Roland FP-30X FAQ | Features, Performance, And Overall Value | Digital Piano FAQ

 

The Roland FP-30X is easily one of the single most popular 88-key digital pianos currently on the market, known for its killer combination of key touch, piano sound, features, connectivity, portability and very reasonable price point.

Now, if you’re considering the FP-30X and are in the midst of research, there’s a chance that very specific questions about this piano have come up in your mind, the answers to which aren’t readily apparent in the FP-30X’s marketing literature, specs sheets or various online piano reviews.

Fortunately for you, we’ve scoured the internet and created this Roland FP-30X FAQ - compiling the 12 most commonly asked questions. In today’s article and companion video, we’ll be providing answers to these commonly asked questions to help fill in the missing pieces of your research.

Roland FP-30X FAQ - 12 Most Commonly Asked Questions

FAQ #1: What is the Difference Between the FP-30 and FP-30X?

First of all, we have done a video on this exact question over on our YouTube channel, where we go through every detail point by point. If you want a super in-depth breakdown, we’d recommend checking that video out.

But to quickly summarize, Roland has improved in several areas with the FP-30X that are very meaningful. For one, they’ve upgraded the sound chip architecture to Roland’s new BMC chip which is able to render a far more complex version of the SuperNATURAL piano sound engine - the improved sound quality is easily apparent when playing the FP-30 and the FP-30X side-by-side even though the amplifier power is the same.

Secondly, courtesy of the new BMC chip, the polyphony has been doubled from 128 to 256 notes. Thirdly, they’ve added 1/4” line outputs which is a huge deal as it firmly establishes the FP-30X has a gigging option for professionals and means no more messing with the headphone outputs. Number four, Bluetooth audio has been added to the mix as well.

Finally, the FP-30X also adds a built-in USB audio interface which is going to be a really nice bonus for anyone working with DAW software.

As you can see, to call the FP-30X an improvement over the FP-30 would be a grand understatement. 

FAQ #2: What Does the USB Audio Interface Do?

The built-in USB audio interface allows you to transfer audio information directly from your FP-30X to a DAW without the need for an external audio interface. This cuts down on additional gear and clutter in your workspace.

 

FAQ #3: Is the Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Discontinued?

Yes, the FP-30 is technically discontinued and the FP-30X is its replacement. Roland does not overlap production when a new model replaces an older model as you see in other industries, such as video game consoles for example.

This means that when you’re doing research, be sure to include the “X” in your searches to ensure you are in fact learning about the FP-30X as opposed to the FP-30.

While Roland is no longer manufacturing or shipping FP-30s, you can most definitely still find them on the second-hand market.

 

FAQ #4: How much does the FP-30/FP-30X Cost?

How much is the FP-30X versus the FP30? As is typically the case with new models, there has been a price increase with the FP-30X, in this case, by around $100 USD in most markets.

The exact cost will depend on your geographic region, but in general, an increase of $100 USD can be expected.

 

FAQ #5: Does the Roland FP-30X have MIDI?

The answer here is another “yes”. Virtually, all modern digital pianos work on a MIDI-based framework, meaning that the signals that the keys send to the tone generator are all based on MIDI language.

Most digital pianos and keyboards are built in a way that allows you to externalize MIDI information to both send and receive said information with other devices. The FP-30X has both Bluetooth MIDI and USB Flash Drive MIDI.

 

FAQ #6: Is the FP-30X Good for Beginners?

The answer to this question is an emphatic "Absolutely." Of course, this needs to be considered within the context of affordability and budget. If you’re comfortable in the price range of the FP-30X, it’s without question a fantastic option for beginners.

If you’re working with a budget in a lower price range, there are still a number of 88-key weighted action digital pianos available that will also be fine for a beginner starting piano lessons.

Why is the FP-30X a fantastic beginner option if the budget allows? Most significantly, because of the presence of Roland’s excellent PHA4 Standard action (also found in the more expensive FP-60X) - the top key action available in the price in our opinion here at Merriam Pianos due to its triple sensor, escapement, adjustable touch sensitivity and ivory feel key tops.

Add in a great piano tone, speaker system, multiple connectors, features like split, twin piano, transpose and metronome, compatibility with education apps, included damper pedal (sustain pedal) and the option to add the KSC-70 keyboard stand and KPD-70 triple pedal unit, all of which adds up to an incredible total package.

 

FAQ #7: Does the Roland FP-30X have Weighted Keys?

The Roland FP-30X most definitely has weighted keys. If you’re not familiar with the concept of weighted keys, it essentially means that the keys are designed to replicate the weighting of an acoustic piano key in terms of how much force the player has to provide to get the key in motion.

You’ll probably hear piano teachers or people you know with piano experience harping on the fact that the digital piano you choose needs to have weighted keys if you’re serious about learning piano. This is because weighted keys are necessary to learn the nuances and sense of control necessary to play an acoustic piano.

 

FAQ #8: Does the FP-30X Come with a Music Stand?

The FP-30X (and all FP-X series portable digital pianos) ships with a free plastic music stand (sometimes called music rest) in the box.

It’s lightweight, easily removable, and can definitely accommodate standard sheet music and music books.

 

FAQ #9: How Do You Connect the Roland FP-30X to a Computer?

There are two ways to connect the FP-30X to a computer. The first way is through a standard USB cable, and this is going to be the most stable method. Simply plug one end of the cable into the USB port on the FP-30X, and the other end into the USB port on your computer, which results in a MIDI connection.

If your computer is Bluetooth enabled, you can also connect wirelessly via the FP-30X’s Bluetooth MIDI function.

 

FAQ #10: How Do You Record On the FP-30/FP-30X?

The FP-30X has an internal USB audio connection, so you can record audio information (WAV) directly to a DAW by simply connecting via a USB cable. The FP-30 doesn’t have this feature, so to record to a DAW, you’ll have to use the headphone jack to run a splitter that then runs a 1/4” jack into an external USB audio interface.

Secondly, on both pianos, you can record MIDI files wirelessly via various apps available for Android and iOS

Thirdly, both pianos have basic internal recorders that can be activated with the press of a button (further instructions are available in the owner’s manual here.)

 

FAQ #11: How Do You Connect the Roland FP-30x to Bluetooth?

The first step to connecting your FP-30X to a device via Bluetooth is to ensure that the Bluetooth MIDI connection is actually turned on. To turn the connection on, hold the function button and press the lowest A - this turns the Bluetooth function on.

Next, press and hold the function button until it starts to blink in a blue color. From there. launch the Piano Every Day app on your Smart Device. The app will automatically begin searching for a piano, and shortly after the FP-30X will appear which you can select.

Once connected, you can start using all of the various features of the Roland Piano Every Day and Piano Designer apps. You can also navigate and control the various functions and sounds of the instrument through your Smart Device, easily scrolling through various grand piano, synthesizer and electric piano sounds (the e-piano sounds are especially nice.)

Apps like Apple’s Garageband and others that offer arranger keyboard-like functionality are also accessible.

 

FAQ #12: Is the FP-30/FP-30x Good or Live Performances?

The FP-30 was certainly capable of being used as a performance instrument, but it wasn’t ideally or particularly suited for this purpose.

The various upgrades to the FP-30X make it a much more capable performance instrument, especially with regards to the upgraded polyphony and of course, the inclusion of discreet 1/4” outputs meaning no messing around with adapters is the biggest reason why the FP-30X is a legit performance instrument.

The build quality and overall durability were already present with the FP-30, but these improved features take it one step further.

 

Roland FP-30X FAQ - Wrap-Up

We hope this article covering the top 12 Roland FP-30X FAQ has been helpful. Stay tuned for more entries in this series where we’ll cover other Roland instruments such as the Roland FP-90X, as well as instruments from other manufacturers such as the Yamaha P-125, Kawai ES-120 (coming soon), and Casio PX-S1100.

The post Roland FP-30X FAQ | Features, Performance, And Overall Value | Digital Piano FAQ first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Comparison & Demo

 

Welcome to another piano comparison here with us at Merriam Pianos. In this piece, we'll be comparing two titans of the under $1,000 portable digital piano category as we look at the Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30.

Thousands of these instruments wind up in homes all around the world every single year as best sellers in the beginner to intermediate category (especially on Amazon for the P125) thanks to the combination price, unintimidating user-friendly minimalistic design, and musical punch they pack.

They are very different musically, however, which is why we'll be comparing the sound engines, actions, and other important features to see what kind of musical experience each of these 88-key digital pianos has to offer.

We also have in-depth individual Roland FP-30 and Yamaha P125 reviews, as well as reviews of other similar pianos from Casio, Kawai, and Korg.

Let's start by comparing the sound engines. 

Discontinued Model Notice: The Roland FP-30 has been replaced by the new Roland FP-30X. See our review on YouTube here.

Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30 Piano Sound

Polyphony

Let's start with the FP-30bk. The FP-30 has a polyphony count of 128 notes and 22 watts of speaker power courtesy of the dual 11-watt speaker system.

That 128-note polyphony is certainly an improvement over what you get on the Roland FP-10 with 96 notes, but it's a spec that most people shouldn't be too concerned with since it just refers to the maximum amount of notes a sound engine can play at once.

We're drawing attention to it here because the P125 has 192 notes, and that might lead people to believe that the P125 then has a more complex piano tone made up of more sample layers.

That's actually not the case here, and when you look at the waveform that the P125 with their Pure CF Sound Engine (sample of the CFIIIs Concert Grand Piano), versus the FP-30 and its SuperNATURAL Piano Sound engine, there's actually a more nuanced, such as a more believable damper resonance and string resonance, going on with the FP-30's tone.

 

Speakers

Part of this is probably also due to the speakers, as the Yamaha P125 has a noticeably weaker amplifier with 14 watts of total power (though it's a 4 speaker system with 2 tweeters). The extra speaker power from the FP-30 is just adding extra warmth and presence, especially in the lower register.

Now, all of this being said, there's very seldom a right and wrong when it comes to the type of piano sound you prefer, and these two engines do sound distinctly different.

Despite the P125 not sounding as warm or complex as the FP-30, some people will absolutely still prefer the brighter sound of the P125, which is quite representative of Yamaha digital pianos in general. Check out the video review above to hear exactly how both pianos sound.

 

Acoustic Piano Sounds

Moving on from the acoustic piano sounds, both of these instruments are nicely equipped with a good selection of presets Neither one has the full general MIDI 2 sounds, but you're still getting 24 sounds with the P125 and 35 on the FP30.

 

Electric Piano Sounds

Now, let's dive into some electric piano sounds. In some ways, for a keyboard player, the electric piano sounds can be even more revealing in terms of the level of authenticity than the acoustic piano tones.

In general, both pianos do a great job with their e-piano tones, particularly the P125. Things like organs, strings, and synthesizers are all quite nice here too.

 

P-125 Additional Sound Features

A couple of other things worth mentioning - the P125 has a couple of other cool sound-related features including a Table EQ, Sound Boost mode, Stereophonic Optimizer, and Intelligent Acoustic Control.

Let's move on to the action.

 

Roland PHA-4 vs Yamaha Graded Standard Piano Action

FP-30 PHA-4 Standard Keyboard

The FP-30 uses Roland's PHA-4 Standard Keyboard with Escapement and Ivory Feel. This is the same action with weighted keys that Roland puts in the FP-10 and more expensive FP-60, as well as some other models like the F140R and RP501R.

It's essentially Roland's staple mid-range hammer action that they deploy throughout the lineup until you get into the high-end portion of their offerings.

It's a very well-known, proven, and well-liked action out in the marketplace that also happens to be quite durable, and boasts triple sensor detection for a high degree of accuracy. There's a nice micro texture on the black keys and an ivory texture on the white keys, both of which add some extra grip by absorbing moisture.

 

Escapement Feature

The escapement feature is quite nice as it helps improve repetition speed - this is definitely something gigging musicians will notice and appreciate.

 

P-125 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Key Action

The P-125 is using Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard key action, or GHS for short. This is an action that's been on the market for quite a while, and it's probably one of the least advanced parts of the P125 with a dated dual sensor, though there is some adjustable touch sensitivity to accommodate different playing styles.

The action feels solid in the sense that there's not a lot of mechanical noise, and part of that is due to the fact that it's a more simple design than the PHA-4. There's no escapement on the GHS, and while there is a matte finish on the black keys, there's nothing on the white keys, meaning your finger can get slippery when moisture develops.

But you feel really sure-footed under, this action, and it can be quite forgiving. And there's not a hands-down winner between the two, as they do feel quite different.

Generally speaking though, the GHS is probably due for a bit of an update, so we wouldn't be surprised to see Yamaha coming out with some type of an update to that action in subsequent P-series models in the near future.

 

Features & Connectivity

The P125 has a couple of very cool features that we like about it. First of all, it's got built-in quarter-inch stereo outputs which make it very easy for you to be plugging into amps and PAs without eating up a headphone jack - a great feature for the price range.

This is a key connector for gigging musicians that is not present on the FP-30, where you'll have to settle for one of the headphone outputs as your line out.

The P125 and the FP-30 are both available with matching keyboard stands, as well as 3 pedal units. They both also come with pretty basic sustain pedals of the footswitch style, but we would actually highly recommend upgrading them, regardless of which piano you choose. The upgraded damper pedal options from each manufacturer are just so much more substantial.

One of the things that the Yamaha is missing that the P125 has is the Bluetooth connection. The P125 does not have any Bluetooth MIDI, but it does have a USB connection, so you can connect to an iOS device (iPad, iPhone) for music apps like the Yamaha Smart Pianist App that way.

The P125 has a really well-done onboard auto-accompaniment function. There are quite a few rhythms on here to choose from.

Rhythms are accessible via Roland's Piano Partner 2 app, but they are not built-in directly on-board like the P125.

Beyond that, we've got kind of the normal complement of all of your basics, like transpose, metronome, split mode, layer mode (duo), and Twin Piano Mode. Both of them have the ability to do that quite nicely.

 

Closing Thoughts

Let's do a quick summary here of the comparison between these two pianos. In terms of the speakers, the FP30 wins here by virtue of its extra power, even though it's using a 2 speaker system versus a 4 speaker on the P125 which does result in some extra clarity.

In terms of the tone engines, the FP30 is using the SuperNATURAL engine with 128 polyphony, versus the Pure CF engine with 192 notes of polyphony on the P125.

Then we've got the P125's GHS action with no texture on the white keys and no escapement, versus the PHA-4 where we've got a nice texture, escapement, and a triple sensor. They both come with music rests and power adapters (power supply) and are available with matching stands and triple pedals (KPD-70 and KSC-70). The P125 has a discreet AUX out, whereas the FP30 does not, but the FP30 has Bluetooth, and the P125 does not.

We hope this comparison of the Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-30, two immensely popular musical instruments has been helpful. Thanks for reading!

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Roland FP-30 vs Kawai ES110 | Digital Piano Comparison, Review & Demo

One of the most requested videos we’ve ever done was our comparison of the Roland FP-30 digital piano (since replaced by the Roland FP-30X) and Kawai ES110 (soon to be replaced by the Kawai ES120). These are two of the best-selling portable digital pianos in the world, and both are often touted as the two best options in the price range.

In this companion article to the video comparison, we’ll be taking a close look at both pianos, detailing their similarities and differences, while trying to paint a picture as to which one might be the best fit for you based on your personal needs.

Let’s get right into it.

Roland FP-30 vs Kawai ES110 - General Impressions

Let's start with some general impressions first. The ES110 is a great instrument for a wide number of reasons. For one, it weighs 26lbs meaning it’s one of the most portable 88-key weighted action digital pianos available. The FP-30 alternatively weighs a little bit over 31lbs.

The trade-off here is that due to the lower weight, the ES110 has less amplifier power with 14 watts in total compared to the FP-30, which has 22 watts of total power, and as a result, has a fuller sound overall, even though the ES110 actually has a warmer bass register.

Both pianos have very good actions, sound engines and overall functionality which is why both are so popular, with both beginners and more experienced musicians. Let’s compare how they sound.

Digital Piano Sound Comparison

Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging Sound Technology vs Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano Sound

The ES110 is using Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging engine, with a handful of different concert grand piano samples. The core sample is from their EX concert grand piano, and this is recorded with 88-key piano sampling for a very high degree of authenticity. 192-note polyphony means you’re not going to have any concerns in this regard, and there’s a nice variety of reverb settings including Concert Hall and Small Hall.

On the FP-30, we’ve got the SuperNATURAL sound engine, with 128 notes of polyphony. More or less, the difference in piano tone between these two really just comes down to personal preference. Both sounds have tons of detail and complexity to the tone with additional elements like damper resonance, damper noise and fallback noise, and they offer the user the ability to edit a decent number of parameters within those tones.

At this point, pop over to the video to hear some playing examples of both of these pianos as you’ll really get a clearer idea of the tonal differences that way.

Importance of High-Quality Sound

Something we tell everybody who's shopping for a piano, whether it's an acoustic or a digital, and whether you’re browsing Amazon or actually setting foot in a showroom, is to never compromise on the acoustic piano sound because at the end of the day, it's really nice to be able to just sit down, turn your piano on, and immediately piano sound that you love and inspires you to play.

If you're starting with a foundation where the primary objective is to start building piano playing experience, especially for beginners, the odds increase of successful endeavour increase if the player really enjoys the piano sound.

Non-Acoustic Piano Sounds

While the ES110 has 8 total acoustic piano patches compared to 6 on the FP-30, there are 19 total sounds on the ES110 which is nearly doubled up on the FP-30 with 35.

Both pianos have a nice selection of harpsichord tones that are going to work quite well if you’re practicing some Baroque music.

Electric pianos and synths are probably the highlights aside from the acoustic piano patches on both instruments as the ES110 and FP-30 have a nice selection of highly useable e-piano and even some synthesizer tones.

Overall, quality is pretty much a draw, but the FP-30 of course wins from a quantity perspective

Stereo Speaker Systems

As we briefly noted above, both pianos have a solid set of speakers. The ES110 is somewhat limited from a power output perspective with only 14 watts of power, but the quality of the speaker system is very high and the result is an especially warm bass register.

The FP-30 has more punch with 22 watts of power though the difference is not as pronounced as one may think when comparing the specs sheets.

Sound Wrap-Up

To sum up, what you're getting with both pianos regarding sound as a whole when it comes to the acoustic piano sounds, there’s no question that both instruments have excellent default piano patches.

The ES110 has a wider dynamic range and a more authentic tonal palette with the differences between loud and soft playing. This dynamic range tends to be a little bit compressed on the FP-30, which for a classical musician may be a consideration. For contemporary styles, it probably won’t matter.

The ES110 also has a greater polyphony count, though, at 128 notes, the FP-30 is no slouch in this category with many fine stage pianos sitting at 128 notes.

On the other hand, the FP-30 has almost double the total sounds and a more powerful speaker system.

Digital Piano Action Comparison

The key actions on both of these instruments considering the price point they’re both available at, are simply outstanding. You can’t go wrong selecting either one of these, whether from a performance or durability perspective.

Kawai’s Responsive Hammer Compact Action

The ES110 is using Kawai’s first-generation version of their Responsive Hammer Compact action (RHC). There’s a second-generation version of this action now featured in their newest KDP series home digital pianos with a triple sensor, but this first generation is still using a dual sensor.

The dual sensor means this action will not be quite as accurate from a MIDI output perspective as a triple sensor keyboard action, so that’s something to keep in mind.

There’s a slight texture on both the white and black keys, and the edges are nicely rounded. This makes it really easy and smooth for playing anything with a lot of thick chords where your fingers have to straddle multiple keys.

In terms of the sense of weighting, this action is a little bit lighter than we have over on the FP-30, but it’s not as light as what you would get over on the Yamaha P125 for example.

Roland’s PHA4 Standard Hammer Action

Over on the FP-30, we have Roland’s PHA-4 Standard action, and you’ll find this action throughout Roland’s lineup on models up to twice the price of the FP-30.

This is a very well-liked and popular action and is generally regarded as the top action available at this price point. In fact, some people even prefer this action to the more expensive PHA50 action featured throughout the upper portion of Roland’s lineup.

The PHA4 is equipped with a triple sensor, meaning the touch sensitivity is very good and capable of highly accurate MIDI output. The texture on the keytops here is more dramatic than the texture on the RHC action, and Roland refers to this as the Ivory Feel.

Another thing that's important to note is that the PHA4 also has escapement on the action, whereas the Kawai does not have any escapement. Escapement simulates the sensation one gets when playing a grand piano and can help with increasing repetition speed.

Digital Piano Action Wrap Up

There’s an interesting quandary in terms of making a clear recommendation between the Roland FP-30 vs Kawai ES110. On the action front, we would say that the FP-30 is going to accommodate a wider range of pianists since it’s slightly heavier and has a triple sensor along with escapement - classical players will certainly appreciate all of these things.

On the other hand, we really appreciate the dynamic nature and the richness of the Kawai piano sound, and the action is still good enough even for piano lessons so if you prefer the sound of the ES110, you’re not really sacrificing with the RHC action.

Hardware Accessories

Both pianos come with all of the basics in the box, but there are also some additional accessories you may wish to consider as well.

To start with what’s included at no extra charge, both pianos come with sustain pedals, otherwise known as damper pedals (DP2 on the FP-30, F-10H Damper Pedal on the ES110) as well as music rests.

Of course, they both also include a power supply and owner’s manual so you have everything you need to plug your keyboard in and start playing without the need for additional purchases.

In terms of optional upgrades, you may wish to purchase, both pianos are available with matching designer keyboard stands and triple pedal units.

If you’re looking at one of these pianos primarily for portability, these accessories probably aren’t necessary. If however, you envision both pianos being fairly stationary in your home, you may want to consider these additions.

In the case of the Roland FP30, the stand is referred to as the KSC-70, while the pedal unit is called the KPD-70. Over on the ES110, the stand is the HML1 stand, while the pedals are called the F350.

Bluetooth and MIDI Connectivity

In terms of connectors, both pianos have a pretty solid selection built right in. For starters, both pianos are equipped with Bluetooth MIDI, and while this is quite common now when both of these pianos came out, this was a pretty big deal for the time.

Bluetooth Wireless MIDI connectivity is very convenient as it allows you to connect to iOS and Android devices and access music apps like Garageband without cables. You can also view sheet music from a tablet which is great.

Both companies also have their own apps that allow you to control the features and functions of the keyboards from a smart device like an iPad, meaning you use things like the metronome, transpose, drum rhythms, twin piano mode and even reverb setting without having to menu dive on the instrument itself.

Both pianos also have dual headphone jacks, but from here, this is where the connectivity options start to diverge.

The FP-30 has both USB Type A and Type B meaning there’s a flash drive that you can use the song recorder to record WAV files directly onto. The ES110 does not have any physical USB ports.

The ES110 however has traditional 5-pin MIDI ports both in and out, and more significantly, it also has dual 1/4” line out jacks (L/MONO, R) meaning you can connect it to an amplifier or PA system if you need more power.

The FP-30 does not have discreet line outputs, and this is probably the single biggest drawback of the instrument as it makes it that much more challenging to gig with since you need to fiddle around with adapters if you need to connect to an amp.

Final Thoughts

This pretty much wraps up our digital piano review and comparison of the Roland FP30 vs Kawai ES110. These are two highly capable instruments that absolutely dominate the class. Warranty claims are rare for both instances, but fortunately, coverage is great should a need arise.

The FP-30 costs about $100 more and that extra spend gets you a slightly more powerful amplifier, arguably better action and more built-in sounds.

On the Kawai side, the ES110 is about 5lbs lighter than the FP-30 at 26lbs and is an extremely portable instrument as a result. If the acoustic piano sound is really your main focus, the ES110 has arguably the top acoustic piano sound in the class (though some would argue Casio’s Privia grand piano sounds have a case here too).

Kawai has also included quite a few music books such as the Alfred method books built right in as part of a lesson function which is a nice bonus.

Thanks as always for reading, and make sure to check out the companion video on these great musical instruments!

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Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Demo & Review | Merriam Pianos

Introduction

The anticipated Roland FP-30 portable 88-note digital piano is finally being reviewed by Merriam Pianos own Stu Harrison. The FP-30 digital piano is the perfect piano for players who don’t have the space or budget for a full-sized instrument.

The FP-30 is ideal for boasts a huge number of modern features normally found on high-end digital instruments that allow the pianist to broaden their musical experience. The acclaimed sound quality, SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine, Bluetooth® wireless support and popular music apps, are only a few points we are reviewing for the Roland FP-30 in the thousand-and-under category of digitals.

Stu Harrison is going to showcase and demo some of the stellar features that make this piano unique and how it stacks up against a Kawai ES110 or Yamaha P-125 in the same price range. Watch our video review and find out if the FP30 digital piano is right for you.

The Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Review - Video Transcription

Discussing The PHA-4 Key Action

As piano players, how it connects to us as an instrument has so much to do with our sense of its mechanism and how we physically communicate with the instrument. So, we're going to get started. Here we go. The action on Roland digitals have always been one of their strong suits. I've been playing Roland for many, many years, both personally and professionally, and I know them as generally having quiet keyboard action, and something that always hues pretty close to that of a real piano.

The instrument that I gig with right now, full-time, is the Roland RD-2000 Stage Piano, and I've played FP-50s in professional settings and on-stage performances - so I know it well, and makes it easy to compare the FP-30, something I've played it plenty of times in the showroom. I've also used it a few times on a couple of sort of impromptu recording sessions. So, I've spent many, many, many hours behind this instrument.

One of the things that I notice between playing a Roland generally versus, say, a Kawai, generally, digital piano, is that I do find the Roland action to be a little more forgiving. And this has both good implications and maybe for some people bad implications. It's forgiving, because I am able to be a little less accurate with it.

So, when I'm playing in, let's say, a non-classical setting, like, I'm playing in a pop setting or I'm playing in a jazz setting, I find that I can focus a little less on my fingers and on what I'm doing, and the Roland just intuitively feels like it's following me a little bit better, and quite frankly the number of wrong notes just sort of seems to somehow reduce itself.

The 88-note PHA-4 standard keyboard is what I'd describe as a very forgiving action. They've designed it that way. I don't think Roland is per se going after the hardcore acoustic classical piano market so much as Kawai is trying to intercept that customer. I think they fully realize that the majority of people who are purchasing and considering Roland digital pianos are definitely musicians, but perhaps not a classical pianist first and foremost.

It's probably more of a contemporary musician, or a new student perhaps who is looking at these instruments. So, first of all, the texture of the keys is nice. This is something that Roland does, probably at a lower price range than most others. They equip it with ivory feel keys, giving it even more of an authentic piano touch.

It's nice and comfortable for the fingers. And no matter how quietly or how loudly you press the key, the range of dynamic output is well-controlled. So, whether you're really banging on it or playing quietly, it really does give you a very nice almost slightly compressed dynamic output to it.
The physical feel of the key is definitely different than the Yamaha or Kawai as well. When you're playing the Roland, one of the things you do notice is that the key tends to hit the bottom of the keybed with a bit more of a thud than the Yamaha or the Kawai. Now, again, in some settings that's actually something that… The tactile sensation is pretty satisfying, to know that you're really connecting well with the key, and it's not something that's feeling mushy or inaccurate.

So, there's definitely a rhyme and a reason for why they've designed the hammer action keyboard that way. Now, the other thing that this does have, I believe, because I am feeling it a little bit, is this does feel like there's a bit of escapement on it. And the other thing that I notice is the keys compared to, say, a Roland FP-90 or a Roland FP-60, that just the key action overall is a little bit looser.

I'm not sure whether that's by design or whether it's just simply because for, you know, under a thousand dollars it's hard to get perfection every single time, but it does have a bit of a looser feel. So between, say, an ES-110, the Kawai, and this one, if I was to be doing anything that required some precision, and particularly anything if I was going to be doing some solo piano work, think I might default to the Kawai, whereas if I was going to be playing in a band setting or an ensemble, or something where the absolute precision wasn't going to be quite as particular, the Roland would be a strong consideration for me.

So, that's the PHA-4 Action - generally a great piano experience. So, now let's get into this pianos sound engine. Roland really prizes itself, and it should, on its ability to create really quite authentic, realistic tone and rich sound across a huge instrument rage. The FP 30 boasts Roland's renowned supernatural piano sound engine, that is the same programming found throughout the FP line and in some of their HP series and other high-end instruments.

I mean, they do everything from virtual accordions to organs to pianos to drum patterns, and their rich piano sound has definitely continued to improve over the years. I mean, I think one of the biggest Roland products that I've ever used was actually the Fantom-X8, which was this huge monstrous workstation, and that was back in the mid-2000s, and at that time, the piano tone on it was absolutely fantastic.

The Sound Engine / Tone Generator

The piano had lots of color, lots of dynamism to it, and it's something that I still think that the Roland FP-series delivers very, very well. I think the range of color that it gives, so I'm talking about specifically the shape of the sound as it changes from playing softly to playing loudly, is probably not quite as dynamically broad as what I might get on the Kawai ES-110, but nonetheless is an impressive sound and a responsive tone.

However, there are times in which you just want a really nice, consistent, easy-to-mix tone through a board or through a set of headphones. Specifically, if you're talking to a sound engineer and you're looking at the Roland curve, what tends to be intentionally omitted there is a lot of mid-range sort of thickness to the sound. You get it through the onboard speakers, as well as the headphones output.
So, this is designed to cut through a lot of noise quite easily. It's designed to be clear in your ear, but what you might feel a little bit is a lack of warmth. And so, this really comes down to personal preference. I have virtually an equal amount of people who sit down in front of a Roland FP-30 digital piano and the ES-110, and they'll, you know, fifty people will say, "Oh, the Roland sounds more authentic," and fifty people will say, "Oh, the Kawai or Casio feels more authentic." But bottom line the FP30 has a powerful amplifier, delivering a meaningful wattage for its size and price.
So, of course these are all very subjective things, but I do think for tone production, those two, although they are different, they focus on different things, really are the strongest offerings within this price range. Now, that's the acoustic piano we've talked about. There's of course a number of different acoustic pianos that you can play on here. They've got several options. In terms of specs, the polyphony on this tone engine is 128, and that's consistent across all the piano tones as well as the reasonably wide selection of other sounds like the organ, pads, strings, harpsichord, and electric piano sounds.

And I should also mention that this is being recorded actually through a couple of condenser mics on the floor. One of the things that is a little bit annoying about this model, and it's not going to apply to some people, it may apply to others, is there's not an independent audio out.
So, in other words, the only way to get a line out of this, is to take it out of the headphone jack, which automatically defeats the local stereo speakers. So, you either have it plugged in and you can't hear it, or you don't have it plugged in and you can hear it. And, of course, I need to hear it so that you and I can, you know, have this little FP-30 chat. And so, we can't have it directly plugged in. So, we're actually using an external microphone to plug it in.

Besides that, no effects, no EQ, no reverb. It's just what you're getting straight out of the instrument. So, beyond the acoustic piano you've got some really great electric piano sounds. It's got a nice decent crunch to it. And, of course, there's a whole other set of different sounds that fall into the 'Other' category which you can access through that, but we're going to lead right into one of the things that Roland really kind of helped to pioneer in the industry, which is the integration with other digital products like an iPad or an Android tablet using Bluetooth wireless connectivity.

Connectivity, Accessories, and Bluetooth

It's very, very easy to connect with Bluetooth, and Roland has a set of popular music apps that you can download for free off the App Store or the Google Play Store. And I've got one called Roland Piano Partner, and what this allows me to do, is instead of having to fiddle with the buttons on the menu, it actually allows me to select the sounds that I'm playing right off an easy-access screen.
So, if we're looking to play the Grand Piano, it's right there. Or if I want non-piano sounds I can play a synth bell, or strings, which is like a harp. So, integrating an iPad into this instrument turns what might've been a bit of a restrictive interface into a very easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, easy-to-connect digital interface that you can use within a device you already have.

So many of us already own smartphones or iPad or Android devices, so it's important to know that this isn't just working with tablets. You can actually connect smartphones to the piano via Bluetooth as well - the FP30 is fully wireless ready. So, you don't need a big device. You can even use this with a relatively small device. On top of that, the FP-30 has the usual suite of other, let's call it, like, fundamental basic features, such as transpose, you can split the keyboard. Roland also allows you to connect with other popular apps such as GarageBand, piaScore, Sheet Music Direct, Metronome, and many other sheet music apps.

You can turn on dual/split mode which allows you to blend two sounds together at once, and also a nice feature, you have the ability to actually play midi files (referred to as SMF files sometimes), MP3 or WAV tracks off of a USB-key. So, people who use this for some live performance, or even as a practice tool, you can connect USB memory stick in there and have sort of an audio backing track and you can play along with it, which is also pretty cool that Roland offers USB support. There's an onboard SMF recorder as well that allows you to make quick playback tracks / internal songs for yourself. The FP30 also offers Twin Piano mode which is ideal for lessons, letting student and teacher play side by side in the same octave ranges. It also has some basic on-board recording functions that provide a very convenient way to review your own playing, and overall just provides an expanded musical experience.

The FP-30 is very light - as we've mentioned - this bring very easy mobility with the instrument. And just like the ES-110, it's in the 30-pound range, so whether you are taking this to a gig or whether you are, you know, at home and you just need to save on a little bit of square footage, that part also works very well.

The FP-30 comes in a slab-format like we're seeing right here, and comes with a high-quality damper pedal, which will give you your basic sustain pedal function. It's a beautiful lightweight body that's easy to transport and provides easy mobility. But you can also get it with the optional matching stand called the KSC-70 and three-pedal unit, called the KPD-70, and Roland offers all of those, I believe, for 200 dollars a piece. So, for an extra 400 or 300, depends on what country you're in, you're able to add that. To keep it on the less-expensive side, you can always use a standard keyboard stand like an X-stand or z-stand. Please keep in mind that to use the KDP-70 pedal board, you'll NEED to purchase the KSC-70 stand, it cannot be used on its own.

Just obviously contact your local retailer. They will give you the pricing on what it costs to add the stand and add the pedal, but for people who really like the price range, this is a nice way to get a Roland product in your house even looking like sort of a permanent digital piano for just over a thousand dollars. So, here's the Roland FP-30. Thank you so much for watching.

Again, here's an instrument that is quite ideal for people who are either just starting out, wanting to keep the price point low. I'd say it also works really well for professional musicians that this compared to another one of the other two, you know, Yamaha P-125 or ES-110, for whatever reason. You don't need a reason other than it's your own preference. You like just a slightly crisper, slightly sharper tone overall.

It isn't too warm and it cuts through really nicely. I think that's where the FP-30 digital piano really shines. A nice, clear, crisp tone. Very forgiving action, and generally an all-round versatile instrument for a very attractive price point. So, thank you so much for watching.

Again, my name is Stu Harrison, and this is Merriam pianos.

The post Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Demo & Review first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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