WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Just a few weeks since it was confirmed that the Rhodes brand is now under new ownership, it looks like the fledgling company is almost ready to show its first electric piano.

Word has it that the new Rhodes has been in development for two years at an R&D facility in Leeds, and Dan Goldman, the new Rhodes Chief Product Officer (not to mention demon Rhodes player) is doing nothing to dampen expectations.

“Compared to the old pianos it’s got all the vibe and soul, but everything that wasn’t precisely built has been precisely built and with massive detail,” he says.

“I think it’s the ultimate collision of the vintage world and the modern world. I think what we’ve achieved in the last two years is going to blow people’s minds.”

Forget digital emulations – this looks like the real deal. Anticipation-building photos indicate that this is very much a real Rhodes rather than a digital emulation of some kind, with the vintage look of the classic EPs of yesteryear.

This would make total sense as there is no point buying a brand like Rhodes and then not trading on its heritage but, it will be interesting to see if anything new has been added to the formula.

Our sources indicate that we have to wait for weeks rather than months before the big reveal. You can sign up for direct updates on the Rhodes website.

The Casio PX-S1100 is the successor of Casio PX-S1000, which was one of the best digital pianos which you can buy, just got an upgrade.

If you are a beginner, the new Casio PX-S1100 is the affordable home keyboard and sounds better than ever.

Boasting the same slimline body and playable keyboard – this is weighted heavier in the lower range and becomes lighter in the higher registers – the PX-S1100 offers improved string resonance that promises to better reproduce the complex harmonics of an acoustic piano. There are 17 other tones, as well.

In addition, the speakers have been upgraded, while the AiR Sound Source is designed to “provide a sense of ambience, localization, and clarity.”

The PX-S1100 ships with Casio WU-BT10 adapter, which adds Bluetooth MIDI and audio capabilities, while the Chordana Play for Piano app lets you control the piano from your tablet and offers real-time interactive lessons.

The Casio PX-S1100 will be available. Find out more on the Casio website.

Alesis has introduced the Prestige Series digital pianos, with advanced features and at an affordable price – the Prestige, Prestige Artist. Both feature 88 keys, multiple voices and built-in speakers.

Alesis claims that the Prestige Series pianos feature “the most advanced and versatile sound library ever created for a digital piano,” which is quite some statement. The standard model contains 16 voices, while the pricier Artist edition has 30.

Both pianos have a graded hammer-action keyboard with adjustable touch response. Sounds can be layered – two at once or split across the keyboard, and in Lesson mode, the keyboard is divided into two sections with the same pitch and voice. Alongside the grand piano voices, you get electric pianos, strings, organs and synths, all of which are said to have been carefully multisampled.

Polyphony on the standard Prestige is 128 notes,  while the Prestige Artist model is 256 notes. Both pianos have a 50W (2x25W) micro-array speaker system that promises plenty of volume and clarity.

Other features in both pianos include a reverb with five selectable types, a record mode so that you can hear your performances back, and a built-in metronome. Both Prestige models also include 60 free interactive lessons from Melodics, three months of Skoove Premium and two months of TakeLessons | Live. Connectivity includes stereo 1/4-inch outputs, 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch headphone outputs and USB-MIDI.

Further enhancements for the Prestige Artist piano include an OLED display and the inclusion of a piano-style sustain pedal while the standard Prestige piano comes with a standard sustain pedal.  Both models are also bundled with a music rest and power adapter.

Alesis Prestige Artist, 88 Key Digital Piano

The Prestige and Prestige Artist digital pianos should be available.  Find out more on the Alesis website.