Alesis Recital Vs Recital Pro — We Discover The Difference

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Music Voices
Published in
5 min readJul 7, 2024
Alesis Recital Vs Recital Pro — We Discover The Difference

In the world of digital pianos, Alesis Recital series has made a name for itself by offering affordability without skimping on features.

However, the first version of the Recital left some users wanting more in terms of build quality and sound.

That’s where the Alesis Recital Pro steps in — positioned as the more advanced option with fully-weighted keys. But is the upgrade worth the extra bucks?

Let’s compare the Alesis Recital to its upgraded sibling, the Recital Pro, to see if spending more money translates to a better musical experience. Welcome to Alesis Recital vs Recital Pro!

THE ALESIS RECITAL SERIES
alesis piano

The Alesis Recital Series offers top-notch digital pianos that strike the perfect balance between affordability and advanced features.

Designed to provide an immersive playing experience, these instruments are ideal for beginners and pros alike.

Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned player, both the Alesis Recital and Recital Pro models are crafted to give you that authentic piano feel. Let’s dive into the details.

OVERVIEW OF ALESIS RECITAL 61 DIGITAL PIANO
recital piano

The Alesis Recital 61 Digital Piano offers a premium playing experience with its array of features tailored for both beginners and experienced players alike.

With 61 full-sized semi-weighted keys featuring adjustable touch response, this digital piano ensures a responsive and authentic playing feel.

It boasts 10 built-in realistic voices, which can be customized using Layer Mode to blend two voices together for a rich, full tone. Additionally, Split Mode allows voices to be assigned to either the left or right hand, enhancing versatility during performances or practice sessions.

The Recital’s powerful 20-watt built-in speakers deliver ultra-realistic sound, complemented by adjustable Reverb and Chorus effects to further refine your tone.

With a maximum note polyphony of 128, this digital piano ensures that every note is heard clearly and accurately.

In terms of education features, the Recital includes Lesson Mode, dividing the keyboard into two identical zones for easy teacher-student interaction.

A headphone output allows for quiet, private practice sessions, while connections such as sustain pedal input, stereo RCA outputs, and USB-MIDI output offer versatility in connecting to external devices and software.

Alesis Recital 61 Digital Piano Package

Alesis Recital 61 Digital Piano Package

HARMONY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

PERFECT FOR: Beginner

FEATURES: 20 Watts Of Speaker Power

OTHER INFO: Split Mode For Easy Learning And Teaching Experience

PROS

  • Adjustable touch response for personalized playing experience
  • Layer mode for combining voices
  • Reverb and chorus effects for further sound customization
  • Built-in speakers for realistic piano sound
  • Sustain pedal output for expressive playing
  • USB-MIDI output for connecting to a computer and using educational software

CONS

  • Limited number of built-in voices (10)
  • Relatively lightweight construction may not be as sturdy as some models
  • Sustain pedal not included (requires separate purchase)
  • Metronome tempo range may not accommodate all styles of music

PROS AND CONS OF ALESIS RECITAL 61 DIGITAL PIANO

PROS

  • Portability: Lightweight and easily portable, making it suitable for traveling musicians or those with limited space.
  • Affordable: Provides good value for the price, offering features comparable to more expensive models.
  • Variety of Voices: Comes with multiple voices, including piano, which sound realistic and offer versatility in playing different styles of music.
  • User-Friendly: Simple to operate, making it accessible for beginners or those returning to playing after a hiatus.
  • Decent Sound Quality: The 20-watt speakers produce satisfactory sound, suitable for practice sessions and small performances.
  • Educational Features: The inclusion of educational features such as lesson modes, metronome, and recording capabilities makes it an excellent choice for students and those learning to play the piano.

CONS

  • Key Action: The key action may not be as responsive or realistic compared to higher-end digital pianos or acoustic instruments, which could be a drawback for more advanced players.
  • Limited Voices: Offers only five voices, lacking some options like a harpsichord that could enhance musical exploration.
  • Metronome Inconvenience: Adjusting the metronome can be cumbersome, and the initial beat sound may be annoying.
  • Limited Polyphony: With a polyphony of 128 notes, the Alesis Recital 61 may struggle to sustain complex passages, particularly in more advanced pieces or layered compositions.
  • Plastic Key Feel: Keys have a plastic and squishy feel, reminiscent of toy keyboards, rather than the weighted feel of a traditional piano.
  • Key Spacing Issues: Some keys are not uniformly spaced, and keys may shift over time, affecting playability.
OVERVIEW OF ALESIS RECITAL PRO 88 NOTE DIGITAL PIANO
recital pro piano

The Alesis Recital Pro 88 Note Digital Piano represents a significant advancement over its predecessor, the original Recital model.

With a host of upgrades, this digital piano offers an impressive array of features at an accessible price point.

One of the standout features of the Alesis Recital Pro is its premium hammer-action keys, which replicate the feel of playing on an acoustic piano.

This weighted keybed provides a responsive touch and allows for expressive playing, making it ideal for pianists who require a high level of control over dynamics and articulation.

In addition to its realistic keybed, the Recital Pro boasts an extensive array of sounds and voices, including acoustic piano, electric piano, organ, and synth, among others.

These voices are meticulously sampled to deliver authentic and lifelike tones, allowing players to explore a wide range of musical genres and styles.

The Recital Pro also offers a variety of built-in features to enhance the playing experience. These include dual keyboard mode, which allows players to layer two voices simultaneously for a richer sound, as well as split keyboard mode, which divides the keyboard into two sections with different voices assigned to each.

Intrigued by the this article? Discover it here, complete with product recommendations…

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