Its touch sensitivity will help you learn the proper techniques early on and here’s the best part, it is also a light up keyboard piano! This feature allows you to learn at your own pace by following the lighted keys until you master it all!
2) 152 preset songs and 5-song recorder
This portable keyboard piano has a vast song bank of 152 built-in songs which would help in your practice especially if you play it together with the lighting-up keys. If you are not in a practicing mood, you can also play these songs for your entertainment.
It also allows you to record up to 5 songs with 6 tracks each, layer two different tones, and choose different tones for bass and treble keys, with sampling capabilities for up to 5 sounds.
3) Reverb and Chorus
This keyboard piano offers 10 types of reverbs and 5 types of chorus, which is incredibly helpful for beginners.
Reverb is a well-known effect that will make your music sound like it is in a grand concert hall or as if you are a part of an orchestra, while chorus gives the instrument a fuller sound, as if there are layers of voices on top of each other.
With these, Casio LK-280 makes sure that the sustain effect is always on-point and allows the expressiveness of the portable piano keyboard to be conveyed to its fullest extent.
4) Casio’s Step-up Lesson System
Who says that learning how to play a musical instrument is too expensive and not worth the hassle?
Well, Casio LK-280 is here to ensure that you will learn without having to take and pay for piano lessons, because of its renowned integrated Step-Up Lesson System which splits up the songs into shorter versions or phrases so you can master each at your own pace.
After mastering the phrases, you can now piece the music together on your own.
Aside from these, there is performance evaluation, a fingering guide which you can follow on the LCD, and lesson part select wherein you can choose to practice with your right, left, and/or both hands.
5) AUX Input
Casio LK-280 features an AUX input for connecting your MP3 player or other devices to your keyboard piano and as such allows you to enjoy the stereo speaker system in multiple ways!
6) SD Card Slot and USB port
Working hand in hand with the AUX input, the USB port allows you to connect to other gadgets and devices for a better musical experience.
You can also connect to any computer or laptop so you can pull up songs that you may want to practice on in your keyboard piano.
Additionally, this portable keyboard piano has an SD card slot (you cannot usually find this in other keyboards) which gives you more storage space!
1) No backlit display
The LCD system in the middle of the keyboard works with the Step-up Lesson system as it shows a fingering guide so you can develop the proper piano technique. However, the Casio LK-280's display is not backlit which makes it difficult to see in some lighting conditions as it could reflect shadows on the LCD display.
2) Non-weighted keys
This is one of the best 61-keys for beginners, but even if it has lighting up keys with two levels of touch sensitivity, it still lacks the weighted keys that advanced pianists look for, which means that it lacks the resistance and bounce-back of a true piano.
However, this is usually the problem with digital keyboard pianos BUT is pretty normal for a starter keyboard especially when you consider its price.
We have summarized a few raving reviews of the Casio LK 280 to show you that we are not the only fans of this great beginner keyboard!
A gentleman was a bit hesitant buying this keyboard at first but now he is addicted and according to him he plays it all the time! He’s had several Casio keyboards but the LK 280 is his best one yet as it has exceeded all his expectations. He loves the lighted key system because it aids in his learning how to play a particular song. For example, if he plays a song in the lesson mode and he does not press the correct keys or notes, the song will not advance to the next note. He says you have the option to play one to four measures at a time or if you are feeling confident, the entire song. You have over a hundred built in songs to choose from plus the sheet music for all the songs if you are into reading notes. He loves the connectivity options on the keyboard as he can save his songs in MIDI format (using Sibelius software) on his SD card, plug the card into his keyboard and he now has even more songs to play by following the lighted keys.
Another happy buyer said this keyboard has just about everything she wants in a beginner keyboard. You can even ‘split’ the keyboard and use a different tone for each half, say for example, piano on the upper half and flute on the lower end. You can play with the tones and reverb options and you can even connect a sustain pedal for more variety in your music. Her favorite voice in the LK-280 is number 383. She did say she was a bit disappointed the proper fingering for the scales are not included but still this keyboard offers a lot of value at its current price. She highly recommends the keyboard to beginners and gave it 5 out of 5 stars.
A mother bought this keyboard for her teenage daughter and is very happy with her purchase. She said her daughter put on a mini concert just a few days after getting the keyboard even though she has never had any piano lessons before. All she did was just follow the built-in lessons on the LK-280. Her daughter also talks non-stop about how awesome this keyboard is.
Another buyer who lived in a small apartment said this keyboard is perfect for her needs as it is highly portable, doesn’t take up too much space and she doesn’t have to disturb her neighbors with her music because she can just plug in her headphone into the jack at the back. She loves the Step Up Lesson System and the fact that you are not limited to learning the built-in songs but also import your music from your digital library.
It’s not just the newbies who love this keyboard. An experienced musician loves the LK-280’s ability to import any MIDI file from his own music library or the internet and then play it in “teaching” mode by pressing the keys that light up! He said it is truly awesome and is money well spent for that feature alone!
A college student was pretty happy with just the basic functions and the 5 octaves which he said is more than enough for a beginner. The touch sensitive keys are a plus, in addition to the hundreds of tones and rhythms that come with the keyboard. He is also pleased that he can use it as MIDI controller when connecting it to his Mac computer and Garageband software. He recommends buying a sustain pedal to widen your musical experience.
1) How does the Casio LK 280 compare to the Yamaha EZ-220?
Both keyboards are very beginner friendly and have similar features, however, the LK 280 allows you to turn off the background music while the EZ-220 does not.
No, they are not just like other keyboards at this price point (below $200).
Yes, there is an option for you to turn it off. Just press and hold the Function/Key Light button, then press (-) until the screen displays Keylight Off. Press the (+) button to turn the lights back on.
4) Can I use my regular SD card with this keyboard or do I need to buy a special SD card?
Yes, your regular SD card will work just fine (as long it’s not damaged or corrupted).
Yes, you can but you have to purchase it separately. It’s really quite cheap at around $10 - if you are serious about playing it is highly recommended to buy one.
6) Is it easy to see the finger position on the screen?
The screen is not colored and not back lit but if there is sufficient lighting in the room you should be able to see the finger positioning just fine. There is also a voice fingering guide which means the keyboard will guide you verbally, and of course, don’t forget the light up keys.
Yes, you can use the USB port for this function.
Absolutely yes! It's well worth the money!
Despite its relatively cheap price, its multiple functions and helpful features are definitely that of an expensive piano.
Casio LK-280 would certainly help beginners become experts and develop both skills and proper techniques while keeping the learning incredibly fun and addicting!
We hope you enjoyed our Casio LK 280 review. If you would like buy the keyboard, simply click on the red button below. We promise you will not regret getting this keyboard!
Flagship version of SONAR X2, with everything SONAR has to offer.
Cakewalk's SONAR X2 is the latest edition of their popular DAW. With a revolutionary new Skylight user interface, SONAR X2 lets you move seamlessly through all of its features and parameters. Instantly switch from recording to mixing and back again, all with a single Smart Tool, keep your workflow consistent and your music on track. This is the Producer version, which includes everything that SONAR has to offer. From inspiration to final master, SONAR X2 Producer is the flagship version containing all of the tools to deliver unique, polished and professional music productions all in one box.
Skylight User Interface
Why struggle with the cluttered interfaces, poor navigation, and antiquated window management that plague most DAWs? SONAR' award winning Skylight interface gives you a clear and configurable creative space that adapts to your workflow and is tailor made for today' high-resolution, widescreen displays. It makes window management a thing of the past and takes ergonomics to a totally new level.
With SONAR X2, Skylight has been cleverly enhanced to make every aspect of music production even faster and more fluid. Dock windows where they feel best, instantly switch between configurable Screensets, and navigate with unparalleled speed and precision with Timeline Zoom, Auto Zoom, and the enhanced Aim Assist. Skylight even switches tools and snap settings automatically based on context and zoom level so you can quit fiddling with the software and get on with the business of making music.
The professional touch
Experience SONAR like never before with all new touch functionality. Improve your workflow with intuitive gestures like 'swipe' and 'pinch to zoom' that allow you to navigate through projects using the Skylight User Interface. Transform any touch-screen computer into a virtual pad controller to trigger loops and one-shots. Or open up a whole new way to mix and interact with plug-ins, the Console View, and ProChannel.
PERFORM
Play it loud
Overloud brings their critically acclaimed amp modeling technology to SONAR with Overloud TH2 SONAR and Overloud TH2 Producer (only in SONAR X2 Producer). From chunk to funk, TH2 has it covered with big, lifelike tone and expressive playability. Whether it's a crushing riff, shimmering rhythm part, or blistering lead, with over 10 amps to choose from and authentic, manufacturer approved models of classic gear, TH2 dishes the tone you crave. Plug it in. Turn it up.
A world of instruments
A lot of DAWs feel like empty studios. Lots of tracks and editing tools, but not much to actually make music with. SONAR on the other hand is a virtual studio packed with instruments. The flagship SONAR X2 Producer contains a total of 20 distinct virtual instruments. From the encyclopedic sound library of Dimension Pro to the raw power of Rapture and Z3TA+, there are literally thousands of patches ready to be explored. Session Drummer 3 is on skins with detailed acoustic kits and authentic, classic rhythm machines. Save favorite sounds and even complex stacks and layers with Track Templates and recall them instantly with simple drag and drop. Work less. Play more.
Enter the Matrix
Why edit and arrange your loops when you can play them instead? The Matrix View lets you organize audio and MIDI loops, phrases, and one shots into cells and columns for real-time triggering from one (or more) MIDI controllers. Use it for easy arranging of song sections or for complex sets of multiple grooves, one-shots, drops, and breakdowns - all playable in real-time. And the entire performance can be captured onto discrete tracks in SONAR's Track View where it can be freely edited and mixed until it's exactly what you want. The new per-cell trigger resolution and enhanced routing with support for external MIDI hardware make it a formidable creative force.
Browse around
With the searchable Browser you can access a neatly organized collection of loops, one-shots, effects and instruments, which can be incorporated into projects with a simple drag and drop. Access complex FX Chains, create custom content locations, and even replace synths in one fell swoop. In fact, you can drag and drop just about anything both to and from the Browser. And thanks to Skylight, it's there when you need it, gone when you don't, and its size and location are totally up to you. Find it. Drag it. Drop it.
EDIT
Improved Smart Tool
SONAR' innovative Smart Tool is smarter than ever. Constantly switching tools can be a real drag on your creativity. Enter the Smart Tool, which changes function automatically based on context and works in every one of SONAR's edit views. Place the cursor on what you want to edit and SONAR does the rest. With SONAR X2, the Smart Tool has been improved so that most common functions don't even require modifier keys. Functions like freehand and line drawing, as well as painting note lengths, is also now possible.
New Smart Grid
Changing snap settings is one of those repetitive tasks that, while necessary, suck some of the joy out of creating music. Smart Grid intelligently sets the snap resolution and the visual grid line display dynamically, based on zoom level, to a useful setting for the task at hand. And it can do it independently for the Track View and the Piano Roll View. Let SONAR think about snap so you don't have to.
Piano Roll
SONAR X2's PRV has been enhanced with a new look and new functionality. The virtual keyboard now displays real-time MIDI input and Aim Assist functionality has been enhanced to clearly show both vertical and horizontal placement of notes. Coupled with the new Smart Tool functionality, both the PRV and the inline PRV feel rock-solid and make creating and editing MIDI parts quicker and easier.
Loop Construction
No matter what style of music you create, loops are a great way to get a project started, and they can really spice up an original track. Updated to fully integrate into the Skylight interface, the Loop Construction View lets you tweak each audio slice with pitch, pan, and volume envelopes, keeping loops sounding fresh, locked to the groove, and just the way you want.
Step Sequencer
From minimal to maniacal, build beats in classic fashion with SONAR's groove-churning Step Sequencer. Move fast with Auto Populate and tweak patterns down to their very core with per-lane and per-step flam, offset, swing and probability control. Launch it from any softsynth window and immediately start creating rhythm patterns that do mean a thing.
Roland V-Vocal
Perfect vocals “ on pitch and in time. More than just pitch control, V-Vocal also gives you control over timing, dynamics, vibrato, and formant. With just a couple of clicks you can achieve natural sounding vocals with simple pitch correction, or crank up V-Vocal to achieve the robotic vocals heard on today' popular hit songs. V-Vocal can even convert audio to MIDI so you can double parts, replace sounds, and more.
AudioSnap
Get full control of the timing and feel of your tracks. Tighten multi-track drums with full phase coherency, lock MIDI tracks to the timing of audio tracks, convert audio to MIDI for drum replacement, create groove templates, change tempo of audio - it's all possible from one simple interface using the Smart Tool.
MIX
ProChannel
The mixing console is the nerve center of the studio and at the heart of every great sounding track. But the mixing consoles in DAWs are not all created equal. Available exclusively in SONAR X2 Producer, the ProChannel equips SONAR's already impressive console with big, epic, pro-studio sound.
Build your dream channel - with creamy EQ, smooth optical compression, complex FX chains, tube saturation and detailed console emulation. Build your dream console out of an unlimited number of ProChannel strips and save complete ProChannel setups for instant recall. And you don't have to worry about all that heavy duty signal processing bogging you down because the ProChannel and its custom modules introduce no significant latency and operate with extreme CPU efficiency. It's the kind of thing you always dreamed your DAW would someday do.
MASTER
LP-64 EQ
LP-64 EQ is a linear-phase Equalizer that puts a professional sheen on your final mix. Get accurate processing and eliminate phase distortion that is common with parametric EQ. Available exclusively in SONAR X2 Producer.
LP-64 Multiband Compressor
The LP-64 Multiband is a linear phase mastering compressor/limiter. It provides clean, clear non-smeared control over isolated bands for volume maximization or attenuation/limiting with superior linear phase technology. Available exclusively in SONAR X2 Producer.
