Review and Opinion of Roland FP80 – In-depth Analysis

If you’re looking for an 88-key keyboard that simulates a piano and has a variety of voices and rhythms, Roland FP 80 is for you.

It goes without saying that Roland is a brand that is characterized by making high-quality keyboards and digital pianos and the FP 80 is no exception, as it has everything you need to have the best of both worlds in one package.

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

The FP 80 is ideal for those looking for versatility, as you can connect microphones, USB drives for recording, and even the triple pedal (RPU-3) to simulate a piano in its entirety.

Now, let’s break down the features and benefits of this keyboard.

Where to buy it?

Features

The Roland FP 80 has 88 pressure-sensitive keys, piano sound, voices, tones and rhythms, in other words, it is a complete keyboard designed for those who want to replace a piano but without sacrificing the classic functions of a keyboard such as the use of tones and rhythms, as well as a USB input that makes it an ideal keyboard for studio recording.

The most relevant features of the Roland FP 80 are:

  • 88 Keys with Ivory Feel-S sensitivity, Hammer Action keyboard.
  • Pressure-sensitive sound (100 levels of sensitivity or fixed sensitivity)
  • Natural Piano Sound
  • 128 Voices or Notes from polyphony
  • MIDI Format and Visual Control
  • MIDI connector ( IN/OUT)
  • Ringtones
  • 14 Tones of Grand Piano (Piano de Cola)
  • 25 Studio Piano Ringtones
  • 18 String Tones
  • 296 Miscellaneous Tones
  • Microphone Input 1/4
  • Headphone Input 1/4
  • Rhythms
  • USB Flash Drive
  • Internal Songs

Sound

The sound of the FP 80 is quite clean, with unique nuances that make it possible to imitate a piano perfectly, the sensitivity of the keys allows the pianist to express himself freely.

In the following video, you can see the sound quality of the Roland FP 80 in its piano mode.

For those who enjoy playing different musical genres or who simply want to play musical compositions for other instruments, the diversity of voices and tones that FP 80 shows will be very useful, as they allow the pianist to have total control over his music.

Below is a video where you can listen to the various voices included in the keyboard.

In the previous video, you can see that the sound quality of the Roland FP 80 is really good in all its voices, so you won’t have any problem using it for more than just a piano.

Connectivity

Nowadays it is essential that a keyboard has several options for recording music, a situation that the Roland FP 80 has no problem covering because it has a USB port, in addition to MIDI input, allowing you to record with a memory (although Roland only recommends using the USB Flash option manufactured by themselves).

The Roland FP 80 features microphone and headphone inputs allowing you to add an amplifier or simply study in the peace of mind.

Last but not least, Roland’s FP 80 has the option to add the 3 pedals of a piano, allowing you to generate a higher quality sound.

Advantages of the Roland FP 80

The main advantages of acquiring the Roland FP 80 keyboard are:

  • 88 Pressure Sensitive Keys
  • High-Quality Sound ( Especially Piano Voice )
  • Versatility
  • Connectivity

Roland FP 80 Vs Roland FP 90

The Roland FP 80 and the FP 90 are very similar keyboards, the main features are practically identical and even the keyboards look very similar, however, the real difference between both models is the incorporation of functions and feature enhancement that the Roland FP 90 presents.

Among the improvements presented by the FP 90 are found:

  • Progressive hammering action
  • Premium sounds for live performances.
  • Bluetooth connectivity and synchronization with smartphones and tablets
  • Improvement in rhythmic accompaniments

Now let’s talk briefly about these 4 points, Roland improved the sensitivity system of the FP 80, adding a progressive hammering with an exhaust that totally simulates a piano. Premium sounds for live performances are designed to optimize voices when using the keyboard in an auditorium. The Bluetooth connectivity and synchronization allow you to listen to your tracks and integrate them to interpret an ensemble with various audio applications and finally the rhythms included in the application Piano Partner 2 are totally improved for this version.

If you want more information, you can visit our review of the Roland FP 90.

Roland FP 80 Vs Yamaha P255

The Roland FP 80 and the Yamaha P255 are two keyboards that can compete perfectly well, both have touch systems focused on simulating a piano (key sensitivity), in terms of connectivity the two keyboards have MIDI, USB, input for headphones, and piano pedals, however below are the main differences between the two keyboards:

  • The Roland FP 80 has 128 polyphony voices while the Yamaha P255 has 256.
  • The Roland FP 80 has a piano voice approach, with 14 voices dedicated to grand piano and 25 to studio piano, giving a total of 39 different piano sounds, while the Yamaha P255 has 24 piano sounds.
  • The Yamaha P255 has an application to recognize the chords of your favorite songs, Roland FP 80 has an application in continuous development but at the moment does not have a powerful chord recognition.

If you still don’t decide which one is best for you, you should consider that there are great similarities between a Yamaha P255 and a Roland FP 80, however, if your orientation is more to classical piano the Roland FP 80 could be a clear winner, since it has more voices.

If you want more information, you can visit our review of the Yamaha P255.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a keyboard that allows you to enjoy all the benefits of a digital piano, the Roland FP 80 is for you. The quality of the sound and the versatility of its functions make the FP 80 an option for pianists and keyboard players.

The price of the FP 80 makes it a good choice for those who want to get started in the world of the piano with a very professional keyboard or those who want to have a good alternative for high-quality home recording.

It is necessary to consider that if you are looking for a digital piano and you have a budget greater than 2000 Euros there are better options, for example, the Roland HP601, if on the contrary, you are looking for something much cheaper do not hesitate to see our selection of the best digital pianos of the moment.

On the other hand, if you do not have a budget higher than 200 € or $ you can be interested in our guide with the cheapest keyboards more convenient.

Where to buy the Roland FP 90 (new model of the Roland FP 80)

It is better to buy in an online store that assures you the correct transport. Besides, buying online can save you a lot of money. You can search for the product at any Roland dealer in your area. But don’t hesitate to take a look at its price on Amazon with the following button:

For a similar price you have the following pianos and keyboards:

Did you like this article?

Jaime Echagüe

Hi! I'm Jaime Echagüe, a musician and an authentic fan of musical instruments. With this blog I want to give general information about musical instruments in an easy, direct and honest way. I hope you enjoy my website and that you find it very useful.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below