Roland GO:Keys 5 Review

Roland GO:Keys 5 Review (Roland GO:Keys 3 as well) – this is my comprehensive review on Roland’s new feature packed keyboards!

Great key action, sounds from Zen-Core, great arranger features, a chord sequencer, a mic input with effects and all the connectivity you could want! This is a long, in-depth review, so there are chapter links in the description below to quickly jump to different sections if you want to hear about a specific feature, or watch some and come back later to pick up where you left off.

Here are some affiliate links if you would like to check out current prices and availability on the Roland GO:Keys 5 or 3, or any other items I mention in the review.

Check Current Prices:

Online Piano Training I Recommend:

Chapters:
Introduction: 0:00
Feature Summary: 1:13
Check For Updates: 3:00
Key Action: 6:26
Sounds, ZEN-Core & Effects: 9:20
Sound Demo: 13:12
Roland Cloud: 23:14
User Interface: 25:11
Styles (Rhythms & Accomp): 34:46
Arranger Mode: 36:37
Chord Sequencer Mode: 51:26
Connectivity: 59:51
Recording: 1:06:22
Scenes (Registrations): 1:12:02
Speakers & Demo: 1:17:59
Portability: 1:19:31
What’s Missing?: 1:19:52
Competition: 1:20:22
The Verdict: 1:23:34

Thanks a bunch for stopping by the channel, please subscribe (really helps me out!) and happy piano playing (& shopping!)

Please note that this description contains affiliate links which I may earn commissions from on qualifying purchases.

[dinos]

Finally to see a really comprehensive review with instructions on YouTube. Constructive, precise, instructional, and honest. Better than any company presenter. I watched around 20 videos about this keyboard and they are so annoying

[GusLozadaTV]

Hi Tony! Wow, this is by far the best review I've seen of this keyboard with the plus you recorded it all through its own Mic input straight USB to your phone. Impressive. Thanks so much for the effort!!!

[GatisKaulinsh]

I guess this is the only useful review on the YouTube for GO:KEYS 5 and even If I have one myself I just learned that it is actually possible to OVERDUB on USB! That's awesome news for me!

[russelljazzbeck]

Oh wow that audio recording is how you overdub. I don't know how I would have figured that out without you. Unfortunately none of my USBs work, they are too big, apparently it's 32gb max so I just ordered a smaller flash drive. Hopefully it works.

Thanks for the in depth, VERY HELPFUL!

[andsmall]

Owned a GoKeys 3 for a few months now and loving it, great video essentially you've made a video manual, good explanation on some of its more hidden talents as the manual is a bit vague. Great work thank you.

[EddySniper]

Thanks for an actual review, instead of biased promo videos most youtubers did for these keys. Comparison to other brands and models was quite useful.

[mikebullock]

Thank you for this comprehensive video on the Roland Go Keys 5.
I have just purchased this along with the wireless adapter with cloud membership.
I really enjoyed your run through of the keyboard and showing how you navigate the keyboard.
I notice there is hardly anyone out there talking or reviewing this keyboard. I can’t wait to get to try it out as it will be more portable for me than the FP30 to take to church ❤

[stevehofer]

Thanks for posting this video. I bought the Casio CT-S500 last year, and when Roland came out with these keyboards my first thought was "should I have waited", but from your review, I can tell based on what is important to me, I made the right choice. I like the theoretical expandability of the Roland, but a lot of this is more theoretical than practical. With 900-1000 sounds, you might not really be looking for other sounds to keep track of. Casio sold me with the CT-S500's synth features. In addition to the pitch bend wheel it has a modulation knob (which can also be used for other purposes). Roland doesn't have this. Casio also has two big assignable knobs that usually default to filter cutoff and resonance, the most commonly adjusted synth parameters in live playing. Roland doesn't have that. Casio has portamento.

One of the great things the CTS-500 shares with the Roland Go-Keys is a bluetooth midi interface and a music rest so pairing either with an iPad is easy and almost a must-do. If you hook your home keyboard up to your iPad (or iPhone), there is a whole universe available to you including Roland ZenBeats 2.0, a free mobile oriented DAW that includes a reduced feature version of Roland's Zen Core synth called ZC1. The free version only has 60 presets, but for $14, 99 you can get a version with 2500 presets (editable) and 90 included effects. In other words, for $14, 99 you get a sound engine that looks a lot like the Go Keys, but you have a bigger screen to edit on - even on an iPhone.

[orangeman]

Thank you so much. This was so incredibly helpful. I need to watch it again to absorb everything.

[HarryD-qh]

Extremely helpful overview of this Instrument. Took delivery of one yesterday and your video is helping brilliantly with my orientation around its controls and features. Thank you 👏

[Esteban.Lagarde]

I have this keyboard and use the bluetooth midi function to automatically change the sounds. I use the Forscore app on my iPad and have a setlist there. I can program midi changes there so when I load up a new sheet music the app changes the sound on my keyboard. I love that being bluetooth I dont have to physically connect my ipad with the keyboard.

[sonicgr]

The ability to use WC-1 is also a killer feature. Esp. since it also gives you access to virtual instruments on the Roland Cloud. I got this for my GAIA2 and the Roland Cloud is a great addition.

[jeffeason]

Great video Tony! Roland has really brought a great set of features to this price point. Will it spur brand-Y to raise their game?

[MoweryMD]

This video was very helpful. Thank you so much. 😀

[cinepost]

love the channel, great review. Hope you can review the SX920 and the new Juno D series sometime soon. You should enable the "Super Thanks" button here on your channel so we can send you a proper thanks!

[luisolivan]

I love your reviews, they're so comprehensive, honest and clear. Thanks! Just a quick question: I'm learning piano and I want my first digital piano to be good enough as to keep it for years. I'm currently struggling to choose between the Numa Compact 2 (or 2X) and Roland Go: Keys 3 (or 5). I've watched both of your review videos several times. Number of keys aside, which would be your choice? Thanks a lot!

[sonicgr]

We got a gokeys 3 as a gift for a friend to start learning. He liked it a lot but all the functions overwhelmed him!

[jamietopolski]

I have found that Roland's Zen Core acoustic pianos and electric pianos are "second-tier" in quality. This is why they include the SuperNatural sound engine on their higher-end keyboards like the RD-88. The SuperNatural pianos are much higher quality. I think the Casio CT-S1 has acoustic and electric pianos that are quite good. I think the CT-S1 combined with the Go:Keys 5 would be a terrific 2-board setup. You could run a cable from the headphone out on the CT-S1 to the aux-in on the Go:Keys 5 and then use the 1/4 inch outs to connect to the board or amp.

[geoffboyd]

Fantastic detailed review as always, for my piano needs i have a older yamaha p255, but currently looking for a fun portable keyboard for small gigs, this could do the job nicely

[danilotarso]

Thanks Tony, simple and clear, wonderful! So, since GoKeys5 has a built-in audio interface I could, with a proper USB-C cable, use it as an audio source (piano and voice) for online/o livestream lessons ?
Also with MIDI bluetooth could it also be used as a source for MuseScore at the same time for example ?
Thanks 🙏🏾👍🏼