Roland FP-30 Digital Piano

ROLAND FP-30

Introduction

If you’re looking for a digital piano that’s an affordable in-home piano option, or an alternative to a traditional stage piano for regular professional use with a lightweight body for easy mobility, all for a surprisingly low price, the Roland FP-30 might be the perfect piano for you. Customers researching the FP30 will likely be investigating Yamaha P-125, or the Kawai ES110, both worthy competitors that also feature strong sound quality, available keyboard stands, and numerous sounds to choose from.  With an authentic recreation of the acoustic piano playing experience, Roland provides one of the top options in the price point with the FP30, as it easily goes head to head with comparable offerings from Yamaha, Kawai, and Casio. Combining a sensitive, well-balanced action delivering authentic piano touch, with Roland’s trademark durability and a host of modern features, the FP-30 delivers an overall musical experience that will satisfy even the most seasoned professional on stage, rehearsal space, or for quiet practicing with headphones.

Action

The Roland FP30 digital piano features Roland’s 88-note PHA-4 standard keyboard action with Ivory-touch and escapement. This is a professional-level action found in instruments all the way up to and beyond the $2000 price point. This really showcases the FP30’s stellar value – a highly portable digital piano available for $1,000 with a professional, realistic grand piano-like hammer action –  simply incredible given what was offered in this price range just 5 years ago from digital piano manufacturers.

The PHA-4 is the exact same action that you’ll find in the FP60, F140r, and the RP501r, a model that borders onto the high-end digital piano market. It has a very well executed ‘faux’ ivory feel keys and ebony feel on the black keys, a believable escapement simulation similar to a real piano, and it’s an overall quiet keyboard action due to its rugged physical construction that doesn’t give off unreasonable mechanical sounds or ‘clunks’. While the maximum expression this action provides is not as wide as Roland’s higher-end actions, for the price, this is a great action.

Sound & Connectivity / Ports

The FP30 uses Roland’s renowned Supernatural Piano Sound Engine, which like the PHA-4 action, is also featured throughout Roland’s lineup and can be found in models that exceed the $2,000 price point. It boats 128 notes of polyphony which will be sufficient for many professional performance scenarios, and delivers an all-around satisfying piano experience. With 6 onboard piano tones, 7 electric piano tones, and 22 additional different sounds, there’s a wide selection of impressive sounds and even drum patterns available for different playing situations and new musical journeys. All of this is run by a relatively powerful amplifier (22 watts), two-speaker system, which is more than adequate for home use, but if you want more power, you can easily connect to an amp through the ¼” out port.

With built-in MIDI over Bluetooth wireless connectivity, FP30 can be easily connected to apps on a tablet or smartphone, such Roland’s own Piano Designer app, which allows the user to edit and customize the piano sound to an extensive degree, or other popular music apps such as Garage Band, Sheet Music Direct or piaScore.  The FP30 also has an on-board option to connect USB memory to capture songs recorded with the onboard recording function. Roland offers excellent wireless support across their whole product range, and the FP30 is no exception.

The FP30 has two jacks for headphones output – one 1/4″, and one 3.5mm, and it also includes a very handy feature of being able to turn on or off the local speakers using F or F#5 + function.

Notable Features and Specs

• Roland’s acclaimed SuperNATURAL Piano Engine
• PHA-4 Action with escapement and ivory-feel key tops
• 22 watt, dual stereo speaker system for rich tone
• Headphones for practicing at any time
• Bluetooth wireless connectivity for access to popular apps
• Dual and split modes
• Solid amount of non-piano sounds, including strings, voices, organ, drums, and more
• Built-in Metronome
• Twin Piano mode lets student and teacher play side by side in the identical octave range
• Internal songs
• DP10 sustain pedal with half-damper support
• Optional three-pedal unit (KPD-70, which can also be used as a hands-free page-turner with some sheet music apps) and optional matching stand (KSC-70) available as add-on accessories provide a classic piano look.

Conclusions

The FP30 is really difficult to beat for the price, as it’s one of the best options in the price point for people whose primary needs center around a great feel and a responsive tone without breaking the bank. It’s onboard speakers and Roland’s SuperNATURAL Sound Engine provides a very solid piano experience, and it’s lightweight of 31 lbs make it a great option for those on the go.

Roland FP-30 Owner’s Manual

• [English] FP-30 Owner’s Manual

Roland FP-30 Related Resources

• Roland FP Series Digital Pianos Overview – FP-10, FP-30, FP-60, FP-90
• New Roland Digital Pianos: Roland FP-30X, FP-60X, FP-90X, F701, & RP701 (Roland FP-X Series)