Choose a keyboard with built-in sounds if you want to play passages straight away between appointments; a MIDI controller is a better fit if you want to work ideas directly into your existing music software. Then check whether your pieces fit within the keyboard’s range and whether you can easily carry the instrument, its power supply and any accessories. A wider range may take up more space in transit, and a controller needs a connected sound source.
You want to play short passages between appointments, so size, weight and power are your main considerations. Yamaha lists the NP-15 as 1.052 mm wide and weighing 5,2 kg without batteries; Korg lists the Liano as 1.282 mm wide and weighing 6,0 kg without batteries or music rest.
Your concert programme calls for a wider keyboard range, and you’re happy to carry a longer instrument so you can play through your pieces more fully. Yamaha specifies 61 keys for the NP-15, while the Korg Liano has 88 keys and a light-touch LS keyboard.
You want to capture ideas in software while you’re out and about, so you could consider a MIDI controller instead of a keyboard with built-in sounds. Arturia describes the MiniLab 3 as a USB-powered controller that connects to computers and iPads.
A good fit if: you want to play short passages without first opening music software.
Consider: check that the keys cover the range of your pieces.
A good fit if: you need the full piano range for your concert pieces.
Consider: a longer instrument takes up more room when travelling; also check which type of keyboard action you’re looking for.
A good fit if: you already use a compatible computer or tablet with music software.
Consider: a controller needs a connected sound source so you can hear what you play.
First decide whether you want to play independently or work with software. Then compare portability, keyboard range and quiet practice options with your own needs in mind.
| Consideration | What should you look for? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Transport and power | Compare width and weight on a like-for-like basis. Check whether battery power is specified for the exact model. | If I often take my instrument between appointments, I want to know how much space and carrying weight it involves. Around 40% of consumers prioritise portability and playing without a mains socket. |
| Keyboard range and touch response | Compare the lowest and highest notes in your pieces with the stated range, and check the type of touch response. | If my pieces need more keys, I want to play them through without constantly changing octaves. Around 30% of consumers prioritise keyboard range and touch response. |
| Quiet practice | Check whether the instrument has a headphone socket and whether it’s compatible with your headphones. | If I play in a shared space, I want to listen through headphones. Around 20% of consumers prioritise quiet practice. |
| Music software | Check the connection to your own computer or tablet, the software required and how you’ll listen to the audio. | If I want to put ideas straight into my existing software, I want to know whether it works with my setup. Around 10% of consumers prioritise recording into software. |
The number of keys doesn’t tell you what type of keyboard action you’ll get. Korg describes the Liano as having a light-touch LS keyboard.
Check the keyboard range and action separately if you want to practise both your piano pieces and your usual touch.
According to Arturia, the MiniLab 3 is a controller that works with software or other MIDI equipment, not a keyboard with built-in sounds.
Choose an instrument with its own sound source if you want to play straight away without connecting your setup.
You may also need a suitable sound source, computer or tablet, and compatible connections.
Yamaha lists the NP-15’s weight without batteries; Korg excludes both batteries and the music rest from the Liano’s weight.
Compare everything you’ll actually carry between appointments, including the power supply and transport accessories.
Batteries and suitable transport accessories can add to your luggage.
Yamaha’s NP-15 and NP-35 specifications show the choice between 61 and 76 keys.
The Liano is an option for anyone who values an 88-key range more than having the shortest possible instrument.
The CT-S1BK is a Casiotone keyboard with built-in speakers and the option to run on batteries.
The MiniLab 3 is designed for anyone who works musical ideas into an existing computer or tablet setup.
Not as a standalone sound source. According to Arturia, the USB-powered MiniLab 3 works with connected software or MIDI equipment. Make sure you have a compatible sound source and a way to listen to the audio.
Check the power requirements for the exact model and whether the required batteries are included. Yamaha lists six AA batteries as an option for the NP-15; Korg also specifies six AA batteries for the Liano and says they’re sold separately.
The manufacturers state that the NP-15 and Liano have a headphone socket. You can listen through compatible headphones; in shared spaces, agree on where and when you’ll play.
When you buy online from a business, you generally have a 14-day cooling-off period, according to the Dutch government; purchases from private individuals aren’t covered by this arrangement. If a product is faulty, contact the seller about your statutory guarantee. Check the terms and conditions that apply to your order.
Check that the specific keyboard on offer carries the required CE marking. The Dutch government notes that electronic products offered for sale in the EU must meet the relevant product safety requirements; a brand page doesn’t confirm the status of an individual item.
