Alesis Recital vs Alesis Recital Pro

Two Tiers of the Same Idea

Both are 88-key Alesis keyboards with built-in speakers, battery operation, Lesson mode, USB MIDI and bundled lesson subscriptions, and both leave the sustain pedal out of the box. The Recital uses semi-weighted keys, five voices, 128-note polyphony and 2 x 10 W speakers with LED indicators. The Recital Pro uses hammer-action keys, twelve voices, the same polyphony, 2 x 20 W speakers and a backlit LCD. The price gap is modest.

Keys: The Whole Decision

Semi-weighted keys have spring resistance and velocity sensitivity but no hammer mechanism. They feel quick and light and they do not build finger strength or transfer to an acoustic piano. Hammer-action keys have a weighted mechanism that resists like a piano. The Recital Pro's action is on the heavy, uniform side and less refined than Yamaha's or Casio's, but it is a real hammer action and that is what a teacher will ask for.

If piano lessons are the goal, this difference decides the purchase on its own. If the keyboard is for chords, songwriting and fun, the Recital's lighter keys are acceptable.

Sounds and Polyphony

The Recital has five voices: piano, electric piano, organ, synth and bass. The Recital Pro has twelve, adding more pianos, electric pianos, organs, strings and a choir. Both have 128-note polyphony, layer and split modes, reverb and chorus. The Pro's piano sample is a little fuller; neither matches the samples in Yamaha, Casio or Korg entry pianos.

Speakers, Screen and Outputs

The Pro doubles the speaker power to 2 x 20 W, which fills a living room where the Recital's 2 x 10 W suits a bedroom. The Pro's LCD shows voices, tempo and settings; the Recital uses LEDs and button combinations. The Pro adds quarter-inch line outputs for an amplifier or interface; the Recital has a headphone output only.

Power and Portability

Both run on six D batteries as well as the included adapter. The Recital weighs about 16 pounds, the Pro about 23. Both suit any X-stand and both ship with a music rest.

Lesson Features

Lesson mode on both splits the keyboard into two identical zones for teacher and student. Both bundle time-limited Skoove and Melodics subscriptions over USB MIDI. Neither has Bluetooth.

Against Other Brands

The Recital competes with the Korg Liano, another semi-weighted 88, which is lighter with a better piano sample. The Recital Pro competes with the Donner DEP-20 and, at a higher price, the Casio CDP-S160 and Yamaha P-145, both of which have more refined actions. Within the Alesis pair, the Pro is the one to buy for any serious use.

Sound Quality in Practice

The Recital's five voices are serviceable and the piano is clean but thin; the Recital Pro's twelve include a fuller acoustic piano, better electric pianos and strings that make layering more rewarding. Neither matches the grand samples in Korg, Casio or Yamaha entry pianos, and both are at their best through headphones or the built-in speakers rather than a hi-fi system. The Pro's 2 x 20 W speakers give its piano more body in a room, which flatters the sample.

Accessories and Real Cost

Add a sustain pedal to either; a basic switch pedal costs little and a piano-style pedal with half-damper response is better. Add a stand and bench; Alesis sells bundles with both. Add headphones with a quarter-inch plug or an adapter. Because the accessories cost the same for either keyboard, the price gap between the Recital and Recital Pro shrinks as a share of the total, which strengthens the case for the Pro.

Who Outgrows Which

Recital owners who take lessons outgrow it within a year, because the semi-weighted keys stop matching what the teacher asks for. Recital Pro owners who take lessons last two to three years before the uniform weighting and modest piano sample send them to a Casio, Yamaha, Roland or Kawai. Both resell easily because they are inexpensive and widely known. Buying the Pro first saves one of those steps.

Build and Transport

Both are plastic-bodied keyboards with music rests and no key covers. The Recital at about 16 pounds is one of the lightest 88s sold and is easy to carry under one arm; the Recital Pro at about 23 pounds is a typical portable weight. Both fit standard 88-key gig bags and both suit any X-stand. The Pro's heavier action and larger speakers make it feel more solid on a stand; the Recital can bounce slightly during energetic playing on a lightweight stand. Neither has a reputation for fragility, and Alesis's parts and service network is wide.

Who Should Buy Which

Buy the Recital Pro for a student, for a living room that needs volume, or for anyone who wants a screen and line outputs. Buy the Recital for a child's first exploration, a hobbyist who plays chords and songs, or a budget that will not stretch. Add a sustain pedal to either on day one.