Rick,
If possible (big if), I would try recording on the DGX505 or listen to the DGX505 through high quality speakers. Headphone output are notorious for being noisy and you did say, "they should be clean". I don't want to discourage you, because, I have limited funds as well, so I would love to find an inexpensive solution to softsynths, but I haven't found any. You can get voices coming out of your inexpensive computer, but I haven't found any that are impressive unless you pay the big bucks. You can get some pretty good accompaniment voices, but then the DGX505 will give you that too anyway. Have you heard the Hypersonic 2 samples? They are very good, but again fairly expensive. For now, anyways, it looks like you get what you pay for. I am sure this will change in mthe future. Keyboard mfg. pack a lot of high quality voices in a very small wave rom and do not use Pentium chips, so this should also be possible to do on a PC.
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 04-10-2006).]

Hi Rick,
another thing dgx305/505 lacks, is mid in/out sockets. Means you can't directly connect another midi instrument to it via midi cable.
Midi is via USB to computer.

Some members did complain about hissy headphone socket as line out,( don't think it had line in,) I used to use my Clavinova piano as speaker system for my fonts & dgx. I think members managed to overcome the hissy noise somehow.
Check with DGX user group. I think some members do record to wav/mp3.
(I no longer have my dgx.) http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/YamahaDGX/
As OMB uses psr type .sty files , I think you'd have far less problems with a dgx as a soundsource than a Privia. You'd need to do less tweaking/editing.

I used to use DGX as a controller/soundsource for omb.
As I mentioned previously, my computer was setup for using soundfonts either via the software version or via the audigy nx2 usb soundcard. The latency on my set up was very low, unnoticeable.

OMB allowed me to pick and choose my midi outs. ie I could use
DGX usb Channel 1 Melody
DGX usb Channel 10 Drums
Creative Channel 11 Bass (soundfonts/audigy )
Creative Channel 12 Instrument 1
DGX usb Channel 13 Instrument 2 etc etc

Latency can be an issue if you mix n match as above and have high latency.

I can't help as far as recording goes ( I don't do it) and I'm not very good on computer specs..

By the way, you can also use OMB to create styles for the dgx, but you do require the little memory card to load & save them. It tells you the type in the manual.

When i get my new laptop, I may consider a program called Hypersonic 2 instead of my soundfonts. I haven't fully checked into it as yet. Starkeeper mentioned it above. http://www.steinberg.de/152_1.html
best wishes
Rikki
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rickideemus:
[b]

[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 04-10-2006).]

[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 04-11-2006).]

Thanka rikkisbears, you've been very helpful. I was aware about the MIDI in/out, and I will inquire on the Yahoo DGX board. Anyhow, it looks like I will be waiting til June for the weighted key version (YPG625), so I'll have plenty of time to check out the ES4 and some GEMs.

Too bad I won't be able to add a vocal to the headset out. Can't have everything, I guess.

Took another trip to GC. I'll post about that elsewhere.

L8R,
Rick

Going the computer route, you also to be concerned about is the user interface and portability. With the computer you need to use the mouse or computer keyboard to select sounds or styles, or adjust tempos. This is not a problem if you are using it in a studio, but when playing live there is simply not enough time to start mousing around. With the keyboard you have labeled, usually lighted buttons, which are (usually) arranged in a logical fashion.

With the keyboard, you carry one instrument around, which you can put up on a simple stand and plug in with one chord. Going the computer route, you have to carry several devices which you need to set up on two-tier stand (much bulkier and often not as sturdy), that need to be properly connected together.

Also, as some previous posts have said, a cheap laptop will likely not cut it for advanced setup - you may get away with spending $1000, but you will end up with a bulky setup which has the functionality of a $700 keyboard, but with way more headaches.