Sina172 wrote:
The VS-1880 is basically a Hard Disc Audio Recorder with Mic Preamps to record your vocal tracks. You can record up to 18 Tracks of audio with this thing and edit on the fly. It's pretty sweet. The screen on it is huge and it makes it a joy to use (once you've overcome the mild learning curve and understand the workflow of it). Think of the Triton's screen, except that its not a touchscreen. I've used these and they work REALLY well. You can use it as a mixer as well so you can feed the audio off your keyboards and record your vocals at the same time, too. VERY useful.
Couple that with the Motif XS and your golden!
Regarding the Fantom, ONLY get it if you can NOT live without an all-in-one solution that does your vocals (Audio), has a Sequencer (MIDI) and has some decent sounds to get your ideas rolling. The Fantom-G is great for that. A LOT of great features. But it's got a LOT of shortcomings, too, that make this keyboard look REALLY bad and makes Roland look REALLY bad, too. I own one of the these and it's a very cool keyboard, but the "small" missing features that were NOT inherited from the Fantom-X are CRUCIAL to almost everyone that wants to make FULL use of its capacity to Record and Edit in Audio and MIDI. Features like an Undo function, a Pattern Grid like what the Triton has but a LOT MORE flexible and more than twice the length (up to 8 bars on the Fantom-X vs. 2 1/2 bars on the Triton). Also be aware that the Fantom-G is capable of using a mouse (instead of a touchscreen) to edit parameters, change settings, etc. BUT! It's NOT fully implemented! You can't drag the notes on the Piano Roll editor to shorten, lengthen, or even move them from one place to another (i.e. another measure)! You can't copy notes very easily from one place to another. AND! You can't CREATE notes, either! NOT with the mouse! THIS is what I mean by Roland f*ck*ng up the Fantom-G that INFURIATES ME! Sequencer Resolution (in the case of the OASYS's 192PPQN Sequencer) is one thing and that can EASILY be fixed with an update and thus, UNLIKE the Fantom-G ,DESPITE the "better" Sequencer it has, the OASYS Sequencer is actually COMPLETE and it WORKS! VERY WELL, might I add!
I have a friend that owns a music shop here in Reseda, CA called Kaye's Music Scene. He specializes in Arranger Keyboards, but also has Workstation Keyboards. But guess what? He STOPPED carrying Roland because they can't seem to get their CRAP together!
This is why I'm telling you to stay away from the Fantom-G. It's NOT the keyboard Roland is claiming it to be! Not even CLOSE! Roland has been a marketing GIMMICK in the past 2 years and it's REALLY pissing me off! The Fantom-X was AMAZING! It just needed a better Synth Engine and better converters! Had they KEPT the ENTIRE Fantom-X feature set and actually IMPROVED it's functionality with the bigger screen, the realtime controllers, and the GORGEOUS new user interface of the Fantom-G with all the improvements it currently has, with FULL mouse support, AND added a NEW Synth Engine with better converters, the Fantom-G would be a no brainer! Bar none! But they HAD to screw it up! They HAD hype it up and make it THE WORST "improved" workstation in their ENTIRE history! WOW!
But like I said, ONLY get the Fantom-G IF you can NOT live without an all in one solution for your vocals and ideas.
Sina
P.S. the Motif ES vs. the XS is night and day!
The XS has TWICE the ROM memory, better effects, an AMAZING new Synth Engine, and a MUCH better Sequencer and Screen! It's about TIME they offer a big screen! The ES was a BITCH to use because of that small ancient screen! lol But the XS is SWEET! The sounds, the drums, the unbelievable inspiration that makes this thing an absolute JOY to play is amazing!
lol 
