Customer Reviews

Yamaha DGX-305AD Portable Electronic Keyboard (with AC Adapter)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've never played the piano before, this will help you on your way. Notice I do not say it will show you how, which it does to an extant, but I believe that the best way to learn piano is to start from the beginning, which this unit does not do. It has 30 songs built-in along with 70 on the supplied CD-Rom, which will not do you any good without both a computer and either a smart media card or a $50 MIDI cable. The learning features will only allow you to learn the music installed on the system, so if there's not a song there, and you cannot download it from the internet, you're going to have to learn how to read music. With several hundredvoices, including around 75 sound effects, there's plenty to play with here. It is sturdy enough that I feel comfortable allowing my children to play on it - with close supervision, of course. The software it comes with to view the music is not too bad, but I've found better - Solera for one. The ability to download songs and play them right away is very nice, and at only $4.95 a piece, it's rather affordable. All in all, a might fine piece of work from Yamaha.

I've owned this keyboard for close to six months. It's fun to play and has many features for learning. In addition to the 30 built in songs and 70 MIDI files on the CD-ROM, you can load up lots of MIDI files on a smartmedia. My only complain against this keyboard is the choice of smartmedia instead of compact flash or other more popular memory sticks. Smartmedia is as scarce as chicken teeth these days. Contrary to what the previous reviewer mentioned, you can learn with MIDI files loaded on smartmedia. You just have to make sure the files are MIDI Type 0. The more popular MIDI Type 1 files have to be converted using a tool such as 'MidiConverter'. The first channel will be selected as Right-hand and the second as Left-Hand when learning. I particularly like the Large LCD screen which can display two rows of music score large enough to read and play. The score display automatically formats the music according to pitch, so that it is easy to follow. Overall, it is a great keyboard for learners and ethusiasts alike.

This is the best beginner's keyboard considering the price and the learning time. I have no music background at all, so it is mighty difficult for me to read the music score. However, this keyboard has built in features to convert midi track1 and track2 and display it on the LCD screen, so i can follow it key by key. After all, my sole purpose is to be able to learn a couple of my favorite songs and show off in some special occasions.
The sequencer feature is great to combine several tracks of musical plays that you played, and edit and replayed. It is great fun to be able to mix drums, guitar, bass .... and create a song for fun.
For this price, one should not expect a weighted keyboard. Great beginner's keyboard period.