Is the Roland RD-2000 the Ultimate Stage Keyboard?

[@jakejacobs126]

I purchased a RD-2000 based on this alone. After many years with an old S90ES, this keyboard is a breath of fresh air.

[@jeffmejia3556]

It all comes down to preference and taste. I play Roland and there’s many things I like about Roland. I play Korg and there’s many things I like about Korg. I play a Nord stage whatever and it sounds great. I play Yamaha and I love the sounds. Just depends what sound you’re looking for for that particular gig.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Right

[@jeffreyreid6981]

Well that just means you play way better than me go ahead brother man I like your sound

[@wulf67]

It also depends on how well you understand that you can tweak the sounds on all of these.

[@charlesleseau]

Darrick, this was really superb. Thank you so much. Beautiful playing style, brilliant and clear explanations, everything. My RD-2000 is coming Monday, so I’m eating videos about it, and yours was by far the most enjoyable. Anyway, best, God bless, etc.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you for watching

[@BudinVegas]

I have an RD-2000. It has excellent editing capabilities. (if you want to take the time) It's worth the time if you notice a few loud keys and softer keys (PIANO PATCHES ONLY) and a few off voicing keys. The "Tone Designer page" works very well if you need to adjust the issues. If you want to take the time, you can fix what you want to. I like that.

[@robertbartelmes7623]

Darrick ... I just picked up a Roland RD-2000 ... your in depth assessment & demo video has been extremely useful in shortening my leaning curve with one of the most versatile and deeply layered stage pianos on the market ... Gracias, Senor - Bart

[@darrickkeels6387]

Glad I could help!

[@duketranslucent3rd]

Thanks for the vid. A few options other than those you mentioned at the start: the Yamaha P515, Kawai MP7SE, Korg SV-2, Viscount Legend. The RD seems solid but I really don't like its interface at all, compared to the Yam CP, Nord Grand or Korg SV-2.

[@klauswiechmann3101]

Really good video. Thank you. The RD 2000 a fantastic Masterkeyboard. I use i t with external sound sources from VST and Synthesizers. And it made a great job.

[@manoaramiarimanana5635]

I bought this keyboard last year and I am satisfied with the sound of this RD2000. In addition, this keyboard is very customizable compared to other stage pianos.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Indeed. The RD2000 has gone editing parameters much like a synthesizer rather than a stage piano for sure.

[@ainga4]

I'm thinking of buying an RD 2000 and you have answered most of the questions I've had about the instrument that the local dealer could not answer. Thank's for the info. Feel more confident about making my purchase.

[@darrickkeels6387]

My pleasure. Thank you for watching!

[@stephenlennartz3466]

CAUTION: It weighs a ton. I returned mine (sadly). Great sounds for sure though.

[@tuneunleashed]

Don’t do it!!! Korg SV2 is a maaaaad killer

[@xp50player]

I would think for Gospel, those SuperNatural RD-1000(MKS-20) would be a must have.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes they have become a part of the Gospel signature sound. I don't play much "shoutin" music or choir music these days though.😂

[@pattylee8906]

I appreciate all the information and opinions expressed regarding the RD 2000. I would love to know if you’ve played the Kurzweil Forte SE. I’m ready to purchase a new keyboard and I’m pretty sure I’ve narrowed it down between these two models. I’m a worship leader and love the fact that you understand what features are preferred in that venue. Thanks!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes I have played the Kurzweil Forte SE and honestly I like the overall sounds of the Kurzweil better than the Roland. The Pianos, Organs (KB3 sound engine), strings, pads, basses, etc are all amazing on the Kurzweil. I went with Roland because I like the keybed better, and the MIDI integration with the 8 zones. It’s easy to play VST’s live and integrate them with the internal sounds or to play other hardware keyboards and control their levels with the sliders on the Roland. I like having two MIDI out ports as well as USB to control lots of other gear if need be. Also having balanced XLR jacks on the back is nice because I don’t need to use a direct box. In short I like the other features beyond the sounds that the RD-2000 offers. I think it’s longevity as a controller will be great even as the internal sounds become more dated. However if I was picking between the Kurzweil and the Roland and I had no other keyboards, I would go with Kurzweil. The sounds are just a higher quality in so many different categories.

[@pattylee8906]

Thank you! One of the essentials on my list of keyboard functions, besides the weighted action, is ease of layering sounds and controlling the volume of those layers. I had a Kurzweil sp88 which played wonderfully, but didn’t have that option. Thanks

[@bsdguy]

You got to learn the board you have!

[@jeffmejia3556]

bsdguy Very true. Even if you can only afford a Casio from Target learn to play that thing like no other. In the end it’s the talent of the individual. The instruments are just the tools.

[@bsdguy]

@@jeffmejia3556 All you young cats out there....LISTEN TO JEFF!

[@officialWWM]

Jeff Mejia I would agree with that on just about every instrument but keyboards. I don't care how good you are, a crap sounding keyboard sounds crap, regardless of who's playing it.

[@bhaveshmistry3255]

Very nice review. Your are a very good pianist. I love the RD2000 a lot it has decent piano sounds but the action is really fantastic. I love Kawai MP11se because it has fabulous pianos sounds and action feels like real piano. RD2000 is more versatile in a not so heavy also there’s no compromise in built quality. If anyone looking for best piano which can sound like real piano then V piano expansion may solve the purpose. Thanks!

[@geoffk777]

I own an RD-2000, which I got fairly early in 2017. For the most part, I totally agree with your assessment. But I do have some issues with it. First the good (most of which you mentioned): 1. It makes a great MIDI controller, and the mixing sliders are super convenient. Panel layout is excellent and build quality is great. 2. The keybed is one of the best, and better even than the Montage or Kronos 3. The V-Pianos are very good. Also, there are many Supernatural acoustic pianos, so if you don't like the V-Pianos, there are still many excellent choices. 4. There are many other sounds, most of which are fairly decent and usable, if not the absolute best 5. It's not too heavy and quite portable, although a little long for some cars 6. OS updates have added some more V-Piano presets and improved some early issues. 7. There's an excellent 3-pedal unit available as an option. Now the bad: 1. At least in my early version, the panel text is not white but is a medium grey color that's almost invisible, especially on a dark stage. 2. The display is Ok, but the viewing angle is very narrow. In a multi-keyboard stand, it's often difficult to read, since you can't view it from directly above. 3. The leslie for the organs is terrible--way too fast and unrealistic. Not a huge deal and it can be adjusted, but still annoying. Unfortunately, for me, disadvantages #1 and #2 are killers and really destroy the utility of the instrument as a master keyboard on stage. If you're thinking about buying one, carefully check out those two points. If I was buying it now, I'd probably spend the extra $1500 and get a Fantom 8, which has the same sliders, V-Piano engine, and keybed, but a much better display, white panel text and updated Zenology sounds (as well as many other capabilities). For studio use, I might also consider a Kawai MP11SE, which has an even better action. It's too big and heavy to use as a touring stage instrument, though. A great instrument in many ways, but buy with caution.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Excellent assessment! As always.

[@tuneunleashed]

The Keybed is subjective...so you can’t really argue about that because I hate the Keybed in the RD-2000. A grand piano Keybed isn’t good for Pop music or funk. That’s why you see no grand pianos in funk in the 70s until synthesizers and romplers started showing up.

[@geoffk777]

@@tuneunleashed Well, you're right that keybeds are very subjective. As a piano player, I tend to grade them on their similarity to a real grand piano, which makes an MP11SE the best and and RD-2000 very good. If you want' something lighter, which is also good for organ sounds, than you might prefer an action like Nord's, or even a semi-weighted action. Some people who mostly play piano, but in different styles, might also prefer a lighter, less realistic action. I can't assess all of those preferences--all that I can do is tell people that compared to a real piano, this is closer or less realistic. Incidentally, some vintage "classic" keyboards had terrible actions (in my opinion). Rhodes have a slow, clunky action and Clavinets had a shallow, awkward one. Obviously players adjusted and many love those actions, even today, so it's all very subjective.

[@CraigRodmellMusic]

I certainly agree with you on Bad Point 3. The leslie on the factory preset organs was unuseable. However, that all disappeared when Expansion Board 5 came out. Some lovely organs there, with good leslie.

[@xp50player]

The Fantom 8 is a lot more money, has no tonewheel engine at all and the Leslie is no better. Have you updated the RD-2000 firmware? They added a 2nd rotary effect and an Axial expansion with more organ sounds using it. Fantom doesn’t have all these SN EPs either, just one Rhodes available now.

[@BenBennett10]

I got the RD-2000 for Christmas of 2017. I LOVE it! Has been my favorite keyboard I've ever owned.

[@darrickkeels6387]

It is a joy to play for sure!

[@BenBennett10]

@@darrickkeels6387 it is! I use it for my KZbin channel doing piano tutorials! You should check it out! 🎹🎹🎹

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

I heard it’s a little difficult ,technical wise,what are your thoughts?

[@BenBennett10]

@@robertmichalscheck3072 I don't think it is difficult at all. Yes, there is ALOT of professional functionality in this machine - allowing you to do ALOT with it. More than what I really use - but, that said, once you learn the menus and the functions, it's really quite intuitive in my opinion.

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

Ben Bennett k,thx for reply,Will definately have to check it out for my next keyboard,not crazy about the way the piano sounds in this video,maybe it’s just the way it’s eq is set,he mentioned voice dropouts,that’s not an option I want.

[@DojoOfCool]

I have an RD-2000 it is my first good keyboard and like you say the keybed is great. You kept just using the Stage Piano and no thrilled with it's sound, but there is a lot of acoustic piano in the RD-2000 from both engines. I rarely use the Stage Piano. Something I've noticed about the RD-2000 is it's output seems kind of low and when running lower volumes the sounds are kind of dull. But if you turn up the volume on the keyboard to around 50% then the sounds really start to wake up. I've been thinking of getting a workstation and you talking about using the RD-2000 as a master controller seems like it would be a great combination especially with the RD's keybed. It would also mean I could get a smaller workstation 61 or 73 keys and have best of both worlds of synth-type keybed and RD keybed. So really appreciate your videos, thank you for making them. Korg should thank you too because after watching your recent video on Kronos that's probably the workstation I'll get.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you so much for watching! And yes the Kronos is magnificent!

[@SonicSupremeSGT3]

Sounds very perfect for the software I use. Currently using Roland Zenbeats and I'm thinking of saving up money for that.

[@konstantinosmavraganis3257]

I had the chance to try this one recently up close. As far as key action is concerned it really isn't very well weighted. The keys are very light to be be compared to even other digital pianos let alone an acoustic piano.

[@OptimaMrL]

Hey Darrick, thanks for another detailed video. I’ve learnt a lot. I use an RD2000 at church, and the sounds are MEH. The Keybed is great and it’s static on stage. My Moxf8 pads and synths are amazing, the piano sounds are ok. So here are my thoughts - I’m thinking of getting a Montage 6 and use it alongside the RD2000 via USB/MIDI. I’m hoping the portability and sounds of the Montage 6, combined with the Rd2000 could be a winning combo? I’ll keep some of the Montage layers triggered only using the montage keybed Any thoughts?

[@oliver8666]

Darrick, thank you for this very informative and professionell made Video. Your honest opinion is really where this video shines. I really appreciate those videos. Wonderful, thank you and your playing of course. By the way what is your favorite Piano-VST ? And in terms of keytouch and feel, what is your favorite keybed in your stage-piano-set? I am asking a lot because i have to buy one stagepiano, just for my personal purpose, at home, not for gigs or the stage.Right now i just own a midi-controller but that´s not what i am really happy with. It´s ok but far away from a good weighted hammer action, what i am looking for.My focus is primarily on playing piano-stuff and now and then a bit e-pianos and layered sounds.But i am not an organ player. Maybe you can help me a bit with your experience, would be very nice. Thank you in advance Darrick and hope to hear from you soon, if you like. Greetings from Germany Oliver

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you for your compliments, I appreciate it. The best feeling keyboard I've played is Kawaii's MP11. They have te he most realistic piano keybeds in my opinion when comparing them to other stage pianos. However a digital piano may be something that is more suited for you, if you are planning on getting a keyboard for home use only and the piano feel is what you value. My favorite VST for acoustic piano is Keyscapes by Spectrasonics.

[@oliver8666]

@@darrickkeels6387 thank you very much Darrick !!!

[@mattsmith1984]

I now use a Korg Kronos LS. Had to change to the lighter key bed as playing weighted keys for a full gig was becoming painful.

[@snapdragon6084]

You have a great presentation style.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@swisskeys9924]

Is there a you can make a video how setup the midi AND is there way you make one of the knobs control the main volume of the modx

[@swisskeys9924]

Way*

[@ablesam]

Darrick, check out the new V-Piano expansion when you get the time and see if you can do a review on it.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Ok

[@leoscomments]

HI. been watching your videos. I think you said somewhere that you like the Rd2000 as a controller. But: 1. When controlling an old Synth like the Korg Triton 61 keys, do you know if this would return sound for all range of keys? So if I play C73 on the RD2000 would it return that C73 sound from the triton even though it's only 61? 2. Also, you can control different keyboards and programs via RD2000, but if controlling the keyboards and programs via midi, how do you return the audio back to the RD2000 if it only has 1 input audio jack?

[@stephenlennartz3466]

I purchased the RD2000 shortly after it came out. LOVED it! Sadly ... returned it. It weighs a ton and just barely fit in my car. It was a tough decision. If I had a road crew ... I would have kept it for sure. I replaced it with a MODX7. I know ... a completely different animal ... but, the MODX weighs in at just 16.5 pounds (joy!) and for the gigs I do it covers all the bases patchwise and then some. Best of all it fits in my car! The MODX is probably not the right choice for classically trained musicians who insist on weighted keys. Of course the MODX8 does have weighted keys. Anyway loved the Roland. I just couldn't see myself hauling that bad boy to gigs.

[@officialWWM]

Stephen Lennartz you need to toughen up a bit, lol.

[@stephenlennartz3466]

@@officialWWM Yes I do! LOL. Actually ... we the band have been downsizing our gear for the last couple of years-- PA, drum rig, guitar amps, keyboards, etc. We have a somewhat complex set list and were spending way too much time with setup and teardown. Our approach was to minimize the space and weight of as much gear as possible (including keys!) WITHOUT sacrificing any component of our sound. This approach has worked beautifully for us.

[@officialWWM]

Stephen Lennartz lol, we have done exactly the same thing. Playing 3 nights a week was getting tiresome as we are all getting older :/ We are now fully digital. No guitar amps (I also play guitar) both guitar players use Headrush amp sims. Drums are electric, bass runs direct to the mixer which has a bass amp sim on board. We have a digital mixer and use in ear monitors. Our stage is completely silent. I actually use a Vox Continental as my live keyboard, cause it's lightweight and simple to use and sounds great :) unfortunately, Covid has kind of given us a forced holiday :/

[@stephenlennartz3466]

@@officialWWM Nice work! I'm not really familiar with the Headrush sims but will check them out. Do you get a nice variety of clean and dirty tones? I too play guitar along with keys. Was also thinking about checking out the Strymon Iridium. Any experience with that? I'm looking forward to not hauling my Marshall around! Thank you for the info.

[@officialWWM]

Stephen Lennartz check out the Headrush mate, it's awesome. You will never take an amp to a gig again! It has about 20 different amps in it, all the pedal sims you'll ever need and it's easy to use. It's got some great Marshall tones in there but also some nice Fender cleans. I've always used Vox AC30s and I can get great Vox sounds out of it. I use the Onsong app on an iPad. It has all my set lists and the lyrics and chords etc and I have it hooked up to my keyboard via midi. I send midi messages through the keyboard to the Headrush. When I change songs on the iPad, it automatically changes patches on both the keyboard and the Headrush to my preset sounds. It took a bit of setting up but it's great now. I highly recommend the Headrush if you're trying to reduce your gear load and footprint on stage.

[@pizzagogo6151]

Not long ago I went through process of selecting a new stage piano. My conclusion was the Roland Rd is excellent, especially its controls and variety of sounds, also tend to have a strong preference Roland - but ultimately I didn’t buy it as it fails in one crucial area...when I directly compared it to the Korg main stage & Yamaha, the Rolands acoustic piano sounds are just not as good. The modelled V-piano is great in theory but just don’t think it stands up to its sampled piano competitors. If my main need was 88 keys as a controller keyboard the Roland would be my first choice.

[@EricLaermans]

Pizza Gogo Build quality and key-action also are important factors which draw me towards the Roland RD2000.

[@J-FoxProductionsEDU]

🎉 Good news! Roland just updated/improved the V-Piano engine on the RD-2000. Apparently they’ve been taking notes on people’s “comparing to sampled sounds” objections and stepped it up with the new “German Concert Grand” mode… I have to say that what is offered is mighty convincing👍🏾

[@Short_Realz]

Really love you videos!!! Thank you sooo much for all your indept analysis!! The videos are also super entertaining

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you for watching! It's my pleasure.

[@kostasmponis1042]

Damn 38:40 beautiful progression of chords!! What piece is this may i ask ??

[@darrickkeels6387]

You Deserve It, by Tye Tribett

[@kostasmponis1042]

@@darrickkeels6387 thank you very much for your fast respond!

[@PrimusPilus73]

Darrick - Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I've been shopping for a workstation for the kids and think I'm going to go with a stage piano instead, most likely the RD-2000. Most of the workstations on the market are designs that are several years old and they seem to be getting eclipsed by controllers. I'm going to focus on getting them a quality keybed instead and let them play around w/ the DAW if they want workstation functionality.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yup. That makes a lot of sense.

[@russelllowery9049]

I cant play a lick, but I want one. Should I get it…?

[@michaelcovel1633]

I think you can only get them used now, but the original RD 700 is better than their latest RD2000 and much cheaper now

[@お茶さんぽ]

if RD2000 had FM synth module in it, it will be almost perfect for me. although I bought this model and use it as a main keyboard.

[@luizsongs]

Thaks Darrick, excelent video. I am thinking to buy one. Nowadays, the RD2000 still a great option or it´s outdated?

[@darrickkeels6387]

Still a great option for sure.

[@OrangeTreeChannel]

Thanks a lot, that review's a lot helpful!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you for watching!

[@konikacariapa3289]

Hi could you please tell me how to combine piano and strings THX

[@darrickkeels6387]

Hold the piano button and strings button down at the same time.

[@jeffreyreid6981]

The best piano in my opinion is the mellow Nx concert grand

[@manoaramiarimanana5635]

Je l'ai adoré aussi

[@beat2009]

Love the way you played bass/pn split :)

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you!

[@vanessajazp6341]

I’m curious if you’ve ever played a Yamaha Clavinova and the keybed compares.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes. I like the Clavinova keybed better for playing piano sounds. But it's not fun playing horns, or synth riffs with it which is what I am often called upon to do. But as a pure piano keybed, Clavinova takes the cake in my opinion. And the sound of Yamaha pianos are better than Roland's pianos to me as well.

[@vanessajazp6341]

@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks. My very first digital piano was a Clavinova pf P-100, which is a HEAVY stage piano from the mid 90’s. I actually saw Stevie Wonder playing one in concert back then. Michael McDonald, too. It’s dated, but it really spoiled me. I still haven’t come across anything that compares to it for piano. Even Yamaha’s own Motif and Montage line aren’t as nice as their Clavinova’s. But it’s too heavy for me to lug around anymore. I’ve been curious to give their newer CP line a try, but few stores in my state have them, and none near me :( This Roland has piqued my interest, though.

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@vanessajazp6341 I like the sound and feel of the CP88 better than the RD-2000. The ONLY reason I didn't purchase it instead is because it only has 57 sounds. I needed something a bit more versatile.

[@vanessajazp6341]

@@darrickkeels6387 Good to know. I already have a YC61, a Motif and a Montage, and even a Roland VR730 for good measure, lol. Never tried a Nord, though. They seem way overpriced here in the US. More affordable in Europe.

[@detomaso_6235]

Do you RD-2000 owners find it heavy/awkward to transport by yourself? It weighs 48 lbs plus the weight of a hard case. As great as the RD-2000 is, I wonder if that's a significant deterrent for me to use on gigs 8x per month. I'm an average size guy in good shape but getting older. I don't need to hurt my back.

[@darrickkeels6387]

It's heavy. Now, it's lighter than a Korg Kronos with 88 keys 53 lbs. And the Montage 8 is 63 lbs. Now the Nord Stage 3 which is an actual stage piano is 41 lbs. But the Fatar keybed on that keyboard is truly a light action. The Yamaha MODX8 is pretty light but the keybed although weighted is not high quality. In short, because the RD2000 has a rugged aluminum chassis and very realistic weighted action, it's simply not the lightest of the bunch. It's "light' compared to other flagship keyboards with metal chassis and premium weighted keybeds but no it isn't light.

[@detomaso_6235]

@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks for the detailed reply! I'm thinking ahead...wondering if a Kawai ES110 / Yamaha MODX6 (or 7) combo might be equally effective to get all my sounds. 2 components instead of 1, but each is light so easier on my back.

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@detomaso_6235 The Kawaii or the Yamaha P45 can serve as lightweight options. When paired with a MODX6 you will certainly have all the sounds you need.

[@55olas]

Hi. I am in the market for purchasing a stage piano and roland rd 2000 and Dexibel vivo s7 pro are my top choices. Could you please advise what is the better option of the 2 stage pianos? What made you swing on 1 over the other?

[@darrickkeels6387]

Well I got it mainly because of its connectivity options, keybed and few other features. I am actually working on a more comprehensive review of this keyboard as we speak. It will be uploaded by tomorrow so stay tuned

[@55olas]

@@darrickkeels6387 I am very excited to hear your personal and professional view between these 2 stage pianos. This comparison with Rd2000, Dexibell vivo s7 pro, and maybe together with Nord stage 3 are the top 3 stage piano for me at this time, March 2021. But the ultimate question is if you are only to buy 1 of them, what would you buy for yourself? I look forward to your video comparisons of these SPs!!!

[@jamessantos1102]

He has west coast and midiEgrand?

[@MrBeatles01]

Came here from watching your Nord stage 3 video. First thing that strikes me is how unremarkable the pianos on the RD are. I own the RD2000 and like it for many reasons not least of which is the action and bang for buck when it comes the extra sounds you get. But I keep reading in forums etc that you can tweak the RD to sound as good as the Nord, it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong and has me questioning my sanity. What is your honest opinion Darrick? I'm obsessing about getting the stage 3 as I want the best aps, EPs and organs you can get but would I be wasting my money? Your honest opinion would be greatly appreciated. Thank

[@darrickkeels6387]

I like Nord's acoustic pianos and organs more than any other keyboard I own. I really love Nord's EPs as well. I don't know of a way that I can edit the pianos in the RD2000 to get it to sound like the Nord. The raw samples in the Nord are truly what makes the difference. Of all my keyboards I would rank my Roland keyboard acoustic pianos in last place. Now, in a live mix they can sound good. I also work as a FOH engineer and so I get to hear the RD2000 coming through some nice PA systems. But I don't own a RD primarily because of its sounds. I own it for its other features. I love the keybed. And currently it is setup in my studio controlling 3 other keyboards and all of my VSTs simultaneously. I like the sturdy build for gigging and it has been a rock solid workhorse for me. But I find most of its sounds to be mediocre. If it were the late 90's or early 2000's, the sounds would be top tier. But now? I think Nord, Korg, Yamaha and Kurzweil all beat it soundly in sounds department.

[@neuron05]

Well now with the Nord Stage 4 it's the Nord obviously ;-) I'll get the popcorn.

[@alanonsr3942]

One word...yes. Next question?

[@BirdseyeVu]

Your experience with all of the different brands certainly lends to your credibility . I’m curious, which 88 weighted keyboard would you pair with Nord Stage 3 Compact (my keyboard) to round out capability? I was considering Montage8 or Kawai MP11SE, but also thought about a move to Arturia Keylab 88 MkII, to focus more on my software libraries. I am missing a great piano action to pair with the strengths of Nord Compact, and wouldn’t mind picking up another board that could increase my sound palette.

[@darrickkeels6387]

The best action would be the MP11SE then the Roland if you consider "best" to be closest to a real grand piano. The Montage is a great keybed but they compromise a bit on it knowing it will probably be used for synth, organ, and a host of other sounds. The Arturia comes in last as far as realism. Yet it too like the Montage is a high quality keybed. And the software that comes with it is amazing. I have the Arturia Keylab 49. It came with over 6000 high quality sounds. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching! I appreciate it.

[@BirdseyeVu]

@@darrickkeels6387 wow! Thanks for your prompt response. That’s great advice! What are your thoughts on rounding out the Nord’s sound palette with any of the other offerings?

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@BirdseyeVu If rounding out the sound is the goal. I would have to say the Montage takes the cake. The RD2000's guitars, basses, drums, woodwinds, brass, and surprisingly the synth section sounds are quite a bit dated if usable at all in my opinion. You could always download more sounds from Roland's axial website and this will help the synth section but not the others. The Kawaii MP11SE only has about 40 sounds total. This is okay though because both the Kawaii and Roland are really stage keyboards designed with the piano player in mind. So they focus on Pianos, EP's, Clavis, Organs, Strings and possibly pads. They aren't trying to ensure you get the best Oboe sounds lol! In your case the Nord Stage 3 has Organ, Grands, Uprights, EP's, Clavis, Pads and Strings pretty much covered. The Arturia software is great but it mainly focuses on vintage synth sounds from stuff like the Roland Jupiter 8, Moog, and DSI offerings etc. They recreate these synths with stunning accuracy. But if you are looking for some good horns, saxophones and a good slap bass for instance, you will not find it in that software. The Montage is a great "all arounder." As is the Korg Kronos as well.

[@BirdseyeVu]

@@darrickkeels6387 your two responses have already more than justified my “sub”. Thanks so much for your input! I’m checking out your Nord Stage video right now. 😉

[@yoelanane3226]

Between all those keyboards you mentioned in the intro which one is the best and light weight too

[@darrickkeels6387]

It is really say which one is "the best." There are so many factors to consider and many of them are subjective. It's kind of like asking which flavor of ice cream is the best. As far as lightweight is concerned...none of the them are "light." The Nord Stage 3 is the lightest at 41 pounds. That my not sound light until you realize that the Kawaii MP11 is 72 pounds but most keyboardist say it has the closest action to a real grand piano.

[@yoelanane3226]

Yea yea lol.

[@wildnites558]

Good video but why did you shoot it all so close up?

[@darrickkeels6387]

It's the only camera equipment I have

[@unfinishedbusinessrockband]

Nice video (& playing) wish I could've seen what your left hand & the first 3-5 ? layer dials were doing as I'm trying to see how the layers worked. I like your candid opinions too. Good job

[@alejandro19741309]

What monitors do you recommend for this piano at home?

[@ablesam]

A pair of Kali-LP8's, but if you really want to feel the bass, get something like a Yamaha HS8S or a KRK 10.4 subwoofer.

[@non-youtuber]

0:05 what keyboard is that?

[@andresfaundezteran2871]

Very good video!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Thank you. I appreciate it!

[@MickCorgi]

CP88 offers the greatest key touch among others. But it sucks in terms of poor sound choices. I’ve downloaded the latest version but only added 1 more grand piano and EP (which I like the most fortunately) since a year ago. I wonder why Yamaha don’t feed more samplings anyway.

[@darrickkeels6387]

My band was doing a video shoot one day and our guitar player ended up getting a flat tire on his way. Our videographers and our venue were costing us money per hour. My band director looked at me and told me to play one of the signature guitar part on keys. We could not wait for our guitar player to show up. Had I had a keyboard with no guitars to choose from, I could not have done it. Professional keyboard players are often called upon to play whatever sounds are in a song for which the band has no "real" instrument for. So though I love the CP88, having less than 100 sounds could end up being a problem for me because in the circles I play in flexibility from keyboardists is a must.

[@jeffreyreid6981]

CP 88 is a good Piano sounds They updates the sounds Every six months 1.4 is beautiful

[@darrickkeels6387]

I love the CP88. I like the sounds and the action more on that keyboard than the Roland. However, it didn't have "enough" sound options for the various scenarios I I play in. Also I really like the controller functionality of the RD2000. Having the 8 "zones" I can control with sliders is really what pushed it over the edge.

[@samiam9059]

No, depends on what your thinks on these. Think dexibell is a step from disappearing. Me and friend repair keyboards and was a warranty station for Kurzweil for years. We laugh at some of the boards when you open them up and there is one little board inside :{ Then most of the sounds all sound the same . Best thing is put your hands on as many as you can that you thinking of purchasing. You have to live with it and will drive you crazy if you miss something. Compare the manuals. Kronos has an 1200+ page parameter guide seperate from owners manual. 9 synth engines and simply cannot be compared to limited functions of other models. Yes, it weigh's a lot!

[@jeffreyreid6981]

Or eQ diffidently

[@tonyromano4341]

I don't agree with you on many of your conclusions. I have found the piano sounds offered by the RD 2K is some of the best on the market for stage pianos.

[@darrickkeels6387]

Yes sounds are a matter of opinion. I said to me the they don't sound realistic but "realistic" is not what I am after when playing live. I noted how I have the option of playing an actual grand piano at my church but I choose to play the RD-2000 instead.

[@jeffreyreid6981]

The stage grand did u Tweak the sound on it , minds don’t sound like that

[@darrickkeels6387]

No. One the video I simply player the preset as it comes out of the box

[@michaels8597]

when you're done,just mail it here..

[@darrickkeels6387]

😂😂

[@Najaxyutara]

Merci ;)

[@AC-yq2fx]

You're right brother. The piano sound on this Roland model average. Yamaha has the best acoustic pianos. And now with the new montage the EP's are top notch

[@darrickkeels6387]

I like Yamaha better but my Nord has my absolute favorite piano sounds. I actually record with it in the studio sometimes rather than using a VST. But when I am playing live with other musicians and singers, I find that the PA system and the engineer working the sound has far more affect on how I sound than the individual sounds I choose. All of my keyboards sound horrible on a horrible system. They all sound great on a great system witha sound team that knows how to mix for a live audience.

[@AC-yq2fx]

@@darrickkeels6387 Couldn't agree more. Sound people that know their job make the difference regardless of what PA you're using.

[@tuneunleashed]

The Nord Stage 3 is the greatest stage piano ever made ever!!! None of these keyboards can sample and take away all the presets in the board. Plus it’s red and stands out...so...yeah...it’s a no brainer.

[@darrickkeels6387]

😂😂😂

[@simbaking6338]

The Nord is great but cant say its the greatest stage Piano...it comes down to one's own opinion.

[@tuneunleashed]

Simba King That is true....but what in the business has beaten it? I haven’t heard of a Stage keyboard with a sampler....the Korg SV2, Yamaha CP,RD don’t have that. That’s already a killer the only match for it is s the RD 2000 but yet again it’s lacking in terms of acoustic depth and many things

[@musikone1780]

How many sounds can your nord hold at a time? 20???

[@tuneunleashed]

MusikOne 6

[@wondercorriere6584]

Roland ♥️

[@oO5Dynasty]

Dope

[@ny10980]

One thing I find to be an issue with your representation is you stay defaulted for the most part, to "stage grand". Especially when critiquing it for how authentic it may or may not sound. In other videos they sample more piano sounds to apply towards whatever they are playing. Even a classical guy pulled up an odd piano name that you wouldn't think would be for Rachmaninoff, but yet it sounded pretty good for the application. However, as you talk about the RD's inability to produce the most authentic piano, you are not taking us through the many different voices for piano. You just stay on "stage grand"! If that means like Billy Joel...it sounded pretty good for that. But certainly not Rachmaninoff!!

[@darrickkeels6387]

I said in the very beginning of the video that it isn't a "sound demonstration." I even recommended another KZbin channel for people who just want to hear the sounds. What I was expressing was that none of the pianos sound like a "real" grand piano to me but that is not the sound I am after in a live performance anyway because I play in bands and venues in which an actual grand piano does not sound the best. I mentioned the problems I have in church with the real grand we actually have in the sanctuary. Sounds are such a matter of taste, hence I spend very little time talking about the "quality" of sounds. Instead I talked about the advantages of having pianos in their own sound engine, MIDI integration, build quality, editing features, etc as these things are a lot less subjective.

[@ny10980]

@@darrickkeels6387 I got that part...and I too even mentioned other videos who used different setting for their particular styles. But as you were making the most direct verbal comparisons with the Roland Piano sound vs. Kronos and Montage, and stating how you liked the others piano sounds significantly better, you were audibly playing the Roland while mostly stuck on the one "Grand" setting. Surely there are several "Grand Piano" sounds in their offering to have scrolled through while making your point. I have an old RD 600 and some piano settings are more likable (different for the style) than the others. I suppose the "this vs. that" would have been more appropriate if there were a better live comparison. Otherwise you could have made the same point and not even had the RD 2000 in the room. I have really good ears and I also want to hear what your "this vs. that" was pointing out. To say it was not a demonstration does not negate that it was seemingly set up as just that in an unavoidably biased way. I also have a Motif...The Roland and the Yamaha are different animals for sure...

[@darrickkeels6387]

@@ny10980 I clicked on your channel and saw you have no content up about keyboards. Funny how people criticize content that is free to them and want to tell me what I should have done in my videos yet they have made no video contributions to the community of keyboard players whatsoever.

[@ny10980]

@@darrickkeels6387 Yes Darrick. I am not a talking head who loves recording myself and creating fabulous media productions... starring ME. That said, if you are going to profess your expertise on a topic and request likes and followers and all such stuff, you have to take the good and the bad that comes along with such "self promotion". I realize that these videos are as much about the person creating the video as they are about "spreading knowledge" ! Now back to the keyboard. I watched a lot of video's on the new Roland RD 2000. I have a much older RD 600 which I just sold. So useful information about what the newer Roland 2000 can do is always appreciated. So that part of your critiquing was helpful. Sorry you are so easily offended for anyone that dare's critiquing YOU! After all, I didn't even give you a thumbs down!!

[@jeffreyreid6981]

Now for me, the mellow NX sound better than the stage ground That’s just my opinion

[@slowcatto]

Stage Grand is one of the weaker pianos … Acoustic03 is far better, in my opinion. Shame it’s the one that loads by default, and it’s the one that always seems to feature in videos like this one.

[@yavamaystudio8045]

Polyphonic aftertouch ? Stright fingers....ha ha, dont lerned classic ,😄

[@richardjanes1695]

I donot consider the RD 2000 keyboard the ultimate keyboard of 2023.

[@Juni_In_Saturn]

We need a newer model. In 2023 it doesn't hold as strong.

[@robsimpson5066]

Sorry but too much meaningless verbal. Lots of taking but not saying anything.

[@dmomcilovic9185]

An hour of watching someone waving their hand constantly over the keybed...

[@darrickkeels6387]

At 1 minute and 35 seconds I tell the viewers that this video will be a "talking video" aimed at giving information not a playing video. I even recommended a video by another KZbinr named Ben Allen who has a video over 7 hours that plays all of the sounds in this keyboard. I was upfront about what the video would be so no one would waste their time.

[@johnalfieri1613]

Answer to the question..... No, it is NOT!

[@darrickkeels6387]

Depends on who you ask actually.

[@johnalfieri1613]

@@darrickkeels6387 Fair enough, and exactly why a blanket question like that will receive an answer like mine. Roland Fan Boys will love it but for actual performing, there are better Key actions, a MUCH BETTER User interface on certain boards, and yes even piano sounds. I think the Korg Grandtage surpasses the Roland 2000 and the new Yamaha YC88 does as well IMO. I do respect your opinion along with everyone else's because as you correctly stated it depends on the person.

[@jfn467]

Roland's pianosounds have always been thin and artificial sounding, no exception on this keyboard...