Vintage Roland 'Piano Plus' HP-450 layered with the Yamaha Reface CP / A match made in HEAVEN!

Just last week I bought this 1983 Roland HP-450 'PianoPlus' electronic piano at a local thrift store for a whopping $59! My original thought, because I really liked the feel of the keyboard, was that this could be a great 88 key controller for my reface CP. I wasn't actually expecting to like the sounds in it, but the old analog piano/clav/harpsichord etc sounds are really cool. Then when I MIDI'd it up to the Reface and started layering some sounds together, it blew me away and I couldn't stop playing around with it. So many gorgeous possibilities with this setup!

[@Ancaja123]

Insanely good. Just wow.

[@jordanhedlund]

Great sounds, and great playing.

[@cgmagik9837]

Thank you!

[@robin34wecassidy21]

Thrifting goals

[@markbettendorf4480]

crazy how well these work together wow

[@TheBigKiko]

Just picked up the 450 for 50 euro. Next up a Reface CP.

[@cgmagik9837]

Nice!

[@AnimexesPiano]

Dude same! 50 as well but in a different currency! (CAD)

[@sambogle1845]

Hey, I have the Reface CP and recently purchased the same Roland HP-450 without seeing this video. Now that I know you can layer the two, would you mind letting me know how you set up the two keyboards? I'm a guitarist and not very tech savvy when it comes to pianos. Do you have to use a DAW or just the MIDI input/output on the two keyboards? Appreciate any help. Cheers!

[@cgmagik9837]

Hi! It's just midi out of the HP to midi in of the reface. That's it! I've also got the audio out of the reface going to the audio inputs on the HP. Then you you only need to use the outputs from the HP to hear them both. (or the speakers of the HP)

[@sambogle1845]

@@cgmagik9837 Awesome! Appreciate you getting back to me. Excited to try it out.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

This is the first I’ve learned of an 88-key Piano Plus. My first book about electronic musical instruments (conveniently titled “Electronic Musical Instruments”) includes text and monochromatic photos of the Piano Plus 70 & 60 keyboards, but it escaped me that Roland manufactured one like this. Then, there’s the part where you’ve slaved the Reface to it. Hearing it being played from an 88-note controller is making me wonder why I haven’t (yet) tried getting that model. The 450 has MIDI. What about aftertouch?

[@cgmagik9837]

No after touch. Just basic velocity

[@michaeljones1741]

I just picked up a Roland A-33 76 key from back in the 1990s to actuate my Reface CP. Did your keyboards bolt up readily via midi or was there some work that had to be put in? Thx!

[@cgmagik9837]

The only issues I've run into when controlling the reface CP from another midi controller is that sometimes the velocity is too low to trigger the highest velocity samples on the CP. I have used a Roland A-30 with it though and that one works fine. The HP-450 velocity was a little low, but I have a midi velocity converter box that works great to help with that.

[@michaeljones1741]

Thank you for the speedy reply amigo! I’m looking forward to hooking that bad boy up. Have a great weekend!

[@WeCameHereToRock]

yeah i just got one but only one key works at a time ???????? help

[@cgmagik9837]

Oh weird! Pretty sure there is no 'mono' mode on that thing, so must have some sort of problem.