A new arranger keyboard is on the market and I just received my first 6 today. It's the 88 key Yamaha DGX500. It is a really good looking keyboard with light wood colored sides and stand. The keys are ligtly weighted piano keys and the keyboard features a new "live" grand piano sound along with about 600 other sounds including XG. There is a 6 track sequencer and a floppy disk drive which will play back 16 track standard midi files and you can save your 6 track songs as standard midi files. This is a wonderful entry level arranger keyboard for those wishing 88 piano style keys but very affordable. Also, the weight of this keyboard is extremely light and easy to move around. The selling price for this keyboard is around $650.00 with stand and it can also be purchased as a 76 piano style key keyboard without the wood sides and stand for around $450.00. I've been asking Yamaha for years to give us an affordable arranger with more keys and they've finally arrived!
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

Here's a link to a pic of the DGX500:
http://www.achamilton.co.uk/Pictures/DGX500.jpg

How are the sounds ? Is it pro quality. Better than KORG i-30 in terms of sounds and styles ?

Are the arranger styles usable ?

Simlar styles and sounds to PSR2000 ?

I have a hunch that this is the absolute best value out there.

Thanks

I remember someone saying a while back that this is basically an 88 key version of the PSR-350 with a few changes primarily in appearance.

The sounds are very good but more like the PSR550 except for the new grand piano which is better than the PSR550 and more like the PSR2000. The styles have 2 variations, not 4 and are again more like the PSR550. The recording capabilities and disk drive functions are more the the PSR350.
I wouldn't consider this a "pro" arranger but for even giging musicians, having a lightweight (around 20lbs) 88 key keyboard, which can even run on 6 batteries, has the ability to play standard midi files on disk and has very good sounds besides piano and a good arranger section as well, this could be a perfect alternative to lugging around a heavier digital piano.
Everything made today, especially from Yamaha, is going to sound very good although the higher end models will have more features and a higher quality sound, but don't think this sounds "weak" or "thin" because is will surprise you for the money!
George Kaye
Kaye's Music scene
Reseda, California

Can the styles be downloaded via floppy ?

How about editing the sounds ?

Thanks

yes the styles can be loaded into user memory but there is no way to edit the sounds.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

REMEMBER ....this keyboard only handles 2 variations . What styles can you can load ? dano


[This message has been edited by DanO1 (edited 09-05-2002).]

What wouldd you expect in an 88 note keyboard for $650? I hope you sell a ton of them George

Midnite

Hello George

What is the price of DGX300?
Is available now?
Chico

The DGX300 is in my store now with a price of $429.00.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

I've been able to load any of my Yamaha styles into this machine including the CVP styles. The only limitation is the number of variations and tracks. There are fewer accomp. tracks so when I load in a Big Band for example, there are only three accomp. tracks instead of five in other products, so you have to listen to how the style plays on the DGX keyboards. I also tied loading in some converted Roland to Yamaha Middle Eastern styles and they worked fine too.
They give you some styles on a supplied floppy disk which comes with the keyboard.

In case of 4 variations, which 2 variations will be selected by the keyboard ? Is it automatic or we cna choose. I'm talking about styles that are downloaded via floppy.

I will have to check this out when I go to the store. You can't choose which two, I know this for sure, but I don't know if it is 1 and 2 or 1 and 3. I'll let you know.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California