Hi Peter, my good friend!

"Nothing" is definitely not correct , and I wouldn't know how much it would cost Roland to implement this feature. However, IMHO it seems like an inexpensive features to implement...

So let's hope that Roland pays attention to the request that I have just send to them on behalf of our fellow user club meber, Alex.

/Søren


[This message has been edited by weissefar (edited 08-06-2006).]

Too often I find that users "trash" a board because it doesn't meet "their" specific needs. Well if it doesn't meet your needs then simply don't buy it. Just because it doesn't work for one person doesn't mean it's a failure for the masses. I also understand that there are the little things here and there that you'll find out after buying the gear too, but it's much different now in terms of "The Educated Buyer" today as it was in the past.

Many keyboards have the user manual available online. This allows potential buyers to read them, and see if the unit will work for them. I think this is a very good advantage for the consumer. It allows you to make a more I guess you could say "educated" purchase. I now make it a point to read the manual of every keyboard I've taken into consideration. I can't even count the nubmer of times I've scrolled through the manuals on Roland's, Yamaha's, and Korgs websites.

To the user "hitman", I mean no disrespect my friend, but if the G-800 didn't fit your needs, why then did you buy the G-1000?, and then if you still felt like you were being "tea-spooned" by Roland, why on earth did you buy the VA-76?

Our needs in gear greatly differ from one player to the next. If you can't find joy in a keyboard (that's not for you), simply choose another maker that is more suited for your individual needs.

You're free to have your own opinion, but it's just odd to gripe about Roland as it relates to "your own" personal needs, and trash them, when you have continued to purchase from and support the very company you speak ill of.

I hope you can get the T2 because it's all about finding and buying the gear that makes you happy--or tickles your pickle.

Best Regards,
Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 08-06-2006).]

Friends,

I really did not intend to start a fight. I am focused on getting the OTS issue addressed by Roland, and I appreciate the help of everyone who has expressed their support/understanding of my point of view in their posts, even if initially we had disagreed on things.

I am hopeful that Roland will give attention to this issue, especially with Soren's help.

I did not intend to trash Roland instruments - the G70 is the 3rd Roland arranger in a row that I am using to play professionally (Yamahas before that), so that should tell you something about whether I like Roland or not. I think that with the G70 Roland has produced a very complete package, and I am looking forward to making good use of it in the coming future. This will be so much easier once the OTS behavior is modified.

Squeak, I think that Roland is right up there with the rest of the top of the line arrangers. I also indicated several times that the OTS issue may not bother everybody. Roland has a number of features that set it apart from the others, just like some of the other high-end keyboards have features that set them apart.

I do wish that the G70 weighed less, and sent digital audio out via USB, and I am sure I can dream up a few more improvements to it. But even in its present form, and with the features documented in the manual (and working properly) that is still an awsome keyboard, at least for me.

Let's hope that Roland addresses the OTS problem, and this will make the G70 even better.

Regards,
Alex

I have to admit that, like many here, I will sometimes fixate on the ONE thing that irks me the most in a new arranger, and spend more time posting about that than about the hundred things I DO love....... (Chord Sequencer, anyone ?), but the OTS is something that almost everybody that DOES post much at the Danish G70 site has had a problem with.

While Mr. and Mrs. Mom and Pop probably don't have a problem with this 'feature', they are hardly what anyone would call the target audience for the G70 (or why have ANY advanced features at all if you think they won't be used?). The target group for the G70/E80 is ADVANCED home hobbyists and gigging professionals - EXACTLY the people that are going to realize the inadequacy of the OTS feature..........

Roland having re-designed this feature for the E80 is a tacit acknowledgment of how bad their original concept (or at least, it's execution) was. The target group for the E80 is no different to the G70......

While it MAY cost Roland some additional dollars (or yen, or lira!) to fix this issue in the G70, I see no problem with people who like it the way it is now - all that needs to be addressed is the Mode value should not change on OTS activation (or preferably get memorized IN the OTS). Those that are using already Intelligent Mode (doublespeak if I ever heard it - it should be called Dumb Mode!!) will not have it changed by the OTS, so they are back to where they already are, ONLY those who dislike the mode change will notice the difference........

Roland also need to consider that, while it may cost them a bit of money for the fix (and it shouldn't be too much as the already have the code written for the G70's sister ship, the E-80), the possible loss of confidence by G70 owners (who Roland DEFINITELY want to buy the next G-Series keyboard, when it appears) will probably cost them a lot more.

After all, what confidence will we have in Roland fixing whatever 'gotchas' appear in the NEXT G-series, if they don't fix them in the one we currently have? ESPECIALLY as they have already fixed it in the sister-ship E-80.

However, 'so far, so good'.......... Roland have done a magnificent job of bug squelching, and 'feature' fixing AND plenty of brand-new features in the G70 (more than any previous Roland, and more than most other arranger manufacturers too, AFAIK)

Now they just need to make sure they don't falter before the finish line........

Well said Diki.

Eric

It is funny how people get attached to their instruments. For crying out loud it's just a piece of electronics, not a women!!!!!

When I bought the G800,1000, VA76, there simply was nothing else out there to suit my needs! At that time those were the best choices for me!
Right now there are better boards out there! The T2 does not have competition PERIOD! The numbers speak for them self. I just don't know what the purpose is of the E80? Come on guys its got 128MB (1Gbit) of ROM. Why does roland use that term????? MArketing?????
Oh yeah I forgot, THey fixed the OTS issue!

Hitman,

I am glad that the T2 is working for you. I know it is an excellent instrument. Unfortunately for my needs it is 15 keys short.

The story has it that one time Lady Astor told Windston Churchill, "Sir, you are horribly drunk", to which he replied, "And you, Ma'am. are horribly ugly. And guess what, come the morning I will not be drunk any more, but you, on the other hand, will still be ugly".

Even though I now realize that the G70's OTSes are not working properly, there is still hope that it will get fixed. On the other hand, no software update is going to make Tyros into a 76 key instrument. I know that having only 61 keys is not an issue for the majority of the folks here, but it is for me.

Regards,
Alex

Yes, it's funny how people get attached to their arrangers, hitman.......... Oh, I'm sorry, were you implying that THAT didn't apply to you, too?

@ alex,

Maybe you should have considered T2 + G1000 together! Instead of 61 keys, you would have had ""137"". Both boards have excellent midi capabilities! Just a suggestion!

@ Diki,

hmmmmm, no emotional attachments at all. My boards are just tools that get abused 4 times a month @ weddings and such. As for your previous question, why I stuck w/ Roland for so long: well it is simple! See, I don't use any of the preset styles. All my styles are custom made (balkan styles) and they required a lot of time and effort. Until now I didn't have time to switch to another board and start all over again!

Hitman,

One of the things that is important to me is portability. While having a 76 key controller drive a 61 key keyboard is sn alternative for some, to me it is not very appealing.

I used to gig with two keyboards, but found that:

1. Having an extra keyboard means an extra trip from the car to the stage, and back

2. It means having to use more space in the car, that I don't always have

3. With 2 keyboards you need to use a two-tier stand, and although I have one, I find it much more cumbersome to carry, set up, and break down. It also feels less sturdy.

4. Having two keyboards in front of me prevents me from seeing my audience very well, especially if I use a music stand to put up the notes. For smaller, more intimate gigs having a physically large setup is also inappropriate. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img]

5. It takes longer to set up, having to plug both instruments into power sources, audio cables, pedals, MIDI from one to another. Also longer time to do the sound check. All of this adds up to extra time, which becomes a big deal if I am doing a 1 hr gig at, say, a nursing home. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img]

6. Most importantly for me, there are ergonomic issues when you play a keyboard, but have to reach over to the other keyboard to change settings, such as style variations, sounds, tempos, etc. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img]

None of these issues are insurmountable, and some people do use multiple keyboards to gig with. However, to me this is enough of a hassle to stay away from. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Hence, I prefer an all-in-one solution, such as G70. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/wink.gif[/img]

I also would have liked to have built-in speakers for monitoring, or using for small, intimate settings, but that's another story.

Regards,
Alex

[This message has been edited by Alex K (edited 08-07-2006).]