The closest keyboard in the entire world that meets many of my stage needs is the Yamaha 9000 Pro - after I added two expansion cards, a hard drive, sample RAM, travel cases and LittleLites. I probably have $4000 invested in it plus a lot of time makig it work the way I want. And even still it could stand many fundamental improvements in design, it's sounds are a little dated compared to the newer MegaVoice stuff, and Yamaha has now dropped it altogether after about three years of lukewarm support.

I really don't want to rebuild someone else's product to meet my needs like this again, and with softsynth and VSTi instrument technology growing so fast I think that we are on the verge of breaking away from the big music companies. Laptops are far more powerful and far cheaper than new pro-level keyboards and MIDI controller options are plentiful. Open Lab's Neko keyboard is still too expensive for practical use but it's the future and I'm sure others will make cheaper versions soon.

I don't know what my next live stage instrument will look like at this point, but I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be a lightweight & inexpensive 76 or 88 note MIDI controller that doesn't come from Yamaha, Keytron, Korg or Roland - and most of my future investment going into software and a mega-laptop computer.

Don try thse Gem G Pro Demos.....Videos
http://www.generalmusic.us/Pro/genesysPro.htm

It certainly has the qualifiations and some nice usable features for live play....

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 01-18-2004).]

I watched the GEM video (don't try it if you don't have a fast connection). It is a very impressive instrument.
I will make another effort to find one to try out. Probably can't afford it anyway.
DonM

re: GEM Video demo. I really got a kick of Chris Anthony's Louie impersonation. - Scott

I'm with you Pro. I don't know for sure without trying it, but I'm guessing that I'm not going to find that the PA1x speaker ( without some of the options of it's "big brother ), is so much better than the PA80 that I'm going to feel compelled to spend what they will charge for it ( well over 3 grand ) .

I like the Tyros a lot, but not enough that I want to replace my PA80 with it, or keep the PA80 and spend that kind of money for what would essentially become a backup / secondary rig .

The PSR3000.. not if they can't put better feeling keys on it. That just isn't for me. It's disappointing too, because I probably would like most of everything else about it ( as I did with my 2000 when I had it ), and the price seems reasonable to me for a second / backup rig.


Maybe the SD1 or Genesys COULD replace the PA80 for me, but how will I ever know this if I can't find one of either within a reasonable distance to try out ?

I'll allow up to about 3 hours or so of driving each way so I can have a few hours in between to demo a board as "reasonable". I can get to Philly or NYC in that amount of time... but.. I don't think I can find either, and these are the largest cities on the entire East coast.

DanO's place is probably as close as I can find an SD1, but that looks like close to a ten hour round trip from here.

Looks like soft stuff is a good way for me to go in the future, even if I have to wait a bit until someone really gets it right ( for live arranger play that is ).

It looks like a safe bet that the Motif ES and PA80 are going to remain "the" hardware boards around here for quite a while...


AJ

I would suggest that you give Genesys a look it is worth it, Like the Pro is confident about his opinion I am sure that Genesys is an all rounder for performing live, in my opinion,
I would like to say that you have a real touch when playing Genesys, I mean I went round Yamah keyboards and all that I've played the Keys are a joke compared to Genesys, I heard the PA80 of a friend of mine LIVE Performance and in my opinion, it comes nothing close to Genesys, alway my opinion.

Paul is so silent on this SUBJECT , I can't understand why he is not in this Discussion bieng the Rep in the USA, it's a pitty you can't get to demo this machine, and Remember it has got a flash memory so they are always updating the OS, you never can tell what they will be adding next to it.

Tony.

the genesys has a very good key feel for a 61 key keyboard. Also it is very easy to use for live performances and even sequencing for that matter. I hope you all are able to demo it some how to see if it is what you need.

Tony,
Paul is the National Sales Manager now for Generalmusic and he is probaby exhausted after a weekend at NAMM. Their booth was very busy with demos and meetings. I'm sure he will be active hear after all is packed up at NAMM and he is back at the office.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

George......I saw on the Gem Genesys pro KB video where you can insert Lyrics onto an Mp3 so you can see them on screen when its playing.....does that feature work with SMF songs also?

Just a quick answear YES of course you can insert lyrics to MP3 it will be seen as in "KARAOKE STYLE" vers by vers, and yes midi files can be with lyrics and also you can select any track and see the SCORE on the screen or TV watever your choice be.

ask and we'll answear your QUESTIONS don't worry.

Tony.