Hi
We all have constraints on finances, room sizes etc, but if Money, Room and anything else was no problem, what would your ideal set up be? If you want one for gigging and one for home then that’s fine also.
Here is mine.

Hammond B3 Organ. (Why have samples when you can have the real thing)
Kurzweil K2600 sampling Keyboard. (Still the best Piano and String sounds)
Wersi EX1 Expander. (All other Arranger/Mixer/Recording functions)
2 x Wersi T9000 Active Speakers. (Ideal match for Expander and Keyboard)
Dual Channel Leslie Cabinet. (You still can’t beat the original rotating sound)
Result. Pure Heaven

Bill

ORGAN

Ginder and a monkey

Bebop

It isn't made yet...but here are some guiding suggestions for Roland to make my ultimate...

Start with the G70, fix any bugs that may hinder it from being the best current arranger on the market.

Give me the features from the G1000 that are missing on the current G70.

Add a large HD, internally[40gig]..

Add the sampler from the FantomX series, with the Audio recording tracks[8 stereo] also from the Fantom Audio exspansion.

Add a second mic input, and stereo inputs also..

Add a quality MP3 player/recorder on board..One that will quickly search as the G70 does with SMF's and Styles.

Give the MP3 module editing capabilities[transpose etc].

Make sure the midi capabilities of the G1000 are added[dual sets of midi connections, that are routable]..

Allow the assignment of multi channels ,transmitted to the internal vocalizer..

Add a CDR/CDRW/DVDR/
DVDRW drive.

Maintain the quality chasis and componets, and keep the weight to 40lbs..

Just get started on this ,I am runnung out of time..

BTW,,mark my words you will see this board next year..

Fran, Ketron already has much of what you ask.
Maybe their new SD, when and if it comes, will get there.
DonM

I always liked the C3 myself ( "Church Organ" model ) although mechanically it is said to be identical to the B3. I'd love to have one in the studio, with the dual channel Leslies, but I think I'm going eventually spring for some Leslies anyway for my B4 software. I'm guessing after I get past the physical and visual differences, soundwise it probably
isn't going to make a lot of difference to me.

I'd love to have one of each of my favorite classic analogs and wave synths, including a CS80, Moog Modular, Arp2600, Oberheim Matrix 12, Korg Wavestation, Prophet 5, amongst others. What I don't want is to have to repair them... they are all getting on in age... so I guess I'm already as close as I am going to get with the likes of the software emulations from NI, Arturia, and several others. I wouldn't mind having one real one though, and if something falls into my lap... Til then, the "classics" are destined to remain on my laptop.

They don't make the arranger I want, and maybe they never will. I want the standard functions that todays top enders have, but with the ability to add custom modules that interact and can supply realistic drum patterns in the way that Jamstix does, or lay out preset patterns on complex algorithims that can be modified in real time, ala Korg Karma and to a lesser exten Jammer software.

I'd also like one that has add on plug in capabilities, like the 9000 pro had with the AN, VL, Drum etc add on boards. The downfall there was that many of the editing functions were inacessible from withoin the keyboard, so a computer hookup was necessary in order to accomplish any real editing.

AJ

I don’t know if anybody has noticed this, but whenever somebody with a Roland mentions something they would like, other members mention the Ketron, and likewise whenever Ketron owners want something, Roland is always mentioned.
Its even more fascinating to me, as if Wersi instruments had not been around when I was looking for a keyboard, it would have come down to a coin toss between Roland and Ketron keyboards.
However whichever instrument you play, enjoy.

Bill

Dear Abacus;

What Wersi keyboard do you have? ( if I use your nic as an indication I would think an Abacus? If so which model?

I don't know if you have compared or listend to other arrangers ( i.e. tyros, g-70, sd1 plus, genesis XP) What is your opinion of the wersi styles?

Regards;
BlkNotes

My ideal setup would be a single keyboard with 76 good keys and speakers (40 Watts shoudl be enough for personal monitoring or small room), under 40 lbs (preferrably less) in a light-weight metal case (titanium or magnesium alloy) for durability. It should contain arranger functions, ability to convert styles from all current models or convert MIDI or audio files to styles (take a portion of audio track and shift in in pitch and harmony with Variphrase-like techniques). Has to have a large hard disk (use what is available for laptops, e.g 100 GB 7200 RPM) to do digital recordings and store sample files. Sampling is not important (few of us know how to do samping well) but the ability to load standard format samples for playback is crucial - must allow expanding RAM to current standards (e.g. 512 MB minimum, up to 2GB). It has to have TRUE 128 note polyphony, and allow playback of audio/MP3 files from the disk.

Should have at least two individually controllables sets of outputs (one for mains, one for monitoring), and four inputs, at least one with XLR input, which allow using internal amplification and effects for a small combo (a guitar and two vocals). Any one channel should be routable to a good quality vocal harmonizer.
Also, a firewire or USB 2.0 output should send all of the solo, input, and arranger tracks out individually for multi-track digital recording on the PC. USB 2.0 master and slave connections shoudl allow connecting to the PC and/or a USB external storage device.

It should have a user friendly interface, a combination of Tyros and Roland Fantom (selection buttons UNDER the screen), and no touch-screens, please. If it has faders, they should be motorized (so that you can look at them and see the settings of the flutes or volume parts, instead of having to watch the screen as you adjust the settings). The user interface should have externally mappable buttons, so that you can add, say a USB PC keyboard, and map each button to a particular function, for more interactive single-button-push response.

Obviously, my ideal setup does not exist (perhaps a Mediastation, though I have never seen or heard it, so can not judge the sounds/styles capabilities). It is also not likely that any one manufacturer will create it.

A more likely scenario is that someone will come up with an expandable controller in an agreed form factor, so that you can have have good quality keys and drop in, say, ketron MIDJAY for arranger functions, and, for example, Yamaha Motif XRack for sounds, and still end up having to carry a single physical device (not a bunch of rack-mounted gear which is hard to reach and a chore to interconnect with loose wires every time you set up.

Regards,
Alex

Alex,

Both the Wersi and Lionstracs Mediastation X-76 do just about everything you described although they both weigh far more than 40 lbs. The Wersi has a fantastic set of built in speakers, the Lionstracs does not have a speaker option. Both can play MP3, MIDI, WAV, Karaoke, Video, and sample files from GIGA and AKAI as well as offer sampling. Each also has 24 BIT DAW style audio recording of 100+ tracks in addition to multitrack sequencing. Both workstations feature extensive editing including BPM and pitch shift in real time and have numerous audio inputs and outputs.

The Wersi is quite expensive but its a great workstation and I feel worth the money. The Lionstracs X-76 keeps getting better every day as Lionstracs is constantly adding new features and updating the software with impressive support like I've never seen from another manufacturer. Lionstracs is working on updates that will allow the user to use streaming samples with the arranger features. Imagine a 1 GB drum kit along with a 4 GB Piano, 2 GB guitar, 2 GB Bass, and 4 GB symphonic strings doing backing tracks for your arranger section. No other arranger or workstation can even touch that!

GIGA files played on the Mediastation sound awesome and being able to store multi GB worth of GIGA sounds on the hard drive is a huge plus. Check out the Mediastation and the Wersi if you have a dealer near you. Both should surprise you as to their capabilities.

[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 09-17-2005).]

My ideal set-up would be a 76 key keyboard about 30LBS.
It will have at least a 120gig hard drive, a gig of ram that could be expanded to 4 or 5, a full sampler and sample reader, a comprehensive sequencer with at least 24 audio tracks, good and realistic sounds even the general midi bank, the ability to use VST and other third part sound libraries, full sound editing, styles and a easy to use style sequencer where you can use audio loops, lots of effects, full EQ for each track whether sequencer or styles CD and DVD player and writer, full midi implementation, 4 midi in out threw, 4 USB 2.0 ports Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting to other devices and for transferring files, pitch and mod joystick, it should be able to have a multi foot pedal switch connected to it, 10 audio ins and outs (2 should be XLR with power) so you will be able to get a different out for vocals and 2 head phone jacks. It should be a fast machine. I should be able to connect a PC keyboard and a computer monitor.

These are just some of the major things I think a real keyboard in today’s market should have.


I could name 4 things off the top of my head it should not have
internet connection,
touch screen
speakers
and a floppy drive.


Well that was a nice dream….. Back to reality.

Although maybe in the next 3 years such a keyboard would exist.


[This message has been edited by to the genesys (edited 09-17-2005).]