Received my PSR 3000 about 10 days ago and I hate to admit at this time I am still not overwhelmed with it like I thought I would be. Previously owned PSR2000, which to this point was the best keyboard I ever had.
Disapointing so far:
The 2000 sound internal sound system has the 3000 beat by miles as well as the vocalizer. Some music/lyrics kar files taken from the internet sound distorted yet they seem to play back fine on the 2000.
Not sure if I'm still in the learning curve of this kb or is it the equipment(in the case of the vocalizer) I've used with the 2000 not compatible for the 3000 or is there a problem with the keyboard?
I use a medium price radio shack mike and two Yamaha MS60s amps for about 8 years and the 2000 performed flawlessly and still does. Is it possible these are not satisfactory for the 3000?
The observations - the internal sound system for certainly does not match up to the quality of the 2000 and many of the bass parts seem to be heavy which I have to adjust their volume so that it is not so overpowering with the rest of the rhythm. Also I have the adjusted the EQ to modify to some degree of making it better.
EQ another difference the 3000 presents are nearly all the same where the 2000 were quite noticeably different.Is every 3000 the same?
The vocalizer cuts outs or distorts especially on the female harmonies, not quite as bad on the others.
I've done the system resets thru the screen option and also the last key hold down option and made adjustments to the noise gate/compressor/ eq's and although there seems to be some improvement doesn't entirely remove the problem. A bit disappointed so far.
The version my kb shows is 1.04 - any possiblity if I update to the 1.55 might help in some of these areas? Also do I have to load the 1.54 before the 1.55?.
Has anyone experienced any of these symptioms in their 3000 and where they adjustable some way or is the bottom line which I hope is not the case, a problem with this board? I've seen so many compliments about this kb and that was the reason I decided to go for it.
Your comments always appreciated.
Thanks in advance
RR

I've also recently upgraded (yes I mean that) from a 2000 to a 3000. I placed a post about the volume level issue:
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/010056.html

I think you need to get MidiPlay.

I can report that now I've got the levels sorted the 3000 definately sounds better to me than the 2000.

One of the major differences in the two keyboards is owners, including myself, try to make the 3000 sound like their 2000. It's a totally different keyboard, and as such, the tuning is quite different. This includes the EQ's for both the mic and overall keyboard settings. Additionally, the onboard speakers are significantly different, producing softer sounds than the 2000.

As for your PA system, try the Logitech Z-5500 and you'll be amazed at the difference. Those that have tried this system are using it to entertain audiences to 125 people and 99 percent had nothing but rave reviews.

An upgrade for your mic would not be a bad idea as well. The Samson Q7, Senheiser E-855, and the Shure 57A are all high-quality mics that work well through the keyboard are just through a PA or mixer.

I'll post my settings later today when I return home.

Cheers,

Gary

If you're hearing distortion at low volumes, then a defective keyboard must be looked into.

Beakybird

Here are the settings I current use for the 3000s Main EQ that are stored under USER1:

EQ1=4
EQ2=3
EQ3=4
EQ4=8
EQ5=10

For the vocal settings I prefer using High Male Qua for harmonies with the following settings:

LOW EQ=80 +2, MID EQ=2.0, 0.0, HIGH EQ=10, +9
NOISE GATE= OFF, -60, COMPRESSOR= ON, -20, 5.0, 110

VOCODER HARMONY CONROL= PLAY, OFF, LOWER, 35, AUTO, XF, OFF, 85

SET TRIM POT FOR MIC AT APPROXIMAELY 10:00 O'Clock position. (much of this will depend on the type and quality of the mic you are using)

NOTE: The vocal settins seem to work particularly well using the Crown CM-311-A headset mic, Sennheiser E-855 and Samson Q7. I have not used the Shure SM57A so I cannot comment on its performance with the above settings, but it should be good to excellent.

Hope this is of some help,

Gary

RicRob, if you think there might be something wrong with your board, you can have it perform several tests to see if all works well.

1. Power off
2. press C2# - F2 - G2# (all three together) and while keeping them depressed,
3. switch the power on.
You'll see the word "TEST" on the display

With Tempo - / + you can go to the test you want to perform. Start/Stop will start the test. Wait till a test is done!

You can check following items :
001 : Version
002 : Rom Check 1
003 : Ram Check 1
004 : flash Check 1
005 : Wave rom Check 1
006 : Effect ram Check
007 : TG 1 Check
014 : Pitch Check
015 : Output R Check
016 : Output L Check
019 : EQ low Check
020 : EQ mid Check
021 : EQ high Check
023 : Mute Check
025 : MIC Test (PSR3000)
027 : Sw, Led Check
028 : All panel led on Check
029 : Red led On Check
030 : green led On Check
033 : All LCD on Check
034 : All LCD off Check
036 : LCD Brightness Check
037 : LCD Pattern Check
040 : Pitbend wheel Check
041 : Moduration wheel Check
046 : Padal 1 Check
047 : Padal 2 Check
053 : Midi Check
055 : Video out NTSC RGB (PSR3000)
056 : Video out PAL RGB (PSR3000)
057 : USB To Device / Host Check
058 : USB Storage Device Check
059 : Card Check
061 : Keyboard Type Check
067 : Rom Check 2
068 : Ram Check 2
069 : flash Check 2
070 : Wave rom Check 2
071 : Effect ram Check 2
088 : Factory set
089 : Test End

When at 086, press Start/Stop to exit the test mode and your keyboard will continue to start up normally.

Hope this helps.
John

John,

Great information. Where in the heck did you find it?

Thanks,

Gary

Thanks to all who responded. Making the adjustments and going thru the different checks now. Will let you know how I make out.
Appreciate your help
RR

Gary,

At "Toetsenclub Rotterdam", which means so much as "Keyboard Club Rotterdam" And Rotterdam is a big city in Holland (The Netherlands).

You see, I'm originally from Belgium, so I also sniff around in Dutch, French and German sites since I can read them too

John

------------------
Have a nice day

John CA
I ran the tests and not quite sure what was supposed to happen on some. The ones were tones were sounded I waited up to 10 minutes to see if the OK would appear on the screen like some of the other tests so when it didn't I assumed if the tone sounded, the check was OK and went to the next test. The board did hang up on some like Mute Check, Pedal where I had to turn off the power and skip over those specific tests. Could not check the USB and Card ones as I do not have those items yet. So at this point not sure the board passed all the tests successfully. Do you have any comments on these findings?
Also are you familiar with the updates 1.54 and 1.55 - should I do these once I get a Smart Media card?
Thanks to all for your suggestions and your help.
I haven't done the other suggestions like EQ, vocal settings that Travlin Easy suggested but will do so soon.

RR

RR,

I would hold off on the updates. Too many horror stories about blue screens, lock-ups, etc, and most of all, the list of advantages really don't seem to be advantages for most of us to take the chance. The old saying "If it ain't broke--don't fix it" may really be the best route to take. Try the settings I posted and see if they don't make a big difference.

Gary

RicRob,

I didn't run all the tests myself since I don't have the need to, everything seems to be doing ok (knock on wood) except for one instrument sound and I don't care much for that one anyway.

I tried 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14 and 67 to 71. Number 7 gives a tone going up and eventually says TG1 check. Number 14 gives a steady tone and I ended it myself and it says Check. Number 69 takes awhile but comes up with OK. I tried 28, but only on the left side all led's came on, nothing right of the display, don't know if that's normal, but they do work in normal mode. Other numbers, I haven't tested.

But I can see that a pedal test would "hang" if there is no pedal connected, same goes for USB or card check if nothing is connected to it.

As far as the OS goes, mine's 1.01, but like Gary says, I don't see the need for an upgrade, I'm not about to download their high priced songs anyway, and I don't find any info that anything else major would be changed.

I don't know nothing about the vocalizer since my PSR1500 doesn't have that.

Roy

The upgrade is fine. I've been performing with it without problem. But I notice no differences in operation.

Beakybird

Just wanted to post an update and final on this subject.
Thanks to all who responded and I must say after some adjusting here and there the frustration has turned into appreciation of the 3000. It is truly a great keyboard and am learning new things about it each day.
So the bottom line was "just getting used to it".
Thanks again
RR