Need help: what's a synthesiser? ...

[Piano Player learning keyboard]

Hi everyone!!

I play the piano but would like to start playing Praise & Worship music on a good keyboard. I checked up on keyboards and found out, that I hardly know anything about them!!
I'm sure one of you guys out there can help me with some of the following Phrases:

- 76-note synth-weighted arranger keyboard
- synthesizer
- VariPhrase elastic audio technology
- reverb, chorus, EQ processing
- GM2/GS-compatible sounds

I appreciate every help. Thanks.

Jake

[Piano Player learning Keyboard]

Here's some more vocabulary which I need help on:

- Arpeggiator
- high-resolution sequencer

Also: is a change from a 88-key piano to a 76.key keyboard a big difference? I think not, because I wouldn't use as more keys than 76 in Praise&Worship. What do you think?

[bobthecockroach]

i'm not a keyboardist :D i can help with a little bit.. when my bro gets on later he'll be able to help you :D

ok... reverb is an effect that makes it sound like you're playing in say a big hall or a some other kind of room... it kinda adds a little bit of an echo or something.. i'm not sure... but the general idea is to sound like you're playing somewhere you aren't :D

and i think synthesizer is just a fancy name for more expensive keyboards... i could be wrong though :D

and another thing to the best of my limited knowledge :D with an arpeggiator you, i think, play a note or chord and it will automatically play an arpeggio with it for you....

sorry i'm not more helpful.. i just saw this on the most recent posts and wondered if i'd know anything :D

[jonh]

ok here goes

76 note (polyphony) - the ability to play 76 notes of any timbre(sound) at any given time simultaneously i.e. u can produce 76 notes at the same time. of course if its '76 keys' then nvmd

weighted - the keys have special springs which make it feel like a piano... also probably means that touch-tone is much more sensitive i.e. that the harder u hit the louder the sound

arranger - u can program songs on the keyboard and store them for easy switching during playing

synthesizer - what it says. it synthesizes (makes) sounds. usually refers to artificially created sounds or creating a sound not from the original source (like a trumpet)

Variphrase - probably some patented audio technology that u can find out about on the company's website but i could be wrong

GM2/GS - these are midi sound libraries (along with GM too) so it probably means ur keyboard meets these midi standards and can be controlled via a midi controller like these sound libraries

reverb - the sound that sound in a large hall makes when echoes meet together to create a ringing/echoey/lasting effect.. also makes a sound more realistic and blended

chorus - makes your instrument sound "fuller" by slightly shifting the wave form so in essence there is more than one waveform created from one instrument. e.g. one voice put through "chorus" sounds like a choir

EQ processing - simply means ur keyboard has some equalisation capabilities i.e. boosting/cutting different frequencies of sound that a soundman would do at the mixer

arpeggiator - yeah.. what bob said... just hold down a chord and it creates arpeggios (broken chords) automaically

hi-res sequencer - to the best of my knowledge sequencers can be at diff bitrates i.e. 16bit 32bit.. so i guess hi-res sequencers can store or execute more information at any one time


re: changing from 88keys to 76keys
depending on your style, u may find that some notes just aren't there... like my friend definitely prefers playing a real piano as synth keys tend to be narrower... but u should adjust fine

hope it helps!!
i don't claim to be totally correct tho..

God bless~

[bobthecockroach]

wow.. i got something right! :D

[Piano Player learning keyboard]

Thanks a lot, both of you. It helped a lot. I will have to see about the amount of keys though... 76 or 88. I think 88 might be better, too. But I would have to test it first.

I was thinking of buying a Roland, because I know they are good quality keyboards and they have very good sounds (realistic). If any of you has suggestions which keyboard you prefer (and why), than please post a short notice here! I would be very grateful. And also: it doesn't matter what price it is, just name me the one you would buy!

God bless,

Jake

[Nate]

Originally posted by Piano Player learning keyboard
76-note synth-weighted arranger keyboard

No offense to Jonh, but this does NOT mean that you can play 76 notes at once. (Although, if I'm guessing the keyboard you're looking at, you can play more than that anyway)

What this means is that it has 76-keys for you to play with. "Synth-weighted" means the keys have a little bit of resistance (they won't feel just like an acoustic piano, but close). "Arranger" is basically a band-in-a-box. You can pick a style, pick a sound, start playing, and the keyboard will add accompaniment based on the chords you're playing.

synthesizer

Usually just another name for a keyboard. It can also mean that you can edit sounds on the keyboard.


VariPhrase elastic audio technology

VariPhrase is an interesting thing. I won't go into too much detail, 'cause it's really a novelty rather than a necessity. VariPhrase allows you to record (or download) vocal lines or instrument lines and then COMPLETELY edit the duration and pitch of the notes. If you really want more info about VP, email me.

reverb

Reverb adds the effect of resonance or spaciousness to your sound. It usually combines delay and echo to make it sound like you are playing in a concert hall, garage, practice room, etc, etc.

chorus

Technical definition - Chorus takes your sound, adds a copy of it that is slightly detuned, then shifts the copy off sync by a few milliseconds.

English definition - Chorus fattens up your sound. It gives you a swirling, shimmering sound. Great effect for electric pianos.

EQ processing

Kinda like the bass and treble controls on your car stereo. It changes the overall brightness/tonality of your sound.

GM2/GS-compatible sounds

GM2 and GS are updated versions of the General MIDI soundset. They're actually pretty rare. This is mostly just for interacting with other GM2/GS instruments.

Arpeggiator

Hold a chord and the keyboard will simulate different playing techniques such as guitar strumming or finger-picking.

high-resolution sequencer

Allows you to record songs with great precision. You can then send those songs out via MIDI to your computer and mess around with them all sorts of fun ways. :D

[Nate]

Originally posted by Piano Player learning Keyboard
is a change from a 88-key piano to a 76.key keyboard a big difference?

Usually not. The full 88 is nice for some classical stuff and really insane glissandos. But you can DEFINITELY get by with just 76. I wouldn't recommend going down to 61 though. (76-key boards are MUCH more portable than 88's, BTW)

[Nate]

Originally posted by Piano Player learning keyboard
I think 88 might be better, too. But I would have to test it first.

Definitely test it first. You may find that you can't get by with just 76. Then again, you may find that you could by with 61. :D

I was thinking of buying a Roland, because I know they are good quality keyboards and they have very good sounds (realistic).

Roland's are awesome boards. I use a Roland XV-88. It has some of the awesomest sounds out there today. There's just about nothing you can't do with it.

I would recommend checking that one out. (Roland XV-88) Also, take a look at the Roland RD-700. It's got GREAT feel, awesome sound and it costs about $300-500 less than the XV-88. A few (cheaper) others to look at: Yamaha P-80, Yamaha S-80, and Kurzweil SP-88x.

[Jake]

Thanks for the additional infos, KeyboardFreak, really appreciate it.

Yes, I was actually checking out the XV-88 before I read your suggestions! It seems like one of the best out there! You own one, you say, right? I have a question: can you record on the XV-88 also? When yes, how many tracks (or layers, or whatever you call that)?? Because I would also like to pre-record stuff and then play it back and play something else above the recorded stuff! I'm sure you know what I mean, it's possible, I've seen it before. Just wanna know if it's available for the XV-88.

Thanks again,

Jake

[Nate]

Jake:

What you are talking about (being able to record ON the keyboard itself) is done with something called an onboard-sequencer. Unfortunately, the XV-88 does NOT have one. Soo... if you wanted to record songs and play them back on the XV-88, you'd have to have some sort of EXTERNAL sequencer.... such as a laptop or hardware sequencer.

Come to think of it... none of the boards I recommended have that feature. How big of a deal is it to you?? If it's something you really really need.... look at the Korg Triton (or Trinity), Yamaha MOTIF, and Roland XP-60/80.

Hope this helps.