Well... I finally made my mind up and came home with....A new top end arranger. I spent approximately 3 hours at Alto Music this afternoon, and as had been promised, the KB manager set out a Tyros 2 for me to play on.

So there I was... jumping back and forth from The T2 to the G70 and in between playing around with the PA1x as well. In reality after my first five minutes or so on the T2, I pretty much knew what I was going home with. Played through similar amp setups, after going a little deeper into each board, near the end of it all I had actually jumped the PA1X up to second place.

So what did I come home with ?
The T2. This was no easy chpoice by the way. all three of the top enders had some great attributes, and each had individual strengths that I would love to have been able to take and combine into one board, but alas we all know it doesn't work that way. I really liked the G70 styles, the key feel and the extra octave of keys, but in the end the T2 won me over for a few reasons that mattered more to me.

I can't think of a better way to explain it except that it feels a bit like an old friend. It shares some common attributes with all of my previous Yamaha arrangers, even though none of my previous Yamaha arrangers were the top end board in their heyday.

What it doesn't share is the key feel of my old PSR's. It feels and plays exactly like my Motif ES, and it seems to have identical pitch / mod wheels as the ES as well, so for me.. it's a real winner in that area. There is just so much aftermarket stuff too for the Yamaha's, heck Jorgen Sorenson's and Michael Bedesem's free apps alone give an edge to Yamaha for me. I'm really looking forward to modifying and creating my own styles and multipad loops and sounds again. I missed being able to do the latter at all in the PA80, and I certainly won't miss the extra steps and work needed to modify and create styles in the PA80.

As far as the sounds.. my goodness they've "matured". It felt almost as if I was playing a Motif ES with styles, ( kinda like my software setup, but much more convenient ) and for me that's a very good thing. The SA guitars are as good as anything I've ever heard coming from any hardware, and some may even give my soft sounds a good run for the money as well.

So does this mean I'm abandoning software altogether ? No way.. I still look to my "softies" for the highest quality lead sounds when recording or even playing with a band, especially for guitar, drum, and synth sounds, but I also no longer think I'll feel the need so much to use my laptop as a sound module when I play live. It had gotten to the point where I really became tired of many of the PA80's lead voices.

I promised one of my current boards to my grandaughters when I got my new arranger, so the game plan at this point is to give them the PA80, keep the Motif ES / software arranger setup as my first backup, and keep the MZ2k as my "third stringer" and "fun to knock around with" board. That may change however... They both seem to like the MZ better than the PA80, but I'll let them play both some more, and then give them which ever they choose. Also, somewhere down the road, I am considering selling the ES and getting a dedicated controller, something with 88 keys and real piano action. I really never wanted it much in the past, but lately I've become partial to "true piano feel" . I really enjoyed playing around with the Yamahas ( Clavinovas ?? ) at the music store after I had made my decision about the T2.

AJ

AJ,

I can only imagine what a tough choice that must have been for you. All the various features of each of the boards that you were trying certainly wouldn't have made it easy. I know that the Tyros 2 SA Voices really are impressive. Good luck with the new board, and congrats on choosing the Tyros 2

Regards,

Dennis L. Almond
aka...TwoNuts


[This message has been edited by TwoNuts (edited 08-11-2006).]

Congrats in your new Keyboard....I know you will enjoy it VERY much..!

Congratulations!
I would have bought them all... just kidding!

Amen to that. If it wasn't for the fact that, because of my schedule, and cartage limitations, I really only want to have to bring ONE keyboard to ANY gig, I'd have a T2 in a heartbeat but for that........

I can only hope and pray that Yamaha incorporate the SA voicing in a Motif rack module. I don't care what it costs, I'd buy one!

Have fun with your T2. Maybe, if you liked the G1000/70 key-bed feel, look around for a good condition used Roland A70 controller....... same keybed, roughly.

Well Done. I think its the best of the big 3 too.

Sounds like you are going to have lots of fun, and many sleepless nights.

Congratulations,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

AJ

Congratulations on your new T2. Your going to love it. I find the T2 actually grows on you more over time once your really start taking advantage of it's features. Sure wish I could have watched you at Alto go through your analysis process. That would have been fun!

Regards,
Al

AJ.....congrats on your new KB...you made a wise choice....looking forward to hearing some great songs form you once you get situated with the T2.......keep us posted on your progress!!

Hi AJ,

Congatulations on your new baby.

You'll have a great time with this beauty.

Ian