Product: Yamaha CLP-820
Price Paid: N/A used
Submitted
05/27/2003
at
07:26am
by
Henry
Ease of Use
:
10
The Yamaha Clavinova CLP820 is a mid-range electric piano designed for home use -- it is the modern answer to the upright piano that every Victorian family had in their parlor. Indeed, I used to have a junk-shop upright piano that I had to give away during a house move. My parents -- also contemplating moving -- owned this Clavinova and gave it to me so my children (aged 5 and 3) could grow up with some kind of piano in the house. It could hardly be easier to use -- my five-year-old can turn it on and play straight away. But as a keyboard player in bands and studios, there is plenty for Dad to get excited about. The manual is as easy as can be.
Features
:
9
Polyphony -- how much do you need? I haven't run out yet.
Effects -- you can change the hardness characteristic of the keyboard, and there are sensible preset reverb options, but no chorusing as in more expensive clavinova models. There are no extension facilities. However, there is a capable two-channel real-time sequencer which is very easy to use, together with a full MIDI spec. The keyboard comes with an excellent stereo system and you can take stereo from an external device. Unlike acoustic pianos, you can play it through HEADPHONES -- wonderful in a small house. What's more, there are TWO SETS of headphone sockets allowing for pupil and teacher, or just two friends, to play together without waking the neighbours.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
There are ten sounds -- two tales each on grand piano, electric piano, organ, harpsichord and strings. They all sound absolutely superb -- you can whack up the level with no audible distortion or break-up. You can layer two sounds at once. I felt it could have slightly more dynamic response to my playing, but this is probably my problem than the keyboard's -- you can't really argue with an 88-note weighted keyboard from Yamaha. This is the best keyboard I have ever played on any instrument.
Reliability
:
9
This keyboard was shipped in a truck across Europe from my folks' house to mine, and fired up first time. I wouldn't take it to a gig though -- it's a two-man lift and strictly something for home use. For gigs I compromise with my Korg M1 or a Korg Trinity. Not as good, but adequate in most gig situations.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
not applicable
Overall Rating
:
10
After 61-note synth keyboards, there's nothing like spreading yourself on an 88-note weighted 'board that sounds as good -- or better -- than most 'real' pianos, and you don't need to tune it...
As such it is a genuine inspiration and making music couldn't be easier on it. As well as being a general round-the-house instrument for the kids, I can sync the sequencer to the inbuilt sequencer on my Korg M1 by MIDI; feed the stereo outs from my M1 through the Clavinova's own system and monitor complete arrangements through headphones -- and record the lot to 2 channels of a recorder with minimum hassle. Yes, the sequencer could be more fully specified, and, yes, the alphanumeric display could give more information, but the instrument is designed to turn on and play right away, and as someone who hates complicated equipment getting in the way of performance, this is a plus.
