PSR 9000, Tyros, PA80, Triton, VA5 and VA76.
I'd be very, very greatful to everybody with more experience than me - ALL OF YOU!
José Medeiros

Wow.... big choices:
PSR 9000 - Large, heavy, expensive, but feature laden. Great vocal harmony and insert effects for the sounds. Hard drive optional. Speakers are not real loud, but sound great. Audio ins with a very special "loop" feature that allows the internal speakers to act as a monitor for your whole setup and still have individual mixer control of the keyboard. This has the most stuff in one package, but the package is a BEAR to transport. 50lbs, and very wide(deep)

Tyros - No speakers, lightweight, expensive, and aslo feature laden. HD also an option. Vocal harmony included. This years top entry from yamaha.

PA80 - Smaller package, HD optional, but gives you TWO sequencers with a DJ style fader. Harmony also an option. Great sounds, but stronger learning curve than Yamaha. Drums are among the very best, arrangements have 8 parts and are sometimes 16 measure patterns. Lightweight, 4 outputs, audio ins, completely REprogrammable. No use for Polkas? Take 'em out and fill that spot with something else.


Triton - Not an arranger. No speakers or mic input. Doesn't belong in this comparison, because it's a totaly different animal. Popular workstation that inspired the creation of the PA80/60. Hip Hop artists seem to love this one. Complete workstation.

VA5/VA76 - Identical sound sourse & rhythms. VA7 adds aftertouch, zip drive and a few more goodies, but they look, sound and act the same. Touch screen, not alot of buttons - difficult to navigate in a high pressure situation. Lightweight, but HUGE case. Speakers sound very good, but no input suitable for singing live. Audio inputs to sound system. The mic input is meant for the sampling aspect (variphrase)Over 3000 sounds with lots of repetition.

*** This is a quick overview of your choices. You can get specific comments after we know what your needs are.
I use a PA80 full time, and after a lot of tweaking, reading and restructuring ..... it's doing the job pretty well.

Next step - get out to the stores and PLAY them all. They all feel different, and will act acordingly. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Uncle Dave (edited 09-06-2002).]

Uncle Dave, how many of the Va7's sounds overlap each other ?

I'd go for the VA7.It may be slow to navigate but damn it its a Roland !!!

Tyros has 31 Drum Kits
VA7 has 116 Drum Kits including "V Drums"

I am using a PA80. In short, I have some gripe over its operating system, but it sounds great.

It has only two fill-ins that are very intolerant; you make a mistake or unable (because your hand is busy) to press it at the right time and it will bark at you. On the positive side the chord variations give you the opportunity to have more fill-ins or bass runs hidden, but with limited use. PA80 also has good synth editing capabilities that are very useful. You can replace all of its styles with your own; one of the main reasons I bought it.

If I can go back and make my purchase again, I will still consider only PA80 and PSR2000 (of course, given my budget).

One other thing, Korg customer support has not been as good to me as Yamaha. They have ignored me a few times (not every time) while Yamaha has even got my phone number from the ISP and called me when their email bounced back.

Hope this help.

Shiral

Ok, guys: don't laugh at me and be patient: 1) what are the diferences between an arranger and a workstation?

The VA7 uses the same approach as the G800 and G1000 series. They include the older sound canvas sets, as well as the newest ones. There are three separate sets that are almost identical in name and function, but have slight sonic improvements in certain sounds. There are the original SC55 sounds, the G-series sounds, and the new VA series (like the JV line-up)

An arranger can produce full backing accompaniment with a simple chord press. A work station needs to produce one thing at a time to create anything. Many arrangers can do workstation duty, but NO workstations can do what an arranger can. A few have come closer, like the Karma and the Fantom, but they still are not arrangers. Instant chord recognition on one side of a split point (or full kb mode too)is a pretty good bet that you have an arranger.

Thank U, Uncle Dave.
You've been very useful.
Every day I've been much closer to realize what I need: something with very realystic sounds and vocals, good speakers include but with the possibility to connect an amplifier, zip drive (cd burner will be great!), functional big LCD screen (a sensitive touch one???).
Is this a VA5/7/76, PSR2000/9000?
Later!

Hi Jose,

it sounds like you should take a look at the new Genesys from GEM (I think it is called SG-1 in your neck of the woods ).
It has a CD burner and a great sound system built in. Sounds and styles are the latest technology. The same is true for the new Tyros, except for the CD burner.

Good luck

Eric