I am looking for advice from K2500 and Roland
XP-60 users. I enjoy playing and sequencing
> covers of country, old rock and roll, and some jazz. I have a Yamaha
> SY-85, and I use a four track recorder to add one or more vocals.
> Currently all of my music is sequenced. I don't have time to perform
> live in a band. My best instrument is my voice; I can't play anything
> complex in rhythm or chord structure. I'm looking for a workstation
> with a variety of sounds from banjo, pedal steel, fiddle to rock guitar,
> B3 organ, acoustic guitar strums, to solo and ensemble sounds from a
> classical orchestra to solo and ensemble band
> instruments. My SY-85 does some of these well, but the electric guitar
> and organ sounds are especially weak in the song mode. I guess the
> sequencer
> can only produce so much effects, so what is played live dies in the
> sequencer. I tried the Yamaha EX5 and was ready to buy until I
> discovered there was no banjo, no solo violin, and crash cymbal sounded
> like someone hitting a garbage can lid. I tried the Ensoniq ZR-76,
> which has an awsome piano sound and weighted keys, but every other sound
> on it
> was less satisfying than my old SY-85. I have not learned how to edit
> or tweak sounds, and I have limited time (until I retire) to learn about
> synthesizers. I tried a GeneralMusic Equinox keyboard and found most of
> the solo instruments had a continuous vibrato which I disliked.
> I would want vibrato controlled either by aftertouch or a wheel or foot
> pedal.
>
> I'm interested in the XP-60 because of the
> Country Collection sound module that might satisfy my desire for
> Nashville sounds. I am still looking for a Kurzweil dealer that stocks
> the K2500. I'm not interested in most analog synth sounds. I want my
> music to sound like the sampled instruments.
>
> If I sequenced the same song
> on the Roland XP-60 and the Kurzweil K2500, which workstation would
> produce the more realistic sound? With my limited knowledge of
> synthesizers, which of these would be easier to learn how to use? What other advice can you give?

The Kurzweil is a great keyboard, but that K2500 will put you in the hole by about $3500. That is too expensive.

People may disagree, but I strongly believe that you would get your money's worth if you bough a Roland XP60 ($1300), the Country Expansion Board ($200) and then maybe buy a decent sampler (i.e. Roland S770 - $800).

You'd have all of the osunds you need with the Keyboard and expansion board. And with a sampler, you could have an actual musician come in, sample his playing. . and then play "him" using your keyboard (I'm trying to describe this in the most basic sense).

All together, you'd still be under the $2500 mark. You may even try to get this stuff used and maybe pay less that $2000 for all the items described.

The Kurzweil is a great board that will open up a lot of options for you, but even the basic Kurzweil setup is about $3500. (maybe $2700 used?).

If money is not an issue, then maybe. . . maybe go for the Kurzweil.

The Infamous EPU.

Are you planning to sell your SY85? If not, then why not consider a module-type synth or sampler, using your Yamaha as its controller? I don't know anything of the SY's sequencer or controller capabilities, though.

I plan to keep my SY-85 because I have 10 years of sequencing experience with it and between 200-300 completed songs. It only has
8 tracks with a dedicated 9th track for drum
patterns that can be programmed. It is NOT
General Midi. I have never used it as a controller or with a module. Would it's limited effects in the sequencer mode be a
problem? In other words, would the new sounds be lost in the SY-85's sequencer?