If you want to start playing at home straight away, without a computer, choose a standalone keyboard with built-in sounds. Lesson features or accompaniment can help you find the model that suits the way you practise. If you mainly work with recording software, a MIDI controller may fit your setup, but you’ll also need software instruments and an audio output. For piano lessons and 88 weighted keys, a digital piano is the more obvious choice. For any model, check the connections, power supply and included accessories.
You want to practise a melody at home without installing software first, and clear lesson features would be useful. Yamaha describes lesson features for the PSR-E383; Casio lists illuminated keys for the LK-S450.
You want to use the notes you play in music software and are choosing between a controller and a standalone instrument that connects to a computer. Arturia describes the KeyLab Essential 61 mk3 as a MIDI controller; Yamaha lists USB audio and MIDI for the PSR-E383.
You want to add rhythms or chords to a simple melody, so you’re comparing accompaniment features with a more straightforward piano setup. Yamaha describes automatic accompaniment for the PSR-E383; Korg lists styles and a sequencer for the EK-50.
Start by deciding whether you want to play without a computer, record in software or focus on piano technique. Then compare the features that matter for your choice.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Practising without a computer | Compare the lesson features, touch sensitivity and available songs. Check whether your melody is available as practice material. | I want to practise a melody at home straight away without a computer, so I need built-in sounds and suitable lesson features. Around 33% of consumers prioritise learning independently. |
| Recording in software | Decide whether you want to record MIDI notes, the sound you hear from the instrument or both. Check the connections, software settings and cables you’ll need. | I want to edit the notes I play in my home studio, so I need to know whether a controller will work with my software setup. Around 25% of consumers give software-based recording top priority. |
| Quiet practice | Check the headphone socket and plug size on the exact model. | I practise in a shared living space and want to connect headphones with a suitable plug. Around 25% of consumers choose private practice as their main consideration. |
| Accompaniment for your melody | Compare how rhythms, styles and chords are controlled. Check whether you can turn off the accompaniment when practising the melody on its own. | I want to play rhythms or chords around my melody, and I’m weighing up the extra accompaniment options against the time it takes to learn how to use them. Around 17% of consumers prioritise playing with accompaniment. |
A MIDI controller such as the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 mk3 is designed to control software. To hear sound, you need to set up a software instrument and an audio output; standalone keyboards have built-in sounds.
If you want to play without a computer, check that your chosen model has built-in sounds and the listening option you need.
A controller may also require a computer, music software and a configured audio setup.
USB MIDI and USB audio are different features. Korg lists USB MIDI for the EK-50; that connection alone doesn’t confirm that the sound you hear from the instrument can be recorded via USB.
Decide in advance whether you want to record MIDI notes or instrument audio, and check that the exact model supports the feature you need.
You may need a separate audio connection or audio interface for the recording method you want.
According to Alesis, the sustain pedal isn’t included with the Recital 61. Casio says that the cable required to connect the CT-S300 via USB isn’t included.
Check the contents of the box and the connections on the exact model before ordering.
You may need to buy a pedal, a headphone plug that fits or a cable separately.
The PSR-E383 is a standalone keyboard with lesson and accompaniment features; the P-145 is a separate digital piano option for those looking for weighted keys.
Among the Casiotone models mentioned, the LK-S450 has illuminated keys for guided practice, while the CT-S300 has a compact, portable design.
The EK-50 is a standalone entertainment keyboard for those who want to compare accompaniment and recording features on the instrument itself.
The KeyLab Essential 61 mk3 is a MIDI controller for people who already use a computer and music software.
The Recital 61 combines built-in sounds with connections for private practice and connecting to a computer.
Yes. A standalone keyboard with built-in sounds lets you play without a computer. Yamaha lists built-in songs and lesson features for the PSR-E383; Casio describes illuminated keys for the LK-S450. Check separately whether your specific melody is available as practice material.
For the KeyLab Essential mk3, Arturia describes MIDI communication via USB-C. Set up the MIDI port, a software instrument and the audio output in your recording software. A MIDI connection alone doesn’t record the same thing as the sound you hear from a keyboard.
Check that your headphone plug fits the socket on your chosen model. Korg lists a 3.5 mm socket for the EK-50, while Alesis lists a 6.35 mm socket for the Recital 61. Follow the instructions for the model you buy when it comes to power, cleaning and safe use.
According to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (Rijksoverheid), the seller must provide a solution if a product is faulty; a manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t replace your statutory rights. For a standard online consumer purchase, you generally have up to 14 days after delivery to change your mind, subject to legal exceptions, as explained by ACM ConsuWijzer. This is separate from your rights if a product is faulty. Before buying, also check the returns policy and any costs.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that CE marking is mandatory for electrical products. The specific electrical safety rules that apply depend, among other things, on the voltage and the product. Check the marking, suitable power supply and instructions for the model on offer; a brand or model name alone doesn’t confirm compliance.
