Casio LK-50

This is a really easy keyboard to work, a two year old could play along with the magic lights or a more experienced user could mess around with the MIDI capabilities. A good manual helps, too.

Very good. 128 different tones, and then 9 drum sets (although I can't seem to find a difference between the 9). The transpose feature works great, the split feature is pretty cool. I have one gripe though.

This thing has MIDI and magic lights. To a certain extent, you can use them together. But this will not teach you to play your MIDI files with magic lights, which would have made this the perfect keyboard. You have to buy the songs you want to learn with magic lights for $4 each, and they don't even come in MIDI format, so you can't edit them or even create your own with any MIDI software. It's totally proprietary. I HOPE that some day they will give us software so we can make our own magic-light songs, that way we can write in the notes of a popular song and then learn them at our own pace.

The number of songs on casiosongs.com to download is rather limited. You can go and see which ones they have now, maybe by the time you read this there are more or less.

I'm just mad that you can't learn MIDIs through the magic light, only their proprietary files. Otherwise, this thing has everything I could think to ever need.

This sounds great! Mine has a very dim wirring sound, but it's probably just mine. The piano is great when transposed, the strings sections are great, the 'voice aah' is good. The applause sounds more like rain to me, the gunshot doesn't sound too real. I would have liked more effects like that, but that's just me.

It has touch-sensitive keys which are great, and you can hit 24 keys before the sound gets messed up (unless the lights are on, then only 10 i think).

Great sound/expressiveness.

The only problem I had with it was when I had batteries in it, it seemed like it 'froze' like a computer does, I think because I was testing to see what happens when you press more than 24 keys. Using batteries works, but it seems like they go out sooner than you'd hope. But after I used an AC adapter I have had no problems. I'm not at the level where I would go on a 'gig', but if I was I don't see why I wouldn't use it.

I e-mailed the casiosongs.com people to see if there was any way I could make my own lighted songs, but I haven't gotten a response. Otherwise, I haven't had to use tech support or anything. I don't think it's upgradeable, but I don't know why you would even WANT to upgrade it. I give it a 5 because I don't know if they have good or bad tech support.

This really is a good keyboard. It's my first one since about 10 years ago, so I'm impressed with how much better keyboards have gotten. I chose this one because (at the time, at least) it was the only keyboard I could find that had MIDI, magic lights, LCD screen, and 24 note polyphony. The only other comparable keyboard I found was a Yamaha that apparently could teach you any MIDI file, it even talked to you. But I couldn't find it on ebay so I would have to pay full retail price for that, which I can't afford. Look on ebay for this if you want to buy it, I got it 'factory reconditioned' for $150. Good deal.

If you're comparing this to other Casio lighted keyboards, this is the best one (at least at the time of this writing, 12/01). It has 61 keys, MIDI in/out, you can download new songs and learn them at your own pace, learn 100 songs that are already on the keyboard at three different levels for each hand separately or together, and mess around with 137 different tones. Then mess with the transpose, split, layer, tune, midi, memory, and step features. I think this is a great keyboard and I'm really glad I bought it.

This Casio lighted keyboard is MIDI send/recieve capable. This unit's presets are of a comparable level commensurate with other "quality" units selling at higher prices.

You must try the "000" Tone setting: Grand Piano-- the sound is TOTALLY there! Use the "Transpose/Tune/Midi button to go to "Transpost", then use the "-" button to choose "-12". This will make you unit sound like the most realistic piano with the lowest bass (at the lowest octave) sounding EXACTLY like a true Grand! Utilize a stereo amp if possible, although it really isn't necessary.

I've not tried patching. The manual is one of the best and easiest to follow of any manual for this type of electronic "toys".

This keyboard features 24-note (max) play capability(all at one time. Of course if accompaniment is on, THAT takes up some of the NOTES-- so, you may wind up with as little as 8 notes you can play with your hands.

There are no expansion capabilities.
The unit is pressure-sensitive with option to decrease and increase it.

The limited 5200-note memory (two channels record) is something that has to be accepted for a "teaching keyboard". You can record accompaniment (horns, violins, full orchestrals, etc) on track on 1 (with or without melody notes) and sync it with the melody (only) on track 2.

Easy to understand.

I found the Grand Piano "000" to be more realistic than I thought I'd get on a unit for around $200. If you use the "Transpose/Tune/MIDI" button and use the "+" key to go down to "-12", you'll hear the most realistice keyboard "grand" you EVER heard.

The effects of the KB are great for the price. You will not belive what is capable with it. Try this:

Put the KB in the Grand Piano (000). Then choose rythym "08" POPS 3. You have a nice rythm there. Now simply hit the very last key (C) on the left of the KB. Nice, right?

Now play with some notes!

Keyboard reaction is moderately sensitive: you won't have a problem with this even if you are use to a convention acoustic piano.

The reaction time is quick-- no lag.

I'd depend on it any time.

Yes, I'd use it at a gig. If the hall is small, no problem--good sounding speakers with pleanty of power. At a large place she would have to be plugged into the sound system--then look out!

Just got her.

Yes, I'd but it again if it were lost or stolen. It is DEFINETLY worth the price! I bought the unit on the HSN with the METAL (heavy real one) stand, ac adaptor, music book-- can't beat it!

Just started playing--will learn, though. I'm a guitar player with music reading and writing experience.

I love the SOUND! Try "Star Wars"! The only thing I hate about the LK-50 is the 5200 memory content that must either be used on one track or a combination to two-- but I didn't really buy it for that.

I wish it had a MIKE input and more memory for recording.

I went online and compared this product to others and found the price far out weighs any short-givings it may have in comparison.

This unit helped me understand concepts of piano music that I never really understood before-- play with it and you'll understand what I mean.

The Trumpet(056) and the Finger Bass (033) should be experiment with.

Email me as I am starting a Newsgroup for this unit. I need your votes. izari@webtv.net