Digital Piano Yamaha P115 Full Review. Is it a good choice?

Digital Piano Yamaha P115 Full Review. A good choice?

Today in this article we are going to analyze a very popular piano keyboard of the Yamaha brand. The Yamaha P115 or P115b keyboard (no difference in performance, the b refers to the color black)

The Yamaha P115 is a portable digital piano. Its main objective is to emulate the touch and feel of playing a normal acoustic piano. Whether glue or wall and it must be said that the result is very good. Especially considering its price.

Next, we advance the best stores to buy it. After it, keep scrolling down and reading because we have all the information about this digital piano, and a video review really useful.

Where to Buy Yamaha P115?

Note: We update the links to Yamaha P125

Amazon

• Free Shipping and the possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
• Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment
• A leader in fast shipments.
• The price change a lot daily.
• The best option in USA and Asia

Thomann

• Free Shipping
• Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
• 100% reliable payment.
• A leader in trouble-free shipping.
• Usually the best price.
• Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalog and information.

Hammer Action and velocity sensitivity

What differentiates a piano keyboard from other keyboards is the sensitivity of the keyboard to the force with which the key is pressed. So the note will sound louder or weaker depending on how you press the key. Yamaha has several technologies to imitate the Hammer Action of acoustic pianos.

In this case, the system used is the GHS or Graded Hammer Standard and is one of the most prestigious standards. Many consider it superior to Roland’s and Casio’s systems. The GHS is usually on all Yamaha keyboards with a price of under 1000 €. There are other superior technologies.

The GHS system supports 4 keystroke levels that are Hard / Medium / Soft / Fixed and the keys have a texture that mimics a real piano. The Hammer Action of the keys is vital for the correct study of the piano. And of course, it has 88 keys like a real piano. It measures 132.6 cm wide, 16.3 cm is high and 29.5 cm deep.

Sound quality

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In this respect, the Yamaha P115 has a lot of strength. On piano keyboards, the sound of the keys is pre-recorded from a real piano. And it is very important that the sound is recorded in such a way that the nuances of the sound are not lost. The sound of the Yamaha P115 has been recorded with the CF3S sampling technology, which is better than the AWM technology.

The results are amazing. Listening tests have been made between a piece played on a Yamaha P115 and another one recorded with an acoustic piano and only very advanced conservatory students were able to notice the difference and after several listeners.

It has a polyphony of 192 notes and 14 voices and powerful 7W x 2 speakers, so you can play in many places without the need for extra amplification, types of restaurants and similar.

Here is a good review of the Yamaha P115 for you to know everything about this popular digital piano. Below are comparisons with other keyboards and online stores to buy it at the best price.

Computer connectivity

Today’s computer connectivity is vital and it’s just the best advantage you have of piano keyboards over acoustic pianos. We can do such wonderful things as play a piece and simultaneously write the music sheet on our computer with programs like Sibelius.

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Author

Advice:

From this post you can control the price of this piano quickly as you have direct links to various stores. If you save this post in bookmarks or favorites of your browser you will have it available easily and accessible.

For them, the Yamaha P115 keyboard has a USB to HOST MIDI connector. This allows you to record MIDI tracks in any music editing or recording program and then export this track to music sheet. For this, we can use any program such as Ableton or Cubase.

The possibilities offered by the MIDI interface are vital in recording and composing. But it is also today that tremendous learning pathways are opening up with applications such as Flowkey and Piano Marvel.

To connect the iPad many people wonder what connector is needed. At the end of the Yamaha P115 you connect a fat USB cable, you can see it in the image, and connect it to the iPad you need the USB adapter.

With the purchase of the keyboard come 3 months of free subscription to the Flowkey app. Although this does not need a MIDI connection because it picks up what you play with the computer or tablet microphone so that it corrects you interactively at the moment while you play with their video tutorials.

Can it be used in any situation?

The Yamaha P115 keyboard is one of the most versatile on the market. Well, it is as good for the studio as it is to live. It has enough power in its sound output thanks to the “sound boost” so that you can connect it to high-powered sound equipment without the need for a preamp. It is got a lot on it.

It is a piano keyboard at a very affordable price, making it a perfect choice for conservatory study at all levels if you do not have a wall-mounted piano.

Of course, he wears headphones so that he can study at home without disturbing the neighbors. It has a double headphones output and the possibility of dividing the keyboard into two so that teachers and students can study on the same keyboard. The Yamaha P-115 is undoubtedly the most popular choice among professionals and students who want a piano keyboard battle.

In addition to its weight of 11.8 Kg is a fully portable keyboard with a backpack keyboard with handles.

Extra features

Comes with a sustain pedal. Vital for the interpretation of the piano and keeping the sound of the note in time even if you stop pressing the key. It is not of extreme quality that comes with the Yamaha P115, but it fits the bill.

It also comes with the mains adapter for plugging it into the mains.

You can not run on batteries. So it is portable, but it is not good for playing on the street. Unless you take a battery or a small generator, but that is already a little difficult sometimes.

It has memory to record 2 tracks and then play over them in a very usable way.

The recording is in SMF format.

Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P115

The P-45 cannot record parts, and this can be an interesting option for beginners. The polyphony of the Yamaha P 45 is 64 versus 192 of the P115. But the fundamental difference is that the piano sound of the Yamaha P115 has been recorded with the CF3S system.

More sophisticated than the sample with which the P45 has been recorded, which is the AWM standard.

The P-115 also has the Sound Boost button which is like a kind of “turbo” to get more presence in live performances.In addition, the Yamaha P115 has a line outlet to connect to any PA or mixing console without the need for an injection box. So it’s good for live. And the P115 has many applications that improve its usability.

Yamaha P105 vs Yamaha P115

The Yamaha P 115 is an evolution of the Yamaha P105 model.

It has integrated speakers that sound better and a maximum polyphony of 192 against the 128 of the Yamaha P105. Here there is no doubt, better the Yamaha 115 because in addition, you will buy them almost at the same price. Unless you find the Yamaha P105 very well priced in the second-hand market.

Yamaha P115 vs Yamaha P125

In this case, not much has been done with the Yamaha P125 but 10 new piano sounds have been added. Which by keeping the same price is always a plus. It is best if you take a look at our review of the Yamaha P125.

Yamaha P115 vs Roland FP 30

Here the competition is very close. Although Yamaha wins in polyphonic memory, Roland FP 30 wins in other aspects. The differences are detailed below:

• The Yamaha P115 gains in polyphonic memory as it has 192 voices compared to the 128 of the Roland FP 30. This makes the sound of the Yamaha more quality. Another thing is that you get to like more the Roland nuances as the tone.
• Roland’s Hammer Action system has 5 sensitivities and Yamaha’s 4. We like Roland’s Hammer Action a little more.
• The Yamaha P115 is less heavy. A couple of Kg that sometimes you notice a lot if you transport it weekly to tests and similar without a car.

Don’t hesitate to read our full review of the Roland FP 30 if you want to know more about this piano keyboard.

Where to buy Yamaha P115?

You can get the best price by shopping online. For this, it is important that the store does not fail in shipping. That accepts returns without questions and gives you a full warranty. At America and Asia check Amazon but at Europe check Thomann:

We hope you found this article useful. If you want to see more brands our ranking with the best digital pianos of the moment is the ideal post. What is a little cheaper and may be a very option to consider.

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

• YAMAHA YDP-S34 ARIUS
• YAMAHA YDP 163
• YAMAHA YDP 143
• YAMAHA PSR S770
• YAMAHA PSR S670
• YAMAHA PSR E453
• YAMAHA PSR E443
• YAMAHA P45
• YAMAHA P255
• YAMAHA P125
• YAMAHA P-121
• YAMAHA P115
• YAMAHA P105
• YAMAHA DGX 660
• YAMAHA ARIUS YDP 142
• YAMAHA PSR S775
• YAMAHA PSR E463
• YAMAHA P35
• THOMANN SP 5600
• THOMANN DP-33
• THOMANN DP-31
• ROLAND JUNO DS61
• ROLAND JD XI
• ROLAND GO KEYS
• ROLAND FP-60
• ROLAND FP 80
• PIANO THOMANN SP 320
• MOOG SUB PHATTY
• MOOG MOTHER 32
• MINIMOOG MODEL D
• KURZWEIL SPS4-8
• KURZWEIL SP6
• KURZWEIL SP4-8
• KURZWEIL FORTE SE
• KURZWEIL FORTE 8
• KURZWEIL ARTIS 7
• KORG PA-700 ORIENTAL
• KORG PA-700
• KORG PA600
• KORG PA-300
• KORG PA-1000
• KORG KROSS
• KORG KRONOS
• KORG HAVIAN 30
• KORG GRANDSTAGE 88
• CASIO PX-870 PRIVIA
• CASIO PX-770 PRIVIA
• CASIO PX-5S PRIVIA PRO
• CASIO PX-560 PRIVIA
• CASIO PX-360 PRIVIA
• CASIO PX 160
• CASIO CT-X800
• CASIO CT-X700
• CASIO CT-X5000
• CASIO CT-X3000
• CASIO CDP 130
• THOMANN DP 26
• ROLAND FP 90
• ROLAND FP 30
• ROLAND FA 06
• ROLAND BK 5
• KORG SP 280
• KORG MONOLOGUE
• KORG MINILOGUE
• KORG MICROKORG
• KORG LP 380
• KORG B1
• KAWAI ES8
• KAWAI ES110
• KAWAI ES100
• KAWAI CN27
• KAWAI CN25
• CASIO CDP 230
• ARTURIA MICROBRUTE
• CASIO CDP S100

 

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Quick Comparison Table with the 3 Best Digital Pianos between 300€ and 400€ (400 USD to 500 USD at USA)

Quick Comparison Table with the 3 Best Digital Pianos between 400 € and 600 €

(500 USD to 700 USD at USA)

You can find it at a good price at Thomann:

And below a goo video review

 

 

The best MIDI controller keyboards of the moment

The best MIDI controller keyboards of the moment

A MIDI keyboard or MIDI controller is a device used to send information via the MIDI protocol to DAW software on computers, to sound modules, or synthesizers and keyboards. Usually these devices do not produce their own sound and are created to control software or sound modules, in which the sound would be emitted. Today we will analyze the best MIDI controller keyboards of the moment and the functionalities that make them a great choice for home studios and concerts.

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Arturia KeyLab MkII

It is the new version of the series of controllers that the brand launched in 2013 and that has put them on the market as one of the great current references in terms of MIDI controllers. The first thing that stands out about this controller are its wood finishes and its aluminum chassis which provides it the necessary hardness to resist travel and the normal work of a keyboardist, this detail is important since the vast majority of MIDI keyboard controllers are built entirely in plastic. It comes in 49- and 61-key versions with velocity sensitivity and aftertouch and is available in white and black.

MIDI control features 16 multipurpose pads with speed sensitivity, 9 sliders, 9 knobs and 9 buttons, plus a Transport section that supports the MCU/HUI protocol for easier control of multiple DAWs.Another important detail where it stands out is in its inputs and outputs, has 4 CV outputs to easily connect to modular systems and a CV input to receive information from this type of systems and has 5 pedal inputs, the classic “Sustain”, “Expression” and 3 more auxiliary pedals that can be assigned to what users want, also with input and output for MIDI of 5 pins and USB connectivity.

This keypad can be configured in 3 modes: “Analog Lab” mode that allows a complete integration with the highly praised Analog Lab software of the Arturia brand where you have access to more than 6,500 high quality presets emulating many types of classic analog and digital synthesizers, electronic pianos and organs.”DAW” mode where thanks to its integration with the Mackie HUI protocol they can handle different functionalities in each DAW, without having to configure or assign any of its controls.”User” mode where custom control settings can be used and saved according to the user’s needs.

Finally, it includes with its purchase, the Analog Lab software in the most recent version, the DAW Ableton Live Lite and the Piano V Software with an excellent acoustic piano sound.

Arturia KeyLab Essential

The Arturia KeyLab Essential series is the economic version of the KeyLab series, reducing some controls but maintaining very similar functionalities and changing the metal chassis for a plastic one, but keeping the wood finishes on the edges.

It is available in 49 and 61 keys with velocity sensitivity, but without aftertouch and comes in two colors, black and white.

One of the most notable cuts is that it has only 8 multipurpose pads versus 16 pads on the KeyLab, but maintains the 9 faders and 9 knobs of the Keylab model.

Your purchase includes the following software: Arturia Analog Lab with more than 6,500 high quality presets emulating many types of classic analog and digital synthesizers, electronic pianos and organs.

The Ableton Live Lite and the UVI Grand Piano. In terms of connectivity only has input for sustain pedal and MIDI output of 5 pins in addition to its USB connectivity.

Roli Seaboard Rise

Several years ago the Roli brand surprised the world by completely revolutionizing the way of playing the piano, with the Seaboard Grand, a 61-key MIDI controller keyboard with the possibility of being played in various dimensions to achieve an expression unmatched until now.After the resounding success of this equipment, the brand presents us the Seaboard Rise series, which presents very similar functionalities with some improvements and greater portability (it is available in 25 and 49 keys) with an XY pad and 3 faders.

To be more portable, it can be powered by battery for 8 hours and communicates with the computer via Bluetooth. Its 5 dimensions are unique and it can be executed by pressing, tapping, hitting, sliding from top to bottom or from right to left and vice versa, managing to control multiple parameters with these movements, and so unique are these dimensions that the brand has created a specialized software to be executed with this keyboard controller, the equator player, a powerful virtual synthesizer with sounds created especially for the 5 dimensions of the Seaboard.

There are also other sound banks from other manufacturers that have already added functionalities compatible with this controller as the Strobe 2 of Fxpansion and various libraries of strings rubbed, among others.Included with the purchase of this driver are: two virtual synthesizers: Equator with hundreds of presets available and Strobe 2 and two DAWs: Tracktion Waveform and Bitwig 8-Track.

Roli Block Seaboard

For the Roli brand it was not enough to present to the market the piano of the future, they continue to surprise every day with their innovations and the most recent thing they have presented is the set of equipment of the Roli Blocks line, a series of wireless controllers of mini size at a much more accessible price with the ability to connect between them to make more powerful controllers, allowing the user to buy only the blocks with the functionalities he needs.

The Seaboard Block is a small keyboard with 25 keys with the same possibilities of execution as for the 5 dimensions of control of its big brothers the Seaboard Rise and the Seaboard Grand, but without pad XY nor faders.

Finally, in terms of software, this driver includes the equator player with more than 100 presets available, as well as the NOISE app for iPhone and iPad and the Dashboard Blocks which is the software that allows the connection between several devices in the Blocks series.

Akai Advance

This is one of the most advanced controllers on the market and is the Akai brand’s bet on a control surface that requires as little interaction with the computer as possible during the use of virtual instruments.

The most striking thing about this controller is its 4.3 inch screen where we can see the VIP software, in which we can load all our library of virtual instruments and use them in our favorite DAW or independently as stand-alone, and thanks to this software the controller allows on your screen, the complete library of our presets as well as specific parts of the virtual synthesizer we are using.

This software allows you to create “multis” sounds from up to 8 virtual synthesizers simultaneously, as well as keyboard splits by zones and compatibility with all VSTs.

In terms of physical controls, this keyboard features 8 speed and pressure sensitive luminous pads, Pitch Bend and modulation controls, and 8 assignable knobs.It also includes integration with the most popular DAWs with ready-to-use routings without additional configurations.

Additional MIDI input and output via 5-pin and USB ports and input for sustain and expression pedals.Included with the purchase of this driver is the VIP software and a 16 GB library with over 10,000 sounds from renowned designers such as Air Music Technology, Sonivox and Prime Loops.

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S MKII

This series of controller keyboards is the new version of the Komplete Kontrol S, the perfect controller to accompany the Native Instruments software, Komplete.

In this second version of the series were included 2 high resolution screens in full color that minimizes the interaction with the computer in the use of virtual instruments, allowing the user to see the information of Komplete Kontrol software on their screen without having to look at the computer.

Each screen has 4 knobs underneath it that allow you to modify different parameters of the Komplete Kontrol software.

It should be noted that the Native Instruments brand is very prominent in the development of music software, and has libraries, effects and virtual synthesizers quite powerful and positioned in the music production industry, and this becomes a great advantage in this controller because with its purchase comes included the package Komplete 11 Select containing 11 instruments of the brand and exclusive effects, in addition to the possibility of upgrading to Komplete 11 or Komplete 11 Ultimate libraries containing a large number of musical instruments of the highest quality.

It has Pitch Bend and Modulation wheels and under them an assignable Ribbon control that allows you to get closer to the sensation of an expression pedal.

It also includes integration with the most popular DAWs with ready-to-use routings without additional configurations. On each key there is an RGB led that allows to identify the modifier keys and the keyboard zones when making splits.This keyboard controller is available in 49 and 61 speed and pressure sensitive keys.

M-Audio Code

The M-Audio Code Series features a group of keyboard controllers at an affordable price with ample controls of different types, 16 speed-sensitive pads, 9 faders, 8 knobs, 9 buttons, an X/Y pad and the classic pitch bend and modulation wheels.

It is available in 25, 49 and 61 speed- and pressure-sensitive keys in black and white. It also has 4 assignable zones for multilayer sounds and divisions.

Your controls can be automatically mapped to the main DAWs to control these programs easily without having to assign any parameters.

In terms of software included with your purchase: the DAW Ableton Live Lite, and virtual synthesizers Hybrid 3.0 and Loom, of the manufacturers Air Music Technology.

Alesis Vortex Wireless 2

An incredible Keytar controller keyboard and also wireless, for all those keyboards that want to steal the live show, with a keyboard that allows them to walk around the stage without cables and with the power in the sound that give the virtual synthesizers.

This controller has 37 speed and pressure sensitive keys and additionally features 8 backlit pads, 8 faders, pitch bend wheel and an assignable ribbon control.

It also includes integration with the most popular DAWs with ready-to-use routings without additional configurations.

It is powered by 4 AA batteries and communicates with the computer via a USB wireless receiver.Your purchase includes the DAW Ableton Live Lite and the virtual synthesizers: Hybrid 3, Loom 2, Vacuum Pro and Xpand!2 from AIR Music Technology and the TimewARP2600 from Sonivox.

https://youtu.be/N5a2_4NBtZw

Conclusions

Virtual synthesizers are becoming more and more powerful, and as they become more and more powerful, they are becoming an indispensable element for many music producers and keyboards in live and studio environments.

Along with these, grows the importance of MIDI controllers increasingly oriented to the use and control of virtual synthesizers and a sample of that are the keyboard controllers addressed in this list with features of last generation.

If you want to know more about MIDI controllers, check out our complete MIDI keyboard guide and you can also read  our digital piano guide. Thank you for reading!