HI everybody,
I am new here so.. 'Hello'
I am interested in getting a module arranger to use with a traditional style clone organ. I currently use a PA800 and would like to know what to look out for that is in a module format with as close to sound quality to the korg. or the Yamaha Tyros / s900
I had a quick surf on the net and there does not seem to be much around appart from Ketron & Orla making them and I have never had any instrument from either or listened to any of these brands. How good are they?
Are there any other brands out there?
so if anybody has any good recomendations please let me know
thanks

Hi Chrispyduck
The Ketron SD3 is your best choice - read the write up on Jazzhooves
Good sounds and styles and the brilliant PROGRAM mode lets you layer 4 sounds together.

I have been using a Solton/Ketron MS40 module for many years and the strings,
in particular, are still better than those on any modern keyboard today.

There's just one major drawback - no USB socket so you can't use a pen drive etc.
This ties you to floppy disks unless you take up the very expensive (£250 sterling) Hard Drive option.

Best wishes, Tony, SHEFFIELD

Arranger Modules are not in fashion as much as they used to be, and Ketron and Orla are good middle of the road modules, with the Orla tending more towards Organ Sounds.
Going up in price there is the Silverbird from Bohm http://www.bohm-organs.co.uk/ which is more flexible then the Ketron and is also hardware updatable. (You just change the internal hardware when new technology comes along)
Further upmarket is the Wersi EX 1 http://www.wersimusic.com/ex1.html and is the module version of the Ikarus Arranger http://www.harmony-music.co.uk/ikarus.htm with more pictures here http://www.wersi.net/INFOBLATT_Expander.pdf and sound demos here http://www.wersi.net/html/tontrager.html (It can also directly play all Yamaha Styles, and convert styles from other manufactures)
The EX 1 also has the advantage of being totally upgradeable via software and can also use VSTs such as Kontakt 3 http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=kontakt3 B4 http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=b4ii Halion http://www.steinberg.net/155_1.html Real Guitar http://www.musiclab.com/products/realgtr_info.htm and many others.
Another alternative is to use a laptop computer and Midi interface, with software such as OMB (One Man Band) http://www.1manband.nl/omb.htm or LiveStyler http://www.live-styler.de/home/
It’s up to you how much you want to spend, and how sophisticated you want it to be.
The entire above are available in the UK, and the software can be downloaded.
Hope this helps

Bill

Thanks for the info guy's this gives me a bit more to go on the sd3 looks like the type of thing I am after, but if this is new why the floppy drive idea? this is computer technology from last decade do they do any with USB? I like the sound of the wersi idea and the upgradeable stuff. will have to find a dealer or scour e(vil)bay.
Never even thought about the laptop and OMB idea this is also interesting...although I think I would prefer a module with buttons and sliders/switches etc...
do you know where in Uk any of these modules above have dealers?

Just done a bit more searching Never even new about the company Bohm (interesting)
and checked the price of a wersi ex-1 from some european shop 5380 euro's holy cow out of my league I think, looks dammed neat though.

also check the GEM XP module its probably the best arranger module available (midijay is more of a midifile/mp3/wav dj player with an arranger section tacked on really...good for what it is, but without the full complement of arranger hardware

I will have a look at the gem module,
does anybody know who deals in ketron / gem gear in the UK?

try http://www.generalmusic.com for the main italian site or http://www.generalmusic.us/ for the us site. they may be able to direct you to a UK dealer...try posting the question in the GEM forum here at SZ... David McMahan monitors it quite frequently (he is national product support manager at gem us) and he is very very helpful...hope that helps

[This message has been edited by miden (edited 09-30-2007).]

Hi the Gem module looks like a very good unit and has many features maybe a bit ott for my purpose but if the price is right..
How long have they been out for or in production? do the sounds of these and the ketrons / orlas match up to current Jap arrangers
This forum is a real eye opener, thanks guys.

looking back at your original post, asking after arranger modules, the XP is probably closest in sound quality to the PA800, but it would be very close between it and the midjay/other ketron modules, if not a tie!!! to be honest the PA800 is really is good as it gets when it comes to arranger features and sounds, and imo, not matched by any current module..(i have owned the XP and a Midjay but got rid of both of them because i thought i could get something better...does NOT always work let me tell you!!!!) i currently own an sd1+, BUT if the pa800 had 76 keys and/or a different feel for the keys, too "synthy" for me, it would be on my keyboard stand now...fwiw and i know OT, but i am keenly awaiting the arrival of the pa2x in Oz.

Yeah I wanted exactly that a Pa2X when I traded in my PSR3000 last year for the Pa800 but it's a year later now and its still not in the shops the PA2x is not much more than a PA800 bar a few bits and bobs, but that keyboard would make a hell of a difference to me. I just watched the Gem demos of the genesis keyboard it's few years old but sounds absolutely stunning. I need to check this thing out. I take it the module you suggested has same sound?

Anybody know why I have (junior) member status on here? I did not fill in any age details on this forum??? (although could be classed as 37 going on 13!)

I think it takes 50 posts to lose the junior status. I'm wondering when we old timers will become senior members?

Tom

it's not an age thing then, just how much you post on here, how very odd.

Do you guys see a lot of arranger modules coming up second hand anywhere? (ebay for example) or are they like rocking horse cr*p?

Just keep posting & have fun.



------------------
Dnj..
"Member 10,000 Post Club"

ok heres my next post towards non junior status!

Does anybody know which are the most recent of the arranger modules (not including the very expensive jobs from wersi etc.. I.e. over £2000) (way to expensive for me)
not had any comments about the orla modules yet, anybody use these at all? or would I be better off on an organ site for questions on orla gear?



[This message has been edited by chrispyduck (edited 09-30-2007).]

Having owned and used about half dozen modules and arranger boards over the years, I can tell you that the Genesys XP is the closest you'll find to the PA800 in terms of features. In addition to coming equiped with the abilty plaback mp3/wav/midi files, has an on board recording studio and a 20 gig harddrive. You can actually burn your own CD's from the module. The XP's styles are good but not near the quality and/or quantity of the PA800 but certainly on a par or better than most of the other modules. Like the PA800, you can edit styles and create user styles. The XP is certainly worth looking into.
Ciao
Jerry

Thanks Jerry
the Gem xp seems to be getting a very positive response,
(are you from Italy?)
Has anyone come across reviews of the unit or equivalent keyboard model?

just found this device while surfing for genesys information at last a usb type connection!


Genesys, Genesys Pro, ProS und XP

With the USB (Universal Serial Bus Interface) by musitronics it is possible to make a direct data comunication between your PC and the Hard Disk drive of your GEM Genesys Keyboard.

Backround
Each modern Computer has an USB interface today, so it is the best way to use this fast serial interface to exchange data between your Computer and your Keyboard.

So it is easy now to make a backup of the keyboards hard disk drive. Just burn directly a CD-ROM image of your Genesys hard disk. Also it is very easy now to manage the contents of your Genesys hard disk drive from a computer.

You can exchange data directly between two or more keyboard hard disk drives via PC. Or you can download MIDI-files or styles from the Internet to your keyboards hard disk directly.

Your PC has to run under Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows ME Windows98/98SE or Windows 2000 and Mac OSX or OS9.2

How it works
After the installation of the added drivers the hard disk of the keyboard will be seen as an additional drive letter on your computer. You can also edit Midi files, Styles or Samples directly on the hard disk of your keyboard.

To see how the contents of your Genesys hardisk will be shown on your monitor, just click the picture below!


Click to enlarge!

The Hardware
The hardware: The USB Interface board has the size of a 2,5´´ hard disk drive and will be installed between the hard disk and the keyboard's hard disk connector.The USB connector is innstalled in the SCSI Interface place, so for now it is not possible to have the SCSI Interface and the USB Interface at the same time.

If you need more informations or if you want to know prices (please tell us your country for shipping costs) then please send us an e-Mail:

info@musitronics.de

In the Download area you can find the User's Manual of the USB Interface.







[This message has been edited by chrispyduck (edited 09-30-2007).]

hey chrispy, the xp module sounds exactly like the genesys pro you have lsitened too..it has slightly less physical controls, but everything else is top notch and the same..a great recoding tool, and if its the same as in OZ, it comes in a first class padded carry case, complete with microphone.........in fact i would go so far as to say my 2 biggest regrets are selling the xp module i had, and the pa1xpro....and btw the rhodes on the XP is to "die for" as its the "modelled" one found on the Pro-mega 2 and 3 keyboards...the BEST rhodes anywhere bar none!!
cheers
dennis
PS newbie goes after 10 posts, from memory!!!

[This message has been edited by miden (edited 09-30-2007).]

Here are the UK contacts

Orla http://web.orladirect.co.uk/

Wersi http://www.harmony-music.co.uk/organs.htm

Bohm http://www.bohm-organs.co.uk/

Ketron http://www.bck.co.uk/

Gem http://www.generalmusic.com/html/centrworld.asp?cont=1&stato=225

Hope this helps

Bill

Thanks for the info about the Gem
I have to agree about the rhodes it is nice it's on Par with Nord stage or roland srx 12 card or the pyramid samples for Kurzweil K2600
and thanks for the contact deals Bill

What about the Midjay ?
http://www.ketronus.com/midjay.htm

Impuls