Congratulations Adimatis, please post a review when you've had time to put it through it's paces.
Starkeeper

3. A good quality 2.1 speaker system. It will make whatever you buy come alive. When I play the Concert grand piano voice through my 2.1 speaker system, it sounds like a real piano, especially when hitting the low notes.
Starkeeper

StarKeeper any recommendations for 2.1 speakers.
I want to change from 5.1 as my new sound card does not accommodate them.

I would also like to take them on gigs.

Cousin Ken

If weight is a concern yet you still would like an Arranger with onboard speakers you may want to wait a few months for the Pa800. It only has 61 keys but that might not adversely affect you. It weighs less than 30 lbs. and the output on the speakers is 2x22 Watt which is impressive.

The Pa800 is a really feature packed arranger and most of the demos I've heard are excellent. Although I don't care much for the Saxes or Harmonica and the Grand Piano eXp was lacking for my taste but overall I am very impressed.

The price is competitive also. But I would say to play one personally before you buy so you have a better idea if it will really suit your needs or not.

Also, Winter NAMM is coming up in January and could surprise us with some other new Arranger keyboard offerings from different manufacturers like Yamaha, GEM, Roland, and Ketron. So if you can hold off till then you may find a better product that may suit you even more.

PS: You've saved your pennies and it's worth it to spend it on something that will give you years of enjoyment.

So what I'm saying is don't rush it. Do your homework and then decide.

My 2 cents..

Best regards,
Mike

If your looking to get a keyboard long term, then also have a look at the Wersi OAS arrangers and the Lionstracs Mediastation, as these are software based and can be upgraded by software and internal hardware, thus negating the need to swap the board for another one.
They also give you access to the Akai Sample library, which means that it is most unlikely that you will not be able to find any type of sound you require.
Further to the above you can also load in VST instruments, which means the world of music and sound is your oyster.
Shortly for release (November) for the Wersi OAS instruments is the new Open Art Arranger which as well as updating the style section, has an additional piece of software that will play Yamaha Styles (Including Mega voice styles etc) without conversion, and not requiring any adjustments. (From the brief descriptions available at present, it seems that it may be Yamaha software that Wersi use under licence from Yamaha, but that is fully integrated into the OAS system) which means any type of style you require will be available.
The above instruments are more expensive then Tyros 2, E80 etc, but as they are upgradeable, in the long term they work out cheaper. (e.g. if you purchased a top line Yamaha/Roland etc in 2000, you will now have had to change the boards at least twice to get the latest sounds and effects etc, and which would have cost a considerable amount, whereas you could upgrade your Wersi OAS instrument to the latest specification at a fraction of the cost)
Demos of some of the standard sounds can be found here. http://www.boduns.starlink.ru/music/DEMO%20SYNTH/wersi/ which features OAS 6, and here http://www.boduns.starlink.ru/music/DEMO%20SYNTH/wersi%20oas%20EX-1%20v,7,0 which covers the latest OAS 7.
I think all the posts above have covered most options, so it is now over to you.
Enjoy whatever you play

Bill


[This message has been edited by abacus (edited 10-25-2006).]

[This message has been edited by abacus (edited 10-29-2006).]

I mentioned above about Akai Samples, so here is a link. http://www.timespace.com/index1.asp?ID=prosamples just choose Akai S1000 in the format box to see what’s available.
As to VST instruments you can use, here are some links. http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=products_us http://www.steinberg.net/149_1.html http://www.eastwestsamples.com/details.php?cd_index=961 http://www.musiclab.com/products/realgtr_info.htm

And remember the above can be loaded and played within the instrument, with no external hardware/computers required.
Enjoy whatever you play

Bill

Take most of the money you have earmarked for a top of the line arranger, and spend it on lessons from the best teacher in your area. Buy a mid line arranger.

There are SO many demos of great players making poor arrangers sound wonderful, and poor players making great arrangers sound like sh*t, you could learn something there.........

I know it's a matter of taste.... but take my word for it, if you want to make music as a beginner, and not spend a lot of time getting in to the keyboard you do NOT want a G70.

I dont have any experience with Korg Keyboards, so i wouldent be fair if i commented on this. The demos on PA800 sounds very nice.

I have tried a G70 and am currently the happy owner of a Tyros 2. Dont get me wrong - in the right hands the G70 sounds really good, but beginners hands and not the right ones in this situation.

I myself is a absolute beginner and I am having many many enjoyable hours of fun with the Tyros 2. You can play it right out of the box, and i promise you, you are going to spend a lot of time playing music, not programming the keyboard or being frustrated about the Keyboard-User dialog.

My best advice is, go to a music store, sit down and play the keyboards of your choice, and for each keyboard ask yourself these questions:

1. Do i have fun ?
If you dont, dont even consider the keyboard.. move on.

2. Am i inspired and want to go on ?
If you are, keep playing until after closing time.

3. Is the sound and style quality what i expected, Yes or No ?

4. Can my wife accept the price of the Keyboard ? (Remember what flowers do)

In my humble opinion these are the 4 simple questions the beginner should ask.

Listen to my hard and fun Tyros 2 work at: http://www.4shared.com/dir/921885/2df2dbb5/sharing.html

Regards

kh1

[This message has been edited by kh1 (edited 10-27-2006).]

I, too, think the T2 is a great choice, but you might want to consider that your teacher (should you get one) might want you to play some piano pieces, and a 61 note keyboard, although adequate at first, will quickly become cramped for anything more advanced....

Why not use the organ drawbars and create that same sound on the 3k? It's a snap !