Roland/yamaha/kurzwell ..etc

pcguy · Post by **pcguy** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:15 pm

I know Tyros 3 is yamaha's top arranger keyboard. What's Roland's and kurzwell's ? Is there any other brand that makes keyboard arrangers of this level?

nikola81 · Post by **nikola81** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:45 pm

Well Roland has va series, g70, and latest top end arranger is e-80, Kurzweil as far as i know is not even making arranger keyboards. There is a Ketron's Audya. And there is Liontracs Mediastation witch is a AMD computer working under linux os packed in a keyboard.

rikkisbears · Post by **rikkisbears** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:01 am

Hi,
there's also Wersi ( from what I gather, rather expensive).
I read on Synthzone , General Music is no more.
Nilola mentioned there's no Kurzweil arranger keyboard as far as he's aware, but I beleive they have or had an arranger piano at some time. Don't know anything about it, but would imagine more suited to home use.

nikola81 wrote:Well Roland has va series, g70, and latest top end arranger is e-80, Kurzweil as far as i know is not even making arranger keyboards. There is a Ketron's Audya. And there is Liontracs Mediastation witch is a AMD computer working under linux os packed in a keyboard.

Sam CA · Post by **Sam CA** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:05 am

Aside from Audya, how would you guys compare G-800 and Tyros 3 with PA800, PA2pro...etc?

Are they pretty much the same keyboards at the end of the day, or one really stands out in the crowd? Especially when it comes to editing,sequencing and live performance?

chelsea9075 · Post by **chelsea9075** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:11 am

Hi guy's,
Come on you lot, what about Casio ?
Chris

mrkorg · Post by **mrkorg** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:45 am

Roland have discontinued the G70 the last of what i heard. The E80 is a 61 key G70, although the g70 will boast better sound due to its output etc. GEM no longer exist, besides they stood no chance.

Assyrianpianist wrote:Aside from Audya, how would you guys compare G-800 and Tyros 3 with PA800, PA2pro...etc?

Are they pretty much the same keyboards at the end of the day, or one really stands out in the crowd? Especially when it comes to editing,sequencing and live performance?

I have played them all excpet for the Audya and i can say the PA2X PRO is in a league of its own. It is way ahead of everything. Judging on the only the demos from Korgpa.com and ketronus.com, i favour the PA2X ahead of the Audya.

what about Casio ?

nikola81 · Post by **nikola81** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:53 am

I know, Casio, but we are talking about high end arrangers, maybe i'm wrong but casio doesn't have keyboards of this category. As for Audya, i wouldn't agree, a own pa800 and i'm very happy with it but i've also heard the audya demos and specs, it sounds really good, that's my opinion. Drum and guitar parts are good, they are actually played as i understood. I'm really not putting down pa2x or pa800 but that's how i hear it.

rikkisbears · Post by **rikkisbears** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:55 am

Hi,
there's one thing that would worry me about an Audya, and that is no one will answer my question on the style creation & editing functions on the audya. Leaving the actual audio loops aside , I'm reffering to being able to edit midi notes in a style.
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/019015.html
fc-xander appears to own one.

I've been asking the question since May2007, & as late as yesterday,
still no answer.
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum22/HTML/001086.html

I wouldn't swap my Korg for a Ketron anyway, but I might have considered upgrading my Ketron SD1+ ( IF I could afford it, which unfortunately now I doubt) & first & foremost, if they'd upgraded the style creation/editing functions SIGNIFICANTLY. My SD1+ has no note editing functions onboard ie I can record styles live, but if I make a mistake, the track has to be rerecorded.
Option 2. Record style part in PC sequencer & play across via midi to record variations etc

The playing across from pc to keyboard I haven't had to do since my G800. Why I did it this way I can't remember ( possibly midifile to style??over 10 years ago & my memory is not what it used to be)
At least the G800 if I remember correctly had onboard note editing facilities & a style could have been recorded & edited onboard.

I just suspect the midi note style editing functions haven't changed all that much.
For most owners probably not a problem

nikola81 wrote: As for Audya, i wouldn't agree, a own pa800 and i'm very happy with it but i've also heard the audya demos and specs, it sounds really good, that's my opinion. Drum and guitar parts are good, they are actually played as i understood. I'm really not putting down pa2x or pa800 but that's how i hear it.

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:27 am

No Rikki, NO Ketron arranger does onboard EVENT EDITING as on the PA for
example, every mistake has to be rerecorded. SD1, SD5, XD9 and all the others.

rikkisbears · Post by **rikkisbears** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:35 am

Hi Nedim,
I , realize the SD1 etc doesn't, I've still got mine,
what , I've been trying to find out is if they've changed the OS for the Audya & included event editing.

The Portugese guy on Synthzone, appears to own one??
From what he wrote it appears the Audya doesn't either, but he mentioned some sort of software??
Just be nice to know for sure, because if it doesn't suit ( ie extensive style editing capabilities), I'll just hang onto my SD1+ & forget about the Audya altogether & have peace of mind.

Suppose you'll be getting yours soon??

best wishes
Rikki

BasariStudios wrote:No Rikki, NO Ketron arranger does onboard EVENT EDITING as on the PA for
example, every mistake has to be rerecorded. SD1, SD5, XD9 and all the others.

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:50 am

Hi Rikki,
as i know off its doesnt have the Editing capabilities, this one will have a
dedicated software only for that i think. But lets not forget, AUDYA is an
Open Architecture Operatng System, its made for 10 years from now too.
PA Series will die soon, not AUDYA, anything can be implemented in it.
Yes, i think the guy from Portugal owns one. I had one, it wasnt a full model,
it was somekind of Prototype, i am waiting on a full model now which can be
here anytime and anyday.

rikkisbears · Post by **rikkisbears** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:08 am

Thanks Nedim,
ok. I think I know what you mean about the os. some things may still be possible.

Maybe in a year or 2 prices may come down, our australian dollar will hopefully go up in value, & my sd1 will be in need of replacement.

Hopefully you'll get yours soon, you must be looking forward to it.

best wishes
Rikki

p.s
( I don't think I'll take your advice in the other post about buying the Audya for my husband, I'm not ready for a divorce haahaa)

BasariStudios wrote:Hi Rikki,
as i know off its doesnt have the Editing capabilities, this one will have a
dedicated software only for that i think. But lets not forget, AUDYA is an
Open Architecture Operatng System, its made for 10 years from now too.
PA Series will die soon, not AUDYA, anything can be implemented in it.
Yes, i think the guy from Portugal owns one. I had one, it wasnt a full model,
it was somekind of Prototype, i am waiting on a full model now which can be
here anytime and anyday.

worth · Post by **worth** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:49 am

like many things Nedim, 10 year future capabilities are no assurance that the company will be available 10 years from now neither that it wil be compatable with technology even 4 years from now. I love some of the features in the Audya but i can see problems with product support in the future. Ketron are not renouned for supporting their products in the long term.

Lika · Post by **Lika** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:05 pm

Hi.
I can say that -Liontracs Mediastation- if will be able to have , I will get it ... It is very powerful ( as I see ) , But I don't know when it will be in music store ...
here I read what it has and can does ... - http://www.gearjunkies.com/product_info ... s_id=12502

Korg has to do something .... because Liontracs Mediastation will be very ahead from us

...
You can see about Liontracs Mediastation on YouTube ,too...

BTW, man who made it - is Italian

( Suggested retail price: €2,989.99 )

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:36 pm

Roland make many arranger pianos, of which the KR-107 is the latest and greatest, I have recently been comparing it with the option of the Pa588 for an imminent purchase:

http://www.roland.com/products/en/KR107/

For me, this keyboard is much easier to use than the Pa2x or Pa588. Its factory sounds and styles are slightly fewer in number, but the pianos and the pads that you can layer with them sound better, and are easier to fine tune. The instrument looks much better for example in a church environment, but it is not easily portable so would not be suitable for gigging musicians. It does have a capability for users to create and save their own styles and performances, and it has a style combiner that is quick and easy to use. It also has a sequencer with full editing capabilities.

Like the Pa588, the KR-107 has no capability to upgrade its sounds or samples.

The Korg Pa588 has equivalent functionality though arguably the piano sound and weighted key feel is not as good as the Roland, which in my opinion sounds and feels almost identical to a good acoustic grand piano.

I had believed until recently that the Pa588 had the same expansion potential for new OS and factory musical resources as the Pa2x, and if I knew that DNC sounds with legato triggering were to be made available, it would have clinched the argument for an imminent purchase for the church in Corfu.

However since there appears no longer to be a sufficient overriding technical argument in favour of the Pa588, and also because the church committee prefer the look of the Roland to the Pa588 it looks like that is the direction we will take.

I invite further comments ...

Best regards,
Rob