Why I chose the Roland FP-30 digital piano (and why it feels like the perfect fit)

Returning to music in my 50s, I knew that choosing the right piano would be important. Back in 2020, after watching countless Roland FP-30 review videos and researching features, the Roland FP-30 stood out. Here’s why.

Sound quality

In my view, the Roland FP-30 sound quality is excellent for the price. Compared to other models I looked at, including the Yamaha P-125, the FP-30 offers a fuller, rounder sound. The bass notes feel full, warm and resonant whereas the P-125 sounded more trebly and thin. Anyone relearning piano, or exploring music theory and composition from scratch, will understand that really enjoying the quality of the piano sound makes playing and practice much more rewarding. Of course, the Roland FP-30 vs Yamaha P-125 battle has been superseded by the latest models, with the Roland FP-30X vs Yamaha P-225 fighting it out these days.

Key Action

The FP-30’s key action immediately impressed me. This fully weighted 88-key digital piano gives a very realistic acoustic feel, and the finish on the keys is smooth yet tactile, providing a reassuring grip. This was a big step up from my old Korg N364 keyboard, which I bought back in the 1990s with 61 keys and a synth action, (light, springy keys designed for electronic sounds). The heavier, weighted keys of the FP-30 mean I can practise proper finger technique in a way that will hopefully build strength and coordination in due course.

MIDI Connectivity

I knew I needed MIDI connectivity, and the FP-30 offers this via USB MIDI instead of 5-pin DIN MIDI ports that some keyboards have. It uses a USB Type B port (the square-ish one you often see on printers). Plugging a USB cable from this port into your computer, means the piano can send MIDI signals directly and makes the FP-30 a great MIDI controller too. I can use it to record and compose with virtual instruments, and retain a realistic piano feel. As my ideas often start on piano, this balance of the two has proved to be really valuable.

I also haven’t had any latency issues. Latency is the short delay between pressing a key and hearing the sound from your computer, which can sometimes be noticeable when playing virtual instruments. Your computer’s built-in sound card often needs a large buffer size, which means it takes more time to process the sound and creates a delay between pressing a key and hearing it. An audio interface, like my Edirol UA-25 is the solution. It’s designed for music, so it can run with a much smaller buffer size, cutting down that delay and making the FP-30 feel much more responsive. Something like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen would be a good budget option today.

Price, value, and space-saving design

Back in 2020, the FP-30 hit the sweet spot for me between price and value. I paid £521.67+VAT for the piano, including stand with pedals. For a digital piano with a great sound, a natural feel, and MIDI features, it felt like a good investment.

Another huge bonus is that it doesn’t take up too much space. With the KSC-70 stand and KPD-70 pedal unit, the dimensions come in at 1,300 mm width, 324 mm depth, 925 mm height, and 23 kg in weight. Of course, I’d love to have an acoustic baby grand one day, but for now, the FP-30 is the perfect fit.