George, thanks, I'm waiting anxiously for a call from gtr ctr and/or sam ash who are supposed to let me know when they get the s900 on the floor to try one..If I like it I'll be back atya to send me one..and then i have to figure out how to use up the other $500 of my credit. I hope they have the s700 also..I believe it has mic input but no harmonizer, which I have little interest in.. then I just have to decide if the extra SA sounds and extra styles on the s900 are those I'd use..unless there are other differences that i'm not considering..but if i buy the s700 from you then I need to figure out what to do with $1100 credit LOL.... I was thinking about an amp but I got back a 1985 Carlsbro 12" amp I had loaned to a cousin and vocals sound great thru it with that little Behringer mixer w/effects you sold me. I'm putting my old ART tube unit on the kb line as a pre-amp on a separate channel on the Carlsbro and it really warms and fills out the sound. whole rig is on a wheeled roller with powerstrip on top too and I have no setting up to do..I'll never use stands and separate speakers again. the kb speakers sort of serve as monitors, I set them at full gain. The Carlsbro's had a rep for unreliability, however, so I may have to still consider a new all-in-one amp. ideas? I was considering the sd5 in the mix, too.. but I tried that for bit when I tried the pa800 and didn't think the sound quality was up to the korg..but i liked the key feel and the layout and what i heard of the bass/drum backings seemed very good..and the riff feature is limited, but it is a nice extra nevertheless. I does weigh 11 lbs more than the s900, however--big minus for me. how do you think the 2 of them compare for me?..from what you said here i'll pass on the pa800. I don't care about "modern" or dance styles as much as hip latin and jazz that really swings..and i don't hate touch screens but prefer buttons.

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Miami Mo

Mo,
There is no mic input on the PSRS700 and your opinion of the SD5 is right on. Good semi weighted feel, very good styles, but most of the sounds are just good and not a up to date as the Yamaha and Korg. I happen to think the riff function is not very useful because of not being able to put your own chord progressions in. It's a dated keyboard and it just came out 1 year ago!


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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

My take on this would be... If you already have a Korg M3, why duplicate it with another Korg? There isn't anything in the PA800's voice set that isn't probably better in the M3's, or it's vastly superior sampler can't add.

BUT.... the S900's SA voices and Mega voice technology is completely different to Korg's imitative sounds, and could add (at considerably less cost than a T2) some very realistic sounds that the M3 is NOT capable of doing. The only thing I would double-check is the MIDI implementation of the S900... can it send any keyboard or arranger part out to the M3 and not to it's internal engine, and can it receive on any channel from the M3's arpeggiator?

Integrating those two different soundsets and pattern creation tools into one should make for a very flexible system...

BTW, I can't wait to play an M3, the demos are awesome. My local dealer should have one soon. How is the Karma 2 technology at doing more traditional styles like jazz or pop?

Ok George as always you give great advice. I hope I like that s900, but it still bugs me that the E60 had such shortcomings for me. I miss the 76, light weight, nice key feel, excellent sounds and styles. I think Roland dropped the ball on this (but maybe they were just afraid it would hurt the g70 if it was too pro?) all they have to do is come up with an OS update that better employs 8 of the buttons they already have to make the E60 a real pro gig-friendly ax. just redo the 4 d-beam and 4 one-touch programs. .anyway I hope the stores in the northeast get the s900 asap..gettin' itchy to check one out! does your Yamaha rep have a clue as to arrival? btw did roland ever answer you re the as-300 kb amp?

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Miami Mo

Personally, I haven't been attracted to either Tyros model, so I would probably stick with the S900. Despite all the hype and positive feedback, the Tyros doesn't look or sound any better (imho) than The PSR 3000 or the S900. There may be more features, but are they one you need or will use. Save the money and go with the S900.

...for what it's worth

I must agree with cassp...I have a PSR-S900(having had a Tyros2 for several months)and it's a real beauty...and a bargain.

Ian

Mo.... a new E60 OS allows you to use the useless V-Link button as an assignable switch (with a large choice of destinations). It's not everything you wanted, but it IS an improvement. I agree that a lot of the D-Beam assignments strike me as frivolous, but I guess somebody wants them that way But it still wasn't a deal breaker for me (the G70 offers a lot more footswitch control).

Diki, thanks for info..i forgot about the v-link being the 9th useless or poorly assigned button on the E60.. it's good they did something with that. one more control button, great. but still need more, they have to reassign at very least one more d-beam button and make it a control button, too. and the 4 one-touch buttons: just a waste as they are-- if they saved favorite sounds like ketron and korg--a different story. the fact they did change the os is encouraging,however-shows they listen. if I'm not knocked out by the s900 i'd love to think that roland might take the extra steps that would put me back in the E60 fold. there is no foot controller option like your g70 has so it IS a deal-breaker for me that the hand controls are so poor.(and at 45 lbs the g70 is not an option for me)

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Miami Mo

Well, we DID talk about using MIDI pedals in the past. I know it's a bit of a hassle (but not a whole lot more than learning the OS in the first place), but if the E60 sounds, styles and the form factor are right up your street, it seems a shame to not use one just because you don't want the task of programming the foot pedals...

I just don't see Roland completely revamping the D-Beam concept, no matter how many times we tell them it's dumb! Just like most manufacturers, they are hard to turn away from a proprietary concept, no matter how much you wish they would... Since day 1 of the G70, I've been begging for more practical choices for the D-Beam EFX (actually, I want the choice of ANY sound, not their limited selection). And the DJ choices only make sense if the arranger is really good for techno and dance styles in the first place, which I would say, compared to Korg, it is not...

But, if I can't get them to return the indispensable Chord Sequencer, what chance do we have of this major change..? Just knuckle down and learn how to program the MIDI pedals, and you won't have to wait for Roland to do your bidding before the E60 is acceptable...

Hi cassp

Nothing personal here, but, the main thing I want to get across to potential buyers that go by what others say is, that you ought to try them out first and conclude if they sound the same.(they don't, not opinion, fact.), which one gives you what you really need/want in relation to how much you want to spend.

The PSR3000, a fine keyboard, sounds similar to the Tyros 1, BUT IT IS NOT IDENTICAL IN SOUND, and anyone being misled into believing they are saving a bundle of money to get an identical sounding instrument is being, mislead, deluded , rationalizing or I am sorry to say suffering from a hearing impairment.

I have not hear the S900, but I can assure you the same will hold true compared to the Tyros 2, (unless Yamaha has totally lost their minds

Is it worth it to spend the extra money for a Tyros version over the PSR. IMHO, I would be willing to spend more than I did on a Tyros 2 to get what I've got in relationship the the PSR. There is that much difference, if you really are using all the voice families etc.

Again, this is meant mostly for the lurkers who come here to get advice. Try them out, see which one fills YOUR criteria. Don't take my word for it. This is not a my toys are better than yours, I had a 3000 and T1. The PSR made me unhappy, after playing the Tyros. The Tyros1 & 2 wows me every time I play it.

Being able to layer 3 right hand sounds and having aftertouch makes a major difference plus many other things.

Many players are perfectly happy with the PSR3000 and I'm sure the same will hold true for the S900, I want to try one out myself. So if you like the 3000 or 900 great!

My opinion: never live by anyone else's opinion. What makes you happy may be totally different.

Not meant to stir things up, but, it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

Best
Scott

http://ScottLMusic.com



[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 07-22-2007).]