The Roland FP-30 digital piano is one of the brand’s most popular modern keyboards. This is because it’s a compact size digital piano that delivers high-end Roland performance. So, if you are in the market for a full-sized instrument that won’t squeeze your budget and space, your search is over.
The FP-30 is the latest addition to Roland’s FP-Series, popularly known for compact yet versatile and powerful digital pianos. The FP-Series hosts instruments suitable for home and stage use as well, and the FP-30 stands out as a sub-$1000 instrument from Roland.
This Roland FP-30 review takes you on a discovery journey to show you just how good of an instrument this piano is.
Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Overview
According to us, this is Roland’s most affordable quality digital piano. We say this because it accommodates the brand’s sound, feel, and powerful features in a standard quality 88-note keyboard.
We loved that the FP-30 is a full-sized instrument yet still retains a compact and lightweight design. Therefore, this piano can work perfectly on stage for musicians on frequent gigs. Additionally, it features built-in recording and practice functions, as well as the Bluetooth wireless connection for integrating the piano with other musical apps.
As a sub-$1000 Roland digital piano, the FP-30 combines the most needed design, modern features, and playability in the market. But like any other instrument, this one also comes with some drawbacks. So, let’s get into this Roland FP-30 digital piano review to see what we are working with.
Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Features
Roland FP-30 Specs
- 88 fully weighted keys
- PHA-4 Standard Keyboard: with Escapement and Ivory Feel
- Touch Sensitivity (5 types, OFF)
- Sound: SuperNATURAL Piano Sound
- 128-note polyphony
- 35 instrument sounds (4 pianos)
- Modes: Split, Dual, Duo (Twin Piano)
- 1-track MIDI recorder (3 songs)
- Playback: MIDI files (Format 0, 1), Audio files (WAV)
- 30 built-in songs
- Piano Simulation: String Resonance, Damper Resonance, Key Off Resonance
- Metronome (8 rhythm styles), Transpose, Fine-tuning
- Speakers: 11W + 11W (12 cm x 2)
- Connections: USB to Host, USB to Device, Bluetooth 4.0, Headphone jacks (2), Sustain Pedal jack
- Dimensions – (W x D x H) 130 x 28.4 x 15 cm (51.2†x 11.2†x 5.8â€)
- Weight – 14.1 kg (31 lbs)
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Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Design
Roland introduced the FP-Series with minimalism in mind, and all the instruments produced under this line are fairly portable and lightweight. The Roland FP-30 digital piano follows the same criteria, and Roland designed this instrument to be portable and compact.
What we loved about this instrument is that it’s compact enough to sit perfectly on a desk or table, but most of all; it doesn’t sacrifice playability for size.
The Roland FP-30 dimensions measure 51.2 inches Wide, 11.2 inches Deep and 5.9 inches High. It weighs 31lbs or 14.1 kg, which makes it slightly heavier than other models in the FP-Series but still a reasonable weight for travelling.
This piano features a contemporary and clean-looking design, an upgrade from the previous FP-20 model. The control panel now hosts 13 illuminated buttons in a nice row that allow you to access the main functions and sounds of the piano.
You’ll need the Roland FP-30 user manual to assist you in changing between the settings, but it becomes easier once you get the hang of it. It doesn’t come with an LCD but this is to be expected considering the Roland FP-30 price.
The piano is available in black and white finishes, which look appealing in any décor.
Roland FP-30 Keyboard
The FP-Series features some of the most advanced keyboard actions in the market. And as a Sub-$1000 instrument, the Roland FP-30 digital piano stands out in various ways. This piano features full-sized 88 keys with Roland’s Progressive Hammer Action and Escapement feature. The Progressive Hammer Action acts like the Graded Hammer Action in acoustic pianos.
This means that the Roland FP-30 keys feel heavier on the lower register, and they become lighter as you progress to the higher register of the keyboard. This action is called by Roland the PHA-4 Standard, and it’s the brands’ newly developed 4th generation keyboard action.
Also, the keys on this piano have the Ivory Feel to give you the most authentic playing experience.
Unlike most digital pianos, the FP-30 features 5 preset touch sensitivity settings. They include:
- Super Light or Fixed
- Light
- Medium
- Heavy
- Super Heavy
Additionally, the FP-30 comes with Roland’s 3 sensor technology that combines with the above detailed features to deliver authentic touch and feel available in traditional pianos.
Sound
The Roland FP-30 digital piano features the brand’s powerful SuperNATURAL modeling technology that delivers authentic and immersive sounds. This sound engine assigns each of the 88 notes available on the FP-30 with a different pitch and unique tonal character. However, this solely depends on the dynamics, i.e., how hard or soft you play the keys.
The SuperNATURAL modeling technology takes sampling to another level to produce natural sounds. It takes full-length samples of a traditional piano and with the modeling technology, produces a fine transition between the different samples, and notes, among other sound features.
The FP-30 has a decent sound library with a total of 35 instruments, 4 of them being pianos. They are classified as follows:
- 3 Grand Pianos, Ragtime Piano
- 3 Electric Pianos
- 4 Organs (Jazz, Church)
- 3 Strings
- 2 Harpsichords
- Vibraphone
- Accordion, Harp, Choirs, Bass, etc.
And with 128 polyphony voices, you can confidently play complex pieces on the FP-30 without worrying about notes being cut off.
Connectivity
When it comes to connectivity, this piano offers comprehensive options. You can integrate the FP-30 with multiple musical interfaces both wirelessly and using wires to enhance playability. The front panel of the Roland FP-30 keyboard has two Headphone jacks, one ¼†(6.35mm) standard jack and the other one is 1/8†(3.5mm) mini-jack.
The rear panel features the following hook up options:
Bluetooth MIDI – If your laptop supports Bluetooth connectivity, you can wirelessly connect it with the piano with the FP-30’s Bluetooth MIDI connection. This enhances playability, especially if you plan on using Roland FP-30 as a MIDI controller.
USB To Host Port – This is the port to facilitate you when you want to connect the Roland FP-30 to a computer. It’s a USB Type B port and can be used to transfer MIDI files as well as using various music apps in your PC for learning, entertainment, and music production.
USB To Device Port – This is a USB Type A port, and can be used to insert a USB flash drive into the FP-30. Once inserted, you can directly play MIDI and audio (WAV) files or save your compositions on the flash drive.
Sustain Pedal Jack – Because this piano comes with a Sustain pedal as an accessory, you get the Sustain pedal jack for connection. This hook up option also accepts Sustain pedals from other brands, so long as they have ¼†plug.
Extra Features of the Roland FP-30 Digital Piano
Recording and Playback
The piano comes with a 1-Track MIDI recorder, meaning you can only record a single song on this piano. But considering that it has 30 built-in songs, you are still getting a good deal here. Moreover, it compensates by offering you a USB to Device port that you can use to save your recordings as explained above.
Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Transpose
If you want to transpose the Roland FP-30 you can easily do so with its onboard Transpose function. It allows you shift the piano’s pitch up and down in semitone steps.
Master Tuning
This feature allows you to raise or lower the keyboard’s entire pitch in 0.1Hz steps.
Octave Shift Function
As you may know, this feature enables you to change the keyboard’s pitch in octave units.
Built-in Metronome
With the FP-30’s built-in Metronome function, you can steadily improve your time keeping skills while playing.
Auto Off
As the name suggests, this feature automatically turns off the piano after going unused for a specified amount of time. This works perfectly in preventing unnecessary power consumption.
8 Drum Patterns
These can be used as alternatives to the FP-30’s simple Metronome count.
Benefits of Owning the Roland FP-30 Digital Piano
Gig Friendly – From its compact design and lightweight body, this piano is a perfect option for musicians who are always on the road. Additionally, it’s built with stage-ready features giving you the confidence to perform and deliver to your audience accordingly.
Excellent Keyboard Action – The keyboard on this instrument hosts several powerful features for authentic playability. You have the Progressive Hammer Action accompanied with the Escapement feature, mostly used in Roland’s high-end models. Moreover, the keys have a synthetic Ivory Feel and you also get 3-sensor detection feature for utmost authenticity. Finally, you can change the dynamics of play using the FP-30’s five touch preset settings.
SuperNATURAL Sound Engine – With this sound source, you get incredibly rich piano sounds sampled at different levels to give you natural outcomes.
Powerful Sound System – This piano comes with two 12cm built-in speakers with 2 x 11W amplifiers that deliver rich and natural sounds accompanied by bass response and amazing resonance.
Dual and Split Modes – These Modes allow you to either play two instrument sounds together or play each on either side by layering them.
Comprehensive Connectivity – The Roland FP-30 keyboard comes with a wide array of hook up options to aid you in integrating the piano with other musical interfaces and enhance playability.
Why Should You Buy the Roland FP-30 Digital Piano?
If you’ve been searching for a full-sized piano that fits seamlessly in your home and doesn’t suppress your space or budget, this is your pick.
The FP-30 is a compact size and high-end instrument that delivers Roland’s prime performance at an affordable price.
Roland FP-30 Accessories
- Music Rest
- DP-2 Sustain Pedal
- AC Power Adapter
- Owner’s Manual
Pros
- Lightweight and Portable
- Excellent keyboard action with Escapement and Ivory Feel keys
- SuperNATURAL sound engine
- Powerful sound generation system
- Vast connectivity options
- 35 instrument sounds
Cons
- No Line Out jacks
- Minimum sound customization options
- Lacks lesson functions
Conclusion
The Roland FP-30 digital piano is an all-round capable and versatile musical instrument. Its portable design makes it suitable for home practice sessions, on-stage performances, and music production in studios.
