I've been tucking my pennies away for a newer arranger (one above the PSR-550), and I've decided on another Yamaha Keyboard... I've always felt it was a good idea for any keyboard player to have a decent arranger and a synth... The 550 isn't a bad arranger.. Plus for the price the sound quality is great.. I've decided to put all my the money I've been saving for a new arranger towards a Yamaha Motif.... I really do love arrangers, but deep down I'm a synth junkie.... The Motif does have some of the sweet voices too, plus you can really dig deep into voice creation with the Motif... I'm going to keep the 550, but eventually add the Motif to my set up.. I know AJ can agree on this one, and that's the Motif is one hell of a synth.... The sampling sequencer on that thing is amazing.

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 04-29-2003).]

At the risk of starting the Evangelical Equipment wars, might I suggest you take a look at the Korg Triton Classics. This will give you a totally different sound which will complement your Yamaha sounds. Also, the prices and availability of expansion cards such as the MOSS and EXB Sound cards allow you to expand the Korg into a full blown synth as you mature with the product.

Get to a music store and try some of these synths. This is the way I went as I have the Tyros and the Korg Triton Pro with EXB Piano, Studio Essentials, and the MOSS Z1 Synth card installed. To me this is a dynamite combination for performing.

Regards,
Al

kbrkr.
Thanks for the input.. Honestly I really don't care for the sounds on the Triton Classic. I think Korg has really cut too many corners in the past few years.. The Trinity was a good synth, but now that everyone is so hooked on this "Hip Hop I wanna be like Britney" I think Korg has tailored too much to that effect.. They have really gone down hill with their acoustic samples... Sure some of their synth sounds are decent, but a synth with the price tag of a Korg Triton should at least have a better piano sound than what it has. If I was give the choice of the Triton and it's old competition the Yamaha EX-5, I'd take the EX-5 without question. Yamaha did a good job on the Motif.. They know there are so many people who are in this Pop, Dance, and Techno phase, and they added a good voice set for those styles (plus the ability to make really good ones) Yamaha also kept in mind that there are still a lot of us out there that like good acoustic sounds too.. So Yamaha got smart, and gave a lot of attention to the acoustic samples on the Motif.. They even brought in some of the sweet voices.. Sure the Triton has a touch screen and all, but what happens when your screen fails?????? Most of the functions are carried out on the touch screen, and it's pricey to replace..... I'm going to keep my goal set on the Motif-6... I used to have the model the Motif-6 replaced which was the EX-7, and that too was a great synth..

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 04-29-2003).]

Hi Squeak,
I have a Triton Studio. I don't own a Triton Classic, but I heard that the Studio sounds better than the Classic.

I'm also lurking/posting regularly at the Triton forum. People there say that when you try to MIDI the Triton (studio) with Yamaha Motif Rack. But I'm not sure if this translates to the same problem if you're connecting with PSR550.

Squeak,
in all fairness, I would have said the same about the Motif as you did about the Triton Classic. Let me offer the most sound advice I can.... something that no-one else can do for you.... go PLAY 'EM ALL - Mo, Classic, Studio, Fantom - and YOU make up your own mind based on your musical needs/wants !!

No doubt you'll find plenty of opinion here, some of which is weighted based on personal experience, some of which is objective.

I went thru the same thing you are going thru. I evaluated and played all the leading synths from all brands and based on price/features went with the Motif. I already happened to have Roland board at that time. I owned the Motif for about 3 weeks, but traded it in/up, because I didn't want to work that hard to make music. Weeks later I received the DVD on the Mo from Yamaha. I watched it 6 months after that - WOW !! didn't know it could do that. It just wasn't an intuitive board to me - tho the keys felt great. Since then I have added a Korg PA80 and Triton Studio.

If I had to go buy another synth right now, (already owning the Studio it's unlikely) it would be the Motif...

Food for thought, eh !
Regards,
Steve

[This message has been edited by S0C9 (edited 04-29-2003).]

Squeak,

That's interesting because, when I perform with my band, hands down THEY prefer the Sax, Brass, and String patches of the Korg as opposed to the Tyros sounds!

The Triton has killer Stereo Patches through a stereo amp and also Killer hammond B3 patches. You might want someone with a tweaked Korg to give you a demo.

Al

Although I am a strong Yamaha fan and have owned the Motif, my second board now is an Alesis Andromeda. My suggestion is to buy a board that has different sounds and features from what you have to add more colors to your palette rather than more of the same colors that you already have.

------------------
jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

One option if your itching for a new keyboard might be one of the new low-cost Kurzweil KME-61's, which are selling around $600 new reportedly:
http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com/html/kme61.html

As far as new synths go, I'm enjoying my softsynths a lot. My latest is the Arturi Moog Modular V... now that's a fat synth! The May '03 issue of Keyboard has a review on it and gave it a KeyBuy award. Great having a virtual analog synth that I can really use once again. I don't think that softsynths have hit their full stride yet, and there's lots of new controllers out or coming that offer the knobs and stuff for the touchy-feely part. Fatar just released it's 13.5 lb 88-note controller for MSRP of $399. The new Novation ReMOTE 25 is loaded with knob/sliders and even an X/Y touchpad. I've seen lately where programmers on working on generic ASIO drivers that'll work with any soundcard to give low latency performance... so developments in the softsynth world are on the fast-track. They work fine in my desktop in my studio, which is where I would use synths anyway, and laptop usage isn't difficult but I'm not quite ready to show up for a gig with one. None the less, if you want a new synth on the cheap and have a decent computer then softsynths can be fun.

[This message has been edited by The Pro (edited 04-30-2003).]

I agree with Terry (trtjazz) that a second board is more valuable when it give you new and different sounds. I've always relied on Roland until I bought my 2000. I also have a Kurzweil Mark5 piano and think those sounds are tops. Now I'm looking at the Roland VR-760 mainly because it offers the VK8 drawbar technology with pianos and synth - maybe not your idea of a workstation, but for live work I think it will be a killer.

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Cass Pawlowski
Detroit, MI
PSR2000, Roland SC88
Cakewalk, Sonar, Power Tracks, BIAB

Thanks for all your replies... I haven't been able to get my hands on one of the new Triton's... I have heard that they sounda great deal better than the Triton Classic, but the Triton Studio is quite expensive..... Plus I have my heart set on that Motif... The first time I played that board I went nuts.. Plus from owning the board before it I'm fairly familiar with the set up on the Motif.. It has a good deal in common with the EX series.. I just wish the didn't drop the 3rd modulation wheel, and the ribbon controller.. Aside from that I think that board is killer, and I must have one...

Squeak