Roland's new piano... again...

Bellyman

Wow, yet another new piano (or pianos) from Roland. I bought the RD-2000. Then there was the German Grand expansion. So I bought that. And a few months later, the EX came out. OK, so there's another upgrade for an additional charge. Now they've come out with Earth, with an additional charge (or monthly fee??). Mmmkay. It kinda looks like they're trying to compete with Pianoteq.

While I love the action on the RD-2000, I'm not loving the feel of chasing the latest and greatest Roland piano sound. And when I look at Earth, I am kinda asking myself if I wouldn't rather just have Pianoteq instead.

Dunno. If any of you guys have both, I'd be interested in your thoughts. Maybe Earth is fantastic, I've only seen the advertisements. Is it better than the pianos already on the new EX boards? Or is Pianoteq still a big step up? If I'm going to a product I have to use like I would a VST and not something I actually have loaded to the RD, that kinda changes what I'm willing to buy. (I may be over-reacting.)

TC3

I only just heard about this today. I don't plan to buy it any time soon, I have plenty of great pianos to use for now.

Bellyman

No plans here, either. And lest I fail to mention it, Pianoteq is teasing that it has a new one almost ready to come out.

It's kind of an odd feeling I have at the moment. I almost feel overwhelmed with the push for "more, more, more" or "better, better, better", to the point where even if something is absolutely fantastic, I'm resistant just because of the push.

Probably over-reacting, as I do tend to do that at certain times.

TC3

Bellyman Yeah, I get that. I get too caught up in buying gear sometimes, followed by periods of simplifying and general austerity. Honestly, I just need to practice more ...

Bellyman

It happens with a lot of different areas of life.

I used to do some woodworking. No matter how many tools I accumulated, there was ALWAYS another latest and greatest tool that I just HAD to have. At least that's what it felt like when I'd see some fancy schmancy project that some guru just built. And oh, it was beautiful. Did I actually NEED that tool? Sometimes there are specialty tools that really are needed to do certain things. Most of woodworking, though, can be done with some very basic tools. Skills trump a tool budget almost every time. Probably that way with a lot of things.

FrankCox

Software-only pianos may be a more profitable venture than physical devices.

To make a complete digital piano you have to develop the software and design and manufacture the hardware.

If you're just doing software only you avoid the design and manufacturing requirements, and the entire enterprise is almost 100% front-loaded. (All of the costs come from creating the first copy of the program. After that the incremental cost per copy sold is very close to zero.)

WieWaldi

Anyone seen this video?

Bellyman

WieWaldi, yes, I did see that one! Very good video and a nice comparison, at least I thought so.

The thing that has me mesmerized at the moment is Pianoteq. I'm just really impressed with their latest offerings. I know some people still don't like them, I get that. All of our tastes are different. But that new Kawai is really talkin' to me. (Waitin' on a sale which people tell me should be here in a couple of weeks.)

It is almost coming to the point where I feel like the comparisons between VST's of various kinds are coming down more to preference more so than the ability of the VST in a very similar way to how people may have a preference to a particularly acoustic piano. My choices wouldn't necessarily be what someone else would choose. In a room full of concert grands, I think the first one I'd likely sit down to would be a Baldwin (not many of those around). Second would probably be a Bosendorfer. Third would probably be a Kawai. Fourth might be a Mason & Hamlin. Yamaha would probably be down pretty far on the list and NY Steinway would probably not be much higher on the list. Just my personal preference. Someone else might put the Yamaha at the first. They're not wrong. But it wouldn't be on the top of my list. Personal preference...

WieWaldi

Bellyman Someone else might put the Yamaha at the first.

Yes - I always loved the bright Yamaha sound. On my CN-29, I prefer the brighter EX Concert Grand sample over the mellow SK-EX, too. As you said, personal preference.

Thank you for your detailed opinion about the video. AFAIK, currently there is still this Roland Earth piano $50 bargain going on, and I am tempted to step in. Currently, this "join our Roland cloud" thing is turning me off. But still I want to see a lot of early comparisons like this, before the $50 bargain ends.

Bellyman

WieWaldi , yeah, the whole Roland Cloud thing is kind of an irritation to me. Just don't quite like how I interact with that. I liked that I was able to load the German Expansion pianos onto the RD-2000. The EX upgrade, same. It all resides on the RD-2000. But now the Earth pianos, they don't live onboard.

FrankCox

I don't think I would ever purchase a software-only piano, personally. It makes the whole piano playing thing into a technological exercise which is fine for those who want that experience but I guess I'm not one of them.