Yamaha NP-30 Review

Peter Baartmans and the Yamaha NP30

The Yamaha NP30 doesn't come with a weighted keyboard but it does have the Graded Soft-Touch keyboard which means it doesn't have the same weighted feel as an acoustic piano, but there are different levels of resistance in different ranges of the keyboard.

This gives the NP-30 a more quality feel but also, not having the weighted keys allows the keyboard to be very light weight,. The keyboard is only 12 pounds thus making it extremely portable. Also, the NP-30 will run on 6 AA batteries.

A great use for the NP-30 that gets me excited is the ability to take it anywhere like camping and to the beach. The guitar is no longer the only instruments you take camping.

For more realistic piano like sound, Yamaha uses AWM Stereo Piano Samples. This is how Yamaha produces all their sounds digitally. To produce a stereo sound, two microphones are used.

One really nice feature is the dual voice option. This means you can use two different sound effects at the same time. Strings are a nice addition touch to the piano.

The keyboard has a built in metronome which helps in practicing your rhythm. You can also use the metronome in different time signatures - 3/4, 4/4, and 6/8.

The Yamaha NP30 comes with 76 keys, 32 notes of polyphony, 10 voices, 5 reverb settings, sustain pedal jack, 2 speakers, MIDI IN/OUT terminals, phones/output jack, 10 voice demo songs, 10 piano preset songs, transposition, fine tuning, and touch sensitivity controls, and music rest. You have the choice of plugging the keyboard into the wall or running it on 6 AA batteries.

If you want a low cost portable piano for gigging or jamming anywhere from the subway to the beach to the mountains, you will probably like this Yamaha keyboard. Retail is 9, but it is available in a few places for 9 and you can expect to find free shipping as well.

Piano Gallery Direct is one site that has it for Free shipping.