Are you a beginner that would like to uplift your piano skills? Alesis recital 88 key piano is the best choice for you. As much as quantity does not equate to quality, Alesis recital is of the type. That is why Recital piano generally targets the entry-level market to learn piano skills quickly.
The budget might sound a bit low, but will it give you the best sound quality? Alesis Recital 88-key review will enlighten you, on whether to go for it or look for another piano.
The Alesis Recital 88-key article review will reveal the important features of Alesis Recital 88 key piano. The following is a general overview of the product.
Table of Contents
A General Overview of Alesis Recital 88 Key Digital Piano
Alesis Recital 88 Key Specs
A Beginner Digital Piano With Advanced Features At this Price Range
Weighted action: Semi-weighted
Touch sensitivity: 3 levels and off (Fixed, Soft, Medium, Hard)
Polyphony: 128 notes
Voices: 5 Instrument Voices
Educational Features: Interactive Online Piano Lessons
Recording Function: Built-in 2-track recorder
Sound effects: 4 types of Reverb and Chorus
Metronome: Built-in Metronome
Connections: USB to Host, sustain jack, headphone jack, line out jacks
Speakers: 12cm x 2
Amplifiers: 10 W x 2
Weight: 15.6 lbs
Dimensions: 50.52″ wide x 11.52” deep x 3.6″ high
Accessories: AC Adaptor, A sustain pedal, Music Rest
General Review of Alesis Recital 88 Key Digital Piano
The Alesis recital has the best sound. It provides you with five sounds to work with, both clear, clean, and ideal for new learners. Having better sound is a must because you will need to hear the playing mistakes you make.
The sound is well sampled and delivered with the right amount of variation via multisampling. The 10W speakers might also contribute to the excellent delivery. However, the Alesis’ piano sound might fall behind slightly compared to other keyboards, which are more expensive.
Furthermore, you can decide to listen to the sound through headphones.
The design of Alesis recital 88 key makes it bulkier than any other keyboard. The semi-weighted keys and its dual 10W speakers contribute to its bulkiness.
The keyboard is complicated to evaluate. There are no specific points of reference to work with. Hence you need to have some analogies to get the points. The keys also have a certain degree of semisolid material, which can easily obstruct you when playing the keyboard.
The semisolid material seems to offer some cushioning at the keypresses’ deep-end, making the sound not to feel natural in either way. However, the piano has 88 keys, which are quite impressive even to experienced players. Unlike other keyboards with 61 keys, which limits the skills needed to play quality sounds.
The piano comes with multiple effects, including three reverb algorithms, two delay algorithms, five choruses, and pedal resonance, which are best for adding spice to your playing.
Alesis Recital Digital Piano is pocket friendly when it comes to the cost. If you have a small budget to get one of the musical instruments, you can find the Alesis recital below $300.
Important Features of Alesis Recital 88 Key Digital Piano
Sound Effects
The piano has two sound effects, including the reverb and choruses.
The reverb sound effects allow the sound to be positioned at different places like rooms. The 4th and 5th reverb sound effects help communicate to delays even though their timing is not modified.
The choruses’ sound effects give every sound a detuned and broad feel in conjunction with electric piano. The 1st and 2nd levels of the choruses are very subtle on the speakers, which is better if you are playing synth and electric piano sounds.
Speakers
Alesis Recital has dual 10W speakers. The speakers are so powerful to musically fill every medium-sized room without the need for external speakers. Also, they have high reasonable sound volume, and when pushed too hard, they may distort.
However, with this loud sound, good sound quality quickly diminishes. At optimum volumes, the Recital sounds very clean. The sound clearness is due to the equalization of tune done at the speaker output, unlike in other pianos.
Modes
Alesis recital has two modes included, the layer and split modes.
Layer mode allows you to play two sounds simultaneously with every keypress. And it can be used to spice up your playing. You can achieve this by pressing two voice buttons simultaneously, allowing the octave to split the two sounds by default.
Split mode splits the keyboard into two halves. You can quickly achieve this by holding down the split mode button and press the key you want it to be the split point. The split mode is very straightforward, and it takes advantage of the bass sound.
Functions
The Alesis recital has a good selection of functions that you can easily change. The functions include;
The transposition. Which you can move up and down a full octave in one semitone adjustments to adapt to the uncommon key signs.
The metronome. A standard metronome is included to enhance practice. The metronome tempo, volume, and time signature are easily adjustable.
The touch sensitivity. There are three different intensities included. An OFF option is also included for a fixed velocity.
Alesis recital has a master tuning setting default of 440Hz, which cannot change it either.
Connectivity
It has stereo output connections marked as “line outputs” in the form of RCA connectors. You can also work or connect with TRS headphone output, to avoid disturbing people in the room when you are practicing. The output is also suitable at connecting with your PA or amplifier system to listen to the music.
A USB Type B port is provided, and you can use this as a MIDI keyboard for Digital Audio Workstation control.
Accessories
Alesis requires several accessories, which you will have to go deep into your pocket to have them and complete the package.
The pedal. The pedal bundle is not inclusive. You will have to buy it separately to get your ample practice suitable. Since the Alesis recital does not support half-pedaling, you will have to obtain a pretty much-sustained pedal.
Perhaps, you can have the Nektar NP-2 cheap and well-built sustain pedal that prevents much typical footswitch shape.
The stand. Alesis recital does not come with a stand, but it is an essential accessory. The good news is that the Recital can work with any of the generic X- or Z-style stands. For instance, you can buy a Rock Jam Xfinity Double-X stand.
Headphones. Headphones are crucial for private practice, where you need to focus solely on your playing without disturbing others in the room. When you purchase a better pair of headphones, you will have to get a more precise and more excellent sound than the audio from speakers.
What are Semi-Weighted Keys?
Semi-weighted keys are keyboards that can combine the synth sound action mechanism with an additional lightweight attached to each key. The semi-weighted keys are better for beginner players who do not require a weighted keyboard’s full resistance. The following features explain semi-weighted keys better.
Features of Semi-Weighted Keys
1. Key resistance – Using semi-weighted keys, you may notice a considerable difference in Key resistance. The resistance is because semi-weighted keys use a spring mechanism combined with attached weights to each key. The pressing of the keys will sound more substantial, and you may use some effort.
2. Effortless key depresses – When you try to depress the key, it will be a nearly effortless feeling. As the keys may seem to depress faster, they look more sluggish when rising back, thus, executing a technique like a glissando and quick repetition is very difficult.
3. Complexity – Like in Alesis recital, the semi-weighted keys add a mechanical complexity layer, which could raise its budget higher, but to your shock, it is cheaper than any other semi-weighted keyboard.
Are semi-Weighted Keys Useful?
It is challenging to come up with a conclusion of whether the semi-weighted keys are right or not. But they can be of great use to some specific users. The following are some of the functions that quantify its goodness.
1. Key utilization – The semi-weighted keys utilize light weights attached to every key and provide moderate resistance. The keys system is mostly found in the synthesizers, which are advanced digital pianos with more functioning techniques.
2. Sound production – Using these semi-weighted keys, you can recreate sounds from various traditional instruments yet to be produced. A long-term experienced pianist can utilize these techniques well but not for a beginner. Besides, the Semi-weighted keyboard of the synthesizer pianos can significantly create sounds. And are mostly used by DJs, composers, performers, and music producers.
3. Users – Semi-weighted keys are not recommended for beginners. Because of their high key resistance, which might seem irritating to the new learner during practice. The semi-weighted can be very tiresome, and it only fits the most experienced pianists and with high piano skills.
4. Training – For training and practice, you do not require these keys. They will seem to be more technical. Thus you need a step by step practice to sound production. These keys also have the right synth keyboard with a boundless imagination, good playing experience, and its possibility to create classical music are endless.
Produces clean sounds through their decent 20W speakers
Powerful educational features of improving skills
Can be Operated on batteries
Super affordable price and worth its price
Great sound quality with 128 polyphony note
Watch out for
The keys are not hammer action
Few sound selection functions
Conclusion
From this review, it is notable that the Alesis recital is not a piece of impressive musical equipment for a pro. In addition Despite being semi-weighted, the keys are still not very good to trigger the fantastic music playing experience. However, the piano is a great performer for beginners, and it is more affordable for one’s with a low budget for piano.
Not only for its pros, but the piano also has minimal sound selection functions, and its package does not include the necessary accessories. In the ranking of the best keyboards, Alesis recital does not appear to be among the best. Therefore, the piano is worth giving consideration, especially for musical satisfaction.
