Suppose you’re a budding pianist or experienced player looking for a digital piano that perfectly balances performance and affordability. In that case, the Alesis Recital Pro deserves your attention.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into the key aspects of the Alesis Recital Pro, from its impressive sound quality and touch-sensitive keys to its expansive range of functions that cater to beginners and seasoned musicians.
The Alesis Recital Pro 88 Key: A Complete Review (2024)
Contents
Overview
The Alesis Recital Pro 88-key hammer action digital piano is a full-featured digital piano that offers excellent value. It has 88 fully-weighted hammer-action keys with adjustable touch response, so it feels and plays like an acoustic piano.
You can also customize the voices by combining any two at once in Layer Mode for a full, rich tone. Voices can also be assigned to only the left or right hands in Split Mode. You can add adjustable Modulation, Reverb, and Chorus to tailor your sound further.
Here are some of the most important features of the Alesis Recital Pro:
- 88 fully-weighted hammer-action keys with adjustable touch response: The keys are weighted to feel heavier as you move down the keyboard, just like an acoustic piano. You can also adjust the touch response to suit your playing style.
- Twelve built-in voices: There are a variety of voices to choose from, including piano, electric piano, organ, synth, and more.
The voices are all high quality and include:
- Acoustic Piano
- Acoustic Piano (Bright)
- Electric Piano
- Vibraphone
- Organ
- Church Organ
- Harpsichord
- Clavi
- Synth
- Strings
- Acoustic Bass
- Fingered Bass
Features
Layer Mode
Combine any two voices for a fuller sound. This is a great way to create unique and exciting sounds. For example, you could combine a piano voice with strings to create a lush and romantic sound.
Split Mode
Assign different voices to the left and right hands. This is a great way to practice other parts of a song or to create a two-handed keyboard arrangement. For example, you could assign a piano voice to the left hand and a bass voice to the right hand.
Effects
Use The Modulation effect to add vibrato or tremolo to your sound while the Reverb effect can add depth and space to your sound. You can also use the Chorus effect to thicken or create a more lush sound.
Easy to set up and use
The Recital Pro is easy to set up and use, even for beginners.
Design
The Alesis Recital Pro immediately catches your eye with its sleek and elegant design.
Its compact form factor doesn’t compromise functionality, and the instrument’s matte finish gives it a professional aesthetic that complements any setting, from a cozy home studio to a lively classroom.
The robust build quality instills confidence that this digital piano will endure years of practice and performance.
Hammer Action
One of the standout features of the Alesis Recital Pro is its 88 fully-weighted keys with adjustable touch sensitivity.
The hammer-action keys mimic the feel of an acoustic piano and provide an authentic playing experience. This makes the transition between acoustic and digital pianos seamless.
Sound Quality
The Alesis Recital Pro truly shines when it comes to sound quality. Equipped with a 20W speaker system, this digital piano produces a robust and immersive sound that fills the room.
With 12 high-definition voices, including pianos, electric pianos, organs, and more, you have a palette of tones to choose from to suit various musical genres.
Whether you’re practicing classical pieces or experimenting with contemporary compositions, the Alesis Recital Pro’s diverse sound library has you covered.
Educational Features
The Alesis Recital Pro goes beyond being just a digital piano—it’s also a practical learning tool. Its educational features are perfect for beginners just starting their musical journey.
The “Lesson Mode” divides the keyboard into two areas, allowing both the student and teacher to play together simultaneously, making learning more interactive and engaging.
The metronome and built-in recording function also enable you to practice and track your progress effectively. You can easily adjust the tempo between 30 and 280 beats per minute.
When you purchase a new Alesis Recital Pro, you also get a three-month subscription to Skoove and a one-month subscription to Melodics.
Skoove
Skoove offers a simple and effective method for piano learning, providing comprehensive online piano courses that adjust to your progress and offer valuable feedback.
Enhance your musical skills at your convenience and pace by accessing a carefully curated collection encompassing contemporary chart-toppers to timeless classical compositions.
Skoove’s skilled musicians readily offer personalized guidance, addressing your queries individually.
Each month introduces exclusive tutorials, enabling you to continuously enrich your repertoire with fresh compositions and advance your piano proficiency with novel music theory insights and techniques.
Melodics
In collaboration with Melodics, Alesis presents you with a complimentary 30-day trial of their Premium subscription.
Melodics offers a delightful approach to mastering and playing your Alesis keyboard, transforming practice sessions into enjoyable and engaging experiences.
Melodics is available for free download and is compatible with macOS, Windows, and iPad.
Registering your Alesis keyboard gives you exclusive access to a 30-day FREE trial of the Melodics Premium plan, granting you entry to songs by your preferred artists.
Here are some of the benefits of using Melodics:
- Fun and engaging: Melodics uses a gamified approach to learning, making practice more enjoyable and motivating.
- Easy to use: Melodics is designed to be easy to use, even for beginners.
- Effective: Melodics has been proven to help people improve their keyboard skills quickly and easily.
- Affordable: The Melodics Premium plan is just $9.99 per month if you continue with the subscription.
Interface
Navigating through the Alesis Recital Pro’s features is a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly interface.
The intuitive control panel provides easy access to various functions, and the bright LCD screen displays vital information such as selected voices, settings, and modes.
The instrument’s minimal learning curve ensures that even beginners can harness its full potential without feeling overwhelmed.
Connectivity
Modern digital pianos should seamlessly integrate with other devices and software, and the Alesis Recital Pro doesn’t disappoint.
- Headphone jack: Practice in private with the headphone jack. This is a great way to practice late at night or early in the morning without disturbing others.
- Line outputs: Connect the Recital Pro to your sound system for amplified playback. This is a great way to play for others or to record your music.
- Sustain pedal input: Use a sustain pedal to hold notes for longer—a necessary accessory for many players. Not included in purchase.
- USB MIDI: Connect the Recital Pro to your computer to use it as a MIDI controller. This is a great way to control virtual instruments and software synthesizers.
- Lightweight and portable: The Recital Pro is lightweight and portable, making it easy to take to gigs or rehearsals.
Minimum System Requirements:
- Windows: 7 (32 and 64-bit) or Mac OS X: 10.10
- USB 2.0 port (or higher)
Effects & Customization
The Alesis Recital Pro isn’t just a one-trick pony—it offers a variety of effects to enhance your playing experience.
Experiment with chorus and reverb effects to add depth and dimension to your sound. Additionally, the “Layer” mode lets you combine two different voices for a richer and more complex sound, adding a layer of creativity to your performances.
What’s Included?
When you unbox your new Alesis Recital Pro digital piano you’ll find the piano carefully wrapped and packaged.
You’ll also find the power adapter, music rest, and user guide included. There’s a safety and warranty manual for your reading pleasure too.
The information regarding the Skoove and Melodics subscriptions will also be included.
Remember, the sustain pedal, headphones, and keyboard stand are not included in the box—you’ll have to purchase these separately.
Comparisons
Alesis Recital Pro vs Yamaha P45
The Yamaha P45 is another popular digital piano in the same price range as the Alesis Recital Pro. The P45 has 88 weighted keys, but they are not fully weighted like the Recital Pro.
The P45 also has fewer voices and effects than the Recital Pro.
Alesis Recital Pro vs Casio CDP-S100
The Casio CDP-S100 is another good option in the same price range. The CDP-S100 has 88 fully weighted keys, like the Recital Pro.
It also has a wider variety of voices and effects than the P45. However, the CDP-S100 does not have a split mode or a headphone jack.
Alesis Recital Pro vs Yamaha P125
The Yamaha P125 boasts a wider sound library, superior voices, and a more realistic feel, making it a preferred choice for many.
However, when considering the cost, there’s a noticeable disparity between the two, with the Alesis Recital often being a favorite among beginners. This is due to its affordability, though the Yamaha P125 is a more professional digital piano overall.
Both pianos have their unique strengths, making the choice dependent on individual requirements and budget constraints.
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Conclusion
Whether you’re honing your skills at home, performing on stage, or teaching others, the Alesis Recital Pro is a musical companion that delivers outstanding value for its price point.
Overall, the Alesis Recital Pro is an excellent value for the price. It offers many features and functionality for beginners and experienced players alike. Elevate your piano-playing experience with the Alesis Recital Pro.
