The catch
Roland FP-E50
AC power is required, and the body is 322 mm deep. With no punch-in/out, an audio overdub has to start from the beginning.
Side by side
Roland FP-E50 vs Casio PX-S3100 for singing or flexible space: Casio saves depth but its drive competes with Bluetooth, while Roland records vocals
Quick verdict
FP-E50 is the choice for singing, staged WAV recording and a direct USB-audio route to a computer. PX-S3100 is the choice for accompaniment in a much shallower body or practice away from an outlet. Casio has no microphone input, and its Bluetooth adapter shares the recording-drive port, although its separate analog input can take a suitable wired backing source. A switch pedal, not a half-pedal, comes in both base packages.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
For a family sing-along, the input comes up as a problem before the sound does
Imagine one person playing, another singing, and the result going out to relatives. The FP-E50 has the dynamic mic input and layered WAV recording that sequence needs. The PX-S3100 has an analog Audio In, but that is a line-level connection meant for a suitable player and can’t stand in for a microphone input. Over computer USB it also sends only MIDI, without the piano’s sound. Casio can still be part of the setup with separately suitable equipment, but its larger tone library doesn’t take away those connection jobs.
Where this comes from
Based on the exact connector lists and recorder paths. What follows is about added equipment and extra steps, not vocal quality or any automatic recording of every connected source.
The catch
Casio PX-S3100
It has no microphone input and no live USB-audio interface. The supplied Bluetooth adapter and a flash drive can’t both sit in its single USB-A port at once.
Roland FP-E50
- Why pick it
- A dynamic microphone, onboard audio overdubbing and live USB audio are what you want, with no separate recording setup to build.
- Built-in Bluetooth should stay available while a USB flash drive is connected, and you want the intended recording route checked.
- The catch
- AC power is required, and the body is 322 mm deep. With no punch-in/out, an audio overdub has to start from the beginning.
Casio PX-S3100
- Why pick it
- The piano leaves a shared room, and a 232 mm body depth or six-AA battery option solves a real placement problem.
- Accompaniment is a need, and you can record to a flash drive using a separately suitable wired backing source.
- The catch
- It has no microphone input and no live USB-audio interface. The supplied Bluetooth adapter and a flash drive can’t both sit in its single USB-A port at once.
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What this page compares
Two weighted arranger pianos, both for making music at home. Singing, Bluetooth during recording, battery practice and shared-room space are where they differ.
Weighted keys come with accompaniment on both, so you aren’t limited to solo piano. What you are really deciding is a more complete singing and recording setup or a smaller instrument that can run on batteries.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Piano and singing should end up as one recording, with no extra input equipment
The FP-E50 provides the mic connection and overdubbing. Casio’s Audio In is not a mic preamp.
- Roland FP-E50
- Better fit
- Casio PX-S3100
- Caution
Practice shifts to a good corner that has no outlet
The PX-S3100 can run on batteries. How long they last depends on conditions, and they add weight.
- Roland FP-E50
- Caution
- Casio PX-S3100
- Better fit
You want a Bluetooth backing track and a USB-drive recording together
On Casio, the Bluetooth adapter and the recording drive share one port. Its wired Audio In can serve as an alternative if you have suitable equipment.
- Roland FP-E50
- Better fit
- Casio PX-S3100
- Caution
Arranging and recording are already done on a compatible computer
The piano sound goes straight across with Roland. With Casio, using its own sound instead of a software instrument takes an audio-input path or a transferred WAV.
- Roland FP-E50
- Better fit
- Casio PX-S3100
- Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
For a family sing-along, the input comes up as a problem before the sound does
Imagine one person playing, another singing, and the result going out to relatives. The FP-E50 has the dynamic mic input and layered WAV recording that sequence needs. The PX-S3100 has an analog Audio In, but that is a line-level connection meant for a suitable player and can’t stand in for a microphone input. Over computer USB it also sends only MIDI, without the piano’s sound. Casio can still be part of the setup with separately suitable equipment, but its larger tone library doesn’t take away those connection jobs.
How we worked this out
Based on the exact connector lists and recorder paths. What follows is about added equipment and extra steps, not vocal quality or any automatic recording of every connected source.
A backing track may alter how you set up to record
The PX-S3100 can play Bluetooth music and record to a flash drive, yet both accessories need the same socket. To do both together, feed a suitable wired source through Audio In and the physical conflict disappears. Check the recording route before assuming the whole headphone mix gets captured. The FP-E50 has Bluetooth built in and leaves the USB memory port free, which helps when a child’s practice track is on a phone and the adult would rather connect fewer adapters before recording.
How we worked this out
On Casio, the WU-BT10 and a flash drive share the USB-A port, and the analog input is separate. The FP-E50 has built-in Bluetooth and its own USB memory socket. There is no Bluetooth-latency guarantee.
A shallow body only helps when the rest of the setup can move with it
The Casio is 90 mm shallower in the body, about 3.5 inches, but 22 mm wider. In a shared living room that may be enough to get into a narrow storage space, and batteries let practice move away from the nearest socket. The FP-E50 suits leaving a more complete singing station set up. Before picking Casio for its flexibility, count a stable stand, pedal cable, music rest and any wired backing source. The published battery estimate is about two hours under its test conditions, so use AC for a longer session.
How we worked this out
Depth: 322 minus 232 equals 90 mm. Width: 1322 minus 1300 equals 22 mm. Casio’s six-AA operation and its runtime under test conditions are documented. No stand footprint or fatigue calculation is made up.
Option A
Roland, FP-E50
FP-E50
A dynamic microphone, onboard audio overdubbing and live USB audio are what you want, with no separate recording setup to build.
- Best for
- A dynamic microphone, onboard audio overdubbing and live USB audio are what you want, with no separate recording setup to build.
Facts we checked
- Room footprint before accessories: 1300 mm wide and 322 mm deep
- Power away from the wall: AC supply
- Singing into the piano: Dynamic microphone input
- Record a song: WAV overdubs and USB audio/MIDI
Option B
Casio, PX-S3100
PX-S3100
The piano leaves a shared room, and a 232 mm body depth or six-AA battery option solves a real placement problem.
- Best for
- The piano leaves a shared room, and a 232 mm body depth or six-AA battery option solves a real placement problem.
Facts we checked
- Room footprint before accessories: 1322 mm wide and 232 mm deep
- Power away from the wall: AC or six AA batteries
- Singing into the piano: Stereo Audio In, no microphone input
- Record a song: Three-track MIDI and WAV to USB flash, computer USB-MIDI
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Roland FP-E50 | Casio PX-S3100 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room footprint before accessories | 1300 mm wide and 322 mm deep | 1322 mm wide and 232 mm deep | Casio gives you 90 mm less depth and 22 mm more width. Confirm the support and the ready-to-play space. |
| Power away from the wall | AC supply | AC or six AA batteries | Casio can be taken to a suitable spot that has no outlet nearby. Neither one is weatherproof. |
| Singing into the piano | Dynamic microphone input | Stereo Audio In, no microphone input | A line-level audio input can’t take the place of the microphone input and amplification you need. |
| Record a song | WAV overdubs and USB audio/MIDI | Three-track MIDI and WAV to USB flash, computer USB-MIDI | First decide if you want editable notes, a finished WAV or live audio in software. |
| Bluetooth with a recording drive | Built-in Bluetooth leaves USB memory port free | WU-BT10 adapter and recording drive share USB-A | Casio offers a wired input as an alternative, provided you have the right source-level cable or adapter. |
| Pedal in base box | DP-2 on-off switch | SP-3 on-off switch | If lessons need a continuous pedal, budget for a compatible one. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Roland FP-E50
- A furniture stand and a continuous damper pedal are not in the base box.
With Casio PX-S3100
- Treat the roughly two-hour battery figure as conditional. Count the stand, pedal, batteries and any phone audio adapter as part of the setup.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Singing and recording happen every week
Go with Roland FP-E50. With the microphone and recording paths available, you skip repeated setup tasks.
The piano has to fit shallow storage and play away from AC power
Go with Casio PX-S3100. Casio’s body shape and battery option take care of those placement constraints.
A small fix to a recording has to be made onboard by punching in
Neither model fits. Neither piano should be bought for a punch-in workflow that hasn’t been verified. The FP-E50 explicitly lacks it. If it’s essential, pick suitable editing software.
Decision guide
Before you buy
A complete song should be possible on the piano, yet the family room cannot become a permanent studio. Easy recording and the work of packing the piano away pull in different directions.
What this page can’t tell you
- We claim no measured superiority in action, sound or speaker volume.
- The ready-to-play setup is not included in the piano body dimensions.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the digital pianos we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roland FP-E50 |
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| Casio PX-S3100 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Roland FP-E50
A dynamic microphone, onboard audio overdubbing and live USB audio are what you want, with no separate recording setup to build.
Built-in Bluetooth should stay available while a USB flash drive is connected, and you want the intended recording route checked.
See price & reviews on AmazonCasio PX-S3100
The piano leaves a shared room, and a 232 mm body depth or six-AA battery option solves a real placement problem.
Accompaniment is a need, and you can record to a flash drive using a separately suitable wired backing source.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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