The Roland digital piano is the strongest competitor to the Yamaha CVP line, but lacks the compatibility to some currently popular software types.

The Rolands KR-Series igital pianos are having a real problem with any standard MIDI file that contains META event data. META events are long SYS-EX messages (SYS-EX are usually 6 to 8 bits long where META events are 12 to 16 bits) that can control various controls on a keyboard. For example, a manufacturer wants to make a performance disk that will sound ok as a General MIDI disk on other manufacturers but wants to be able to use the special items on their own brand of instrument. A great example of this is the new XF standard that has really become a MAJOR factor in the new CVP's. XF is all done with META events.

When you create a file using the auto accompaniment section of the CVP (which is completely XF compliant), the file will play back just fine on your computer, any other brand, or any previous Yamaha. However, it locks up on any KR or MT Roland product. Roland is claiming that Yamaha "isn't creating a Standard MIDI file". This is absolutely false.

Basically, they have a real problem with their sequencer and they have known about it for quite a while now. It's going to cost them to bring their sequencer up to today's standard and they just don't seem to want to do it. Yamaha appears to have the position that they are not going to degrade their product because of one manufacturers apparent substandard sequencer, no matter who that manufacturer is. I think that's a good choice.

So, when doing a comparison, they will have more trouble in the future as more brands use more META events.

The real kicker here is the new XF standard. Man is it an amazing thing when you really get into it. Have you heard of "SCORCH + XF"? If not, you will. It's absolutely amazing.

Furthermore, the Roland will not play a General MIDI file with the .kar (karaoke) extension, which is a very common format found on most internet MIDI sites. The CVP will play the file and also allow you to edit the file.

Leaving the software compatibility issue, the Roland keyboard is impressive. It emulates very well the piano action of a vertical acoustic piano, where the CVP emulates very well the action of a grand piano. The difference is most easily recognized in rapid repeats and trills, where the Roland keyboard requires higher lifting of the fingers and, therefore, delivers slower repeats.

A search through the newsgroups will yield discussions by people who have experienced problems with their Roland keyboards, such as sticking, squeaking, and muting notes. Here are some specific examples...

"I have a stuck key on my roland. Stuck meaning i tap it and no sound comes out... It moves freely but doent seem to work. Does anyone know how these work? Can i take it apart and clean it?"

"I own a Roland and when I have trouble with the keys I open it up and reseat the connections by unplugging and then plugging back in the ribbon that connects the key pads to each other and the rest of the system. Be very careful with ribbons. They arent easily found at your local radio shack."

"I've been continuing to play the [Roland] KR-770 and really like it. I can play things on it that I just can't play as well on the upright, and the sound is down right impressive. I've also made it "hiccup" about three times with no idea how it happened, but it is like a digital audio artifact in the right channel - a very high-pitched screech, almost so short as to make me wonder if I really heard something or not."

"Interesting...I've had a Roland HP330 for a month or so, and I've also noticed the occasional glitch in the sound. It's difficult to describe, and usually seems to come with rough application of the sustain pedal. It's more noticeable in headphones than on the speakers. It's sort of like the note cutting off, but very abruptly, like the sample is being cut short. Anyone else suffered this with a digital? Does it go with the territory or is it a fault? I should say it's hardly noticeable, but if I was playing publicly with a Roland sound engine like this I'd be a bit worried."

"Has anybody else noticed the tendency of Roland HP Digital Pianos to have noisy mechanical buzzes from their cases, especially at particular points of resonance? I returned one unit to the store, and replaced it with a higher spec model which is better, but still buzzes at higher volumes. I would have thought this kind of fault should be designed out of products costing this much money."

If you're in the market for a digital piano, you need to do your homework. Search the internet for the specific model number you're interested in, stop by to visit the dealers to try them out, and be careful of what salesmen try to tell you about their competition.