🎹Beginner Digital Pianos: Yamaha P45 Digital Piano vs Alesis Recital Keyboard - Under $500🎹

[@djangor1974]

To my ears, the Alesis acoustic piano sound is warmer , the Yamaha maybe has more clarity. Both great sounds

[@madisonsinclair5123]

Was just about to say the same thing. Wondering if it's not how the audio is set up, but the Alesis has much more presence (bass?) and sounds much better than the yamaha.

[@islandtony5009]

The Alesis Recital Pro would be a much closer comparison (still less $, but fully weighted keys). Or the newer Alesis Prestige

[@saschaquagmire1498]

bought it yesterday, should arive at wednesday. its my first since i was a 6y old boy :O (now 34), hope i can play and learn it

[@cosmic_gate476]

@@saschaquagmire1498 did you like it?

[@musicaldracula2017]

Absolutely.

[@mississippimeatloaf1637]

The alesis coda, coda pro and DG8 are alesis's best pianos

[@humbertosanchez8958]

exactly, alesis recital Pro, has hammer action keys

[@jt2553]

Stu makes all keyboards & pianos sound good. I wish I could play like he does.

[@FoamyDave]

11:27 I very much appreciate your honesty about today's piano student. If the goal is to get people into music and not just to groom concert pianists then there has to be a recognition of good enough. What if most people never want to play an acoustic piano and go full on classical? Is a keybed that exactly matches the action of a Ravenscroft really that important?

[@teorodriguez9320]

Hey, I normally never comment, just needed to share that this is a great quality review video, which is hard to find on KZbin! Very useful. Thanks

[@will20042]

My parents have the P45 - I love my Roland FP-90, but sometimes the lighter action on the P45 is nice for fast pieces, and the sound is solid for the price.

[@will20042]

@@KeepingOnTheWatch PHA-50 is definitely higher quality (it had better be for the price difference), just saying sometimes it feels good to play on a lighter action for certain pieces.

[@scraggster]

PHA-50 best action on a digital piano imo But come on you can't possibly love the piano sound of the FP-90

[@scraggster]

@@KeepingOnTheWatch I had scored a slightly damaged Roland FP-90 for $800 on ebay but returned it due to some issues with the speakers I remember not liking the sound at all when I first played it, I used Piano Designer app to adjust the reverb and ambiance and remember getting to a sound I was ok with Your LX7 is certainly a more capable instrument so I suggest playing with the settings

[@scraggster]

@@KeepingOnTheWatch I do miss the feel of the PHA-50 though I ended up buying a P-515 after returning the FP-90 and I'm not a big fan The PHA-50 action on the FP-90 was silky smooth and allowed me to have better control over dynamics

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

@@scraggster Yamaha’s P-515 is an aesthetically beautiful machine with excellent sound. I surely would’ve bought even with the GHS action it if I didn’t know about the LX7 or FP90.

[@Acervorochagames]

I have yamaha p35 and I love my piano.

[@damnitmoxie]

I recently decided to purchase a keyboard and I went with the Alesis Pro. After it arrived my friends were telling me I should’ve purchased the P45, but after watching this video I do believe I made the right decision.

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats on your Alesis Pro! Musical preferences come down to personal opinion and subjectivity. When choosing an instrument, it is important to make the decision based on what you resonate with musically. It sounds like that is exactly what you. :)

[@creativeconjurings]

Listening to them without watching which you are playing I can really hear the difference between them. The Alesis sounds a bit brassy and the reverb in the bass notes is a bit static with hard fall-off. The Yamaha is warmer in tone, holds the note longer and the reverb is more natural with a softer fall-off. The Alesis sounds decent and will serve the casual player but the Yamaha will serve a more professional player better in the long run. Not surprising since Yamaha has been around for many years and is a recognized name for quality in sound and build. The Yamaha will also keep its resale value higher than the Alesis.

[@Robinw-eu3gx]

Agree 100%

[@Banananaki]

I just ordered a Recital as my first true foray into playing piano. I've had an interest in it off and on since I was a little kid, but never committed to it. Watching this makes me feel more comfortable getting the cheaper option. I figure I should get something a little lower budget until I know I can do something on a piano. I'm perfectly fine with maybe having to adjust to real weighted keys or whatever, as long as I know where to put my fingers for the notes, I think it'll get me to the point where I'm ready to get a better one. o7

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats on taking the first step into the exciting world of piano playing! The Alesis Recital will certainly serve as a good introductory instrument. While there might be a bit of an adjustment period when making the shift to a heavier weighted action, there is an adjustment period when switching between any instrument really. Thanks and happy playing! :)

[@shelbythomas5007]

I did the same thing. I didn't want to break the bank on an instrument that my kids may just end up banging on every now and then. If I start to become Chopin, I'll upgrade to something better, and I will already have justified the purchase.

[@Banananaki]

Has been good for me so far(wow already been a year...). Using it minimally, mostly just on the piano voice/sound. I was playing it pretty often for a while, and had put it aside to deal with fleas in my apartment lol. Got tired of moving it over and over. I need to get back into it again, but has been a worthwhile purchase just to experiment with my interest/commitment levels to learning. Have fun with it!

[@Sparks_Alive]

I really like how straightforward these reviews are. Thank you. But I do have a request. Could you please name the music pieces you play in your information under your video? I would love to know so I can enjoy listening to them from some source or even aim for something to play. Thank you. And if anyone knows the pieces, can you please leave me a comment , thank you .

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in and sharing your feedback! We will do our best to start including the name of the pieces in the reviews. However, with that said, Stu is often improvising these excerpts. :)

[@Sparks_Alive]

@@MerriamPianosThank you for your quick response Brent. 🙂 Stu is improvising? He is The Man! Dear Lord, to have that ability…Gorgeous stuff Stu! ~A delighted viewer/ listener

[@redmed10]

Don't know about the pianos but would much prefer the stand that the Alesis is on - steady as can be. The p45 was wobbling so much.

[@GoingToAFuneral]

Could it be cause the Alesis recital is a keyboard which is usually used on a regular stand whereas the P45 was made for a furniture stand and heavy duty equipment to secure it since it’s an *actual* piano? 🤔

[@nandosillamartinez26773]

Hello Stu ... I really like your in-depth reviews, and the accuracy and knowledge that you bring into them. I forgot how many I've watched already. I love them, and the way you test those instruments for us, with your valuable and (as much as possible) impartial opinion. I am looking forward to go back into piano after almos 40years since quitting, because of lack of time and not being able to study without disturbing thanks to my amazing wall piano. It was at the very beginning of digital pianos, and they were too expensive and the teachers didn´t like them by then. I think it would be really nice if you could review some more expensive Alesis, like the Prestige Artist and compare it with similar price range competence. Would be also nice to know your opinion about Korg digital pianos. Thanks in advance. I am pretty sure that you have that one in mind too. Cheers!!!

[@TedoMD]

Man, that Yamaha default piano sound is like iconic.

[@MerriamPianos]

It is a very distinguishable sound - that is for sure!

[@franciss.fernandez7581]

Great video! I think a comparison between the Alesis Recital Pro and the Yamaha P45 would have been more appropriate.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! And thank you for the suggestion! We'll certainly add that comparison to the list of potential video candidates for the future. :)

[@inthesunbythebeach]

Quite amazing how many adults want to get back into playing piano.

[@MerriamPianos]

Absolutely! As a musician, it is very inspiring to see and hear! :)

[@davidsussman7476]

Wow, Stu's voice goes up an octave at 3:44. :-)

[@ROBYNMARKOW]

Look, I’ve been playing the keyboard for a little over a year & even still have the note stickers on my keys. However, I love the Alesis since I finally got a keyboard that’s decent to learn (& hopefully 🤞 ) improve on..

[@MerriamPianos]

It takes time and practice, but it sounds like you are on a great path! Congrats on your Alesis and all the best with your piano journey! :)

[@SBell1959]

I like to see a comparison of the Yamaha P-45 & P-125 and the Medeli SP4200.

[@Am71919]

The medeli doesn't compare

[@gopherbar]

Hi Stu have the channel done an updated video on the best pianos under £1000 / $1000 for 2021

[@salvager66]

Such a great video! I could however tell the difference in sound nuance between the P45 and the alesis, with the P45 being a bit more crisp and the alesis ever so slightly warmer. I'm a piano noob, but an audiophile. Overall all the commentary makes sense. A few weeks ago I went out and got the Yamaha e383 as a beginner keyboard. I know highly different, though I just want to play around and see if I stick with it, if so, I will upgrade. Had I seen this video earlier, I may have tended towards the alesis, a negligible sacrifice of sound, for a gain of 88 semi weighted keys - definitely worth a bit of a brain toss! Great video 😀

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much! We're glad you found the video helpful. Congrats on beginning your piano journey. That is very exciting! Thanks so much for the support and all the best! :)

[@lucmtl7888]

Hi congratulations on your great videos and your piano playing as well !! I bought the Alesis - thanks for your wonderful review. My question : i listen about 25 times the music you play at 1:02 - is it possible to know what it is ? any reference if i want to buy the music score for this piece or anything similar ? Thanks a lot you must help a lot of people choosing a piano !

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for the kind words! Congrats on your Alesis Recital. :) Unfortunately, I don't know which piece of music Stu is playing at 1:02, so I can't supply any sheet music or score references. A lot of the music Stu plays on the channel is actually improvised. I believe this excerpt falls into that category too.

[@olecram2059]

Great review… it’s the same review vs recital pro?

[@romerbass2813]

Ok, I thought something is wrong with my speaker setup till you explained you had to use the headphones-output. Seems to me to be a little bass-reduced on the left channel. Had to rebalance, when listening to the YAMAHA.

[@chewbubs3533]

Could you do a comparison of the Yamaha P45 and the Korg B2?

[@benjaminsmith2287]

I think the Yamaha sounds considerably better in the main piano voice. However, I wish Yamaha would just upgrade all of their pianos to the CFX sample and maybe have the older sounds as piano 2 and 3. This sounds like an old Yamaha sample used in this piano. The P125 sounds much better.

[@IvanEDaza]

Honestly at the price the hybrid Yamahas they are selling, they SHOULD actually have done that instead of copy pasting the same cold digital sounding tone from decades back and adding some sparkles of resonance.

[@mississippimeatloaf1637]

The Yamaha sounds like a baby grand while the Alesis sounds like an upright

[@danielshih1023]

Stu, please can you introduce or compare with Yamaha Arius S54 series with Roland or Kawai equal model?

[@africanhistory]

P45 is better but need some EQ on the mid and bass. I own the p45 and honestly would change it if i was deeper into piano. For the price it does not stand out enough against the others. I am in Africa so prices here are different to State side. I could not say I am "happy"with it. It just is okay. I had the P65 (I think) and that was a more professional instrument but I doubt the sound quality was different. If I could I would get the Roland without blinking.

[@Zoco101]

If you connect it to a Behringer 50USB set (matched 5" nearfield speakers) you should get a bigger sound. 111 euros from my supplier. That would also give you a free audio over usb connection to your computer.

[@derbjornmachtdiemusik23]

I really can see me busking with the Alesis… probably combined with a CubeStreet speaker or even hooked up with my iPhone running a virtual piano alongside to spice up the sound (if necessary). Anyhow… it looks very handy AND apparently runs with AA batteries!🔋🤩

[@MerriamPianos]

For sure! The Alesis is incredibly portable and would work great as a busking instrument, especially given its ability to operate on batteries. :)

[@cathcartmagic]

The Alesis runs on 6 of those big fat round batteries

[@jamesa375]

in the old days every home had an acoustic piano.These days most people dont have one so it makes sence to try to get something that feels as close as an acoustic piano so the concept of weighted keys has become the norm.BUt if you own an acoustic piano,ypu know a digital will never be the same thing,no matter how much it costs.The keys on an acoustic are made to mechanicaly hit strings ,,other than that there is no reason at all why they should feel like that.If the digital piano had been invented first maybe semiweighted keys would have been thought as the ideal.The point is a semiweighted action in my mind is not necessarily inferior to weighted keys if you can play as well and in some ways its more convenient it weigths less and is more portable.The problem with inexpensive pianos in my opinion is not that they dont have weighted keys but usually they have inferior sound and less features.So this video is extremely interesting because i think it features all these questions thatt should be much more controversial than they are.

[@sh_rene]

I get a alesis recital for 230 dlls aprox, I'm excited

[@MerriamPianos]

Very nice! Congrats and enjoy! :)

[@DMCPraiseSoundOficial]

I would have liked you to let me know that the Alexis recital PRO has weighted keys or heavy hammer action keys. Could you make a comparison please if it is really worth it?

[@MerriamPianos]

The Alesis Recital Pro has hammer-action keys, but they are not fully-weighted keys. Perhaps, we can tackle the different action types in an upcoming video. Thanks for the idea! :)

[@TechTeardownYT]

Will the action on either of these allow for me to play a crazy song like Billy Joels: Prelude/Angry Young man?

[@MerriamPianos]

That really comes down to a matter of subjective opinion of course. I've seen very high level players perform some incredibly virtuosic pieces on these types of actions. Stu demonstrates this notion of course! So, it is possible, but you may want a higher-quality and more authentic feeling touch for executing more complicated repertoire.

[@ispianist]

I own the Arturia mkII 88 flagship and the key action is amazing. But can’t take that keyboard everywhere due kinda heavy and price tag wasn’t that cheap. I have played with the ALESIS recital and is not a bad keyboard at all. That would be perfect for my rehearsals with my band due the light weight and I don’t have to carry my laptop with me.

[@alterego4767]

Great video Stu I really enjoyed it as always. Regarding ideas for future videos I would love to see you cover the Yamaha DGX-670 and also do comparison videos of the Yamaha P-515 with both the Roland FP-90x and FP-60x. I have heard some conflicting information regarding whether or not the keys on the DGX-670 have an improved textured finish or remain glossy like previous models and I would love to see this cleared up once and for all. Thank you.

[@alterego4767]

@@Instrumental-Covers Ah, I see. It's a shame as it would have been nice if Yamaha had finally improved the finish on their GHS action. How do you feel about how the finish affects you when playing on the DGX-670?

[@JoeLinux2000]

@@Instrumental-Covers My belief is the 670 action is very similar in design and feel to the KX-88 I purchased more than 20 years ago. One thing about it is that it is quiet and the keys are not wobbly. I have no complaints about it. I'm still really bummed that the string voices don't sustain with the pedal. For that reason alone, I would look for something else if I could do it over. On the other hand the 670 sounds so good in tandem with Pianoteq it might be hard to find something that works as well in that respect. I'm wondering about the Roland RD-88. No one is talking about that, but it probably has good synth voices, and I'll bet the strings sustain with the pedal. While people praise Stu's reviews there are certain aspects of these electronic instruments he needs to dig into more deeply.

[@JoeLinux2000]

@@Instrumental-Covers I'm sure that would be a solution. I've used Linux for over 20 years and won't be moving to another OS. I don't know to what extent various libraries work with Linux. I did download a DAW for Linux, but really haven't explored it. But it's an obvious alternative to the castrated Yamaha DGX string voices. When I bought the DGX I was mostly interested in the auto-accompaniment capabilities. I didn't know the internal Yamaha piano voices would work so well in tandem with Pianoteq. I can live without the strings because the combo acoustic piano voice itself is completely awesome. The DAW I downloaded is called Reaper.

[@Jacob_Shouse1984]

I have a P-45 the speakers are so low? What do I need to do to make the speakers louder?

[@Zoco101]

For home use you need to connect separate powered speakers, or just listen via some nice headphones. Speakers: Try getting a pair of M-Audio BX8 D3 monitor speakers, on a sale/return deal. They are the cheapest 8" studio monitors I know of, and I haven't tried them yet, but they should sound louder and 10x better than your inbuilt speakers. You can connect them with a TRS Y cable (jack plugs: 1xstereo, 2xmono) plugged into your headphone socket. It should be about 3 or 4 metres long. This will switch off your internal speakers unless your P-45 has an option to overide that aspect, which I doubt. If I'm wrong and you still have the inbuilt speakers working, one external speaker might be enough. My comcern is that that most monitor speakers seem expensive compared to the price of a P-45. See my follow-up message.

[@Zoco101]

Jacob: I have just remembered about the Behringer 40USB and 50USB speakers. They are highly affordable, and while their 4" & 5" drivers won't be as full-sounding as the 8" drivers on the others I mentioned, they will still be a vast improvement on what you have on your P-45. They have the added benefit of offering piano audio over USB to your computer. The 40USBs are useful as media speakers too, while the 50USBs are supposedly useful for editing/mastering recordings. The 50USB model costs around 111 euros for a pair. This is just over 25% of the value of a new P-45, so it's an appropriate price IMO. If you need gigging speakers, tell me and I'll make some other suggestions.

[@rlaecio]

In this case the alesis recital loses by the keys, and if we compare the P45 with a recital Pro that is already Hammer?

[@mojiburrahmanrahimi7953]

Thanks for your presentation. I am turned between the Casio series CDP-S 110, 350, and Donner DEP 20 which one do you recommend?

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! It comes down to a matter of personal preference of course, but I personally favour the Casio CDPS110 due to its piano tone. :)

[@bakugan590]

Does the alesis sound good connected to the audio of a place? (Like a church or a restaurant)

[@MerriamPianos]

I would personally give the edge to models like the Yamaha P45 or Roland FP10 in this regard, but the Alesis offers a solid piano tone when used in conjunction with an amp or PA system.

[@moe9829]

Which one is better for beginners? Yamaha or Alesis

[@lawrencedgo211]

Alesis is spacialy made for beginners

[@scottliu6042]

Always trust the bigger brand if you know what I mean

[@Zoco101]

I think I prefer the main piano tone on the Alesis, but the LH was thumping a bit without a proper action. In fact no weighted action would drive me nuts. As Stu knows, there is also the Alesis Recital Pro, which is still cheaper than the P-45. The Recital Pro has a weghted action, and I know it has an onboard recorder too, as well as vastly better connectivity than the P-45. The build quality prize goes to Yamaha anyway, but is that such an issue with a first piano? If you can spend just a bit more, there's the Korg D1 at around 650 dollars, with a vastly superior action to anything else under 1200 dollars, and pretty good sounds too. It has no internal speakers, but is good for driving a VST plug-in piano or a sound module.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

From what I've heard the Alesis Recital Pro has this annoying thing when you change from the acoustic piano sound to the other sounds then return back to the acoustic piano sound the string resonance turns off🎹🎶

[@Zoco101]

@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 That may be. Dunno. Any piano under 1000 US dollars is going to have some annoying aspects. Not having lineouts or a simple onboard recorder, or at least 128-note polyphony, for example, this all sucks pretty hard in today's entry-level dp market.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

@@Zoco101 true I think the 600 dollar price range is where you'll start to find something nice🎹🎶

[@dutchleussink156]

Thank You Sir 👍

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in!

[@carlamariestudios]

Can the P-45 be connected to external speakers?

[@gnostie]

Now this is very interesting. If you think that the feel of the keys on the Recital 88 is even comparable to P45, then it makes sense for someone like me to buy Recital 61 and solve my space vs key feel dilemma. The 61 version is also semi-weighted like the 88 key version.

[@robertoyamakata6672]

Thank you very much. By now I have a p45 for my children and for me our first keyboard, an old Roland xp10 in good form. Perhaps in the future another piano? Thank you very much

[@sadzadiar451]

I am considering to buy the alesis recital, but when i looked up the reviews, after several months of use, there are some problems reported. Such as some keys are louder than the others, or some keys are missing the sounds, etc. Is there anybody who has the same issues?

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

Did you get anymore information

[@yasserfigueroa4021]

The Alesis is recital or recital pro?

[@MerriamPianos]

I believe the piano features in the video is the Alesis Recital. Thanks for checking out the comparison video! :)

[@chewbubs3533]

You can really hear the P45’s 64 note polyphony disadvantage at 6:43

[@africanhistory]

I think you are hearing things.

[@chewbubs3533]

@@africanhistory hmm i heard the low notes cut off a few seconds later, idk

[@alexchoo7190]

That’s because he let go of the pedals.watch his foot

[@Tibizdk]

Merci

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! :)

[@reycampos8906]

I have the Yamaha P45, and I am thoroughly sorry i bought it. It is definitely a cheap keyboard. I have ordered the Roland FP60X.

[@tikeoff5512]

Lol, well they don't call it a budget beginner keyboard for nothing.

[@mickeytollison]

It is a beginner piano and great for the price.

[@frederikoadr]

Cdp s100 whenn

[@chrisrob722]

I never knew Tucker Carlson played piano so well..

[@paulsarodh5460]

Alesis Great FUN 💗💢👌👌

[@MerriamPianos]

For sure! It is a solid little instrument! :)

[@kimolos]

Alesis

[@Jacsmaster]

Great song and low price ... Alesis recital

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

Simply piano LOL🎹🎶

[@criss719]

Actually, I like the sound on the Alexis better.

[@MerriamPianos]

Every player will have their own tonal preferences. The most important thing is to find the sound that you resonate with. :)

[@kbrizy7490]

"Teach you how to play piano in 3 weeks... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯" Lol -- very glad gave the look, "Yeaa... no."

[@Zoco101]

I think Stu is very diplomatic. It's a shame that 1-2-1 teaching is taking quite a hit these days and bad piano habits abound, but it's good that more people are into music.

[@j.p4381]

Les puedo asegurar que el Alesis no suena así.

[@MerriamPianos]

The sound of the Alesis in this video is directly captured from the output of the tone engine and no additional editing, EQing, or post-processing has been done. From that perspective, this should be a transparent, accurate representation of its sound. :)

[@briandiarte25]

Te he visto comentar en varios videos tirándole hate al Alesis y en la mayoría te han dejado como payaso XD. No tengo el Alesis pero no entiendo por qué mencionas que es tan malo en todo aspecto. Me gustaría que argumentes tu respuesta.

[@elpianistadelcaos9119]

​Quiere decir que suena mejor,ya que la captura una cámara el sonido y no es el que te vibra y envuelve al tocar.

[@j.p4381]

@@briandiarte25 lo digo por qué lo tengo.

[@briandiarte25]

@@j.p4381 Entonces te salió defectuoso hermano, quizá el tuyo suene mal por el espacio en el que lo usas o porque suena obviamente mejor en una grabación midi.

[@homermacaraigcueto]

First!

[@mikesocool100]

...neither has 300..😂😅

[@MerriamPianos]

I am not sure what you are referring to by 300.

[@mikesocool100]

@@MerriamPianos...your comment on the # of sounds they have at minute 4:47 in the video....

[@surroundrive]

In Alesis, you have a renown software brand with legendary synth, electric and piano samples. They know software. But they are still working things out in the hardware department. The Q88 is an abysmal keyboard that works with just about nothing and their interfaces need lots of work. With Yamaha, you have the most complete music/audio/sound brand on the planet. From the home studio to Atmos/Auro3D cinemas and even live music...Yamaha, combined with the Berg's Nuendo, Cubase and Wavelab on Nuage...that's a combination not a single other company in the arts and entertainment business can match. The world of Yamaha Pro Audio is not just astounding, it borders on terrifying. In addition to that hard to ignore fact, we also can't ignore how Yamaha essentially stole the entire acoustic piano industry from S&S and Bosendorfer. No matter the price difference, no matter the features...i'm not choosing Alesis hardware over Yamaha. Not a chance.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It all comes down to a matter of subjectivity of course. Tone and touch preferences are a highly-subjective and personal matter. Every player will gravitate towards a different instrument and musical experience. Thanks again and happy playing! :)