🎹 Roland FPE50 vs RD88 | Which One is Right for You? | Demystifying Your Decision 🎹

#RolandFPE50 #RolandRD88 #DigitalPianos

0:00 - Video Introduction on the Roland RD88 v.s. Roland FP-E50
0:57 - Stu’s Take on the Roland FP-E50
3:11 - Stu’s Take on the Roland RD88
5:25 - Piano Sound Review
7:27 - Stu’s Take on the Piano Sound
9:20 - Final Thoughts

Light, capable pianos with onboard speakers have roared back in popularity due mostly to lighter weight material and more efficient speakers. All companies have high-performing slab digital pianos with higher-grade speakers intended for both individual and stage use. Roland’s two specialty, all-in-one pianos, the RD88 and the FP-E50 are both driven by the ZenCore synthesis engine, with onboard speakers, the PHA 4 action and a vast array of onboard sounds, so which keyboard should you choose?

Reasons to Love the FP-E50
The PHA 4 Action
This action is weighted and balanced the closest to an acoustic piano for any keyboard in this price range.

The Chord Sequencer
A fast way, particularly when done offline, to build a harmonic backing to play over. This frees up your left hand to take part in the performance. There are some great left-hand chord control options as well.

The Quality and Variety of the Zencore Sounds
The FP-E50 comes with 947 sounds built in, and you can add to that with downloadable sound packs from the Roland Cloud.

Lighter to Carry
At 10 lbs. lighter than most full-size all-in-one units, the FP-E50 is more likely to be used as a portable keyboard.

Proper Audio Outputs and Polyphony
The FP-E50 has ¼” audio outputs and 256-note polyphony

Extras
12 Watt per side downward facing speakers provide a ton of sound
Onboard mic effects are extensive; including vocoder and harmonizer effects with four variations each
USB port for mp3 and WAV playback
Centre channel cancel to create karaoke tracks

Reasons to Love the RD88
Knob Controls
The RD88 has knob controls for all of the standard parameters, as well as eight assignable controllers.

Effects Engine
The RD88 effects engine is remarkable with individual effects for all of the tones, two insert effects per scene and master effects on top of that. While paired back, this is similar in concept to the higher-end Phantom series.

Clarity and Sound Quality
There is good clarity on high frequencies that will cut through a noisy environment, and the Supernatural piano, e-piano and Zencore sound engines driving everything.

Extras
Lightweight at 29 lbs.
256 notes of polyphony
2 upward-facing tweeters and 2 downward-facing mid-range speakers for 7 Watts per side

Despite both keyboards having a good selection of onboard sounds, the same action and built-in speakers, and being priced similarly, the intended uses of each are quite different.

The FP-E50 is intended for a solo performer providing some great one-person band capabilities with beefy enough speakers that no reinforcement is necessary for smaller settings.

The RD88 is a slimmed-down stage piano that is built on real-time tactile controls, consistent with the RD series, with features such as scene presets, maximum portability and the ability to self-monitor, although the intended use is with a PA system.

The RD88 is for band and recording sessions, while the FP-E50 is for a single-person performance.

Stu’s Take
The differences are mostly in the speaker presentation, with no noticeable differences in keyboard support or vibration. With the two upward-facing tweeters, you can play with volume control by creating an EQ split between the top and bottom speakers and balancing their clarity without being too cutting.

Neither keyboard would be the first choice if playing mainly piano. Still, for a band setting where multiple layered sounds with quick recall and lots of effects opportunities are needed, the RD88 is a really well-put-together product that is intended for stage use.

The FP-E50 is the ideal choice if you’re a singer-songwriter or you perform in restaurants as it has a beefier speaker and an auto-accompaniment feature more in tune with that scenario.

Final Thoughts
The differences between these two keyboards may seem quite obvious, but there were quite a few requests to do this comparison as comparing pages of specs doesn’t always help identify the major takeaways.

There are extensive individual reviews of each of these instruments with links to those reviews in the description, along with links to the best prices for both of these keyboards.

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[crisoliveira]

A video answering the question I made some days ago! Thanks, Stu! You're great, man.

[niksmusicin]

Can we install an additional sound pack in fpe50?

[Boleyn]

Thank you for all your help, I (Think) I've decided on the FP-E50, it just does and has so much, the app, ZEN-Core and great action all at an amazing price. Thank you again.

[Iceland]

Excellent comparison. You are the best on YouTube and I appreciate all your comparisons and information. Although the new one is awesome I think I’m going to order the RD88. I’m only going to be using for my own recording with other instruments that I play but now I’m not sure. It’s a tougher decision than I realized.

[TheBuddyKeys]

I have once owned both. I have settled on a Yamaha DGX670 for my teeny weeny solo gigs. In the past I complained about its weight for gigs, but it has all the stuff I need and a great price. Your reviews do influence me. Your reviews are really well made. PHA4 feels better than the GHS, but the rhythms in the Yamaha satisfies my goal of singing and performing Pop tunes. Just thought I would comment.

[Boleyn]

My local store doesn't have the FP-E50 but it does have the RD08 & 88 which I'm trying out tomorrow. I was wondering if you could tell me how the action differs between the E50 and RD88? Thank you.

[jeremiahraj]

Thank you so much for this comparison! Right now I am between the two of these keyboard and this videos clears a lot up.

[charlesworton]

Something I recently discovered - to my horror - is that the FPE50 only supports one midi channel, which makes it virtually useless as a midi source. Even the RD88 only supports 3 channels, which would give you a rhythm track and two layered tones maximum. For the home musician expecting to record to a DAW - probably on a home computer - the FPE50 is a disaster. Frankly, I don't know what use a single channel of MIDI data would be useful for, other than to allow the manufacturer to claim that the keyboard supports midi.

[rinaldodelucca]

My wife is looking for something with great organ sounds, with 88 keys. What would you recommend? Acoustic piano action is not something she really cares about.
Thank you!

[pianoman_JP]

Thanks, Stu - I've been waiting for this video. Another advantage of the RD88 is 3 pedal inputs vs only 1 on the FP-E50. I use one for sustain, 1 for rotary speaker on/off, 1 for expression pedal.
Juat wish the RD88 had a music rack like the FP-E50.

[ivicam]

I am a hobby guitarist currently in the market for my first ever digital piano. After watching hours of great Roland piano reviews and comparisons on Merriam Music and trying a few of Roland pianos in person, I am seriously considering getting an FP30X or FPE50. The only thing that worries me is the infamous clicking keys problem on apparently every piano with PHA-4 action. How frequent is the clicking keys problem from your experience?

[Val-wdny]

Hello ! Thanks for the vid :) It’s helpful
Can you also see the notes/chords you are playing on the rd88 like the fpe50 do ?

[garaiss]

Thank you, very great comparrison! I would like to see your comparisson about Dexibell VIVO s7 ans Yamaha CK

[slivkask]

Stu, thank you very much for the very nice and detailed review!
I am looking for my 1st portable piano, and unfortunately none of reviewed ones is able to connect to Roland Piano App, which is quite deal breaker for me.

[matthewcyntje]

Does the RD 88 and FP E50 have the same electric piano tones? I like those FM type tones from the 1980s

[Iceland]

Which is easier to use and has the most options? I like them both but can only get one. When I think Ive made a decision I find I haven’t. Which one do you prefer?

[OkitaNamikaze]

have you tried Kawai's vpc1? kawai say's it has their rm3 grand action which is supposed to feel like a grand piano but i'm not seeing much difference in terms of the pivot length between the rm3 and rolands pha-4, it really just looks like a compact action with a wooden key stick and the pivot points of the black keys are further to make up for the short key length.

[Iceland]

Why pay more for the RD88? Is it worth it? The other one has a music holder but RD88 doesn’t? I come from an acoustic background and want one to record along with voice, 1 or 2 flute parts and eventually with Roland Aerophone Pro. Which do you suggest?

[kimlyons]

I bought the FPE50 It blows the fp30x and fp60x the RD 88 out of the water went to Sweetwater yesterday played alot keyboards you can't beat this keyboard it's price range sets between the 30x and 60x and the RD 88 is higher priced but with all it has to offer it plays sounds so good and with all it has to offer you that you get is right up there with the flagship of the Roland's it should be priced much higher but I'm glad it isn't what a great instrument its great for home studio and gigs love it

[zaphthegreat]

You mentioned that if you were looking for something that's primarily a piano, you'd pick the FP-30x (and the 60x, but my focus here isn't on it) over the FP-E50. Is there a reason for that? I ask because I just ordered an FP-E50 over an FP-30x after a lot of agonizing over it, so now I'm wondering if I'll regret it.

I liked the added features on the FP-E50, but realistically, I'll be using the piano 80%+ of the time.