Casio WK-1630

Seems easy to use. I'm a guitar player primarily and I just bought this unit to learn on and to use as a computer controller; this is my first keyboard, in other words. I've been told that the sequencer on this keyboard is difficult to use and does not convert to format zero or one easily. I don't plan to use the onboard sequencer anyway, so that's not a factor for me.

Beginner to intermediate keyboard, 32 note polyphony, 76 non weighted full size keys, onboard effects, pitch bend and modulation wheels, touch sensitive with no aftertouch, 130 built in rhythm patterns, 232 fixed sounds with 31 user presets, not expandable, 5 watt powered speakers, battery or A/C powered, sequencer.

Excellent sounds for this price range, and a very versitle unit overall. I'd say the better built in sounds cater more towards vintage analog keyboards from the 60s to 80s. If you want more modern Pigs In Space tones, you might get them with some tweaking. The organs are great (Drawbar approximates a Doors type sound, the Church Organ is fantastic) and the analog synths are very usable. It also has excellent piano sounds, better than many more expensive units in my opinion. Nice touch, non-weighted keys and very easy to play. Onboard effects sound good, but are non adjustable and you can only use one at a time. The rhythms seem pretty run of the mill; what you'd get in any beginner keyboard. The horns are okay, not great. They won't replace your sample discs. Special effects aren't too special. But I need to give it a ten because there are some real winners in there, especially for the low price. I'd put it up against a Clavinova any day.

I don't know if I'd gig with this instrument, as it doesn't seem as sturdy as say a Roland XP50. Trent Reznor would have it in pieces in three seconds. But for a home unit that doesn't travel much, it seems just fine. I'd definately recommend a bag for travel.

I haven't dealt with them yet.

I'd buy one of these again in a second, assuming it holds up. I think it was the perfect keyboard for me and my needs. It'd be nice if it had aftertouch, but this is about all I'd want additionally. Like I said, I played some more expensive keyboards that didn't cut the mustard for me (Yamahas, mostly). For the features and the tones, you can't beat it. It isn't pro, but I think it's fine for someone like me or a better player who wants and extra toy to play on.

Overall this unit is easy to use. I'm pleased with the preset sounds, some are excellent (stereo piano, rock organ), others are thin (I'm not crazy about the brass and some special effect sounds). Patches can be edited with on board tools (amplitude, envelope, attack, etc.), which I think are a little cumbersome, but I haven't used this feature much. The manual is OK but certainly could use some work - it is a reference tool at best but enough to acquaint you with features/capabilities. The software is ROM and not user modifiable/upgradable.

Its most impressive feature (and the one which attracted me) is 76 keys and very good quality keyboard preset sounds for the price. Polyphony is 32 notes. Keyboard action overall is very good for unit in this price range (touch sensitive spring action, not weighted, no aftertouch). There are 10 DSP effects which are nice (reverb, phaser, leslie, enhancer etc.) but menu driven and difficult to get to/use and cannot be modified. For example, it would be nice to tbe able to change the leslie speed. There are two wheels - pitch bend and modulation/ tremolo, which can be useful but are a little crude. There is an on-board sequencer, about 5,000 notes, which is easy to use but also a little limited. Only two separate tunes may be kept in memory, and editing must be implemented from a point forward - edits cannot be inserted. The unit has general midi capability, which I've just started to work with. I've hooked it to my Korg Trinity for file swapping and as slave and master, but not to a computer. I don't think there are any expansion possibilities.

For a keyboard in this price range (and many well above it) it has exceptional presets/sounds. Most of the keyboard sounds (pianos and organs) are very convincing, some are exceptional. Sounds can be layered (combined) easily, which can provide added realism (eg breathy sax among others). Some of the presets are thin, but overall very impressive for the price. Velocity sensitivity is very good, no aftertouch. There is a jack for an assignable footpedal (sustain, sostenuto, etc.), but no provision for a variable assignable pedal (volume, pitch bend, etc.) which would be nice. There are a whole lot of programmed chords/progressions which I've played with but don't find very useful.

I've had the unit about four months and it seems well made, but I don't think of it as a road instrument. Most controls are rubber push button used to drive menus on a large back-lit display, so I don't see lots of problems here, but the chassis and keys are plastic and the unit is light - I don't know how it would survive a drop/toss. But I've moved mine around a fair amount (carefully) and so far so good.

No experience.

I've been playing on and off for 30 years, classically trained and played in a rock band in high school/college. Currently playing rock/blues/R&B with some of the old gang. I've owned Farfisa, Roland, and Korg keyboards in the past. My current other keyboard is a Korg Trinity, which I like very much but has limitations which I bought the Casio to help overcome. The Korg has 61 keys (limiting) and is touch screen / menu driven and slow to respond, so modifying the sound mid-song is cumbersome. I bought the Casio primarily for its excellent keyboard preset sounds, 76 key flexibility, and excellent value. I wish it had more memory, another assignable (variable) pedal jack, right and left stereo jack output, and midi thru jack, but considering the price these things would add I can do without. I did a lot of shopping, and couldn't find anything that comes close to this 76 key Casio for value. I'd definitely buy another.