NAMM 2023: Roland FP-E50 piano - Sand, software and sound

Is it an arranger? Is it a digital piano? Is it a synthesizer?

Yes — sort of. 🙂

The new Roland FP-E50 combines elements from all of these product categories — a true hybrid. Basic specs:

Roland SuperNATURAL Piano engine
PHA-4 88 full-size keys (hammer action, escapement, ivory feel)
ZEN-Core sound engine
256 tone polyphony
Dual layers and split
Auto-accompaniment (177 styles, 2 variations per style)
Chord sequencer
Simplified front panel user interface
Amplification: 2x11W, 2x12cm
Built-in Bluetooth V4.2 including MIDI over BLE
Audio playback and record (WAV)
Piano designer: Lid, string resonance, damper resonance, Key-off resonance, cabinet resonance
Dimensions: 51.2″W x 12.7″D x 6.9″H
Weight: 37.8 pounds (17.1kg)

Clearly, digital piano is the main focus. The FP-E50 is targeted for the home market, but I can see where (semi-)pros might consider this keyboard for casual gigs. Power comes from an external adapter, however. There isn’t 5-pin MIDI either — another feature that pros might miss.

Roland FP-E50 digital piano (arranger, synth)

Flipping through the FP-E50 tone list, it has a slew of classic Roland sounds from XV/JV days. Additional sounds (EXZ Wave Expansions and SDZ Sound Packs) can be downloaded from the Roland Cloud. Roland plan to release new accompaniment styles as “Z-Style Packs”.

The asking price is a reasonable $999USD (MAP). A furniture-style stand is available for $100USD. Roland are going up against Yamaha DGX-670. Just on the basis of visual appearance and styling, I’d rather have the FP-E50 in my living room.

The $1,000 keyboard space is definitely interesting these days!