Korg SV2S
Korg SV2S
8,8
Editor's Rating
4,1
Users’ Rating

Korg SV2S Review – Is It Good Enough for Modern Musicians?

Fact Checked Yoke Wong
Yoke Wong
Review by Yoke Wong
Expert Consultant
Yoke Wong is a talented pianist and piano teacher, author of online piano courses Pianomother.com, founder of Harmony and Melody Studio.
Updated 16-08-2023
Updated 16-08-2023
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8,8
Editor's Rating
4,1
Users’ Rating
8,8
Editor's Rating
4,1
Users’ Rating
Ideal for:
  • Performers
  • Professional musicians
  • Those who need a workstation
Highlights:
  • The best 88-key keyboards for stage and studio
  • The best MIDI controllers with a realistic piano feel
  • The best keyboard workstations
  • In short, if you perform and record, it’s excellent for you
  • If you merely record, there could also be one thing higher

Whereas you’re obtaining additional sounds, the larger factor that is surprising about this product is that the quality of a number of the sounds has conjointly improved. Everyone is aware that the SV-1 was all regarding the electrical piano sounds. Consordini reveals that Korg did an implausible job setting up an equivalent effort to the piano sounds of the Korg SV2S. One of the primary things that Korg self-addressed with the SV-2S was the keybed. It options the flagship Korg RH3 keybed, which has stratified hammer action keys. Stratified hammer action implies that the lower keys are heavier and the higher keys area unit lighter, with graduated weight from bottom to prime.

Specifications

Numbers of keys 88
Pedal DS2H damper pedal
Voices 128
Radiator 3inch, passive
Loudspeakers 2.5-inch
Polyphony 128 voices
Dimensions 59.4×12.6 inches
Weight 64. lbs.

Korg SV2S Review

Korg SV2S Review - Is It Good Enough for Modern Musicians?
It reasonably rings a bell in my memory of a contemporary Rhodes in a very approach. It conjointly features a clean layout.

At first look, The Korg SV2S could be an engaging wanting stage piano Trusted Source Digital piano - Wikipedia A digital piano is a type of electronic keyboard instrument designed to serve primarily as an alternative to the traditional acoustic piano, both in the way it feels to play and in the sound produced. Digital pianos use either synthesized emulation or recorded samples of an acoustic piano, which are sounded through an internal loudspeaker. They also incorporate weighted keys, which recreate the feel of an acoustic piano. Some digital pianos are designed to also look like an upright or grand piano.
en.wikipedia.org
, very like its precursor. It presently comes in a very shiny black that is pictured on top of it, in addition to a shiny silver. I don’t have a preference between the colors with this keyboard as I feel they each look extremely slick. As you see will by observing this keyboard, it’s a real vintage feel to that.

Getting slightly less run of the mill, Korg determined to incorporate Associate in Nursing authentic tack piano and a honky-tonk piano. The honky-tonk sound covers something from a variety show to old-school boogie. The tack piano could be a very little completely different, showing initial within the late 1800s with a way brighter tone. A little tack or nail is inserted into the hammer, making a way brighter sound after they hit the strings. After you hear it, you’ll be transported back to Associate in Nursing’s recent west saloon within the days of Billy, the child.

Design

Overall, the planning is, in my opinion, spot on. I like the vintage look that each SV-1 and, therefore, the SV-2 has. It extremely offers you this sense of yearning while delivering some unbelievable sounds. I think the planning is comparable to a Nord Stage; however, I noticed the layout on the Korg SV-2 to be a bit additional easy and that I in person like it over the Nord’s.

Sound

Korg SV2S Review - Is It Good Enough for Modern Musicians?
The German grand delivers that acquainted piano maker Model D sound with unimaginable accuracy.

The Korg SV-2S comes packed with seventy-two aboard sounds covering a spread of vintage instruments. Sounds area unit organized into sampled, VPM, FM, analog, and digital versions. Everything comes from Korg’s EDS-X sound engine (Enhanced Definition Synthesis – Expanded). As a stage piano Trusted Source Stage piano - Wikipedia A stage piano is an electronic musical instrument designed for use in live performance on a stage or a studio, as well as for music recording in jazz and popular music. While stage pianos share some of the same features as digital pianos designed for home use and synthesizers, they have a number of features which set them apart. Stage pianos usually provide a smaller number of sounds (acoustic piano, electric piano, and Hammond organ), with these sounds being of higher quality, unlike regular digital pianos and home synthesizers. en.wikipedia.org , the most focus remains on the piano tones. These voices embrace attractive grand pianos like an expert sampled from instrument manufacturers in the European country, Japan, Austria, and Italy.

The SV-1 packed some unbelievable electrical piano sounds. However, the SV-2 conjointly will an equivalent whereas adding some nice piano and organ sounds in addition.

You are conjointly obtaining seventy-two sounds in total. Whereas this is often not a crazy quantity, Korg has packed all of the very important sounds you’d want for gigging in most bands. If you play in a very synth-heavy band, you may forever use this as a MIDI controller in addition.

The Korg SV-2S stage vintage piano has all the makings of a contemporary classic. With the massively fashionable Korg SV-1 currently discontinued, the SV-2 and SV-2S look set to require their place nicely.

Overall performance and functions

Being marketed as a vintage stage piano instead of simply a stage piano suggests that the SV-2S may be at an additional niche cluster of users. Users United Nations agency need authentic vintage sounds while not the expense or trouble of exploiting multiple vintage instruments. Our Korg SV-2S review can take a glance at everything it’s to supply, the United Nations agency it’s best for, and the way it compares to its forerunner.

Before we get into it, we should always say we tend to area units viewing the SV-2S model and not the regular SV-2. However, the sole distinction between the 2 is that the SV-2S includes a built-n loudspeaker system, the SV-2 doesn’t. All alternative information and choices apply to each model.

Number of keys

Korg SV2S Review - Is It Good Enough for Modern Musicians?
The keyboard additionally has eight standardization systems to decide if you would like to be additional artistic.

It has 88-Key Stage Vintage Piano. It does not solely concern however the keys feel to touch; however, expressively, the burden enables you to play. The Korg SV-2S has eight rate curves; thus, you’ll modify the keyboard’s response to fit your enjoying vogue or voice being employed. The standardization systems embrace temperament (default), stretch tunings, detunes, and user-defined. Temperament is what we tend to hear from typical keyboards and pianos currently; however, actually, the intervals area unit is a couple of cents off. Not everybody can use this feature; however, it’s a cool choice to have as it’s changing into additional fashionable amongst musos.

Speakers

Incredible built-in loudspeaker system. The most noticeable upgrade from the SV-1 and also the regular SV-2 models is that the internal loudspeaker system. It hasn’t modified the form or size of the keyboard at all; the K-ARRAY speakers work nicely on the top/back panel.

Korg SV2S Review - Is It Good Enough for Modern Musicians?
The beauty of the speakers currently has a genuinely high-end stage piano that doesn’t want Associate in Nursing amp to follow. So, whether or not at a little venue or a friend’s house, taking your keyboard with you got easier.

The system is formed of 2 two: 5-inch loudspeakers and a 3-inch passive radiator. Generating fifteen watts of power, the speakers’ area unit is okay for any quiet follow and little performances. To not mention, the sound quality is astounding and to be expected from Italian speaker makers K-ARRAY.

Connectivity

Despite the vintage persona, the SV-2S will have a fashionable property base. On prime of the stereo 1/4-inch jack outputs, their square measure a combination of left and right XLR outputs. So, you’ve got additional choices once it involves connecting on to a mixer within the studio or on stage.

There is a fanatical earpiece out for watching your performance. Din-style MIDI in and out ports allow you to attach your alternative hardware gear. So, if you’ve got standard gear that you wish to trigger via the SV-2S, that’s potential. The SV-2S connects to your pc via USB.

Increased memory

The reason the Korg SV-2S is ready to supply such a large number of high-quality sounds is that it’s over 10 times the sample information provided by past models. This increase offers sixty-four memory slots to store your favorites and custom patches. Thus, you’ll currently simply save and recall any custom split or superimposed sounds that you simply produce.

The one disadvantage is that you simply have to be compelled to use the SV-2 editor to make custom patches. The editor itself is okay. However, it’d be easier if you may fuck directly from the front panel. You can, however, modify split points of custom patches directly from the front panel. Thus it’s not all dangerous.

A single memory slot will store sounds with up to 3 timbres directly. This means you’ll have a split of 2 voices and layer the 3rd voice. Additionally to the multiplied memory and sample information, the SV-2S has been given multiplied polyphonic music, currently at 128 voices. The multiplied polyphonic music comes in handy once layering voices and sustaining additional advanced chords.

Simple management

Korg SV2S Review - Is It Good Enough for Modern Musicians?
With authentic vintage instruments, sort of a Wurly, Rodes, or phonation organ, the controls tend to be straightforward. Korg stayed faithful to that principle with the SV-1, and that we are glad to mention nothing has modified therein regard with the SV-2S.

The first factor you’ll notice is that there’s no alphanumeric display orbit screen. Again, that’s kept with the tradition of vintage instruments. But it conjointly suggests that there’s fully no menu-diving, and that’s one thing implausibly valuable once on stage. which means everything is active physical management, and Korg has another a few nice workflow touches.

When you are operating with physical controls, whether or not it’s knobs or sliders, you’ll be able to typically go too so much and lose track. With the SV-2S, whenever you modify a knob, clicking down on that can reset that parameter to its default setting. It’d sound sort of tiny detail. However, it’s not simply a time-saver. It allows you to experiment with a security web.

Taking it a step more, there’s currently a panel lock operating. Thus, once you do notice simply the correct sound, with the right effects combine, you won’t accidentally behave.

Another straightforward, however effective feature is that the switches have crystal rectifier indicators. Thus you’ll be able to see something that’s active. The sound choice comes from 2 dedicated rotary switches for sort and variation. If you have got favorites or custom sounds kept in any of the assigned slots, they’ll be recalled quickly via eight highlighted central buttons. If you do want additional in-depth management, that’s offered via the SV-2 editor. As we said, the factor is meant to mimic a true vintage instrument in each sound and performance.

Price tag

The price of this product is indeed huge but is undoubtedly normal while relating it with the features. It’s a bit costlier compared to the Korg SV1 and some other related products.

PROS CONS
The sleek nature is not comparable with the lower version It’s costly
The features are great, and they can meet up the contemporary need

Conclusion

In my opinion, the Korg SV-2 could be a win for Korg. Korg didn’t veer from the SV-1 in terribly many ways, together with even the looks. The biggest issue that Korg appeared to concentrate on with the SV-2 is to enhance the sounds. I think that they did an implausible job during this department as I desire the electric pianos to sound nice & the pianos do in addition. Korg’s updated and improved SV-2S could be a fantastic stage piano, while not questioned. There are ups and downs with any instrument, and also the drawback to the present one is that it doesn’t provide the tonal skillfulness of a contemporary stage piano. The top side is that it’s not purported to, it offered a selected vintage feel, and it delivers it improbably well. Additionally, to provide the vintage theme alright, you get the comfort of contemporary property. There isn’t any single space wherever we will say the SV-2S is especially poor. 1st and foremost, it’s a stage piano, and it kills it on stage. From the sounds and effects to the super intuitive active management, it’s a player’s dream. Its secondary purpose could be a studio piano, and whereas we tend to admit there are higher studio keyboards, it’s still terrific, particularly after you use the SV-2 editor and Korg’s further sound libraries. When you add that it’s nice speakers (that don’t cut from the gorgeous looks), you’ll be able to play anywhere; it’s a no-brainer. If you gig a great deal, simply strive it out; you’ll fully find it irresistible.

References

1.
Digital piano - Wikipedia
A digital piano is a type of electronic keyboard instrument designed to serve primarily as an alternative to the traditional acoustic piano, both in the way it feels to play and in the sound produced. Digital pianos use either synthesized emulation or recorded samples of an acoustic piano, which are sounded through an internal loudspeaker. They also incorporate weighted keys, which recreate the feel of an acoustic piano. Some digital pianos are designed to also look like an upright or grand piano.
2.
Stage piano - Wikipedia
A stage piano is an electronic musical instrument designed for use in live performance on a stage or a studio, as well as for music recording in jazz and popular music. While stage pianos share some of the same features as digital pianos designed for home use and synthesizers, they have a number of features which set them apart. Stage pianos usually provide a smaller number of sounds (acoustic piano, electric piano, and Hammond organ), with these sounds being of higher quality, unlike regular digital pianos and home synthesizers.
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