Hi, I'm Markus from Finland.

I'm looking at Arranger Keyboards between Korg PA-50 and T2, and I've been reading old posts here for the last days. I've learned a lot, thank you very much for sharing and discussing everything.

One aspect I'd like to hear more about though is how your keyboards perform live. I'm not interested in sounds and styles, it's all been said. I want to know stuff like:

Can you find buttons and read the display in bad light situations?
Can you easily and fast find and switch between songs/performances, store all settings in advance, and change settings on the fly?
When playing as part of an ensemble, can you easily disable parts of a style, and for example skip a bar of an SMF because the others felt like skipping it?
What is important to you? Did anything ever happen at your 'gigs' that made you appreciate something? (like power outs)
Of the Yamaha/Korg/Roland lines, what is the lowest you would go live with?

Markus,

Much of your success in live situations depends upon how much time you dedicated to learning the operating system of YOUR keyboard. For me, I like the Yamaha PSR and Tyros operating systems, Fran Carango prefers his Roland G-1000, while others will swear by their Korg, Casio, and a host of other keyboards they feel comfortable with while performing.

The secret to success during any live performance, particularly if you have a dancefloor filled to capacity, is the ability to read the audience, make decissions based upon your experiences with that type of audience, then provide them with seamless entertainment. This means dead time between songs cannot exceed more than a few seconds, and you play the music THEY enjoy and react positively to. If you can do this, you'll have more work in the OMB entertainment industry than you can handle. If you cannot, the best keyboard in the world will not earn you a living.

Good luck on your decission,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Thanks Gary

I fully agree. I come from a classical background (accompaning choir, musical and opera, also doing choir arrangements) and I know that experience and professionalism is much more important than the best instrument. I'm considering joining a little dance combo (bass, guitar and voice). The PSR 3000 seems a good value, although does anyone have new information about its replacement? I do have a Yammy PF 500 (I doubt anyone even knows this one, it's not been a success, but I like it) but I wouldn't want to carry it along as well all the time.

I've been using the PSR-3000 since it became available in the U.S., and IMO it is among the best arranger keyboards on the market for ease of operation, navigation of the system during live performances, and overall sound quality. Its versitility is such that you can perform several tasks similtaneously without interupting your performance. The 3000 would be a great assett to any group.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Hello Markus
Here is a link to a post about playing on the fly. http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/013675.html
Another tip which I have heard from virtually all professional players, is that if you play in a band or group, forget any type of sequences including SMF as they do not work, you must always learn to play live.
Hope this helps

Bill

Hello Bill,
thanks for the link, I hadn't seen that one yet.
About those midi, I once loaded my PF500 with great songs for a live solo performance, but in the end I used none of them. It's just not flexible enough. I'm thinking more in terms of recording a song and later extracting a passage to put on a multipad, things like that.

I know I have to really get to know my intrument. But first I have to buy one. The next music store is 50 miles away, so I want to be prepared when I try those different instruments, so thank you very much for your feedback.

Wow, Bill, they do not work? Hmmm. That seems a stretch. A *huge* percentage of touring acts use sequences. And plenty of one-man bands use midi. To each his own.

As for one-man bands, if everyone could afford a full band of competent musicians who would show up on time and the band would rehearse enough to get great (for today's gig pay), and the one-man band dude could earn at least what he does solo, most all of us would have a full band. As for why most every touring band uses sequences, that's another can of worms.

BTW, 99% of the audience cannot tell the difference. In fact, if you don't sound pretty full, you'll be relegated to coffee houses, playing for free coffee.

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

I disagree. Midi files are as valid as auto accompaniment and straight keyboard work. I use midi 80-90% of the time. You're not going to be able to use them without practicing with them and editing them first.

The key to playing live, as previously stated, is to know your keyboard and your audience. It might be a good idea to plan a virtual set list and play through it at home as if you were on the job. This will give you an idea of what works and what doesn't - as far as moving from song to song goes. Also, I've always kept a list (kind of like the Yamaha Music Finder) that gives me tempo and style info. Be as prepared as you can be, and then be as good as you can be.

As far as current market keyboards go, they're all good. I have a PSR2000 and find it more than adequate. Do I want something bigger and better? Sure, but this is fine.


[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 11-28-2006).]

Have to agree with this ... more and more 'smaller' combos in casinos are using SMFs or backing tracks ... it's a necessity if you are going to 'sound like the record' which today's yunger audience is looking for, yet still be small enough to be affordable ...
What it takes is PRACTICE !!!

TO MARKUS: I don't know of any arranger kbs that will allow you to just 'skip a bar of an SMF' during real time playing ...

t.




[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 11-28-2006).]

ooooops .... double post ...I hate when I do that ...
t.




[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 11-28-2006).]