[Flatpicker]

OK, i'm confused now. Do the S80 and Xv-88 have preset rhythm packages in them? I really don' t want to make up an entire drum sequence myself.

The guy at the music store had the S80 playing a rhythm pattern, which he added a bass and guitar to. He did it all by twirling those little knobs. He could vary the tempo on the drum track, too.

Thanks.

[Nate]

Originally posted by Flatpicker
OK, i'm confused now. Do the S80 and Xv-88 have preset rhythm packages in them?

The XV-88 does not. I'm not entirely sure about the S-80.

The guy at the music store had the S80 playing a rhythm pattern, which he added a bass and guitar to. He did it all by twirling those little knobs. He could vary the tempo on the drum track, too.

My guess is (and this is just a guess), that he was pulling your leg. I don't remember the S-80 having any preset rhythms on it. Perhaps he had a sequence already stored onto the SmartMedia card and he was playing that and varying the volume of each specific part via the front panel knobs? Of course, I could be wrong.... it's happened before.

Anyway, the way I got around the lack of rhythm with my XV-88 was to purchase a drum machine. I ended up going with an Alesis SR-16. Of course, that added another $200 to the cost of my setup. Something else to consider.

If you really need to have drum patterns... you're probably going to have to go with a full-blown workstation..... OR get a drum machine. Obviously, I chose the second route.

[Flatpicker]

Hi, it's me again!

I wanted to let you know that I got a RD 700 yesterday. Got a great deal at the Guitar Center in Denver...about $1600. Also got a KC 300 amp for $350. I went in prepared to buy a S 80 but found out that the RD 700 has lots of good prepackaged rhythm tracks that are MUCH easier to get to than the Yamaha's. I liked the feel of the keys much better, too. My husband and I have been having lots of fun learning how to use it.

So my latest question is.....what sequencing software do you recommend? We really just want it so we can play MIDI files, at least for now.

Thanks for your advice about the keyboards and amps. It really helped.

[Nate]

Originally posted by Flatpicker
So my latest question is.....what sequencing software do you recommend?

I don't really do much sequencing, so I'm afraid I can't be of too much help here. The only thing I've ever really used for sequencing is NoteWorthy Composer (although I do own CakeWalk and WorshipStudio). I actually find NoteWorthy to be MUCH easier to use than either CakeWalk or WS. The fact that trial version allows print and save capabilities is great too! I recommend going and downloading it.... you can find it at www.noteworthycomposer.com

NoteWorthy will get you started without having to shell out any dough. If you decide you need something more, I'd probably recommend looking into the second most recent version of CakeWalk HomeStudio. While the current version will most likely cost about $100 or so... last year's version is usually about $20. I know I got version 8 for $20 when 9 was going for $90. There really isn't too much of a difference between versions anyway.

Thanks for your advice about the keyboards and amps. It really helped.

Glad I could help!! I think your final decision was a very good one! Every time I play the RD-700 in Guitar Center, I am more and more impressed with it. Hope you have lots of fun with it!

Feel free to email me if you have any more questions or ever need any help again. pianoman_ns@yahoo.com

[Nate]

Originally posted by Flatpicker
the RD 700 has lots of good prepackaged rhythm tracks that are MUCH easier to get to than the Yamaha's.

Yeah. The thing that probably impressed me most about the RD-700 is the great user-interface. The square LCD screen is SO much easier to use than the two-line display on the XV-88 and S-80.