the underside. The overall power of the speaker system totals to an incredible 14 watt. The sound produced is loud, clear, and sharp!

Modes

The Yamaha P125 is equipped with the Dual mode, Split mode, and the Duet mode. The Dual mode allows you to enjoy the sound of two instruments at the same time. The Split mode splits the keyboard into two parts, with each part producing the sound of a different instrument. Lastly, the Duet mode divides the keyboard into two equal halves, allowing two people to play the piano at the same time!

Music Library

The music library of the Yamaha P125 consists of 50 preset songs, giving the user numerous options to practice and polish their piano playing skills.

Recording and Playback

One of the best features of the Yamaha P125 is that it allows the user to record up to 2 tracks or 3 songs on the memory of the device, which they can play back anytime in the future. The recorded songs are stored in MIDI format and can be transferred to your computer easily.

Connectivity

The Yamaha P125 is equipped with aux-out jacks, a jack for sustain pedal, and a USB to Host port. The Aux-out port makes it possible to connect external speakers or amplifiers to the keyboard. The USB to Host port makes it possible for the user to connect their keyboard to their computer or their smart devices (iPad, iPhone, and Android).

Yamaha Smart Pianist App

The connectivity feature has been taken to an all-new level with the Yamaha Smart Pianist App for iOS and Android devices. The app is user-friendly and super-easy to navigate. You can access all of the functions of your Yamaha P125 from the app directly. It won’t be wrong to say that this app is like a remote control for your Yamaha P125.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 88 touch-sensitive, Graded Hammer Standard keys
  • 192-note polyphony
  • Pure CF sound engine
  • 4 Layer CF sampling
  • USB to Host connectivity
  • Equipped with aux-out and headphone jacks
  • Onboard speakers
  • Compatible with the Yamaha Smart Pianist app

Cons

  • No Bluetooth connectivity
  • Little addition to sound effects

The Bottom Line​

The Yamaha P125 has everything that a beginner would want and a lot more than that, making it a great option to invest in!

See Reviews & More for Yamaha P125

​Roland FP-30 Summary

Roland FP-30 88-key Portable Digital Keyboard with Power Amplifier and Stereo Speakers

Major Features

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Keys

The Roland FP-30 features 88, Progressive Hammer Action (PHA) keys with escapement feature, and Ivory Feel. It is one of the very few keyboards that offer Ivory Feel at the price point at which it’s available. All keys are touch-sensitive with 5 different levels of touch-sensitivity. You can set the level at medium, light, super light, super heavy, heavy, or fixed, depending on how you like your keys to sound.

Sound Quality

The Roland FP-30 is equipped with the SuperNATURAL modeling technology that gives the Roland FP-30 a sound like that of a real, acoustic piano. In addition, the 128-note polyphony and stretched tuning feature makes sure that the sound comes out just right!

Onboard Speakers

There are two 11 watt onboard speakers on the Roland FP-30 that deliver natural and rich sound with excellent bass and resonance.

Modes

The modes that you can enjoy with the Roland FP-30 include the Dual mode, Split mode, and the Duet mode. The dual-mode allows layering of two different sounds, the Split mode splits the keyboard into two different musical instruments and the Duet mode allows two people to play the keyboard at the same time.

Recording and Playback

The Roland FP-30 comes with a 1-track MIDI recorder that you can use to record your performance and listen to later. You can either opt to save the recorded track on the keyboard’s internal memory, or you can save to an external USB drive, thanks to the USB to Host connectivity.

Song Library

The Roland FP-30 has a song library comprising of 30 in-built songs for the users to play and practice. It helps them groom and polish their piano playing skills.

Connectivity

It is equipped with two headphones jacks, sustain pedal jack, and USB to Host and USB to Device connectivity. Since it doesn’t have Line-Out jack, you’ll have to use the headphone jack to connect external speakers or amplifiers. You can also connect your keyboard to your computer. You can also connect your keyboard to your tablet with the help of the Bluetooth!

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 88 Progressive Hammer Action keys with escapement feature and Ivory Feel
  • SuperNATURAL sound engine
  • Power onboard speakers
  • Bluetooth MIDI connectivity
  • Headphone jack in the front
  • In-built song library

Cons

  • Quite heavy
  • Little sound customization options
  • No lesson function
  • No line-out jack

The Bottom Line​

The Roland FP-30 seems like a great option for beginner and intermediate-level keyboard players. The sound exceptional sound quality, the powerful onboard speakers, and the Bluetooth connectivity are some of the features that make this keyboard stand out.

See Reviews & More for Roland FP-30

Conclusion

If you look at the Yamaha P125 and Roland FP-30 closely, you’ll see how different they are from each other. They’re both excellent with the performance and features. The Yamaha P125 seems like a better option to us. But at the end of the day, it is your choice alone to see which of the two models suits your needs best!

Yamaha YDP-V240 Review (2020)

Best Roland Keyboard & Digital Piano (2020): Complete Guide to an Iconic Brand

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source

Roland is one of the industry-leading names when it comes to keyboards and digital pianos.

The company is known for some of the most amazing, well-crafted, and finest keyboards that musicians have ever seen. Roland has produced a wide variety of high-quality keyboards and pianos that are popular for their realistic sound and amazing user experience.

Roland also produces a wide range of keyboards, from entry-level keyboards to excellent portable keyboards to stage pianos and synthesizers – so whether you’re a beginner-level musician or a professional stage performer, you’ll find a Roland instrument to suit your needs.

This detailed guide is all about Roland – from the company’s history, what has made them giants in the keyboard industry, and the best Roland keyboards and digital pianos.

Quick Navigation
Background on Roland
Roland’s Digital Piano and Keyboard Series
Portable Keyboards
Roland GO Series and E-X Series
Portable Digital Pianos
Console Digital Pianos
Stage Pianos
Synthesizers
Arrangers & Workstations
Features of Roland Digital Pianos and Keyboards
Roland Sound Generation
​Sound Engine
​Built Quality
Innovation
Value
Pros and Cons of Roland Digital Pianos and Keyboards
Roland Digital Piano & Keyboard YouTube Tutorial Videos 
Conclusion

Background on Roland

source

Roland Corporation came into being in 1972. Although it is not as old as other market leaders like Yamaha, it has made a place for itself among the musicians. It is a Japanese company that manufactures electronic equipment, electronic musical instruments, and software. It is headquartered in Hamamatsu, with factories in Japan, USA, and Taiwan.

Roland isn’t in the game for nothing. It has manufactured a number of musical instruments that have left lasting impacts on music. The Juno-106 synthesizer, TR-909 drum machines, and TB-303 bass synthesizer are among some of the Roland products that took the market by storm. Most of the high-end keyboards and pianos today are equipped with MIDI connectivity. However, can you guess who developed this feature? You guessed that right! It was Roland who developed the MIDI, which is used to synchronize electronic instruments that have been manufactured by companies other than Roland itself. According to certain surveys and experts, Roland has contributed to shaping electronic music more than any other company in history! Now, that is definitely something.

Roland doesn’t just manufacture keyboards and pianos. It offers a huge range of products that include digital pianos, synthesizers, electronic drum systems, accordions, guitar synthesizers, amplifiers, DJ gear, and recording products. In short, Roland caters to all possible needs that a musician may have!

Let’s have sneak-peek into how exactly Roland came into being.

It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehash in 1972. Initially, he worked part-time for a watch repair company but soon started his own watch repair business by the name, Kakehashi Watch Shop. After its massive success, he decided to take his love for music commercials. First, he learned the basics of radio, and soon, he started working on repairing broken radios at his watch repair shop. He soon got hit by tuberculosis and had to spend 3 years in the hospital. During his time in the hospital, he assembled a receiver using a cathode ray tube, so that he could receive the first-ever television signals in Japan – and he did!

After getting healthy and well, he started his own electronic repair shop. His business flourished. Now he was adamant about pursuing his interest in music. He developed the first prototype of a keyboard-based instrument. He didn’t like the sound of it, and hence, he never commercialized it. Later in 1959, he developed a Hawaiian Guitar Amplifier. Finally, in 1960, he set the foundation of Ace Electronic Industries. He developed an organ (later came to be known as the Technics SX601). The development had the company become a huge name in the industry. Kakehashi developed several other instruments, but due to continuous expenditure and capital infusions, he soon lost most of his share in the company. Ace was acquired by Sumitomo Chemical. Leaving 18 years of hard work behind, Kakehashi resigned, and just after a month, laid the foundation of the Roland Corporation.

The first ever product that Roland produced was the rhythm box, TR77. The first synthesizer by the company was also a first for Japan. It offered 10 preset tones that allowed the users to add portamento, growl, and vibrato. It is one of the most prominent milestones that Roland achieved early on. Ever since then, Roland has continued to come up with fantastic musical instruments. Despite being fairly new than other market leaders, it has enjoyed a fair share when it comes to success!

Roland’s Digital Piano and Keyboard Series

Today, Roland has a huge series of products. When we say there is something for everyone, we mean it. Let’s have a look at what the company has in store for its users.

Portable Keyboards

As you can tell by the name, portable keyboards are for aspiring musicians who are fond of traveling around with their keyboards. Roland portable keyboards are smaller in size and hence, have a fewer number of keys instead of 88 keys. The keys feature the basic synch-action. These keyboards are ideal for beginners, so you can’t expect them to be loaded with too many features. They’re plastic-made and extremely light in weight, serving as a blessing for musicians who’re on the move quite often.

Roland GO Series and E-X Series

Roland GO:KEYS 61-key Music Creation Piano Keyboard with Integrated Bluetooth Speakers (GO-61K)

The Roland portable keyboards consist of the Roland GO: Series and E-X Series.

The keyboard models that the Roland GO: series comprise of include the Roland GO: Keys Music Creation Keyboard and Roland GO: Piano Digital Keyboard. They fall in the price bracket of $300 to $400, which is pretty affordable. The GO: Piano has basic features and an impressive sound engine and a very affordable price. It is one of the best keyboards for beginners out there. If you’re looking for an 88-key keyboard, you can opt for an 88-key variant of the same keyboard at a slightly higher cost.

The GO: Keys is a unique product that offers better performance and greater functionality.  Being extremely user-friendly, anybody who has never used a keyboard before can take advantage of it and enjoy some real music!

The Roland E-X Series comprises of two portable arranger keyboards; E-X20 and E-X30. The E-X20 didn’t create as much hype as that of the E-X30. They range from $250 to $300 in price. The sound of the E-X Series is superior as compared to other keyboards in a similar price bracket. The realistic sound, a high-quality sound engine, and the arranger features are what make the Roland E-X Series portable keyboards such a hit in the market!

Portable Digital Pianos

Roland, Premium Portable Piano, 88-key (FP-90-BK), FP-90

If you’re looking for a beginner-level keyboard to actually learn to play the piano, you might want a keyboard that is a level ahead of the Roland portable keyboards. It is where the Roland portable digital pianos step in. With superior sound quality and fully-weighted keys with hammer action technology, these keyboards produce a more realistic sound, as compared to the Roland GO and E-X Series.

The Roland portable digital pianos consist of the FP-series. The models include FP-10, FP-30, FP-60, and FP-90. Ranging from $500 to $2000, it includes models suitable for both beginners and professionals. The Roland FP-series feature Standard Hammer Action (PHA-4) keys and a high-quality SuperNATURAL sound engine. These features make the Roland FP-series one of the best by Roland.

Console Digital Pianos

As you can tell by the name, these pianos aren’t meant to be carried around. They’re more like heavy, furniture-style cabinets that are a lot similar to grand and upright pianos. Though they aren’t portable at all, they offer excellent sound quality! A console digital piano is an ideal choice for you if you’re looking for a great piano that you can practice on in the comfort of your home.

Roland offers multiple options in this category, including the RP-series, F-series, HP-series, DP-series, LX-series, Kiyola series, and GP-grand series.

Ranging from $1000 to $1600 in price, the RP and F-series offer pianos that are much more advanced than Roland portable pianos. The models that fall in this category are the F-140R, RP-102, and RP-501. All digital pianos in the RP-series feature a fairly traditional cabinet. The F-series is more towards modern and slim designs. All models in both of these series are equipped with PHA-4 Standard keyboards and SuperNATURAL sound engine. So, great and professional sound quality is assured.

The Roland HP and DP-series range from $1800 to $2500. The models included in these series are HP-601, HP-603, DP-603, HP-605, HP-702, and HP-704. These keyboards offer an excellent and realistic sound. They feature attractive, high-end designs and are equipped with great quality speakers. They’re cabinet-style digital pianos. They’re more like an upgrade of the RP and F-series. The SuperNATURAL sound engine is more advanced, and the keyboard is equipped with PHA-50 action instead of the PHA-4 (HP-702 is an exception, though).

Roland LX-series costs $2500 to $5000. It includes advanced console keyboards for professional musicians. The series includes LX-7, LX-17, LX-705, LX-706, and LX-708.

The keyboards in LX-series feature highly advanced sound technology, PureAcoustic Piano Modeling, that ensures that the sound produced is highly professional and realistic. They also feature the Hybrid Grand Keyboard, which is a level ahead of the PHA-50.  The 8-speaker set, coupled with the Acoustic Projection System, ensures that you get to enjoy something truly and magically impressive!

The Kiyola series keyboards range from $4000 to $5000. The only model in this series in the Kiyola KF-10. The Kiyola series is a series of luxury console keyboards. They feature a handcrafted wooden cabinet that makes the keyboard look super-stylish and modern. The design is extremely ergonomic, so you can enjoy the utmost comfort all the while you’re playing it. The PHA-50 keyboard and the SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling technology offers users a truly great piano playing experience!

GP-Grand series, as the name suggests, is a series of advanced grand pianos that range from $5000 to $12000. Comprising of the GP-607, a mini-size grand piano and the GP-609, a full-size grand piano, the series is nothing but grand in the truest of its senses. Featuring the best quality PHA-50 keyboard and SuperNATURAL sound engine, the sound quality of the GP-Grand series will not disappoint you.

Stage Pianos

Roland RD-2000 Premium 88-key Digital Stage Piano

Roland has a great much to offer to the professional stage performers with its RD and V-Combo series. The Roland RD-series ranges from $2000 to $3000 and is ideal for intermediate to professional-level musicians. The Roland RD-2000 comes with a PHA-50 keyboard. It comprises of not one, but two sound engines, the SuperNATURAL and the V-Piano. This hybrid technology enhances the quality of the sound by several folds. It features numerous control buttons, knobs, and faders that allow the user to mix and modify the sound as per their preference. With more than 1000 onboard sounds, the RD-2000 is an ideal option for stage performers.


The V-Combo series is on the more affordable side of the scale, ranging from $1000 to $1500. It includes the models VR-09, VR-700, and VR-730. The VR-700 has been discontinued. The Roland V-Combo series features the waterfall-style keys that produce a highly expressive sound. The numerous control buttons, knobs, and tone bars allow the user to change the settings in whatever way they like!

Synthesizers

It was due to its synthesizers that Roland was able to bounce back in the 1980s. They’re a particularly useful tools for sound designers and producers. Instead of weighted keys, synthesizers are equipped with synth-action keys. These instruments focus on playability instead of realism.

The JD-series ranges from $500 to $2000 in price. The models that are included in this series are the JC-Xi and JD-XA. Roland mixed their true digital sound with analog sound to produce a highly versatile instrument. The keyboards in the JD-series are super-fun to use.

Juno-DS is also a series of synthesizers that Roland is very popular for. The price bracket is between $700 to $1000. It comprises of three models; JUNO-DS61, JUNO-DS76, and JUNO-DS88.

These synthesizers offered dual-mode chorus and a very rich saw wave. These modern synthesizers offer great performance and excellent flexibility. They’re entirely digital in features. However, the modulation features work just like classic synthesizers. They’re equipped with an onboard vocoder and features many sounds and instruments that offer the user a great variety!

Arrangers & Workstations

Workstations are designed for studio use. They have bulky bodies; hence, they are not at all portable. Their sonic capabilities and power make the Roland workstations ideal for stage performers and music creators. It is just one instrument that offers the users with nearly all the features and capabilities that a musician would want.

Roland offers a massive variety when it comes to workstations. The FA-series, Fantom series, BK-series, and E-A series.

The FA-series offers three models; FA-06, FA-07, and FA-08. These are all mid-range workstations. They’re equipped with more than 2000 sounds and are powered by the high-quality SuperNATURAL sound engine. What makes this series the top choice is its control scheme. Another prominent feature is the high-resolution color screen. The 16-tone studio set and 16-track sequencer are other add on that make these workstations so great.

Fantom series comprises of more premium workstations, ranging from $3000 to $4000. The Fantom-6, Fantom-7, and Fantom-8 are the three models in this series. The Fantom series offers excellent expandability of sound palettes. Moreover, the analog filter is also a promising feature that the synthesizers in this series come with.

The BK-3 and BK-5 of the BK-series cost between $700 to $1350. The 16-track sequencer, mixing tools, and essential effects, all add up to make the BK-series one of the finest in the market today. The actual strength of these synthesizers lies in their excellent sound quality.

The E-A series comprises of Roland E-A7 along with other models. The E-A7 combines the arranger formula with the features of a workstation and sampler, making it a great arranger/ workstation hybrid. It comes with 1500 tones and numerous backing styles. The dual-screen displays all the necessary information and provides great control over the instrument. The E in the model name denotes the expandability that is one of the most prominent features.

Features of Roland Digital Pianos and Keyboards

Roland digital pianos and keyboards stepped into the market later than other manufacturers like Yamaha and Casio, but it made its place in quite a short time. However, what features contribute to the popularity of Roland Digital pianos and keyboards and sets them apart from the other keyboard options?

Roland Sound Generation

The quality and realism of the sound of a keyboard are what make it stand out. To achieve the required realism in the sound it produces, a keyboard must have enough space allocated specially for the sample memory. Other keyboard manufacturers have struggled to find the right balance between quality and compression, but Roland hit the jackpot! Roland incorporated the modeling technology into their instruments. Roland added a hybrid element to the mix instead of trying to capture audio snapshots of different intensities. The end result was an excellent, realistic sound that needed only a few changes to achieve the level of greatness!

​Sound Engine

The SuperNATURAL sound engine, which is present in most of the Roland keyboards and pianos, produces great quality sound as well. This sound engine takes the revolutionary hybrid approach and offers great flexibility and quality in sound.

The Roland RD-2000 features the V-Piano sound technology, which is yet another revolutionary development when it comes to sound technology.

​Built Quality

The built quality of Roland instruments is another feature that makes its products to stand out among its competitors. The keyboards and pianos are not just good looking but extremely sturdy. They are sure to last forever if taken care of properly.

Innovation

Roland continues to equip its instruments with newer and better features. It takes an out-of-the-box approach and ensures that its users get to enjoy the maximum benefit at the best prices!

Value

Although you may not find Roland keyboards and pianos cheap, when you compare them to the instruments by Yamaha and Casio, you will see how relatively affordable they are. They offer excellent value for money, providing the largest range of features at the lowest possible cost!

It looks like Roland is truly dedicated to satisfying the users, regardless of what their skill level is. The innovative features, and more importantly, the affordability are surely some of the major factors that account for the popularity of Roland keyboards and pianos.

Pros and Cons of Roland Digital Pianos and Keyboards

Pros

  • Available in a wide price range
  • Offers a variety of options for all users regardless of skill level
  • Great sound quality
  • Stylish and durable
  • Innovative features
  • Great value for money

Cons

  • Cheaper keyboards and pianos by Roland are too basic, as compared to other beginner level keyboards
  • Roland may have a greater number of features, but manufacturers like Yamaha and Casio also offer premium quality

Roland Digital Piano & Keyboard YouTube Tutorial Videos 

Below are the links to some YouTube tutorials that will help you find the way around the most popular Roland instruments.

Conclusion

Roland keyboards and digital pianos have received hype and attention for a reason - for people who’re looking for an excellent combination of great features and impressive price, Roland is a top option.

Whether you want a portable keyboard or a grand piano, Roland has it all. Whatever your instrument needs are, Roland seems to know them and is all up to cater to them with the massive range of products under its belt!

Now that you know about all of Roland’s products, making a decision based on your skill level and budget will be a lot easier.

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Roland Juno DS88 VS Yamaha MX88: Features, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose

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Roland JUNO-DS 88-Key Lightweight Weighted-Action Keyboard with Pro Sounds
Yamaha MX88 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer

Roland and Yamaha are two of the most respected piano manufacturers in the world, and in this comprehensive review we compare two of their popular models: Roland Juno DS88 vs Yamaha MX88.

Since both models have superb qualities found typically in upscale pianos, many piano enthusiasts have a hard time pointing out which is a better choice. In this article we make that a little easier by comparing features, advantages and disadvantages, and some questions to ask to help you might the right choice for you!

Quick Navigation
​Roland Juno DS88 vs Yamaha MX88 Specifications Compared
​Major Similarities Between Roland Juno DS88 VS Yamaha MX88
​Major Differences Between Roland Juno DS88 VS Yamaha MX88
​Roland Juno DS88 Summary
Major Features
​Pros and Cons
​Yamaha MX88 Summary
Major Features
Pros & Cons
Conclusion

​Roland Juno DS88 vs Yamaha MX88 Specifications Compared

The table below shows the comparison of Roland Juno DS88 and Yamaha MX88 specs:

Specification

Roland Juno DS88

Yamaha MX88

Cell
Roland JUNO-DS 88-Key Lightweight Weighted-Action Keyboard with Pro Sounds
Yamaha MX88 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer

Keys

Weighted-action, feel-G 88-key keyboard

Full-size 88-key keyboard

Jacks Included

Headphone jack, DC jack, pedal hold jack, pedal control jack, MC input jack, EXT input jack, phone jack

Headphone jack, sustain pedal jack, expression pedal jack, and stereo mini jack

Screen

Graphic LCD 256 x 80 dots

LED lights and a backlit screen

Songs

8 tracks

+1000 songs

Accompaniment Styles

Cell

205

Polyphony

128

128, 16-part multitimbral

Reverb & Chorus Settings

5 reverb settings, 3 chorus settings, and 8 mic reverb types

41 reverb settings and 44 chorus settings

Demonstration Mode

Cell

151 voices, 388 XGlite voices, and 29 featured voices

Accessories Included

Owner’s manual, leaflet “using the unit safely,” AC adapter, and power cord

Owner’s manual, and AC adapter

Cell
See Reviews & More for Roland Juno DS88
See Reviews & More for Yamaha MX88

​Major Similarities Between Roland Juno DS88 VS Yamaha MX88

The major commonality between the Roland Juno DS88 and Yamaha MX88 is they are both synthesizers with 88 number of keys. These are professional instruments for use in the studio or on stage. They are of higher quality than typical keyboards. Plus, they also allow you to alter the sounds of the devices with great precision as you may want. Thus, they are a better choice than keyboards, especially if you want a musical device for your studio or professional practice.

The Roland Juno DS88 and Yamaha MX88 also have a great number of real-time controllers. They also make excellent master keyboards for DAW – Digital Audio Workstations. You can also transfer both audio and MIDI via the built-in USB port of the back panel of the instruments. Both the devices have special reverb and chorus settings that can be played with to get excellent vocal performances.

Roland JUNO-DS 88-Key Lightweight Weighted-Action Keyboard with Pro Sounds
Yamaha MX88 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer

​Major Differences Between Roland Juno DS88 VS Yamaha MX88

On the price front, the Yamaha MX88 is slightly more expensive than the Roland Juno DS88. The former is €22 costlier than the Roland Juno DS88.

While they have the exact number of keys, the devices vary in the types of keys they boast. Juno DS88 features a weighted-action, Roland Ivory Feel-G keyboard while the Yamaha MX88 boasts fully-weighted graded hammer standard keys. The “ivory feel” of Roland Juno means the keys are slightly more textured. Not only do they feel great, but they reduce the chances of your fingers from slipping while playing the piano. When it comes to the sound engine, the Yamaha MX88 has a motif sound engine while Juno DS88 has a specialized Juno engine, which is Juno-Di compatible.

Ronaldo Juno DS88 also weighs heavier (35 lbs.) than the Yamaha MX88, which weighs up to 30.6 lbs. only. The former is shorter in height (5.68”) and wider (55.75”) than its counterpart, which is 6.6” tall and 51.9” wide.   

As compared to other piano models from the MX range, the MX88 has a relatively small screen. That said, the screen is wide and clear enough. You can easily navigate through the sounds without any hesitance. On the other hand, Roland DS88 has a big screen on which texts appear in white on a dark blue background. Even though the screen is not massive by today’s pianos’ standards, but it makes the navigation a satisfactory experience.

The Yamaha MX88 also features amazing recording and editing tools. It also offers “HALion Sonic SE” and “Groove Agent SE,” which offer a wide array of terrific instruments, grooves, and electronic drums. That’s not all. It also has a high-end AmpSimulator, which increases the amps of the instrument. On the other hand, Juno DS88 offers none of these or anything like these features.  

​Roland Juno DS88 Summary

Roland JUNO-DS 88-Key Lightweight Weighted-Action Keyboard with Pro Sounds

Major Features

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Simple Interface and Design

The Roland Juno DS88 boasts a simple yet effective layout. With no complexities involved, the digital device is easy to navigate. You can easily steer through all its features without any trouble. On top of all, it has a neat, sharp LCD graphic display, which is also easy to operate. The neat design and friendly interface makes the piano a great model for regular practice.

A Wide Library of Sounds

One of the best features of the Roland Juno DS88 is that it allows free access to a massive library of sound options. Visit the Roland website, and you get the entire Juno sound bank with hundreds of sound samples. With a vast amount of sound effects, the Roland Juno DS88 gives you a lot of scope for creativity. You can experiment with as many music genres as you want and play all sorts of unique piano tones.


The default, built-in effects include reverb, chorus, phaser, delay, and lots more. Some other interesting effects are the pitch shifter and piano reverberation filter.

Portable

The Roland Juno DS88 makes for a great portable piano. Since its lightweight and has a compact size, it can be carried around in vehicles or on foot. Because of its maximized mobility, this piano model is great for gigs. Not only that, but its portability makes it easy to play around the house, as well. You will just need to connect it to a power source, and you’re good to go.

Excellent Functions and Modes

The Roland Juno DS88 boasts many functions; the synthesizer has an inbuilt playback function that lets you use typical audio records in a WAV arrangement. This allows you to practice and jam your favorite songs just as you want. Furthermore, the piano allows you to play more than one sound effect with just one key. In this way, you can produce new and exciting music. The most amazing feature of the DS88 is its wireless USB that connecting to your piano is made super easy using an app, letting you connect it with your mobile phone – Android or iPhone.

​Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Lightweight and portable
  • Velocity-sensitive keys
  • User-friendly interface
  • MIDI enables you to record and playback your music
  • Provide realistic sounds
  • Allow you to produce innovative music
  • Offer external storage with a USB flash drive
  • Diverse sound effects, Auto-Pitch, and Vocoder
  • DAW mode available and USB compatibility available
  • Feature phrase pads for improved performance

Cons

  • The LCD display is too small
  • Lacking in the speaker quality

The Bottom Line​

The Roland Juno DS88 is known for its manageability. It has a convenient size, which makes it easy and comfortable to move around. Considering this, the digital device is perfect for those performing at gigs or playing in local clubs or pubs. While it is a great option for solo players, it can be used by those playing in a band. Its additional sounds and sound layers help create adequate music for an entire band.  


Remember that the Roland Juno DS88 is for serious players. It is not for beginners just starting out to play the piano. It’s designed specifically for professionals or experienced pianists.

See Reviews & More for Roland Juno DS88

​Yamaha MX88 Summary

Yamaha MX88 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer

Major Features

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Easy to Play

Owing to the Graded Hammer Standards, the Yamaha MX88 is super easy to play. It’s heavy in the bass range, but as you go up the treble keys, it becomes light and nice to play. All in all, it offers a well-balanced experience to the player. Even if the keys absorb moisture, you won’t face any slipping issue, even for prolonged practice or performance sessions.

Lightweight

One look at the product and you might think that it is super heavy. However, that’s not the case at all. It is, in fact, lighter than the Roland Juno DS88, so you can imagine how easy it is to transfer this device from one place to another.


You can easily carry or mount it up on a stand – without any help. Unlike many synthesizers, the digital device not only is featherweight but offers a great many features.

Incredible Sound Quality

The Yamaha MX88 produces great music – there are no two ways about it. The outstanding sound quality is what makes this digital device worth the price. You can play any kind of song you want from its amazing music options and enjoy any music genre from classical to hip hop to rock to lots more.


When playing this instrument, you will have 16 different sounds to pick from. The best part is you can easily move from one sound to another with just a click of a cursor without having you go to the main menu. What’s amazing is, you won’t hear any break offs while switching from one piece of music to another.

Dual Modes and Tones of Features

The MX88 features two types of modes – layer mode and split mode. The layer mode allows you to play two or more sounds simultaneously. The fascinating bit is the layer mode lets you combine 16 sounds at the same time. On the other hand, the split mode lets you play different sounds (on the left and right side of the instrument) simultaneously.


Other than these modes, the MX88 has hundreds of rhythm patterns that are divided into sections such as rock, R&B, jazz, electronic, world, and orchestral. With this instrument, you also get a USB audio and MIDI interface, DAW control, and an FM synthesizer app for free.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Refined fully weighted keys
  • Extensive range of songs, rhythms, and effects
  • Feature DAW interface and USB audio interface
  • Outstanding sound quality
  • Include approximately 999 arpeggiator patterns
  • Easy to use and accessible functions
  • Best for editing, arranging, and manipulating music  

Cons

  • Lack of a built-in speaker
  • A few of the sampled sounds are obsolete
  • Lack MIDI sequencer on-board

The Bottom Line​

The Yamaha MX88 is distinguished by its massive song library that has all sorts of genres, making it no less than a gem for serious music players. The device is specifically aimed at professional musicians who may as well want a workstation keyboard. The large song library is fit for all sorts of gigs. The instrument also has an editing feature, which makes it a great choice for professional musicians who want to produce innovative music for their audiences. It’s also a touring piano so you can easily carry it around.

See Reviews & More for Yamaha MX88

Conclusion

While the Roland Juno DS88 and Yamaha MX88 are somewhat similar, they still vary in many ways – features, pros and cons, and price value. That being said, both digital devices are great for professional pianists or musicians. Because of their size and portability, the Roland Juno DS88 and Yamaha MX88 are both convenient choices!

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Roland JUNO DS88 Tutorial: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

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To help you get the most enjoyment out of your Roland JUNO DS88, we’ve put together this tutorial page. On this page you’ll find help with:

  • Roland JUNO DS88 tutorials on YouTube (to learn how to play your JUNO DS88 quickly)
  • Common usage questions/problems
  • Connecting Roland JUNO DS88 to various devices
  • Recording & transferring songs and files
  • Accessories questions

And (as they say on infomercials) much, much more!

Quick Navigation
Roland JUNO DS88 Tutorial YouTube
​Common Usage Questions & Problems Related to Roland JUNO DS88
How to use JUNO DS88 as midi
​How to favourite a sound Roland JUNO DS88
​How to play wav files on Roland JUNO DS88
​How to transpose with Roland JUNO DS88
​What does patch select do on a Roland JUNO DS88
​JUNO DS88 How to EQ
​How to play a style on Roland JUNO DS88
​How to mix music on JUNO DS88
​How to save a pattern on a JUNO DS88
​Roland JUNO DS88 how to use pads
​How to layer sounds on Roland JUNO DS88
​How do you play JUNO DS88 expansion bank sounds? 
Connecting Roland JUNO DS88 to Various Devices
​How to connect JUNO DS88 
​Recording & Transferring Files on Your Roland JUNO DS88
​Roland JUNO DS88 how to transfer
​How to record directly from JUNO DS88
​How to export from the JUNO DS88 to memory card
​How to record audio with Roland JUNO DS88
How do I upload a midi to Roland JUNO DS88
How to save Roland JUNO DS88 soundbank to computer
​How to record to a USB drive/stick on a Roland JUNO DS88
Roland JUNO DS88 Accessories Questions
​Best amp for Roland JUNO DS88 
​What keyboard case fits a JUNO DS88

Roland JUNO DS88 Tutorial YouTube

Here are the best YouTube videos to get you up and playing your Roland JUNO DS88:


Kraft Music has an excellent 13-minute video covering the features of the Roland JUNO DS88:

Robert Dimbleby has an excellent 14-minute video showing sound demos of the Roland JUNO DS88:

Roland Product Support has a series of excellent tutorials that show you how to use the Roland JUNO DS88 to:

Use arpeggios

Use advanced layers and splits (Part 1)

Use advanced layers and splits (Part 2)

Use super layer

Create a dual layer

Create a pattern sequence

Create favorites using patches and performances

Create a custom brass performance

Use the mic input and vocoder

Use vocoder within a performance layer

Format USB thumb drive, back up and restore

Exalter has a beginners’ guide to building a loop on the Roland JUNO DS88:

​Common Usage Questions & Problems Related to Roland JUNO DS88

How to use JUNO DS88 as midi

To use the JUNO DS88 as a MIDI keyboard, you may use a digital audio workstation (DAW) software and follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Install a USB Driver and the DAW software in your computer.
  2. 2
    Connect the keyboard to your computer using a USB 2.0 cable.
  3. 3
    Move the cursor to “YES” and press the “ENTER” button when the keyboard asks whether you would like to activate “DAW Control Mode”.
  4. 4
    Select the “Controller” tab.
  5. 5
    Turn the Local Switch “OFF”.
  6. 6
    Set up your computer to use with “DAW Control Mode” on the keyboard. This article explains how to set up if the DAW softwares you use are LOGIC PRO, SONAR and CUBASE.

​How to favourite a sound Roland JUNO DS88

To register a favorite sound on the Roland JUNO DS88, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Select a patch or performance that you want to set as a favorite.
  2. 2
    Press the “BANK” button.
  3. 3
    Use the “0” to “9” button to select the bank in which the favorite will be registered.
  4. 4
    Hold down the “FAVORITE” button while pressing a “0” to “9” button to select the number in which the favorite will be registered.

To see a demo of how to register a favorite sound, you may refer to this video.

​How to play wav files on Roland JUNO DS88

To play an external wav file on the Roland JUNO DS88, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Format your USB flash drive on the keyboard. You may refer to this video.
  • Plug in the USB flash drive to the USB MEMORY port on the keyboard.
  • Move the cursor to “FORMAT USB MEMORY” in the UTILITY screen.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  • Move the cursor to “OK”.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  1. 2
    Turn off the keyboard and disconnect the USB flash drive.
  2. 3
    Connect the flash drive to your computer and place the wav file into the “IMPORT” folder.
  3. 4
    Connect the flash drive to the keyboard and turn on the keyboard.
  4. 5
    Press the “SAMPLE IMPORT” button.
  5. 6
    Move the cursor to “SAMPLE IMPORT”. Press the “ENTER” button.
  6. 7
    Make settings for how the file will be imported.
  7. 8
    Move the cursor to “IMPORT”. Press the “ENTER” button.
  8. 9
    Press the “SAMPLE” button.
  9. 10
    Use the value dial to select a file/patch.

​How to transpose with Roland JUNO DS88

To transpose on the Roland JUNO DS88, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Hold down the “TRANSPOSE” button while doing the next step.
  2. 2
    Press the “DOWN” or “UP” button to transpose in semitone steps.
  3. 3
    To go back to the default setting, hold down the “TRANSPOSE” button and press the “DOWN” and “UP” button at the same time.

​What does patch select do on a Roland JUNO DS88

By selecting a patch on the Roland JUNO DS88, you will be able to play a single tone.

​JUNO DS88 How to EQ

To edit the EQ settings on the JUNO DS88, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Press the “MENU” button
  2. 2
    Move the cursor to “SYSTEM” and press the “ENTER” button.
  3. 3
    Move the cursor to tab and use the left or right button to switch the pages until you see any of the following parameters you want to edit.
  • Master EQ Switch (On, Off)
  • EQ Low Freq (200, 400)
  • EQ Low Gain (-15 to +15)
  • EQ Mid Freq (200 to 8000)
  • EQ Mid Gain (-15 to +15)
  • EQ Mid Q (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0)
  • EQ High Freq (2000, 4000, 8000)
  • EQ High Gain (-15 to +15)
  • EQ Total Gain (-15 to +15)
  1. 4
    Use the value dial to change the value. The range of values is shown in brackets above.
  2. 5
    Press the “EXIT” button.

​How to play a style on Roland JUNO DS88

The Roland JUNO DS88 does not have built-in Auto Accompaniment styles. However, you are able to play rhythm patterns and preset patterns that come with the keyboard.


To play a rhythm pattern on the Roland JUNO DS88, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Press the “RHYTYM PATTERN” button.
  2. 2
    Make the rhythm pattern settings.
  3. 3
    Press the pad “1” to “8” button to play the rhythm pattern.
  4. 4
    Press the pad again to stop.

To play a preset pattern on the Roland JUNO DS88, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Press the “PATTERN SEQUENCER” button.
  2. 2
    Move the cursor to the pattern bank.
  3. 3
    Move the cursor to the pattern bank.
  4. 4
    Move the cursor to the pattern number.
  5. 5
    Press the “PLAY/STOP” button to play the pattern. Press the button again to stop.

​How to mix music on JUNO DS88

You can mix music on the JUNO DS88 by creating pattern sequence. Please refer to this tutorial to see a demo of creating pattern sequence.

​How to save a pattern on a JUNO DS88

To save a pattern on the JUNO DS88 after creating one, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Press the “WRITE” button. The “PATTERN NAME” screen should appear.
  2. 2
    Enter the pattern name.
  3. 3
    Press the “ENTER” button. The “PATTERN WRITE” screen should appear.
  4. 4
    Press the value dial to select the save destination.
  5. 5
    Press the “ENTER” button.
  6. 6
    Press the “ENTER” button again after seeing the confirmation message. The screen should indicate “Completed!”.

To see a demo of how to save a pattern, you may refer to this video.

​Roland JUNO DS88 how to use pads

You can use pads to play rhythm patterns, record patterns of several measures or play audio files from a USB flash drive.


To select and play a rhythm pattern, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Press the “RHYTHM PATTERN” button.
  2. 2
    Make the rhythm pattern settings.
  3. 3
    Press the pad “1” to “8” button to play the rhythm pattern.
  4. 4
    Press the pad again to stop.

To play audio files from a USB flash drive, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Format your USB flash drive on the keyboard. You may refer to this video.
  • Plug in the USB flash drive to the USB MEMORY port on the keyboard.
  • Move the cursor to “FORMAT USB MEMORY” in the UTILITY screen.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  • Move the cursor to “OK”.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  1. 2
    Turn off the keyboard and disconnect the USB flash drive.
  2. 3
    Connect the flash drive to your computer and create a folder inside the “SONG LIST” folder.
  3. 4
    Place the audio files into the folder created.
  4. 5
    Connect the flash drive to the keyboard and turn on the keyboard.
  5. 6
    Press the “AUDIO” button.
  6. 7
    Make settings for the audio player.
  7. 8
    Press the “ENTER” button. The audio files are assigned to the pads automatically.
  8. 9
    Press the pad “1” to “8” button to play the audio file.

To record patterns of several measures, please refer to this tutorial.

​How to layer sounds on Roland JUNO DS88

To layer sounds on the JUNO DS88, press the “DUAL” button.

To see a demo of how to layer sounds, you may refer to this video.

​How do you play JUNO DS88 expansion bank sounds? 

To play expansion bank sounds, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Move the cursor to bank and use the value dial to select “EXP”.
  2. 2
    Press the “UP” or “DOWN” button to select the desired expansion bank sound.
  3. 3
    Press a key to play the sound.

Connecting Roland JUNO DS88 to Various Devices

​How to connect JUNO DS88 

Please follow the steps below to connect the JUNO DS88 to:

  1. 1
    Expression pedal or pedal switch: Connect the plug of the pedal to the PEDAL CONTROL jack found at the back of the keyboard.
  2. 2
    Pedal switch: Connect the plug of the pedal to the PEDAL HOLD jack found at the back of the keyboard.
  3. 3
    MIDI device: Connect the plugs of the device to the MIDI IN and OUT connectors found at the back of the keyboard.
  4. 4
    Microphone: Connect the plug of the microphone to the MIC INPUT jack found at the back of the keyboard.
  5. 5
    External audio player or audio device: Connect the plug of the audio player to the EXT INPUT jack found at the back of the keyboard.
  6. 6
    Amplified speakers or mixers: Connect the plugs of the speakers or mixers to the OUTPUT R, L/MONO jacks found at the back of the keyboard. If you are outputting in mono, connect the L/MONO jack only.
  7. 7
    Computer: Use a USB 2.0 cable to connect the computer to the USB COMPUTER port found at the back of the keyboard.
  8. 8
    USB flash drive: Connect the flash drive to the USB MEMORY port found at the back of the keyboard.
  9. 9
    Headphones: Connect the plug of the headphone to the PHONES jack found at the back of the keyboard.

​Recording & Transferring Files on Your Roland JUNO DS88

​Roland JUNO DS88 how to transfer

To transfer an external audio file from the computer to the Roland JUNO DS88 using a USB flash drive, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Format your USB flash drive on the keyboard. You may refer to this video.
  • Plug in the USB flash drive to the USB MEMORY port on the keyboard.
  • Move the cursor to “FORMAT USB MEMORY” in the UTILITY screen.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  • Move the cursor to “OK”.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  1. 2
    Turn off the keyboard and disconnect the USB flash drive.
  2. 3
    Connect the flash drive to your computer and place the file into the “IMPORT” folder.
  3. 4
    Connect the flash drive to the keyboard and turn on the keyboard.
  4. 5
    Press the “SAMPLE IMPORT” button.
  5. 6
    Move the cursor to “SAMPLE IMPORT”. Press the “ENTER” button.
  6. 7
    Make settings for how the file will be imported.
  7. 8
    Move the cursor to “IMPORT”. Press the “ENTER” button.

To export a pattern from the keyboard to a USB drive, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Format your USB flash drive on the keyboard. You may refer to this video.
  • Plug in the USB flash drive to the USB MEMORY port on the keyboard.
  • Move the cursor to “FORMAT USB MEMORY” in the UTILITY screen.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  • Move the cursor to “OK”.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  1. 2
    Select “SMF EXPORT” in the “PATTERN UTILITY” screen.
  2. 3
    Press the “ENTER” button.
  3. 4
    Enter the file name.
  4. 5
    Press the “ENTER” button.
  5. 6
    Press the “ENTER” button again to export. The exported file can be found in the “EXPORT” folder of the flash drive.

You may also transfer audio and MIDI files between the keyboard and computer by connecting them using a USB 2.0 cable. Install a USB Driver in your computer to allow the exchange of data between both devices.

​How to record directly from JUNO DS88

You can record directly from the JUNO DS88 in your computer using a USB 2.0 cable and a digital audio workstation (DAW) software.

  1. 1
    Install a USB Driver and the DAW software in your computer.
  2. 2
    Connect the keyboard to your computer using a USB 2.0 cable.
  3. 3
    Move the cursor to “YES” and press the “ENTER” button to confirm to activate the “DAW Control Mode”.
  4. 4
    Select the “Controller” tab.
  5. 5
    Turn the Local Switch “OFF”.
  6. 6
    Set up your computer to use with “DAW Control Mode” on the keyboard. This article explains how to set up if the DAW softwares you use are LOGIC PRO, SONAR and CUBASE.
  7. 7
    You will be able to record into the DAW software in your computer.

You may refer to this video for a short demo.

​How to export from the JUNO DS88 to memory card

As the JUNO DS88 does not have a port for a memory card, you are unable to export to a memory card. However, you can export a pattern to a USB drive. To do so you may follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Format your USB flash drive on the keyboard. You may refer to this video.
  • Plug in the USB flash drive to the USB MEMORY port on the keyboard.
  • Move the cursor to “FORMAT USB MEMORY” in the UTILITY screen.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  • Move the cursor to “OK”.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  1. 2
    Select “SMF EXPORT” in the “PATTERN UTILITY” screen.
  2. 3
    Press the “ENTER” button.
  3. 4
    Enter the file name.
  4. 5
    Press the “ENTER” button.
  5. 6
    Press the “ENTER” button again to export. The exported file can be found in the “EXPORT” folder of the flash drive.

​How to record audio with Roland JUNO DS88

You can record an audio file with the JUNO DS88 by using a USB 2.0 cable and a digital audio workstation (DAW) software in your computer.

  1. 1
    Install a USB Driver and the DAW software in your computer.
  2. 2
    Connect the keyboard to your computer using a USB 2.0 cable.
  3. 3
    Move the cursor to “YES” and press the “ENTER” button to confirm to activate the “DAW Control Mode”.
  4. 4
    Select the “Controller” tab.
  5. 5
    Turn the Local Switch “OFF”.
  6. 6
    Set up your computer to use with “DAW Control Mode” on the keyboard. This article explains how to set up if the DAW softwares you use are LOGIC PRO, SONAR and CUBASE.
  7. 7
    You will be able to record into the DAW software in your computer.

You may refer to this video for a short demo.

How do I upload a midi to Roland JUNO DS88

You can upload a midi file from the computer to the Roland JUNO DS88 by connecting them using a USB 2.0 cable. Install a USB Driver in your computer to allow the exchange of data between both devices.


Alternatively, you can also use a USB flash drive to transfer a midi file from the computer to the keyboard. To do so, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Format your USB flash drive on the keyboard. You may refer to this video.
  • Plug in the USB flash drive to the USB MEMORY port on the keyboard.
  • Move the cursor to “FORMAT USB MEMORY” in the UTILITY screen.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  • Move the cursor to “OK”.
  • Press the “ENTER” button.
  1. 2
    Turn off the keyboard and disconnect the USB flash drive.
  2. 3
    Connect the flash drive to your computer and place the file into the “IMPORT” folder.
  3. 4
    Connect the flash drive to the keyboard and turn on the keyboard.
  4. 5
    Press the “SAMPLE IMPORT” button.
  5. 6
    Move the cursor to “SAMPLE IMPORT”. Press the “ENTER” button.
  6. 7
    Make settings for how the file will be imported.
  7. 8
    Move the cursor to “IMPORT”. Press the “ENTER” button.

How to save Roland JUNO DS88 soundbank to computer

You may download soundbanks for the Roland JUNO DS88 from the Axial site using your computer.

​How to record to a USB drive/stick on a Roland JUNO DS88

The Roland JUNO DS88 is unable to record directly to a USB drive/stick. However, you can record directly using the digital audio workstation (DAW) software in your computer and transfer the audio/MIDI file to a USB drive/stick.

 

To do so, please follow the steps below.

  1. 1
    Install a USB Driver and the DAW software in your computer.
  2. 2
    Connect the keyboard to your computer using a USB 2.0 cable.
  3. 3
    Move the cursor to “YES” and press the “ENTER” button to confirm to activate the “DAW Control Mode”.
  4. 4
    Select the “Controller” tab.
  5. 5
    Turn the Local Switch “OFF”.
  6. 6
    Set up your computer to use with “DAW Control Mode” on the keyboard. This article explains how to set up if the DAW softwares you use are LOGIC PRO, SONAR and CUBASE.
  7. 7
    You will be able to record into the DAW software in your computer.

You may refer to this video for a short demo.

Roland JUNO DS88 Accessories Questions

​Best amp for Roland JUNO DS88 

The KC-110 and CUBE Street EX amplifiers are generally recommended for the JUNO DS88.

​What keyboard case fits a JUNO DS88

You may use the CB-G88L keyboard bag to fit your JUNO DS88.

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