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4 Sep

Reviewed: Nektar Panorama T4 MIDI Controller Keyboard

Sound & Music | sound-music.com | Expect to Pay: 49-Note - $519, 61-Note - $629

When Nektar first released its Panorama P4 MIDI keyboard a few years ago, I was really impressed with what it offered at the time. For those of you who remember its release, the P4 was solely designed for use with Reason and offered deep integration with the software that other MIDI keyboards didn’t. It was a groundbreaking release, and being a Reason user, amongst other platforms, it certainly ticked all the boxes for me and many others. The product has since grown to add Cubase and other platforms for the P4, and now I’m privy to one of the first units of the newest incarnation of this keyboard in the Panorama T4. Gone is the slick white fascia – the T4 now sports a menacing black casing and a range of new features and integration abilities.

4 Sep

2 May

Reiewed: Yamaha P-125 Keyboard

Yamaha Music | au.yamaha.com | Expect to Pay: $999.99

The Yamaha P-125 - which follows on from the highly popular P-115 - is a compact digital piano that combines realistic piano performance with a user-friendly minimalistic design. It’s designed to be portable and very accessible - in other words, you’re not bogged down in complicated menus just to find a sound, so it’s a great choice not only for those who need a digital piano for themselves, but also for situations where many people might be using the same instrument: piano teachers, schools, bars with open mic nights, that sort of thing.

2 May

27 Apr

Reviewed: Vox Continental

Yamaha Australia | au.yamaha.com | Expect To Pay: 61 Key - $2499, 73 Key - $2699

Unlike so many other keyboards that use the same controls to handle all the functions, the VOX Continental is designed with separate control sections for each of its four modes, and as a musician this is something that really helps you get into the right headspace for each musical situation you’ll find yourself in. It’s like having four separate keyboards for four totally different purposes.

27 Apr

27 Feb

Reviewed: IK Multimedia iRig Keys I/O

Sound & Music | sound-music.com | Expect to Pay: 25-Key - $369, 49-Key - $549

The last six or seven years has seen the development of the iRig range grow from a simple compact mobile phone guitar plug to a full selection of interfaces, keyboards, microphones and even monitor speakers. It’s no surprise then that these products began to get morph into one another to create new possibilities and reduce the clutter of unwanted cabling. I think we can go back to the original iRig MIDI device to see the beginnings of the development process that has lead us to this new product. From a humble MIDI interface to a keyboard to a fully integrated recording and production device, we have finally ended up with the iRig Keys I/O. This is one of the coolest products put out by IK Multimedia and one that will keep plenty of home and mobile music producers pleased.

27 Feb

23 Nov

Reviewed: Studiologic Numa Compact 2

Innovative Music | innovativemusic.comau | Expect to Pay: $899

It’s been a while since we were first introduced to the Studiologic Numa Compact, the 88 note keyboard that rewrote the rules on size. Now, the team at Studiologic seem to have gone all out and managed to squeeze even more features into a keyboard that by all rights should be a lot larger than it actually is. You could be forgiven for thinking this may be a toy at first glance, but the Numa Compact 2 is a serious instrument and it takes portability to a new level in 88-note keyboards. Big sound and big features don’t necessarily require a big cabinet, as we are about to find out.

23 Nov

18 Oct

Reviewed: Yamaha Genos digital workstation

Yamaha Music Australia | au.yamaha.com | Expect To Pay: $6999

Yamaha’s Tyros5 Workstation was designed as the ultimate performance keyboard, but Yamaha keeps redefining what they mean by ultimate. So meet Genos - the next generation in digital workstations. Now, Tyros could be quite an investment, and Genos is very much up there in terms of cost too, but from the second you sit down behind one, you’re going to get the feeling that not a cent of your cash has been wasted. The very first impression you’ll get is that this is a serious, pro-level piece of kit that takes what made Tyros great and reimagines it.

18 Oct

13 Oct

Reviewed: Waldorf Blofeld Virtual Analogue Synthesiser

Link Audio | linkaudio.com.au | Expect To Pay: Desktop $823 / Keyboard: $1411

It is no secret that I am a fan of Waldorf synthesisers. In the past I have owned the Pulse, a Microwave XT, and a Micro Q, all of which have served me well, especially when I get the urge for that thick and luscious synth-pop sound they do so well. So when the Blofeld first came out a number of years back I got my hands on one, not being able to resist hearing what was on offer. I think it was to the Blofeld’s detriment that it hit the market in a low point for hardware synthesisers and it almost went unnoticed for some time, only getting the attention of Waldorf fans. But now, with the introduction of its bigger, evil brother, Blofeld is back to take over the world once again.

13 Oct

22 Mar

Reviewed: Kawai ES110 digital piano

Kawai Australia| kawai.com.au | Expect To Pay: $995

There are few of us that would dispute the fact that Kawai certainly know how to put together a beautiful playing and sounding piano. This also translates to their digital piano range where they implement sounds and engineering techniques recreate the tone and feel of their acoustic works of art. It is little wonder that so many people turn to a Kawai ES series digital piano when looking to learn and play piano at home. It doesn’t take up anywhere near the space of the real thing, and costs a considerably lower amount than an upright or a grand, yet still offers the playability and sound that you would expect from Kawai. The new ES110 is no exception, and being able to test drive it this month left me wondering why I haven’t touched a Kawai in so many years.

22 Mar

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