Thanks for the video!

Previously, I was familiar with the guys from New Zealand and had a positive impression of them, and therefore I hope to get valuable advice from you, what piano should I buy. Help me make a choice between Casio Privia px-160 & Medeli SP5300 & Medeli SP4200. Which keybed is better? Which sound is good? I prefer better keybed feeling rather than sound, because I can connect MIDI interface and choose any sound of piano, but I can't change keybed feelings.

Thank you. Did anyone try to record tracks?

Good demo, but it would be nice to see a video of the orchestrated background styles and other easy play features.

Can you demonstrate the feature of Performance Assistant? What's the difference between the piano more and the guitar mode?

I am considering by Medeli SP4200 Digital Piano Or donner ped 20 for my church which is the best please advise me?

Any issues with Medeli, who does the repair work etc

I see this keyboard when I go to the music store and play around as well as record stuff. One question is, does it have a transpose feature somewhere?

@Songwriter74

2 жыл бұрын

It sure does - you can go up or down 6 semitones (i.e. within a 1 octave range), via the 'shift-transpose' buttons

hey, thanks for the review ..... but is this the same as thomann sp 5600??? seems like

@Songwriter74

4 жыл бұрын

Hi, yes it is exactly the same product; I believe Thomann is just the brand that the SP4200 is marketed under in certain European markets. Cheers

@domingossaude

Жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 thank you for this particular comment. I am thinking maybe,m to buy the Sp5600, but I couldn't find videos about the styles. So, I made a research for The Medeli, in order to see how the styles are. This comment gave me some tranquility about this. Thank you. I am from Portugal.

Excellent demo. What song are you playing with the strings?

@Songwriter74

2 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for your question; it is a rough prelude based on Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'

What about fast playing (eighth and sixteenth notes)? Is mechanics OK for it?

@Songwriter74

4 жыл бұрын

Sure Viktor, the keyboard responds well to trills and other rapid -played notes. There is no sound drop-out either which I think is helped by the 128-note polyphony. If you check out my latest tutorial video you will see an example of this kind of performance response on the Medeli. Cheers

I noticed you've reviewed the SP4200 and the SP201. Which one do you prefer for your live performance? Do the 192 polyphony on the SP201 and the graded keys make much difference?

@Songwriter74

2 жыл бұрын

Both have their merits, but the SP4200 is good with it's one touch programmable buttons and microphone input (the latter negating the need for a separate mixer in some situations). The 192 note polyphony on the SP201 is neither here nor there when compared to the SP4200, but the 'graded' hammer action keys have a slightly more authentic feel.

@snsshorts

2 жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 Thanks for your review. I suppose the SP4200 is more appropriate for live performance while the SP201 is good for school or home use.

I’ve been considering this model but have seen some bad reviews so I’m not sold yet. I have a Yamaha ydg 535 and some of the notes are starting to sound tinnie (not sure how to spell that). I’ve had it for well over a decade. Is this model worth the risk of getting a lemon?! I love my Yamaha though and if I could just fix the sound issue I would be happy.

@Songwriter74

2 жыл бұрын

I have a mate who owns the exact same keyboard you mention (Yamaha YDG 535) - he swears by it and doesn't want to give up on it, despite the fact that it is getting old and all the keys now rattle quite a bit. I have played it myself and it does have a great piano sound, so I can understand where he and you are coming from. The main issue I have with this Yamaha model is the 32 note max polyphony - this is very low; the Medeli SP4200 has 128, which allows for less chance of note 'drop out' when a lot of sustain is applied and rapid keyboard passages are being played. Also the lack of additional audio outputs separate to the headphone jack means a little less flexibility (particularly for live performance). Therefore in this lower price market, I would say that as a live performance instrument at least, the Medeli is the better option (plus it is more portable); for home use however, there probably isn't much in it. The Medeli has better weighted keys overall, which for me, more closely resembles an acoustic piano feel; however for 'graded hammer action' you would be better to consider the Medeli SP201 - a review of which you can find on my channel also (or stick to your YDG535 which has this graded action - though an overall lighter touch).

@sirissacnewton7193

2 жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 thanks for responding! I will definitely check out your other review. I prefer a lighter weighted key due to my fingers lock up on me when I play (getting old sucks) so the heavy keys make it really hard to play. I wondered what polyphony meant, I’ve not had that issue with the simple tunes I’ve played but as I progress it will probably become an issue. Thanks again for responding!

Hi Craig I purchased the medeli sp4200 2 weeks ago... It says it has a style creator but I'm not sure how to access it Have you found anyway to locate the style creator.... Thank You

@Songwriter74

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, I have to be honest - there is no clear information that I have found on this either. There is specific software required to do this which can be downloaded from the medeli.com.hk website; however you then have to go to medeli.com.cn to download the manual for this software suite - which is fine, but the PDF document is all in Chinese, so really it is not a great help unless you are multi-lingual! Otherwise it is possible to record up to 5 user 'songs' (drum rhythms, instrument voices etc) - the details of which are on page 30-31 of the SP4200 manual. But I really figure it is easier to simply connect a PC via the USB port and use your own DAW software to record and store tracks, rather than saving these in the memory of the SP4200. Hopefully that helps.

@lifejourneywithty9157

5 жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 thanks Craig... Is the name of the pc suite called pootute

@Songwriter74

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, yes that is the one. As I recall the functionality is quite limited though. I installed the software on my old computer (since upgraded) last year, then tried using it to upload all the saved user data from my old SP4200 to a new one that I had purchased. Unfortunately that didn't seem to work, so I just had to enter in all the data manually. As for using this software to upload a 'style', well I remember trying that too. I tried uploading a drum pattern (that I had played on the SP4200 and recorded via Cubase, then saved on my laptop as a MIDI file), but when trying to upload this into Pootute, the software kept looking for a '.sty' file. I know there is a section for 'editing/converting' file types within the Pootute software, but in the case of 'style', the only file it will allow you to actually import is a '.mid' file. Yet when I tried that, it came up with a dialog box stating that this file type was not supported! Very confusing. I'll be interested to hear if you have any success. Cheers.

@FilippoGameAudio

5 жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 Hi Craig, as you mentioned recording and storing tracks, is it possible to record an actual style (with chord progressions played on the fly) and all its MIDI tracks to Cubase, so I can later use other VST instruments? Let me know if you have had the chance of trying something like that. Thanks

What is the name of the piece you demonstrate on the string ensemble?

@Songwriter74

5 жыл бұрын

It is an improvised arrangement based on the intro to Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' which is in turn loosely based on Bach's 'Air on the G String'. Cheers

@rhrlhuskey

5 жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 Thank you. I remember this as the Bach tune but was always humming a AWSoP. This has been stuck in my head.

Can you split this keyboard, for example.....bass in the left hand and a b3 in the right?

@Songwriter74

2 жыл бұрын

Yes you can; I had a similar question the other day (under a different Medeli video), so I will copy and paste my answer on how to split the keyboard here: You have to press 'SHIFT' then hold down the 'LOWER' button (i.e. the 'secondary' function of the FUNK EP button to the right of the LCD screen). This enables 'lower mode' - you can then select the 'voice' you want by either using the scroll wheel, or YES/NO buttons. Once you have selected your lower voicing (the upper will be whatever voicing you had set initially), you then need to select the 'split point' by holding down the shift key, and pressing the 'FUNCTION' button(s) - located to the left beneath where STYLE is printed on the keyboard. The trick is to select the actual split point by pressing the key (say middle 'C'), but you must do this while the function option is enabled. If you aren't quick enough it will time out, and your split selection won't be saved. If you want to permanently save your setting to a one touch key, you can do so by pressing and holding down 'STORE' (below the FUNK EP button) and then the appropriate memory button, e.g. M1, for a couple for seconds. Your setting will then be saved under this button, even if you turn off the keyboard. Also you can adjust the relative volume of each section by pressing 'SHIFT' then the 'MIXER' button(s). In this field 'LOWER' refers to the lower keyboard part's volume, and 'UPPER1' refers to the volume of the upper part. To adjust either, you again use either the scroll wheel or YES/NO buttons to change the volume to a level parameter between 000 and 127. But again you must do this while the feature function is ENABLED, i.e. before it times out. Hope that helps.

@AndersBorgSweden

Жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 One interesting thing here is that if you've set up DIAL or LOWER, by pressing VOICE you cycle what voices are selected for each feature, and you can edit each voice then as well.

hi it's a good piano? is good th action key. sound?

@Songwriter74

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Diego, yes it is a good piano for the price. Some of the inbuilt sounds are better than others, but the grand piano sample is excellent. The keys are weighted/hammer action (though not 'graded' as in more expensive keyboards). The feel of the keys is perhaps slightly on the heavier side, but still perfectly fine, and close enough to a real piano. Cheers.

Craig. First of all, thanks for the reviews. You do an excellent job. Seeing you use this as a solo-gigging act sold me on the potential of purchasing and using this keyboard as a gigging board for a similar act. I am now trying to decide on the SP4200 vs. paying almost double to get a Korg XE20. The XE20 has "auto accompaniment Styles can be accessed with your left hand." Will the SP4200 do the same and "automatically generate a full backing band based on the bass note or chord you’re playing with your left hand."

@Songwriter74

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Charles; yes the Medeli has what's known as 'Auto-Accompaniment' mode, with 230 'styles' which form the performance part - I touch on 'styles' briefly in a new video I have uploaded here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fZuZ06Zpddycgrg.html. The type of 'music ensemble' will depend on the 'style' selected. i.e. If a Latin style is selected - the Medeli will assign the appropriate sounding instruments and rhythm, same goes for rock n roll etc. You can play whatever sound you like over the TOP of this - for example you might select a rock n roll auto accompaniment style (featuring rhythm track, guitar etc - automatically assigned by the Medeli) - then play an organ in the left hand, and piano in the right hand, with chords based on what you play in the left hand. It's not a function I personally use, but it seems to be very versatile with all the performance options available, too numerous to go into here. I couldn't honestly say how this function compares to the Korg you are considering in terms of features, ease of use etc, so obviously if you are able to try both out first, that will ultimately help with your decision. Cheers.

@djba

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Charles ... I just had to tell you that I just posted a comment on another video of Craig's where I almost quoted a line in your comment "I am now trying to decide on the SP4200 vs. paying almost double to get a Korg XE20". What did you decide?

@charlesurdy-barnes413

3 жыл бұрын

@@djba I am pretty certain I am going to order the Medeli Sp4200. I hestitated so long because I already had 2 keyboards at the time, now I have none, so I will order soon. One other keyboard that recently came out that I am interested in is the Donner Ep, but still the Medeli continues to get my first place vote when it comes to quality and price between the 3 keyboards.

Hi there! Thanks for the video. How does the SP4200 compare to the SP5500 (I saw you played it in your other videos)? Is it an upgrade (in terms of hammer action and functionality)? I have an SP5500 and was wondering whether it's worth upgrading...

@Songwriter74

6 жыл бұрын

Hi, thanks for your query. I think the main difference was the note polyphony; I used to have an issue with notes cutting out on the SP5500 when I was playing faster passages; no such problem on the SP4200 though. Overall the SP5500 was a weightier instrument to cart around, and the piano didn't sound as good as the grand piano on the SP4200; also the keys themselves had a heavier response which made it less enjoyable to play. It did however have some superior sound samples such as woodwinds and brass. The SP4200 is the newer addition and priced a bit lower. Hope that helps.

@tomichaubg

6 жыл бұрын

I think it does help :) If the action is lighter on the SP4200, I may stick with the SP5500 for piano and buy a semi-weighted keyboard for my gigging purposes (e-piano, organ, some piano). I'm looking at the StudioLogic Numa Compact 2, any experiences with/knowledge of Studiologic (Fatar) keyboards? I know it's off-topic, but would appreciate your insight, you are one of the rare KZread streamers that play on Medelis. I think they're great value for money and not so far behind bigger brands. It's also interesting that you say the SP4200 has a lighter action than the SP5500, I always felt like the SP5500 had a light action, since I would return to my old acoustic upright at my parents' house and I'd struggle to reach the same tempos on my scales and arpeggios, being used to the SP5500 action. As a classically trained pianist, I wouldn't want to lose my strength. I know uprights generally tend to have a heavier mechanic, rarely found in digital pianos. The higher polyphony is certainly a needed upgrade (I had similar issues with my SP5500) and as for the sound samples, the SP4200 does sound better. I just never really trusted video recordings, it's much different live in my own room or through my headphones. I was lucky to try out the SP5500 in person in the Netherlands where I bought it, but I'm now in Ireland and there's no place to try out the SP4200. They're sold as Thomann SP5600 here and are rarely seen in showrooms. All things considered, it sounds like the only reason one should upgrade from SP5500 to SP4200 is the 2x polyphony count and lighter weight. I think maybe I'm more thorn now than before XD Keyboard shopping on a budget sucks! Sorry for the long reply, but I think other viewers may benefit from the comments too. All the best!

@Songwriter74

6 жыл бұрын

Well I'm not really an expert on comparing instruments; nothing as far as I know will ever beat the feel of an acoustic piano though; whilst the Medeli has hammer-action keys, you always know there is something different about the touch. I don't believe Studiologic gear is sold here, I have never come across it. Interestingly, I acquired my SP5500 when I was in England, and liked it enough to ship it back here to NZ; then when the SP4200 came out, I went for that as the features were similar. As discussed, it's the light weight/portability that really sells the SP4200 for me, and the features on offer for the price. Your reasons/needs may be different, but whatever you decide, both pianos have their merits. Good luck and cheers for offering your thoughts.

@yany77600

6 жыл бұрын

Hello Thank for sharing your video. It is a very good help. I have ordered a Thomann SP5600, the german version of SP4200 which would be delivered today. Thank.

@benngoma7353

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Craig... thanks for making the videos on the sp 4200... apart from you, there's almost nothing on the internet about this keyboard... that's sad. Am currently buying it... Do you in which year it was made? How about styles creation? The specs say it's possible... but i don't know how to...

How to program sounds on memory banks?

@Songwriter74

4 жыл бұрын

After selecting the sound you want, press and hold the 'Store' button, then hold down one of the memory keys (M1, M2 etc) at the same time. You can release the store button at this point, but the trick is to keep holding down the memory button for a couple of seconds in order for the setting to be registered.

@volwwoio5229

4 жыл бұрын

@@Songwriter74 thank you very much. I really needed this

You spider !!! 🙂 Your fingers look like spider Legs 😀 Congratulation

Whoa. Big error with Fur Elise. Ouch.

@Songwriter74

4 жыл бұрын

Well the video is not a recital, it's a d-e-m-o for those interested in different keyboard sounds available on the SP4200 - as per the description.