If you are considering a digital piano either for the stage or home practice then the Korg D1 is an excellent option. Read on to find out why!

Check out the Kord D1 on the Official Korg Website. 

Overview

The Korg D1 focuses on providing a high-quality digital piano with a slim, compact design. The result is a highly portable and versatile keyboard that reproduces the weighted playing feel of a real grand piano.

The super-slim, great-sounding D1 stage piano is now available in both the original black and a new white color variation.

Loaded with 30 sounds and complete with a pedal and music rest, the D1 in either color is a fantastically streamlined stage piano that combines great feel, sound, and portability.

The chassis construction has been rethought with a new structure and design that slims the body to a depth of approximately 26 cm* (10.24″), the minimum depth that still allows enjoyable playing.

Even though the D1 features a full-fledged weighted keybed, it’s highly mobile and can be carried anywhere in its dedicated SC-D1 soft case (sold separately).

The stylish ST-SV1 stand (sold separately) helps to complete this great-looking setup on stage or in your room when practicing.

Check price: Sweetwater

Korg D1 White

The Korg D1 comes in black, and a brilliant white finish as well. Both are striking on stage, but personally, I feel that white is always the better option, if available. 

Check price: Sweetwater

The D1 contains a variety of piano sounds to cover genres such as classical, jazz, and pop.

In order to achieve a playing feel that’s amazingly close to that of an acoustic piano, the sound switches between four piano samples depending on the dynamics of your performance.

Damper resonance

The Concert Piano, Grand Piano, and Jazz Piano samples reproduce damper resonance.

It realistically simulates the spacious resonance produced by the sympathetic vibration of the strings when you hold down the damper pedal of an acoustic piano.

Key-off simulation

The D1 also simulates the decay of the sound when you take your finger off a key and how your playing technique affects the string resonance.

It responds to staccato or legato in a natural way that further enhances the expressiveness of your performance.

From a delicate touch to dynamic fortissimo, the sound responds realistically to your playing.

Korg D1 Rhodes

The D1 has convincing electric piano sounds or ‘patches’, as well as excellent piano sounds. The electric piano sounds reproduce not only the tonal differences in response to your playing touch but also the key-off noise.

Six variations are built in, covering sounds often used in the popular music of the ’60s and ’70s as well as tones that are treasured in soul music.

In addition to piano and organ sounds, the D1 also includes other sounds. These sounds, such as vibraphone, acoustic guitar, and strings, can be used to add a unique flavor to your performances.

Whether you’re playing on stage or practicing at home, these synth sounds can help you explore new musical possibilities.

However, it is worth considering the keybed on the Korg D1 if you are more of an organist than a pianist.

Whilst it is possible to play organ parts convincingly on a weighted piano, it is not the ideal keybed for the instrument, and you may be more at home with a semi-weighted action.

Some semi-weighted stage pianos that are ideal for organ players include the Nord Electro and the Korg Kross. You can find a full review of the latest Nord Electro 6D below:

The D1 features a real weighted hammer action 3 (RH3) keybed that reproduces the touch of a grand piano, where the low notes are heavier and the action becomes lighter as you play toward the higher notes.

It’s sensitive to your playing dynamics, responding naturally to your touch With this keybed’s natural-feeling touch and weight, you’ll want to keep playing it forever.

The D1 contains a total of 30 richly expressive sounds which include not only a variety of piano sounds to cover genres such as classical, jazz, and pop, but also electric piano, organ, and clav sounds that will be useful on stage.

It also includes sounds such as vibraphone, acoustic guitar, and strings.

To achieve a playing feel that’s amazingly close to that of an acoustic piano, the sound switches between four piano samples depending on the dynamics of your performance.

From a delicate touch to dynamic fortissimo, the sound responds realistically to your playing. The overall piano sound is enjoyable to play and delivers an authentic experience.

The electric piano sounds reproduce not only the tonal differences in response to your playing touch but also the key-off noise.

Six variations are built in, covering sounds often used in the popular music of the ’60s and ’70s as well as tones that are treasured in soul music.

Also, if you are interested in the Korg D1, then you should check out the Korg B2 as well before pulling the trigger.

Whilst the Kord D1 does not have onboard speakers, the B2 has a large full-width speaker that produces impressively rich sound. If this is a feature that is important to you, then definitely give it a look (and a listen!). 

The metronome can be turned on/off at a touch. Layer mode lets you layer two sounds simply by pressing two sound buttons simultaneously, for example allowing you to combine strings or vibraphone with the piano sound that you’re playing.

The touch control function lets you choose from five settings (light, standard, heavy, stable, fixed) to specify how the sound responds to your playing dynamics, allowing you to enjoy performing with the response of your choice.

Three high-quality effects are also built-in: brilliance, reverb, and chorus. The optimal effect for each internal sound is already specified as a preset, so you can simply select a sound and focus on playing it with the best possible tone.

Connectivity is also well-considered, as the D1 provides the external connection jacks that you’ll need on stage. The standard-sized LINE OUT jacks can be connected directly to amplified speakers or to recording equipment.

MIDI IN/OUT connectors are also provided. You can connect these via a MIDI interface to your computer, and use the D1 as a MIDI keyboard controller.

Also, be sure to check out the compatible gig bag for the Korg D1, to keep it safe on the road and on tour!

Lastly, Korg offers a variety of useful accessories, including a sturdy stand for stage or home use. The music rest is also indispensable for any discerning pianist who has regular stage performances lined up, and it is included as standard.

It can easily be attached to the Korg D1’s rear panel. Also included is a compact-sized damper pedal for convenient portability. Other items sold separately include the DS-1H Half damper pedal, ST-SV1 Keyboard Stand, and SC-D1 soft case.

The Korg D1 and Roland FP-30 are both high-quality digital pianos, each with its unique strengths.

The Korg D1 is known for its 88 weighted keys, 30 sounds, and excellent sound quality, making it suitable for both beginners and performers. It lacks speakers but provides a realistic piano feel with its RH3 key bed.

On the other hand, the Roland FP-30 offers more features, has onboard speakers, and brighter and more impressive tones overall.

Both pianos cater to different needs, making them good options depending on user preferences, but the FP-30X is the more premium and better option overall, especially if you want an instrument for live use and touring with bands. 

The Yamaha P125 is also a contender in this price range. The Yamaha P125 has also been around for many more years, and it is a tried and tested instrument for pianists both new and old. 

The Yamaha P125 is a fully weighted digital piano that features 88 full-sized piano-style keys, offering a realistic and approachable experience for pianists of all levels. It employs GHS-weighted action, which is heavier in the low keys and lighter in the high keys, replicating the feel of an acoustic piano. 

The piano is equipped with the pure CF sound engine, which faithfully reproduces the tone of the acclaimed Yamaha 9 feet CFIIIS Concert grand piano, providing a realistic sound experience.

The Yamaha P125 also offers a split mode, allowing you to play a different voice with each hand, adding versatility to your playing experience.

Furthermore, the piano features USB-to-host connectivity with MIDI and audio transfer, meaning you only need one cable to connect to your music-making software.

This makes the Yamaha P125 another versatile and convenient option for pianists, composers, and producers, and it’s suitable for various performances and settings.

The Korg D1 is a versatile, high-quality digital piano with a wide range of sounds and features. Its compact and slim design makes it highly portable, making it perfect for both practice and performance.

With its realistic keybed and sound reproduction, it provides an authentic piano-playing experience. Whether you’re a professional performer or a hobbyist, the Korg D1 is a fantastic instrument that delivers on all fronts.