Alesis Recital Pro MKII Buying Guide

The Recital Pro MKII deserves a separate entry rather than a lightly edited description of the original Recital. It is a hammer-action instrument with a different specification set. That is a meaningful distinction, even though my broader reservations about Alesis construction and parts support remain.

The important MKII differences

Alesis’s published specifications specify 88 weighted hammer-action keys, 25 voices, 64-note polyphony, USB MIDI and USB audio, plus a supplied sustain pedal. Battery operation uses six AA cells. The page lists a stereo quarter-inch output and a front eighth-inch headphone socket. Do not borrow the original Recital’s action description or an earlier Pro’s figures.

Why USB audio is useful, but not a verdict

For someone intending to record into a computer, an explicitly documented audio connection is more useful than a vague USB claim. It still needs to work with the intended computer, software and monitoring arrangement. I would test that workflow while the instrument can be returned, rather than discovering a mismatch after building lessons around it.

Polyphony is another number I would put in context. I would listen to the actual music and layered sounds the player expects to use, not declare the instrument good or bad from a single figure. Equally, a ‘Pro’ name is not evidence of rugged construction or guaranteed repairability.

What I would establish before recommending it

Ask whether replacement contacts, key parts and main boards are obtainable for the MKII specifically. An answer about the original Recital Pro is not enough. In my Alesis work, practical parts access and inconvenient construction have often made repairs less attractive than the initial purchase price might suggest.

I have not established an exact-model MKII teardown or a recurring fault. A new revision should be allowed its own evidence; it should not automatically inherit every old criticism, but it should not be assumed to have solved the support problem either.

My buying approach

I would compare it with complete hammer-action setups in the digital piano comparison guide, try the action in person and get a specific after-warranty parts answer. If you already own one, include the MKII suffix when you contact me. That detail matters more than it might appear in a search result.

Alesis lists warranty and independent repair-center routes. That is not the same as confirming that an independent technician can obtain the particular part your piano needs. Ask about parts for the exact model and revision before treating future repair as a given.