Having announced last year that it was bringing keyboard lessons to its platform, Duolingo has just ups its music tuition game by partnering with Loog on a portable digital piano: the Loog x Duolingo Piano.
Essentially a Duolingo-flavoured version of Loog’s existing beginner piano – meaning that it comes in Brat summer green – this three-octave, synth-action instrument promises a “musician-grade” piano sound and has a built-in battery and speakers.
There’s a volume knob on the top and, round the back, octave shifter and sustain ports, a 3.5mm headphones output and a USB-C socket for charging and transmitting MIDI. A wooden phone stand comes in the box, as do Duolingo Piano Flashcards.
Of course, this particular keyboard isn’t essential if you want to use Duolingo’s music lessons – perhaps, any other MIDI-equipped model would do the job – but it certainly looks the part, and at $249 is reasonably affordable.
The Loog x Duolingo Piano is available for pre-order now on the Duolingo website.
Casio launches CT-S1-76 , a compact, clean aesthetics, freedom to enjoy superb acoustics and refined tones.
Released in 2021, Casio’s 61-note Casiotone CT-S1 was immediately recognised as one of the best keyboards for beginners, and it remains so today. Rather than release a direct successor, then, Casio has launched a sister product, the 76-note CT-S1-76.
The obvious benefit here is that the greater number of keys gives you scope to play a wider repertoire of pieces, but that’s not the only advantage that the CT-S1-76 has over its smaller sibling. There’s also a more powerful dual 6.5W speaker system – the CT-S1 has a dual 2.5W setup – that includes Casio’s Horizontal Bass-Reflex System. This is said to improve the sound of the lower end frequencies.
Enhanced Bluetooth functionality, meanwhile, means that the CT-S1-76’s functionality can be controlled via the Casio Music Space app. This could actually be pretty useful; the number of controls on the keyboard itself has been kept to a minimum, so app control means that you won’t need to worry about making multiple button/key presses when you want to access the deeper functionality. This isn’t an option on the CT-S1.
Where the two keyboards do share common ground is in their soundset, which is powered by Casio’s AiX Sound Source technology. You get the expected acoustic/electric piano and organ tones, plus a selection of ‘advanced’ tones that replicate vintage instruments, and some classics from the Casio archives. There are 61 sounds in total.
Though the word ‘Casiotone’ typically summons up images of compact keyboards, so the CT-S1-76 feels like it slightly goes against the grain. However, despite its extended range of keys, it remains relatively svelte and light, measuring just 1,140mm long and 258mm deep. The weight has been kept down to 5.3kg, which Casio says makes this the lightest 76-note keyboard with built-in speakers that you can buy.
The CT-S1-76 is price at just £349. The CT-S1-76 is available in black and white colour options, and can be powered by the supplied AC adapter or eight AA batteries. You even get a stand for your sheet music, tablet or smartphone.
Donner is back with the DDP-200, another classy-looking digital piano
The slimline wooden instrument promises a great piano tone and authentic keyboard.
Donner is getting on a bit of a roll with its digital piano releases. Having already released the stylish DDP-80 this year, it is back with the slightly more stately DDP-200, another slimline wooden instrument that is designed for the entry-level player.
The company is claiming it has a sampling engine that “perfectly reproduces” the sound of an acoustic grand piano. This is played from a dual-sensor 88-note keyboard that promises to recreate the touch and feel of an acoustic piano, as well.
“The patented Donner Grand Hammer action technology utilises a more accurate dual-sensor key detection system for enhanced playing realism,” said Rui Lin, product manager of Donner’s Keys and Percussion Division. “Unlike common two sensor keyboard actions found in many of today’s digital pianos, the DGH technology developed by Donner makes quick key repetition more reliable.”
Other features include a hanging speaker system that’s designed to produce a 3D sound and reduce the DDP-200’s footprint. There’s also a clamshell lid, a music stand and a 1.3-inch LCD screen.
This is used to display both your currently selected tone – choices include Grand Piano, Stage Piano, AMB Piano, Strings, Slow Strings and Organ – and the five reverb effects. There’s both USB and Bluetooth MIDI connectivity, as well as audio outputs.
The Donner DDP-200 is available now priced at $1,000/£839. Find out more on the Donner website.
