Uncle Dave and I spent the afternoon with the KN7000. We had it side by side the KN6500. Here are my impressions, I am sure Dave will post after his party..First the keyboard looks much better live than photos.It's best feature is the sound system, loud and clear enough to use by itself in smaller areas and house parties.Next best feature...Drawbar organs..followed by a decent piano...After that, sorry KN fans,get around just does not work for me. Could't find a quick way to go to manual bass, especially in pianist mode.. The drums are identical sounding to the 6500,which I did not like[garage band sounding]...SMF playing and live play combination and switching, nearly impossible to work quickly and smoothly..It appears that live edits are too complicated in realtime play..There are many nice sounds on this board[they seem identical to the6500], but I still prefer the sounds on Roland VA's, even though it suffers with it's work around..Bass and drums ,, don't A,B the KN to the Ketron..the XD outclasses the KN7000 in this area as does the Roland VA...Technic guys and gals will continue to love this board, as long as you don't side by side with Ketron and Roland..I do think the sounds on the KN7000 are much better on average then what you will find on the PA-80 or PSR's[ sorry Donny , that includes the 9000]...We never did get the Mic and harmonizer up and running[so this has to remain incomplete till another try],The mic sounded okay, but what a bummer, NO eq for the mic[and how much does this board cost?]Engineers are taking too many coffee breaks[Is that what happens , Mario?]..Overall it is a nice board[although it also seems to be a repackage]...not for everyone, and surely not for the hard to please guys[UD]..For me..I'm still waiting for the "real" next Roland entry..Till then I'll still play the best[G1000]. what it does,it does best..Fran

Fran's right. This is NOT a new board .... just a new package with some new features. Nice features, though.

First impression was the piano sound - really nice, but probably the same as the 6500. I think the effects are a little improved on the 7k, so maybe that colored the tone a bit.
As always ... the kn has the BEST sound system out there - hands down. Clear, loud, and full range.

The physical shape of the kb is nice, but it's VERY deep in the back. Must have a large bass port or something.
The flip up lid is solid, and nice looking, and seems to work just fine in it's fully extended position. Buttons are not too far away to handle with ease.

I agree with Fran about the drums. They're bad. They sound OVER processed, and the samples do not compare with the Korg, Ketron, Roland or Yamaha. They are probably better than the Gem, but I never liked those drums either, so don't take my word on that one. Better try them both. After a few solid months with the PA80, the 7000 drums were a BIG letdown, and you all know how I feel about drums. They are third in line of importance with Vocals (melody, for non singers), bass and then drums. Everything else is fluff.

Speaking of fluff .... there's lots on this kb. Multi pads, drawbars, aftertouch … it's got tons of features for the player to fiddle with.

I'm going out on a limb here, so try not to take this personally anyone - This is the best HOME keyboard I've seen so far. If it had a real mic input and harmonizer that was acceptable, it could squeak it's way into the semipro category, but as it stands, it's perfect for the casual user who wants to connect to a pc or record/perform at home, mostly.

My reasons for this classification are as follows:
1) The mic input is terrible. WAY below par.
2) The drums are dated, and artificial sounding. The SOUNDS, not the patterns.
3) The button layout is clearly intended for the arranger player who doesn't go "off the menu" too much on the fly. This is what separates the live rigs, from the home rigs.
In a live situation - there is often the need to modify or correct things as the night is in progress, and some things were very difficult to get around while the drums were playing.

Report Card? - It's the best kn yet.

Size/Weight? - Not bad, but a little thick in the rear

Value / price? - At the home piano stores, it will be pretty expensive ... you'll have to weigh that one for yourself. I think $4000 is too much for it, and that's pretty much a standard quote according to one of my sources. For that money - I need a PRO mic input and fabulous harmony.

DO I want one? - Nope.

Will kn5 & 6 owners want one? - Probably.

It's a step up in many areas, and the USB, and recording media puts it ahead of the class in "tech" stuff. Too bad the drums sound like a Mattel keyboard.

Please don't get discouraged with this review - I DID like it a lot, but it will never compete with the others till the drums are improved, and a real mic input is put in.

This settles it for me. I need another PA80 to tide me over for a while. There will be nothing new for almost a year or so now. I've seen all the new kids on the block, and the pickin's are thin. The PA80 is the best for me at the moment. Now, I have to start bugging Korg to make the harmonizer work more efficiently - then, I'll be happier.

Good luck to all of you who bought them already .... I'm sure you love them. The bar has definatly been raised in the home market with this one, and many pros will get lots of use from it on the road, as well.

BTW - It has a good solid feel to it, but I don't think it's metal. Feels like hard plastic to me. The key action is very nice. Tight, solid, feels good. It sure is a PRETTY little thing ....... if you have the money !

As Fran & Dave posts are quite big to quote this is a reply to cover both

After just a couple of hours with a keyboard that you both shared you have both attempted to try & come to some solid conclusions as to your opinions on the KN7000 which is fine you are entitled to your own opinion & obviously that is exactly all it is.

I am a little baffled as to some of the statements that you make which only serve to make me believe you don't really know what you were really looking at so does your opinion carry much weight I doubt it.

Some of the criticisms that you make may be correct depending on the players personal choice.

But to say Quote "It has a good solid feel to it, but I don't think it's metal. Feels like hard plastic to me" Unquote is just laughable & sums up the whole statement for me.

I guess that the success or failure of any product comes down to it's popularity.

Let us look at some easy to find FACTS on Synth Zone of threads created over the last 30 days.

1.Roland Arranger keyboard Forum = 6 threads
2.Roland G1000 Forum = 1 thread
3.Roland General Discussion = 5 threads
4.Korg Discussion = 7 threads
5.Solton Discussion = 0 threads
6.Yamaha Discussion = 5 threads
7.Technics Discussion = Speaks for itself

There is not a lot more to say

Some of us really appreciate it when busy Pros take the time to share their evaluations of a new arranger with the rest of us. Most of us understand that "your mileage may differ", but now we know to check out the drums and vocal harmony before we buy.

In the interest of getting the best value & satisfaction for your money I would have thought a better idea would be to check everything out for yourself & not just the drums & vocal harmony before coming to any pre-conceived conclusions

Hi all,
I am a long time technics devotee. Every technics board I have had I have loved. I made a couple of brief forays and had a Roland EM2000 for a while and then a Korg i40m but soon went back to technics and bought the kn6000. To be fair I had already decided (before I heard it) that I would not buy the 7000 purely for financial reasons.

Yesterday I went to my local dealers to bug him about a deal on a 9000 pro. He had the 7000 in stock so I had a play with it. I like it very much and it is an improvement over the kn6xxx but not enough of an improvement. If I had the money to buy any board I wanted I still would not buy the 7000.

Now people like Johnnie will question my objectivity I am sure ( after all I only played it for an hour) but I have owned technics for years from the 1500 to the kn 5000 and 6000 with a miriad of inbetweenies. Technics is my brand of preference no question but the fact remains that the 7000 is not enough of an improvement to warrant the price. I was more than annoyed that they did not even attempt to address the haromizer issue. It was laughable on the 6000 I could understand them not changing it on the 6500 but to leave the exact same TOY on the 7000 is an insult. I KNOW they had nothing but complaints about it when the 6000 came out. Nice to know they listened. Even if they had left it off completely (because it is no earthly use in any form whatever) it would have shown at least some intent to listen to their loyal customers. The PSR 8000 which is now three generations back had an adequate Harmonizer and Yamaha have consistently improved the offering with each subsequent keyboard. Technics have done nothing about this issue. There are some excellent setup menu's to attach a digitech or voice prism to my 6000 but it annoys me that I have to faff about with this. It also shows a lack of faith in their own onboard harmonizer that they had to provide such extensive menus.

Technics do some things better than anyone else. The sound system on the 7000 is indeed amazing ...something that technics improve with every board. However in this day and age if another company can offer me an all in one quality package I won't stay with technics just out of loyalty anymore.

I played the Yammie 9000pro again yesterday while I was there and there is no doubt that I will buy this board. The styles are not as 'full' as technics but sometimes I think my 6000 forgets I am there as well....you can't hear me for it!. I will probably keep the 6000 because I do love it but I can see it being played less and less once I get the pro.

ttfn
Tony

[This message has been edited by Tony W (edited 09-15-2002).]

Hey Jonnie.c

What exactly, are you trying to say about the plastic/metal issue? Someone posted earlier that it was a metal case - I didn't think it was -- that's all I said. Sheeesh! You confuse me. I expected some negativity from you, but to pick on a point as subjective as "solid feel" is even beneath your usual low standards. If you have something beneficial to add .... just say it.
Did I bruise your feelings with MY impressions of this kb? I certainly didn't mean to. I was only giving a personal observation to those who have come to appreciate several points of view. I had lots of good things to say about it, you know.

Since you began posting (a very SHORT while ago) -- you've had very little to add in a positive way, and that is unsettling to me. Why are you constantly trying to tear down the statements of others who are genuinely trying to help the forum community?
I just don't get the anger. What makes you so disagreeable? And what does it matter to you at all, if others like my reviews. If you don't agree, fine. Just keep an open mind, and you might learn a few things from those of us that play these things every day for our living. All we try to do is share the news. I don't try to convince any one of anything. I just "tell it like it is." I'm trying to help others to "see" some things they might not get a chance to in their areas. I live in a busy musical community, and the tools, toys and studios here, are EVERYWHERE. Philly is a "happenin" place for music, and I love being right in the middle of it all.
Don't be such a wet blanket, and come on board with the gang ..... we're a great bunch to hang with, and we all help each other out. Your comments are always welcome, but let's try to keep in friendly, okay?

Always glad to see the Roland VA7 getting the recognition it deserves

Hi Fran & Uncle Dave,
Thank you for taking the time to give us an "in depth" reveiw and "look" at the KN7000.
Sounds like a nice "home board" , although I have never played any "Technic`s" KB. If there was a dealer in my area I would love to have a "look see" , but even though I`m sure the "action" is better than the "Y2K" , the price is likely to scare some people off (IMO). Still it was nice to read about it in this thread as well as other threads , so thanks to all
jedi

Frank, that's not going to happen, not for a while , if ever...Although I said that about my 73 Chev Super Cheyenne,,,I just sold this afternoon....Hard to believe, Dave?..

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 09-15-2002).]