Hi, I am new on this forum.

I am going to buy a kb, and Yamaha PSR2000 is the the first one in my mind. But there is something I don’t like on PSR: its styles. I see them very simple arrangements, usually only 1 or 2 bars loop, the four variations are no real variations for my ears (I don’t see real difference between them).

At the end, I love PSR2000, but I prefer Roland, Technics or Korg styles... It is a pity, the perfect keyboard don’t exist.

I know Roland and Korg styles may be converted for Yamaha kb, but I have a question for you, expert keyboard players

How good is that conversion? May I hope those converted styles will sound on yamaha as well as on Roland or Korg kbs? Will these more complex and rich styles have similar complexity and richness on yamaha PSR? If they have 8 bars loop, will they have similar 8 bars on yamaha PSR?

Please, help me to decide. If your answer is yes, probably I will buy PSR. If not, .... I will think it more, because styles are very important for me.

Thank

Some converted styles sound good, with a bunch of tweaking. Almost no converted style sounds as good as an original keyboard style.
If you think Yamaha styles are boring, you better get a Korg, Roland, Ketron or Technics.
Tom

I have the 740 and have played the 9000 extensively. The 2000 will fall soemwhere in between these boards. I concur about the styles. If simple and pop song friendly styles are required ( such as those a solo performer might use in a live performance ), the Yamaha styles can fit the bill very nicely, but most are 1 and 2 bar variations and may not be desirable for more complex music. I own the Korg PA80 as well and much prefer it's styles to Yamaha's. I have used convetrted styles on both of my arrangers and concur with Tom on this one. Most converted styles require tweaking and still it is dificult if even possible at all to get them to sound as good on my Yamaha or PA80 as they sound on their own board. I like Solton ( ketron ) styles, and have heard some Roland and Technics styles that I like as well. I rate the Yamaha's very high for ease of use and the 9000 in particular very high for features, and both the 9000 and 740 very good for sounds, though I prefer Korg's internal sounds overall a bit better, but that is a matter of individual taste. I don't care for many of the Yamaha styles in general though as opposed to the other arrangers. I wanted to buy a 9000 to replace my 740, but eventually went to the PA80 after a somewhat disappointing run with a Casio MZ2000. I am very happy with the PA80, although it is a bit more difficult to use than the Yamaha boards and still lacks a few top end features that will hopefully be included in the next OS update which is due to be released before year's end. I still want to replace my 740 with yet another board and right now the 2 boards I am considering as potential replacements are the KN6500 and the SD1, although I haven't heard the Roland VA series yet.

AJ2

Godwald....Firstly I own a Roland EM2000. I have converted many styles from Korg i30 (My previous board) Technics, Yamaha, Solton, Technics Styles appear to convert the best for what ever reason?. I am in agreement with your comments and the other members above that styles are better if produced on the board they were made for. The Yamaha styles have good Intro & Endings but fall flat into the variations. A Style need not be complex but does benefit from 4 8,&16 bar loops to give variation. No variation is possible from most of the Yamaha's 2 bar loops. However I have recently returned from a 7 day Keyboard Festival in the UK and did spend some time during that period with the PSR2000. I notice that some of the new styles are now 4 to 8 bar loops although they still sound a bit repetitive. A good option of the PSR2000 is it now contains a screen score page and will display selected tracks i.e.: Melody & Chords from a Midi file and the Microphone Harmonizer appears to work well like the 9000. Its certainly very good value @ £1099 UK Pounds. I tried to get a response from the Yamaha Reps about availability of the PSR10000?? but they made no comment only to give a smile when I suggested winter 2002.

Graham UK

... I'd have to agree with most of what's been mentioned above.

I believe, the 'perfect' keyboard (YAKETECHORG-X)would be one where ...
* Outer board and OS designed by YAMAHA.
* Sound generator designed by KORG and KETRON (the former for synth sounds, the latter for solo/sweet voices).
* Accompaniment, Arranger designed and programmed by KETRON.
* Sampler designed by KORG.
* Sequencer designed by TECHNICS.
* Vocal harmonizer designed by DIGITECH.

* The entire keyboard should be assembled in JAPAN (similar to how Airbus is designed & built in many European nations and finally assembled in France).

Just my thoughts ...

AJ

You dont find any difference between the variations of styles on yamaha keyboards? What do you expect, a different style? Listen to a record and note often how subtle the changes in the arrangements are between each verse or chorus, yet it is this subtle variation that adds the professionalism to the song. Sure some of the yamaha styles have only subtle changes between variations, but thats because they mimic real backing music. In contrast listen to an early casio arranger and see what I mean, totally unusable in my view as they totally clutter up the song.
You can certainly load converted styles from other keyboards into the yamaha psr2000, though as another member has pointed out, they never sound as good as they did on the keyboard they were intended for. I dont know what your prefered style of music is, or why you want so much difference in variations, but you always change parts of the style around and create your own.
I dont think roland will interest you as even the VA7 only has 2 variations for each style, one intro and one ending... pretty boring eh?
As for Korg, I havent heard much of them but I recall they are more geared up for dance and modern music. Perhaps thats your scene?

Regards
Simon



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________________________
Simon G.K. Williams
simon@svpworld.com
Creative Music & Multimedia
http://www.svpworld.com
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Another possibility is to buy a used keyboard. I know that used Solton X1s are going for about 1500 U.S. That includes extra memory, vocalizer, and hard disk. I would rather have a used top of the line keyboard than a new mid range board.

Tom

thanks for all answers to my question.

Spvworld, my prefered style goes on ballads, slow music, latin and new age. I do not like rock, rap, txist, dance...

So, Yamaha? Technics? Roland?

Simon.....Your quote...I dont think roland will interest you as even the VA7 only has 2 variations for each style, one intro and one ending... pretty boring eh?

Sorry Simon you are wrong there Roland Styles Arrangements are: Original Basic, Original Advanced, Variation Basic, Variation Advanced. = 4 variations.
I use a Roland EM2000 now,but have been with a Korg i3 & i30 for the past 6 years.

All boards that I have played Roland, Technics, Yamaha & Korg have a good selection of Style types. Korg contains an equal blend of Ballads, 16 Beat, 8Beat as well as Rock, Funk etc:

Graham UK


[This message has been edited by Graham UK (edited 10-23-2001).]

I also agree with Simon about subtle changes in variations, but I would listen to all styles. Some are more subtle than others, some have more of a dramatic change.
Eric

Hi Godwald
Your tastes run like mine. I'll bet you would love the Technics KN6500. But this is a very expensive keyboard. Even the KN5000 would please you. However, the Yamaha's and the Korg's will also satisfy you as well. And, the best deal for the best price would probably be a Yamaha 740 or 2000!
But, as we have said around here many times in the past - go out and try them, play them to see what ones you like the most.
Tom

Hi Eric,
glad to see you back on the Forum.
I hope that your journey to Europe went well.

Re. the VA7, this keyboard, besides the 4 variations pointed out by Graham, gives you the possibility to choose between 4 levels of "orchestration"; each level adds (or subtracts) backing instruments (and not just the drums). So, in total you have 16 possible variations for each style, although the differences between them are sometimes very subtle. I realize that this can be sometimes confusing, but gives you an unmatched level of flexibility.
Andrea
(Enjoying my VA7!)