Hi Joe,
Quote : "For now my goals are to learn keys, notes, and chords. I would like to do this by having the auto accompaniment, and I would like the ability to play at least some dance tracks"
Then I'd definitely go for the E433. Don't go for the NP-V 60 anyway, it has less sounds and less functionalities than the NP-V 80. If I remember, you cannot use an USB stick with the NP-V 60, which is a shame, and it doesn't have the Live! piano voice of the NP-V 80, either.
Ah, yes, another interesting feature of the NP-V 80 that you might want to try is that it has a "full keyboard" chord capability. This means that instead of splitting the keyboard in two parts to play the chords with the left hand and the melody with the right hand, you can (if you wish) play "normally" on the whole keyboard. The instrument will then recognise when you are playing a chord and not a melody (or two melodies) and it will automatically modify the accompaniment accordingly. This is a pro feature that you would normally find only on much more expensive boards.
As for looping, on the E433, you can loop part of a song starting from a point A until a point B (page 25 of the Owner's Manual). But remember, this is a keyboard, not a sampler, so you will be limited to the on-board sounds (although you can tweak them to a certain extent). What do you call a "real loop function", by the way? If it is not for live playing, you can always record your keyboard on a computer with a sequencing software and loop your tracks as you wish within the sequencer.
You can have a look at the Owner's Guide of the E433 here, if you don't have it already:
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/english/port/psre433_en_om_a0.pdf
For music theory lessons, the E433 will be perfect. I was taking music theory lessons until one year ago and I had the PSR E413, one of the E433 predecessors and it was very good at the job. And it is more dance-oriented than other boards that you have mentioned, it has more Dance styles and you will be able to upload more styles if the on-board styles are insufficient for your musical purposes. Also, the possibility to interfere in real time with the sounds thanks to the two controller knobs is really a "plus".
Last, when you'll be a better keyboardist and you'll get tired of your keyboard (which will take some time), you can always sell it second hand and buy a new, more sophisticated one. This is what I have done when I have bought the E433: I have sold my E413 for the half of its value. Since the E433 was about the same price as the E413 at the time of its release, this means I have obtained the E433 for half of its price
A sensible tip: when you change keyboards, always sold your old keyboard after the new one has arrived to your home! A few years ago, I spent two months without a keyboard and it was a torture, these little guys quickly become an addiction once you begin to play seriously. So you've been warned...
Good music,
Vinciane.
Quote : "For now my goals are to learn keys, notes, and chords. I would like to do this by having the auto accompaniment, and I would like the ability to play at least some dance tracks"
Then I'd definitely go for the E433. Don't go for the NP-V 60 anyway, it has less sounds and less functionalities than the NP-V 80. If I remember, you cannot use an USB stick with the NP-V 60, which is a shame, and it doesn't have the Live! piano voice of the NP-V 80, either.
Ah, yes, another interesting feature of the NP-V 80 that you might want to try is that it has a "full keyboard" chord capability. This means that instead of splitting the keyboard in two parts to play the chords with the left hand and the melody with the right hand, you can (if you wish) play "normally" on the whole keyboard. The instrument will then recognise when you are playing a chord and not a melody (or two melodies) and it will automatically modify the accompaniment accordingly. This is a pro feature that you would normally find only on much more expensive boards.
As for looping, on the E433, you can loop part of a song starting from a point A until a point B (page 25 of the Owner's Manual). But remember, this is a keyboard, not a sampler, so you will be limited to the on-board sounds (although you can tweak them to a certain extent). What do you call a "real loop function", by the way? If it is not for live playing, you can always record your keyboard on a computer with a sequencing software and loop your tracks as you wish within the sequencer.
You can have a look at the Owner's Guide of the E433 here, if you don't have it already:
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/english/port/psre433_en_om_a0.pdf
For music theory lessons, the E433 will be perfect. I was taking music theory lessons until one year ago and I had the PSR E413, one of the E433 predecessors and it was very good at the job. And it is more dance-oriented than other boards that you have mentioned, it has more Dance styles and you will be able to upload more styles if the on-board styles are insufficient for your musical purposes. Also, the possibility to interfere in real time with the sounds thanks to the two controller knobs is really a "plus".
Last, when you'll be a better keyboardist and you'll get tired of your keyboard (which will take some time), you can always sell it second hand and buy a new, more sophisticated one. This is what I have done when I have bought the E433: I have sold my E413 for the half of its value. Since the E433 was about the same price as the E413 at the time of its release, this means I have obtained the E433 for half of its price
A sensible tip: when you change keyboards, always sold your old keyboard after the new one has arrived to your home! A few years ago, I spent two months without a keyboard and it was a torture, these little guys quickly become an addiction once you begin to play seriously. So you've been warned...
Good music,
Vinciane.
