What are some good pro type keyboards and how much money am I looking at here?

FIForever · 04-21-2003, 09:08 PM

Ok, I have another question for you all. I am currently using a Yamaha S-90 synth and I am looking to upgrade to somthing more professional in the reasonably near future (this year). So what would ya'll suggest and how much would it cost?

Nate · 04-22-2003, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FIForever
Ok, I have another question for you all. I am currently using a Yamaha S-90 synth and I am looking to upgrade to somthing more professional in the reasonably near future (this year). So what would ya'll suggest and how much would it cost?

Am I missing something here?? If you are using an S-90, you are already using a professional level synthesizer. The S-90 is Yamaha's top of the line performance synth. It won't do sequencing or sampling... but other than that, I can't imagine why you would want to upgrade.

What makes you think you need to upgrade? Is there something that you are unable to do on the S-90 that you want to be able to do? Maybe you want to have a sequencer or a sampler or something on your keyboard?

I am really confused by this... so try to explain what you're thinking.

In His love,
Nate

FIForever · 04-22-2003, 06:29 PM

Ok, lol. That was a funny post to read. Well, I'm looking at something with more drum kits, voices, and more electronic "Joy Electric" type sounds. A sequencer is what? A sampler is what? And the S-90 doesn't have either. If I could finally get a clear understanding of what those things are I might finally figure out what I'm really looking for.

Nate · 04-22-2003, 06:40 PM

A sequencer will allow you to record songs directly on the keyboard without having to hook up to a computer. It is great if you want to do a lot of songwriting and need stuff like drum beats and bass lines to help get your creative juices flowing. It's also good if you're the only musician leading the music at your church and you want a "full band" sound. You can record all of the other instruments before the service starts, and then just hit play and play the piano/keyboard part along with the recording.

A sampler (when incorporated into a keyboard) will let you load in different loops/sounds/etc from CDs or computers or any other storage device you find them on... and then map those sounds to the keyboard, allowing you to trigger/play them. You can also include the samples in your sequences.

I hope that helps.

As far as Joy Electric type sounds are concerned... I would go with a VA synth rather than another performance synth or even a workstation like the Triton, Fantom, or Motif. Look at some synths made by Novation, Waldorf, and Nord. You can create "electronic" sounds from the ground up with these synths. Lots of fun to be had here.

Keep on explaining yourself... I think we're getting somewhere.

In His love,
Nate

FIForever · 04-22-2003, 07:01 PM

Ok, I think a sequencer is what I'm looking for. I want a full band sound and the ability to play all instruments at one time. So maybe something like the Korg Triton Studio which can burn CDs? Cause I think something like that would do everything I want and give me the ability to get it distributed.;-) Do you have an opinion on this piece of gear?

Nate · 04-22-2003, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FIForever
Ok, I think a sequencer is what I'm looking for. I want a full band sound and the ability to play all instruments at one time. So maybe something like the Korg Triton Studio which can burn CDs? Cause I think something like that would do everything I want and give me the ability to get it distributed.;-) Do you have an opinion on this piece of gear?

I've never used a Triton... so I really don't have much of an opinion, but.

The Triton Studio does indeed look like it can do everything... so my advice to you would be to make sure that you want to be able to do everything before you even consider buying this board. If you're not going to use every function of the board, I really wouldn't recommend shelling out the $3000+ for it.

My personal suggestion, seeing as you already have a great keyboard, would be to buy an external recording device. You could go with an all-in-one digital audio workstation like Roland's VS series, or you could go with a good software program and a good desktop computer to run it on, etc, etc. This would certainly be cheaper than buying a Triton Studio.

Not to mention the fact that most internal/onboard sequencers, burners, etc are really not that great. A good software recording program or a dedicated DAW would do you a lot more good.

So... I say that you look not into getting a new keyboard, but into getting either:

A) A really good desktop computer (Dell always has ads for great computers under $1000) and a few good programs to put on it (maybe a good digital recording program, a good softsynth [for your electronic sounds], and a good sequencer [for MIDI recording and notation and such]).

B) A dedicated DAW, like Roland's VS series. You can do everything on these things... from pre-production to pressing... sometimes even mastering along the way (depending on which one you get).

Does this sound like a solution?? I honestly do not think a new keyboard would be the best buy for you.

In His love,
Nate

Nate · 04-22-2003, 07:15 PM

As far as the Triton is concerned... I recommend that you either PM or email the CGR user Lowe_Dawg55. He recently (within the last six months or so) bought a Triton Pro-X. It's not exactly the same as a Triton Studio, but the sound generator, sequencer, sampler, etc are all the same. He could probably give you a hands-on review of the board.

In His love,
Nate

Nate · 04-22-2003, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FIForever
Cause I think something like that would do everything I want

That's nice, but you still haven't explained exactly what "everything I want" entails. What do you want to do with this purchase??

Do you want to use it to lead worship at your church?

Do you want to use it to help you write/record your songs?

Do you want to use it to go on tour with a professional Christian band?

Etc, etc, etc.

In His love,
Nate

FIForever · 04-22-2003, 07:27 PM

I'm looking more towards a write/recording songs type of thing. Leading worship is not a big thing since we have a full band. The only problem I see with using a desktop computer and software is I can't get the keyboard to interface properly with the computer. If it works at all. Maybe, instead of using the USB connection I try using standard MIDI jacks?

FIForever · 04-22-2003, 07:31 PM

And as far as all the different types of software you named, what would you recommend in each category? I have Sonar 2.0, that's a recording software device, right? I know I sound totally ignorant but that's what I am...

Nate · 04-22-2003, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FIForever
The only problem I see with using a desktop computer and software is I can't get the keyboard to interface properly with the computer.

This really shouldn't be that difficult. Where do you live?? (semi-seriously... I could probably get it figured out in an hour or so) Umm... I'll come back to this.

Quote:

Maybe, instead of using the USB connection I try using standard MIDI jacks?

Read the owner's manual for the S-90 and see if it tells you how to make the keyboard transfer/recieve information from the USB port. It should work just fine with the USB.

In His love,
Nate

FIForever · 04-22-2003, 07:40 PM

Actually I live in Houston, TX. We're in the process of moving back to Houston after a six month stint in China. I ought to have my computer and keyboard back within a month or so, so I'll be able to do some serious work on this over the summer. In the mean time I'm reading the manuals for both Sonar and the keyboard so I'll be completely ready to tackle all these problems.

Nate · 04-22-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FIForever
And as far as all the different types of software you named, what would you recommend in each category?

I've been using Digital Performer 3 at school, and it seems to be pretty good. Other than that, I really don't have much experience with this sort of software. I just use old versions of Cakewalk HomeStudio and SonicFoundry ACID.

Quote:

I have Sonar 2.0, that's a recording software device, right?

Yes. Sonar should do audio and MIDI recording. It should also allow you to plug into and incorporate most of the softsynths on the market today.

If you can't get the keyboard to work directly through the USB port... I would recommend getting an external interface that will allow you to plug the keyboard's audio and MIDI outputs into the interace, and then plug a USB cable into your computer. This would let you record audio and MIDI from your keyboard to your computer using Sonar.

Quite frankly, I'm amazed that with an S-90, a computer, and Sonar you are still wanting more gear. You should have absolutely no problem using what you have to get done what you want done. The most you should have to buy is a hardware interface to hook everything up and a couple softsynths to give you access to some "electronic" sounds. That shouldn't run you any more than $500.

In His love,
Nate

FIForever · 04-22-2003, 07:49 PM

I guess its not that I'm wanting more, its just I want what I have to work. I'm kinda inept at this I guess so that's why it doesn't. Once I get my computer and keyboard back I'll work on the interface thing, there has got to be a way to do what I want via the USB port, otherwise, why would it be there?

I've gotten the Sonar to recognize the keyboard and I've chosen it for input and nothing records at all. Is this a problem in software or compatiblity? that's what's frustrating me.

I know I probably seem completely stupid and inept to you, but I'm kinda new to this, not to playing (I'm an advanced player) but hooking things up and getting it to work and all.

Nate · 04-22-2003, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FIForever
I've gotten the Sonar to recognize the keyboard and I've chosen it for input and nothing records at all. Is this a problem in software or compatiblity?

Not likely. It's probably just a matter of switching something hidden in either a menu on the synth or Sonar from "off" to "on".

Make sure that the keyboard is set to transmit MIDI information on the USB port and not the MIDI port. Make sure that the keyboard is transmitting on the MIDI channel that Sonar is trying to record on.

Make sure that Sonar is set up to recieve MIDI information via the USB port of the computer. Make sure that Sonar is set up to recieve MIDI information on the MIDI channel that the synth is trying to transmit on.

Those are the first things I would try.

In His love,
Nate