Manuel is a passionate, driven, and techsavvy AV technician, 
Like many areas of development, music has been revolutionized by the innovation of electronic pianos. While traditional “analog” pianos made of wood, metal, and strings still produce the richest sound, electronic pianos offer many great advantages, and the sound quality is becoming increasingly comparable to the analog model, especially in the higher-end versions.
This article highlights some of the key advantages of electronic pianos, as well as the few remaining disadvantages, to help you make an informed decision if you are considering purchasing one. It is worth noting that not all electronic pianos offer all of these advantages; higher-priced models tend to have more features and better sound quality, while cheaper models may offer fewer features or lower quality. Therefore, it is recommended that you prioritize the advantages that are most important to you and use them as a checklist when evaluating different models.
Maintenance: Digital pianos do not require tuning, are easy to clean, and are often easy to store.
Portability: Electric piano keyboards come in a wide range of models (primarily determined by the number of keys – typically 61, 73, or 88 – and sound quality), and if they are designed to be tabletop instead of floor-standing, they are easy to move around.
Affordability: Although it is possible to purchase digital pianos that cost more than used traditional pianos, the budget for electronic pianos is generally much lower than that of analog “wood and string” models. While you can buy a simple digital device for less than $100, there are full-featured, high-quality options available for under $500. You likely can’t even get a used wooden upright piano that will hold its tune for $500.
Versatility: A traditional piano sounds like a piano, and a pipe organ sounds like a pipe organ, but electronic pianos often have a number of buttons that allow you to play automated background rhythms, make your keyboard sound like different instruments, and even play recorded “accompaniment” music so that it sounds like you are in a band or orchestra. Many models even allow you to adjust the sound to recreate the rich acoustics of a concert hall or jazz club.
Size and Placement: Digital pianos weigh less and take up less space than analog pianos. They also do not require strict temperature and humidity controls, or special movers to relocate them. Many homes have a available tabletop where you can play a digital piano, but not all have room for a traditional piano (even the space-saving upright design).
MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface Understanding MIDI as an element of modern-day songs - Understanding MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is an industry-standard communication protocol that allows electronic musical instruments such as synthesizers, drum machines, computers, and samplers to communicate with each other. It does not contain audio data but transmits information related to musical notes, such as pitch, intensity, cues, volume, vibrato, and clock signals. Modern musicians… (MIDI) allows you to connect your instrument to other electronic piano keyboards, computers, and other digital equipment. This allows you to control multiple instruments simultaneously (e.g., another keyboard that sounds like a guitar, etc.), record on your computer, and more.
Weighted Keys: Weighted keys feel like they are made of thick wood like traditional pianos, which is very important if you have touch-sensitive keys. This is a crucial feature usually available on higher-end models.
Touch Sensitivity: Touch-sensitive keys mean that the harder and faster you press a key, the louder it will sound, similar to a traditional piano. This is an important feature usually available on mid-level and higher-end models.
Recording: Many digital pianos come with recorded songs and lessons and even allow you to record your own performances. These recordings can also be transferred to your computer to mix your music with other accompaniments.
Sound Quality: Regardless of how good the digital piano is, the sound and feel of traditional pianos are still unmatched.
Complexity: Higher-end electronic pianos come loaded with buttons and programmable features, which can be quite complicated to fully understand, especially if you plan to interface with your computer. Flexibility comes at a cost.
Regarding power, if there is a power outage, your digital piano may not work unless you have a supply of batteries on hand. With a conventional piano, you can still play by candlelight if necessary. By the way, it is recommended to always use a surge protector outlet strip to power your electric piano.
As you can see, despite this minor disadvantage, digital pianos offer many desirable benefits while having only a few drawbacks. Therefore, I recommend that you determine which features are most important to you and use them as a checklist when shopping for an electric piano.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
