NAMM starts tomorrow... anybody there?

You're jumping the gun a little bit Glenn. NAMM doesn't start until Thursday. It's January 15-18. Unless of course you live in the UK where it is already Wednesday. Then it would indeed start 'tomorrow'. But you don't of course. And if you did live in the UK I would expect you'd be sawing logs about now instead of posting to the SZ.

Best regards,
Mike

All he goodies wil be announced here....
http://www.harmony-central.com/

Hi,
actually if anyone is going, and they get the opportunity, I would love to find out what they think of the Vocaloid Software.

( Wednesday in Australia , too)

best wishes
Rikki

That's a first, usually I'm behind a day Anyhow, I just spoke with someone who's there now doing set-up, so I assumed tomorrow. He says nothing new with Ketron, at least AK wise.

How about the previously discussed up and coming mother of all arranger by Domenik and company ? I thought it will be shown at NAMM

We shall see. We shall see. Hopefully there will be a Video of the Lionstracs posted on www.harmonycentral.com sometime during the NAMM presentation.


Best regards,
Mike

Kool New gear at NAMM...
http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Soundcraft/PR/GigRac.html

Donny,

thanks for posting the link. I also check on Harmony Central - they seem to have most up-to-date information.

The mixer in the link is mono, so to me playing the arranger keyboard it is of little use (I use Samson stereo powered mixer for my bigger jobs right now). I am glad to see, though, that they are taking our concern of road-worthiness and transportability seriously.

Regards,
Alex

All the Breaking Namm News/Videos...
http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/

New Roland Workstation here:

Roland Fantom X6

Also available in 76/88/Rack


few Specs:

Expandable synth/sampler/sequencer
* 128-voices workstation
* Sampling with timestretch
* 128 MB waveform-ROM including high quality sounds like an 88-key splitted piano sound etc.
* 32 MB sampling-RAM expandable to 544 MB with ordinary DIMMs
* New color LCD-screen, for the first time in a Workstation!
* Innovative functions like Skip Back Sampling, Dynamic Pad Bank and V-LINK*
* 3 MFX-processors + dedicated reverb, chorus and mastering-processor
* USB-port for MIDI, .WAV/AIFF filetransfers. Room for 4 SRX-soundexpansions
* PC Card slot - for backing up samples up to 1 Gb
* 4 line outs (2 stereo or 4 mono), stereo line ins and 24-bit S/PDIF I/O

(* V-LINK requires and Edirol DV-7PR with software version 1.50 or greater


Anthony

[This message has been edited by Jupitar5 (edited 01-15-2004).]

......And Korgs new "Triton Extreme"



KORG TRITON Extreme Music Workstation/Sampler

TRITON Extreme is the latest addition to the renowned TRITON series. Once again, the TRITON series proves itself to be the most advanced and powerful music workstations available.
The TRITON series is acclaimed worldwide as the most powerful music workstation available. From the top-level TRITON Studio with its high-capacity hard drive and built-in CD-R/RW, to the streamlined TRITON Le, a full range of models is available, joined now by the new TRITON Extreme.

The TRITON series continues to grow, with enhanced sound, functionality, and integration of external devices.
The TRITON Extreme represents another big step up in production possibilities, delivering all the functionality you need in a music workstation; up to 120 voice polyphony, a massive 160 Mbytes sample ROM, a wealth of new sounds, the analog warmth of Valve Force vacuum tube technology, a sequencer that merges audio & MIDI thanks to In-Track sampling, our powerful Open Sampling System, expanded pattern sets for the dual polyphonic arpeggiator, USB connectivity, and digital I/O - all designed for the smooth integration of sound, music production, and external equipment. With all this musical power, the TRITON Extreme is ready to sweep the music scene.

Main features
The latest addition to the acclaimed TRITON family boasts an amazing array of sounds and new functionality

A staggering 160 Mbytes of PCM memory forms the foundation for 1,344 Programs and 1,280 Combinations, providing wonderful potential for expressing your creativity.

Valve Force technology --- a first for any music workstation. This newly developed vacuum tube circuit adds analog warmth to your sound.

Two tone generators deliver up to 120 voice polyphony.

Open Sampling System allows for creative Resampling, plus the ability to record audio directly into the sequencer using In-Track Sampling.

Dual polyphonic, dynamic arpeggiators can generate powerful phrases. 489 patterns are included, with room for a total of 507.

In addition to the two inputs, stereo master outputs and four individual outputs, two channels of digital I/O (24-bit 48kHz support) are provided via S/PDIF optical connectors.

USB A and B connectors allow single-cable connection between TRITON Extreme and other USB devices, such as a hard disk or CD-R/RW drive, or your computer.

Card Slot accepts convenient CompactFlash and Microdrive media for loading and saving your valuable data.

Add powerful DSP modeling synthesis with the user installable EXB-MOSS option.

Available in 61-note, 76-note, and 88-note models. The 88-note model features our top-of-the-line RH2 keyboard with graded hammer action that convincingly reproduces the touch of a grand piano.



Massive PCM ROM delivers rich and detailed sonic reproduction.
The twin tone generators use Korg's most advanced HI (Hyper Integrated) engine. High-quality PCM, a flexible filter section, and a versatile effect section provide an enormously wide palette for sound creation.

New PCM and provides a lavish array of waveforms.
The TRITON Extreme features 160 MB of PCM ROM containing 962 multisamples and 1,175 drum samples, all recorded 48 kHz for high quality sound. A set of all new PCM data includes solo brass and woodwinds with natural vibrato, electric and acoustic guitars, organs, backing choirs, and many other expressive sounds. In addition to the gorgeous stereo piano introduced on the TRITON STUDIO, there is a new additional stereo grand piano bringing the total of piano choices to five. Furthermore, a huge selection of sounds representing the best of the EXB-PCM expansion library (available for the TRITON STUDIO, TRITON-Rack, TRITON Classic and Karma) has been included, offering a vast collection of sounds covering vintage keyboards and synths, sounds for house and trance, as well as orchestral instruments. In one single unit, the TRITON Extreme gives you every conceivable type of sound at an unprecedented level of quality.

A treasure trove of preloaded Programs and Combinations are available for immediate use
The TRITON Extreme contains 1,344 programs, and 1,280 combinations that combine up to eight of these programs. It also provides 50 drum kits that draw on over 1,171 individual drum samples. Also built-in are 256 programs and 9 drum programs for GM2 compatibility. With open locations for your own sound creations plus the fact that almost every location is user-writable, there are 1,536 Program, 1,536 Combination and 144 Drum kit locations where you can save the sounds that you create. Only KORG offers this amount of user flexibility for getting the soundset that you want!
* GM Level 2 is a specification that expands the functionality of GM Level 1, providing a greater degree of musical expression when creating song data that is portable between sound modules made by different manufacturers.

Filter, LFO, and Alternate Modulation for flexibility in sound creation
The TRITON Extreme's HI synth engine allows you to transform the rich array of internal PCM sounds (or your own sample data) into a wide range of sounds ranging from realistic simulations to aggressive synth sounds. Each oscillator can be processed by a multi-mode filter and multiple advanced envelope generators for finite sound-shaping. Two LFOs (with a choice of 21 different LFO waveforms) are provided, which can even synchronize to tempo changes when you're playing the sequencer or arpeggiator, or sync up to an external MIDI clock.
In addition, you can apply 42 types of AMS (Alternate Modulation Source) to 51 different Alternate Modulation destinations (27 types), to add motion and definition to your sounds. Numerous controllers are available on the surface of the TRITON Extreme, allowing you to modify sounds in realtime, or in performance.
http://www.korg.co.uk/products/workstations/triton_ex/ws_triton_ex.asp


Anthony

-------------------------------
Why was 6 getting afraid? - because 789.....




[This message has been edited by Jupitar5 (edited 01-15-2004).]

Harmony Central isn't the only place for NAMM news - regarding Open Labs, it appears that they weren't happy with Steinberg's V-STACK VST program (which got mediocre reviews anyway) so they developed their own Karsyn "VSTi rack" program especially for live use. The program will be included with Neko and by itself:
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=1285

Any news on arrangers yet?
Starkeeper

Yamaha's Winter NAMM '04 website has news on several portable arrangers, including the DGX203, DGX 305, DGX505, PSR1500, PSR3000, PSR293 and the PSR450 as well as some digital instrument news (including the long-awaited mLan interface for the Motif ES) :
http://www.giles.com/yamaha1/pr/trade/NAMM/w04/index.html

If Karsyn "VSTi rack" is produced by Brainspawn I would say it would likely be very good for live performances. I have used their forte Ensemble for about 6 months and have been a beta tester.

Here's the one I'm keeping 'my' eye on:
http://www.giles.com/yamaha1/pr/trade/NAMM/w04/pr/pac/pkb/psr1500-3000.html

I hope George Kaye & other NAMM attendees will be able to not only hear, but see, touch and feel (play) the PSR3000 as well, and report back its:

1) Key feel & build quality: same as PSR2100 or improved?

2) Is mic input the same as PSR2100 with only a single mic trim knob on the back?

3) 'How many' onboard foot controller output jacks does it include on the back?

4) New Speaker design? Sound Improvements over PSR2100?

5) Harmonizer same as: PSR2100 or Tyros ?

6) Does its USB feature support:

a) Voice editing of KB sounds from the PC via Windows software
b) Transfer & backup of all keyboard files to/from keyboard from PC

7) What maximum (MB) capacity Smart Media Card does the PSR3000 support.

8) Will the Smart Media Card function the same way the HD currently does on the Tyros?


Scott

Are the 200+ styles on the new 3k
ALL NEW?..outside of the 2k,21k, Tyros?

It's like Christmas all over again!

Not quite - on Christmas you knew when the presents would actualy arrive... with NAMM it's anywhere from a few days to 10 months before the goods get delivered.

"The PSR3000 offers the most value of all the Arranger Workstation keyboards in our product line," states Mark Anderson, product manager, Portable Keyboards
LOL. So Yamaha doesn't consider the Tyros to have the most value. That's probably a true statement (then the PSR3000 has the most value for the bucks), but a strange statement coming from a manufacturer none then less.
Starkeeper

As expected - no new arranger from Roland!!!

Edited: well, almost - the EXR3 and EXR5 were "announced" at NAMM but we've already seen these arrangers on other world sites, so I guess they are "new" to the US... my mistake.

Here's the link: http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Roland/PR/EXR-5-3.html


[This message has been edited by The Pro (edited 01-15-2004).]

Roland should have gone bankrupt instead of Technics. No Roland EXR-7 to compete against the PSR2000/PSR2100/PSR3000. IMO the EXR-5 can't compete against the Yamaha PSR550 or Casio WK3500. You snooze you lose Roland.
Starkeeper

Any information about the PSR450? Sounds like a filler between PSR350 and PSR550 or it replaces the PSR350?
Starkeeper

Hmm, I haven;t been impressed with the last few years worth of Roland products in general, but this is pretty cool and something I'd like to see.
http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Roland/PR/VS8F-3.html

If the next generation Motif has something like this ( and there are subtle hints on the Motifator site ), they might just hook me again.

AJ

[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 01-15-2004).]

If you want to hear what the new models sound like from Yamaha , find a current PSR1K . Identicle screens and features .

Dan O'

------------------
Technics,Ketron Yamaha Casio arranger keyboards .
www.keyboardcity.net
1-866-348-8876

the new yamaha psr 3000 has 61 FULL SIZE KEYS,so the reps HAVE taken notice of us,this is sure to be a winner,mike

Nardoni,
How do you know this? Yamaha DOES consider their arrangers to have full sized keys. They are FULL SIZED according to Yamaha standards. Full sized Yamaha arranger keys.
Starkeeper

Hi Mike. I wouldn't get too excited (yet) as even the PSR2000/PSR2100 is marketed as having 'full size keys'. I'm pretty certain that the PSR3000's key 'size' is probably 'no different' than on the PSR2000/2100 & Tyros. In Yamaha's defense though, there really is no exact 'key dimension specification of what constitutes 'full sized' keys. Afterall, even among the acoustic piano brands/models, key size varies. - Scott

Well, I haven't seen any piano with this key size that for Yamaya is "full size".
Keys size may vary, ok, but the reality is:
no piano nor professional keyboard has this key size, which is named standard for Yamaha, but is smaller than standard for the rest.
Why Yamaha? Why PSR's keys are smaller than any piano or any non-Yamaha keyboard? There is no logical reason. Only is a Yamaha tradition.
So, yamaha would say it: "Yamaha size keys, smaller than the rest"
It is only my h. opinion, of course

Just for the Info Re: Key size.

Well, I've just measured my 6-foot Concert Grand Piano (Kawai RX2), and 88 keys = 48 and a Quarter Inches. 5 octaves (C-C of course) is 33 and 3 quarter inches. Each White key measures 23MM (milimetres) across!

1 Octave (c-c) = 7 and 3 eighths' Inches

The Yamaha Pro 9000 - when I had it, was noticably smaller than a "proper" piano sized keyboard!


Anthony



[This message has been edited by Jupitar5 (edited 01-15-2004).]

Hi Starkeeper
Technics didn't go bankrupt. The parent company decided to close the music division down ( for whatever reason) fortunately Panasonic appears to be live & well.
Good news as spare parts will be available for some years yet and there's still support around for some time to come.

Makes you wonder what's going on with top line arrangers though. I would say my Va7's been around now for a good 3 years or so.

Bit of a worrying trend.

best wishes
Rikki
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Starkeeper:
[B]Roland should have gone bankrupt instead of Technics.

Rikki,
I stand corrected.
Starkeeper

Bluebird & all. I agree that the Yamaha arranger keys are noticeable smaller than any acoustic piano, but then again, the PSR & Tyros are not even marketed as pianos. After all, a much BIGGER difference is the key 'feel' of a synth action keyboard to a fully weighted action of an acoustic grand piano. I'm sure you guys realize that the playing technique required of acoustic piano playing is entirely different than for playing on synth action keys. Once you accept this fact, you'll quickly learn to adapt between the different keyboards, even the slightly smaller Yamaha PSR keys. I've learned to adapt and feel quite comfortable with their present size as well as easily adjust back and forth between playing my steinway 7' acoustic grand and the tyros. It's really no different than adapting to driving 2 cars: a subcompact and a full sized SUV. - Scott

looks like i jumped the gun,oh well never mind ,we will soon find out from the dealers,mike

Just for the record, the Motif ES 88 keys are the same width as the Tyros keys, however, they are at least a 1/4 inch LONGER than the Tyros keys.

Very interesting...

They could probably save themselves some money if all the keys for their lineup were the same width and length.
Starkeeper

I suppose keyboard keys are like people, they come in all shapes and sizes.

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Yamaha/PR/PSR450.html

New...PSR450

Here's a gauge where 5 is the best, that 30 readers (so far) have posted regarding the PSR 1500 and PSR 3000. Kinda scary if you ask me. You can still see that most Keyboardists (and people in general) tend to steer clear of Arrangers. I suppose because it's been ingrained in them from other Keyboardists that don't like them who feel the way THEY do because of people telling THEM that they are just toys or whatever. The story gets around and they just don't like them - just BECAUSE type attitude and that attitude is perpetuated from what OTHERS have told them NOT from first hand knowledge and experience IMO. They get in a rut and go with the established way of thinking (attitude) and peer pressure and don't seem to have the ability to think "outside the box" or the rut that's been entrenched in their thinking that Arrangers = Toys, etc.

Here is the Guage: 1.97 out of 5



Best regards,
Mike

[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 01-15-2004).]

Roland just introduced the Fantom X series of Keyboards and by cracky if they don't have the Fantom XR Rack Mount too for those looking for a Module. The Motif ES has been out about 5 months now and NO mention at all of an ES Rack. Kudos to Roland for releasing an X series XR Rack Mount at the same time as the Fantom X series Keyboards.

Here is the info and specs of the rack: http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Roland/PR/Fantom-XR.html

Best regards,
Mike

The Technics letter to their dealers, cited elsewhere in this BBS, mentioned that the reasons for closing the music business down were slow sales and poor profitability.

When the company shuts down operations for these reasons, that is not, strictly speaking, a bankrupcy (unless the creditors are unpaid), but it is going bust nonetheless.

I am happy for all the Technics users that they will be able to get spare parts from Panasonic for the foreseeable future. However, Technics going bust is a testament to the fact that a poor sales model can negate the technological advances of the product. I hope other music makers are learning their lesson from Technics.

Smartmedia's max capacity is 128MB. I would be stunned if this wasn't supported.

I just saw all the Roland Fantom Videos they sound geat especially the piano sounds...

After agonizing a little over the decision of Fantom vs Motif ( better interface vs better sound palette ) Roland would need to do something different to convince me to give a hard look at the Fantom again.

Adding more sampling ram does little for me. I have plenty of it in the Motif, but only because I had 256 mb of Dimms laying around that weren't busy doing something else. I use it occasionally to add a sample to the Motif's palette, but having the ability to add a vst type plug in would make it so much easier than having to go through the steps of recording, introducing, and assigning a sample.

Yamaha disappoints me a bit in that the Motif ES sounds great, but the plugins are pretty limited vs what Korg and Roland offer.

The next workstation I want to look should have support for something similar to VST technology, like they are adding to the V studio line. Then I could add my favorite software plug ins without having to bring along a laptop.


AJ

Hi Keybplayer,

Where's this gauge thingy you showed a couple of posts back?

Let's have all us arranger guys get on it and swing the needle over to the other end of the scale. Maybe we can get all the other folks' heads in the right place, "out of the box".

Come on troop! Rally for the cause!

http://www.harmonycentral.com Then just look for the PSR 450 article and post a vote. I have a confession to make though. I'm not all that excited about it either and gave it a 3 ( close enough for rock and roll by HC standards ) .

Here is the dirct link to the article :
http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Yamaha/PR/PSR450.html

AJ



[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 01-16-2004).]

Where do I post the vote on that page? It is probably a replacement for the PSR350, so I'm not that interested either, but will vote.
Starkeeper

The PSR450 has a "cool" organ. Hey. My PSR550 doesn't have that voice.
I want one.
Starkeeper

Oops. Sorry I found it and voted.
Starkeeper


[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 01-16-2004).]

I could probably afford a PSR1500, but the PSR3K has 36 more voices. Arrrr.
Starkeeper

openstudio and more... Videos are up and running very interesting stuff....check em out on
http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Index/videos.html

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 01-16-2004).]

Ekco still didn't demonstrate the voices, PLAY it live.
Starkeeper

Triton Extreme Video is AWESOME sounding!!!

Check it out.....at Namm...

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/...Joe Satriani

Peavey JSX Joe Satriani Signature Amp



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 01-19-2004).]

Rikki, I made a point of listening to the Vocaloid software knowing you were interested in hearing about it. It really is very impressive. NAAM really isn't the best place to judge sound quality without headphones due the the general noise as you would expect. But what I heard from Vocaloid was very impressive. Most of the demos they played were of a real vocal track with Vocaloid singing the synthetic backing harmonies but they did have a couple of demos that were done entirely with Vocaloid and they still sounded good. While I'm sure with headphones you would be able to pick that a solo Vocaloid vocal track was synthetic, mixing it in with other vocal tracks was very convincing. Application of vibrato and volume effects on the vocals also seemed to be very easy. Software is certainly getting a lot better.

What a sad state of affairs....
New arranger Kb's that cost $3000-$5000+ and the general populus scoffs at them?...what the F@##*&%$ ?

Thank you Nigel.
It appears that it is going to be available here in Aust, so hopefully I may get to check it out before I buy.
I can't sing a note, so any type of vocal will help, even if it sounds a bit synthetic.
Really only planning on maybe making audio loops, for the variphrase sampler in the va7 and for the kn7 sd card.
If it can do a complete song, then better still.

Just wondering if you heard all 3, thought I might start with Leon, unless the 2 girls were more realistic.

Anyway, thank you so much for checking them
out, I've really been looking forward to their release, ever since reading about them a few months back.

best wishes
Rikki
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Nigel:
[B]

now Joey Satriani can play guitar..
http://trio.harmony-central.com/ramgen/WNAMM04/Peavey-JSX.rm