Korg Forums

I already totally fell in love with the R3. It is just mindblowing.
Though I'm not really yet decided. I haven't owned any Keyboard/Synthesizer untill now and I honestly have no idea if there is another thing I should get instead.
I love the vocoder, the synth capabilities, the interface, the Knobs (and the screens)
I Like all kinds of music really. My biggest passion is music. Though i'm not that rich.
I also look onward on the Roland Juno Di. It is a quite Nice synth (No way like the R3, Though) And I just like the normal and acoustic sounds of it.
I'm not sure what should I get. What other things are there for a newbie?
And not too pricy, The korg R3 and the Roland are both about 600 euros. That is rather affordable, yet I can't go for a Kurzweil for 1000 euros and in no way for a Yamaha keyboard for 2500 euros.

Any suggestions?

What music do you wish to make?

What is your workflow?

R3 and Di are wholly different beasts.

R3 is strictly a synthesis engine (for electronic sounds rather than imitating natural instruments like piano, etc.), whereas the Di seems to be more a sample-based workstation/backing keyboard.

Depends what you need them for.

Basically the R3 has very little polyphony (8 voices), no natural based instrument samples, but is very high on electronic synthesis capabilities, whereas the Di appears to have very high polyphony (>128 voices), many natural based samples, rhythms, greater song support (as a backing keyboard), but much less in terms of electronic synthesis design capability.

The Di seems like an all-rounder 'performer' entry keyboard, whereas the R3 is focussed strictly on making electronic sounds.

Timo wrote:What music do you wish to make?

What is your workflow?

R3 and Di are wholly different beasts.

R3 is strictly a synthesis engine (for electronic sounds rather than imitating natural instruments like piano, etc.), whereas the Di seems to be more a sample-based workstation/backing keyboard.

Depends what you need them for.

Basically the R3 has very little polyphony (8 voices), no natural based instrument samples, but is very high on electronic synthesis capabilities, whereas the Di appears to have very high polyphony (>128 voices), many natural based samples, rhythms, greater song support (as a backing keyboard), but much less in terms of electronic synthesis design capability.

The Di seems like an all-rounder 'performer' entry keyboard, whereas the R3 is focussed strictly on making electronic sounds.

As i said previously, I like all kinds of music really. I love Synthesis and would love to use the Korg R3 For some awesome Synth songs and yet as well as for a Vintage song. I also like the Juno Di's wonderful pianos and nice pads, as well as high quality acoustic instruments, while not having too bad synths and also nice acoustic drum kits.

I can't choose wich one because i got no money to buy both at once. I just can't simply decide. I asked you guys to see if there was one more worth it or if there's a beter choice somehow.

IMHO you get more covered with the Roland... The R3 is a synthetizer and you'll be missing acoustic sounds. The Roland has those sounds and some synth sounds for sure which may not be that good as the R3, but at the end you get more versatility.

I agree with MarPabl. You are comparing two different types of synth keyboards. However, since you are on a tight budget you might want to look for an Akai Miniak synth for a starter keyboard. It is essentially a preset machine, but you can tweak the sounds. It is in no way comparable to either an R3 or a Roland Juno Di, but it would be a good way to try out a synth keyboard without spending much money. They are discontinued by Akai, but are still around in the stores in the US, and the prices are very low. If you can find one, check it out. Consider it to be an entry point to bigger and better things. Tinkering with it will give you a better idea of what you might want later.

As I said previously, it depends what else you are using or intending to use for making songs (other hardware, software, etc.). I'm not sure of your workflow (what you already use and how the synth would fit into your current workflow).

For example if you were intending to make songs with the R3 alone then that wont be possible. You'd only really be able to play one sound at a time on the R3. I know it's probably multi-timbral on paper, but eight voices is restrictive and one sound can easily eat all that up and still come back wanting more. Furthermore, you wouldn't be able to use it for playing acoustic/orchestral sounds either.

At the same time, the Di has more all-round versatility, but it is a live performer/karaoke keyboard and doesn't seem to offer much in terms of synthesis programmability.

The only thing I can think of really could perhaps be a second hand workstation keyboard, like a Triton or similar, which would offer the best of both worlds (samples, synthesis and sequencing) and send you on your way.

Otherwise if you have other bases covered (samples and sequencing) and would like to get purely into synthesis and are happy to plonk around and use one sound at a time, then the R3 would fit your need.

Timo wrote:As I said previously, it depends what else you are using or intending to use for making songs (other hardware, software, etc.). I'm not sure of your workflow (what you already use and how the synth would fit into your current workflow).

For example if you were intending to make songs with the R3 alone then that wont be possible. You'd only really be able to play one sound at a time on the R3. I know it's probably multi-timbral on paper, but eight voices is restrictive and one sound can easily eat all that up and still come back wanting more. Furthermore, you wouldn't be able to use it for playing acoustic/orchestral sounds either.

At the same time, the Di has more all-round versatility, but it is a live performer/karaoke keyboard and doesn't seem to offer much in terms of synthesis programmability.

The only thing I can think of really could perhaps be a second hand workstation keyboard, like a Triton or similar, which would offer the best of both worlds (samples, synthesis and sequencing) and send you on your way.

Otherwise if you have other bases covered (samples and sequencing) and would like to get purely into synthesis and are happy to plonk around and use one sound at a time, then the R3 would fit your need.

What about getting the R3, and Using it with FLstudio on PC? Recording every instrument i want from the R3 then putting them on FLstudio. And adding drums from there, and other stuff.

Would that work?

I wouldn't recommend either the R3 or the Di for a first keyboard. I think a used workstation from several years ago provides the most power for the best value. Examples would be the Triton Extreme or the Fantom X series. These are far better than ROMplers like the Di because they sample and can load samples, therefore they have the ability to expand and change their waveform. They also have good sequencers, high polyphony, lots of effect types and effect slots. The Fantom X has a nice large color LCD and lighted velocity pads, while the Triton Extreme has the ValveForce tube and expandability with the EXB-MOSS card. Both are part of a long-lived series with lots of sounds available. The Di is a poor cutdown model of the Fantom X.

One great modern workstation that would be more flexible for programming sounds and songs than the Juno Di that comes to mind is the Yamaha MOX6. You can get a used one for less than $1000.

While I'd like to recommend the newer Korg M50 and microSTATION, I've been endlessly frustrated with the Korg workstation I currently have. I've had a decade of experience playing/programming sounds and sequencing tracks on Roland gear, but even with that I've found the Korg stuff still too difficult to operate without having to reference the manual every five minutes.

The MOX6 looks more user friendly...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ-DH7c2NaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKCNZUeWimw