There has been a lot of controversy over individual voices with a host of top keyboards. And, while this is subjective at the very least, the following may shed some light on the topic.

Last Thurdsay night I had the privilege to perform a short interlude for the Saint Andrews Society of Baltimore, a consortium of 350 elderly gents wearing kilts and tuxedo tops, carrying swords and drinking copious amounts of Scotch whiskey. Fortunately, I didn't have to do much, the crowd was so loud it was beyond belief, and after an hour of background music the traditional festivities began. Bagpipes and drums, both loud enough to rattle the water glasses on nearby tables, but for those who lost much of their hearing during the Second World War and Korean War, the sound was stiring--especially if you had the stones to wear a kilt on the last day of November. Outside temperature was a brish 29 degrees when the festivities began and dropped to 19 by midnight.

Toward the end of the affair, a beautiful, tall readhead opera singer did an incredible half-hour performance of old Scottish songs. Her voice was beyond compare and was only equalled by her beauty. (Uncle Dave should not be permitted to be within 100 miles of this lady!)

I did not accompany her. Instead, she brought in a concert pianist who plays for the Baltimore Symphony Ocrhestra. The overall rig I supplied was my standard, large-party setup, which consisted of the Bose PAS and PSR-3000, and she was singing through my Samson Q7 mic.

I selected the keyboard's GM mellow grand piano, which I tuned a bit as a custom voice to provide some echo and add a bit of sparkle to the overall sound. To this, a layered strings voice was added and the layer voice volume level was set at 60. The piano volume level was set at 110.

The pianist, who has more training and talent in her little finger than I have in my entire body, said "I can't believe how wonderful this sounds. The keyboard's piano sound is so rich and full, especially when combined with the strings. I wish I had that in the piano I use at the concert hall. What a beautiful sound." The same comments were also expressed by the listening audience, some of which are accomplished pianist and musicians.

My point here is, I personally, and most of my audiences, love the piano sound created by Yamaha's newer keyboards. And, to my aging ears, they do not sound out of tune throughout the usuable range. When I addressed a PSR-Tutorial member's concerns about the piano sounding out of tune in the extreme lower range to the pianist, she said "I rarely use the extreme lower or upper octaves!" When asked why, she said "I just don't like the way the sound. But, I sure love the way this keyboard sounds."

One of the other aspects of the newer keyboards, particularly the Tyros and Tyros2 models, is most folks that own them never take time to explore all of the wonderful things you can do globally with the EQ settings to make the board sound alive and vibrant. During the past several months I have encountered dozens of players who did not know they could tune and save their custom EQ settings, and how much of a difference the settings make, particularly with the drums and piano sounds.

Again, the EQ settings are just as subjective as other sounds produced by various keyboards, and everyone has their particular likes and dislikes when it comes to both styles and voices. Additionally, when using an external PA system only, which is the case with the Tyros and Tyros2, there are lots of other things to consider when it comes to providing your audiences with the highest quality musical and vocal performances.

During the past few weeks, there have been lots of folks purchasing the Tyros2, and for the most part, the vast majority of them loved what they heard. I strongly suspect that those who did not like what they heard did not take the time to tune the keyboard's global EQ settings.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Posted by: Travlin'easy (Gary)

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During the past few weeks, there have been lots of folks purchasing the Tyros2, and for the most part, the vast majority of them loved what they heard. I strongly suspect that those who did not like what they heard did not take the time to tune the keyboard's global EQ settings.
---------------------------------------------

Gary this is a good point! You're right
about this. It's like that with several keyboards. I remember in the past members played the MZ-2000 and didn't like it. However it sounded dull to them because the (global) EQ default was (FLAT).

The redhead sounds very intereseting


Squeak



[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 12-03-2005).]

Gary:
Great post my friend, you're dead on. Got any pictures of you and the Redhead???

pose


psssss: Wanna buy some???

[This message has been edited by loungelyzard (edited 12-03-2005).]

I'll try to see if I can find some photos of her--she's DYNAMITE! I could not take any because I didn't bring my camera. However, I will make a point of it if I get the job next year.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Thanks for the info about the redhead

....... her name !?!?!? ..
t.

Zuki,

This gal would really hurt an old guy like you!

She instantly reminded me of Marueen O'Hara, which was among my favorite actresses. She could have been her twin.



Eat your heart out guys! They just called and booked me for next year.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Gar, can't see the pic ..
t.

.......................Redhead? Redhead?
[img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img]

Gary loved your post.
Must learn more about EQ settings and red heads.

Cousin Ken

Hi Gary,

That's quite an accomplishment as those classical types in general don't want anything to do with keyboards, especially 61 note keyboards. I played a PSR 3000 at Sam Ash's in New York a few months ago and while I liked the sounds, I wasn't happy with the touch. Last week I played a Tyros 2 at Keyboard City and the touch was much more to my liking. You must have done a supurb job of EQing to please this pianist. By the way I know the St. Andrews Society and you were very kind in your assessment of their affair.

Salud,

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

Great post Gary!!
I am sure your point is not just aplicable to the PSR 3000 piano sounds, but other sounds as well.

Also, with all of the top arrangers on the market, (Tyros 2, Genesys S, G70, PA1X, SD1, Mediastation 76 and Worsi), the ability to change sounds to one's liking, is common and necessary. That is why I believe that none of the manufacturers are leading in the quality of sound aspect of keyboards, its just a matter of the subjectivity and personal likes and dislikes of different users.

With respect to the redhead, I am sure there would be know subjectivity issues about her!!!!

Tony,

If you cannot see the photo, right click it, then click view image.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

29 degrees !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Gary ............What did YOU wear under your kilt?? I would recommend plaid, fur-lined boxers................. hehehe! -charley

A redhead, no hair ,just a redhead he he,mike

Mike, I've seen her


[This message has been edited by MrEd (edited 12-04-2005).]

He's alive, he's alive! See what brought him back?!?

Good post.
I would like to add, (with the risk of being banned by purists) that most todays piano keyboards do sound better as the real thing,
as long as you have a good soundsystem.

Approx 8 years ago I would say only the kurzweil boards were spot on, but today all top boards have excellent piano sounds on board and are allways in tune, unlike the real piano's which frankly need tuning after each concert...

The only thing missing between the acoustic piano and digital piano could be character, but you only hear that if played solo.

The difference between the digital top boards is only a matter of taste , just like with the real acoustic ones...
You can't say anymore this one is better as that one.
Most of them are spot on and better in tune then most acoustics.

My opinion only ofcourse but I couldn't resist to comment on this one.

Uncle Dave, down boy.

Ain't that what got you in trouble the LAST time????
Start the music ... Lookin' for love in all the wrong places, ... etc. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img]

t. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/cool.gif[/img]

Yep. That's subjective too. I like lean petite women with dark hair. Some like voluptuos women with blond hair. Of course, all women are beautiful, just varying degrees of loveliness.

Gary,
Is the "GM mellow grand" a Panel voice?
Starkeeper

The GM Mellow Grand Piano voice is in the keyboard in the General Midi folder. Just press pianos, then press up and tab to GM, then select pianos and you'll find it.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy