The Wersi OAS and Lionstracs Mediastation both support WAV/MP3/MP4/MIDI/Video and much more.

It appears most of the features people are referring to, the Wersi and Lionstracs already have! Perhaps one should pony up more money and buy one of these instruments instead of the usual suspects (Yamaha, Korg, Roland).

The Wersi OAS 7 even has Open Art Arranger software which allows direct playback of Yamaha style files with no conversion. The Wersi also includes the Tyros II sound set so you can sound exactly like a Tyros II if you want. I'm not really sure why you'd want to sound like a Tyros if you own a Wersi, the Wersi sounds are far superior in my opinion, but they are there if you want them. I believe the Mediastation also has a Tyros II sound set as well.

The other advantage of these instruments is the ability to load nearly any sample you want (AKAI, GIGA, Kontakt, etc.) as well as nearly any Plug In or VST you want to use. The sound possibilities are nearly infinite.

The future of what arrangers will be has been around for quite some time... The Wersi OAS has been around since 1999/2000. In time all new keyboards and arrangers will be open ended, it's called progress. No matter how hard Yamaha, Korg, and Roland try to keep selling embedded systems, eventually they'll have to follow Wersi and Lionstracs lead and change to open architecture. Korg's Oasys was a good start but Korg could learn a lot from Wersi.

Why doesn't Wersi (and Mediastation) include the soundsets from Roland and Korg's high end arrangers....if you're gonna copy soundsets why not include all those other great sounds?

Ian



[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 07-15-2007).]

I think we are getting a bit carried away here with the Tyros 2 sounds.
1. Yes the Mediastation now has available sampled sounds of the Tyros 2
2. No the Wersi Does not have the Tyros 2 sound set
The Tyros 2 (Like a lot of TOTL Yamahas) has Megavoices in its styles which are special recorded samples, (They cannot be replaced with normal samples in any format (This is why a lot of Tyros 2 styles don’t convert correctly) and what Wersi has done, is written its own software to emulate exactly how the Yamaha system works (As it is their own software code, they have therefore not infringed any of Yamahas Intellectual Property) including the Megavoices.
POINT TO NOTE in all their sales literature when Yamaha is mentioned, there is always an asterix (Or other indication) after the name, which if you go to the bottom of the page always acknowledges that Yamaha is the Trademark of the Yamaha Corporation. (The same applies when VST and Akai is mentioned in the sales literature)
I hope this clarifies matters regarding the Direct Play of Yamaha Styles.
As to Direct Play of other manufactures styles, it takes a great deal of time and effort for the development team to write the software to emulate another instrument, and so while they may be added in the future, it will take time.

Bill

The lines become more blurred......

[This message has been edited by cgiles (edited 07-16-2007).]

Cass, you already have the mixer sliders to all the parts [song and arranger as well as realtime parts...they are on your G70..

Like how to be successful in the marketplace? Like how to have a nonexistent dealer network? Like how to release upgrades that have problems?

I don't think that any of the big three are going to worry about open system keyboards at all, unless one of them actually DOES turn out to be commercially successful. Wersi are hobbled by VERY high prices, and a very sparse dealer network (in the US, anyway), and the MS...

Remember, the learning curve on an 'open' keyboard, especially the MS is fierce. Given that apparently, most of the features (according to SOME) of even an embedded system get seldom used, where is the market for these expensive (some can even say overpriced) highly technical arrangers?

Most of us, I would be prepared to say, like our arrangers because we can turn them on and make music. We don't have to worry about Linux 'wrappers', Vsti compatibility problems, and configuring an 'open' system. If you are a geek, they sound perfect... If you want to just make music with the minimum of fuss...

It's going to take something to take off commercially before Yamaha etc. are going to change from a proven, viable system. Until 'open' systems are as turnkey and idiot-proof as closed systems (and by doing so, they basically turn into closed systems), few are going to want the hassle.

What's the most talked about feature on MS's (and even, to a lesser extent, Wersi)? Their ability to play Yamaha styles, without translation. Not exactly the groundbreaking, innovative stuff we've been told is these keyboard's strengths!

If you want something that plays Yamaha styles and sounds, get a Yamaha! Save a chunk of money, and run the VSTi's off a laptop... MUCH less expensive than a Wersi or an MS...

Eventually? Maybe yes, but unless the big 3 go down that route, don't expect any 'open' system to be affordable, OR easy to operate. That's what the big 3 specialize in, and unless they take up the challenge, I predict that 'open' system arrangers will remain niche products for a niche market.

yeah, I only find them every seventh time I search. Too many screens; I want sliders.

I have been familiar with Wersi (On and off) for a good number of years, (As well as other manufactures boards) and I don’t know of any that you don’t just switch on and play.
In the 90s they went very Japanese by giving minimal real time control and multiple screens, but with the release of the OAS system they went back to there roots and produced keyboards that excelled at Real Time Live Play, with no need to access any other screen other than the Main Screen when playing a song. (Remember Wersi has been making Organs and Keyboards for well over 35 years, and they have been used by Artists in venues from small room’s right up to massive Stadiums, all over the world)
Enjoy whatever you play

Bill

Let's see... nine sliders on a G70 for all realtime part volumes, plus another eight for style volumes, plus sixteen for song volumes... Now, do you want reverb controls, too, and pan and chorus...? Best of luck finding the right fader in that maze...!

I LIKE the G70 system very much... Just enough sliders for controlling each section's needs, and four page buttons for choosing volume, pan chorus or reverb. You just have to learn which color (they are colored like Hammond drawbars) you need, and I never have a problem getting to the right one...

BTW, there is NO G70M, never will be, in all likelihood.