So good to finally belong to the land of the "real synths" having originally made a very poor choice for a first keyboard (which now is used as a controller for the 5050, save it does have some nice brass and sax sounds.)

I'm having lots of fun playing in the 5050 software editor -- but I'm not getting much music recorded because I'm having troulble choosing patches, they are all so good! I wanted fabulous sounds and I've got them.

A little about myself, I am a home hobby musican but with 37 years of piano playing behind me, just getting into electronic music in the past couple of years, and I started using Cakewalk to make midi sequences/CD's Mp3s for friends back in April. I'm way behind converting my recordings into MP3s and as soon as I catch up I'll post a link to my songs. I'm quite proud of them -- being able to finally record (never dreamed I'd have my 'own recording studio' I mean who would have dreamed that 10 or 20 years ago?) as a hobbyist?

My only "Classical" training was in the clarinet in school where I was #1 clarinet player in Texas in 1978.

I also play a little "chording" on acoustic guitar and a very little bit of banjo.

I come from a musical family, the only *famous* musican in my family is my dad's uncle Floyd Tillman who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984. He was popular in the 40's and 50's and still recording in the 1960's and is still alive at 99 years old living about in Austin Texas.

Personally my favorite music is 1970's pop and rock and roll, however I like most music (except rap, hip hop, and trance), I do like classical, R&B, blues, jazz, and some country music. I try to do a wide variety of genres with my synth and module.

I've only written one song myself so far and not to pleased with it, so mainly I just record popular songs (or not so popular songs that I did like, like those of the relatively unknown group klaatu.)

So glad to be here and I'll probably be asking questions of some of you who are very experienced XV-ers. I did join the Yahoo Roland-XV group as well. I'm studying this patch sharing idea and getting ready to pick a librarian (not that I'm even through auditioning all the patches on the 5050.)

So, I'mfinally out of arranger keyboard hell. I originally bought an arranger keyboard because of budget limitations, I was able to buy a good Yamaha sound set and the vocal harmonizer in a PSR 740, at $800, however, I do not like to use the auto-arranger (style) portion of that board and so I do not fit in witht he majority of owners of those type of keyboards. Those type of keyboards I've found are usually very new to music and I don't have much in common with them, and I tend to upset them, and make them angry because I don't use the "styles" instead I make my sequences from the "bottom up" recording all the tracks myself, I have coined the term "from scratch" to differentiate my midis/MP3s from those of others who do use the auto arranger. As I said now the PSR is mostly a midi controller for the XV5050. I still use the vocal harmonizer on it as well as a few of the brass and sax voices that were the original reason for me buying the board -- but the 5050's other voices far outshine the Yamaha set, in my opinion! Or maybe what I should say is that the soundsets compliment each other. (I've recently been bashed by some MOTIF lovers for saying that the Yamaha sound set pales in comparison to the Roland XV) so I'm a little sensitive on that subject today!

But even tho I can be sensitive (as most musicians are and must be to be good) I'm not like those PSR owners who act as if you have shot their mother if you disagree with me -- for I beleive diversity is beautiful. For without it, music would be rather boring!

Anyone who would like to join MY Yahoo group (known as the "serious" Yahoo music group) please come to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/keyboard-synth-module-club/

We upload midi files and have MP3 storage on my personal site too -- we do serious song reviews and help each other "proof" listen to our mixes in order to help each other out a bit, come on by!

We were originally a splinter group from a Yahoo Yamaha group but have many owners of Roland equipment in the group, and our members range from beginners to pro gigging musicians.

Cathy T

Howdy. I thought you'd left synthzone in disgust as well because some of us were hitting you pretty hard with the whole 'get over the PSR incident' line. Glad to hear you're expanding your musical options with the new synthe module. I hope you become extra enthused and inspired with it; once you get past the GAGA stage with all the new patches at your disposal.

Enjoy!

How long does that last? "THE GAGA STAGE" ??

It is keeping me from getting any songs finished, I look for a patch and I get lost in them!

Yeah I left for awhile until I could get a "real" synth (after being told I didn't have one!) hee hee which I knew already.

Simon apologized to me (privately) for hitting me so hard here. I think he realized that I've taken ENOUGH punishment for not liking styles (getting expelled from the PSR clubs.)

Hope this GAGA stage goes away soon so I can get some work done!

Cathy

Hey just make the most of the GAGA stage. If you are getting that into the patches you are probably also coming with with some cool ways to use the sounds. Just try and record some of your musical doodlings even if it is just the odd phrase or idea. Although it may not add up to much now you may find that you have a few gems when you listen to them sometime from now. While the range of new sounds can be overwhelming just enjoy the experience for now. Having fun is the main motivation, but having fun can also stimulate new ideas.