Have to say guys, just looking at the range of Arrangers that are available and I tell you, I actually miss Technics. They produced good keyboards, and everything about the company was spot on.

Good support, additional styles, user communities and so on....!!!

My first pro Arranger was the SX-K700 and I gigged 2 nights a week with that puppy and a little Yamaha sound module. Think I was about 15 years old at the time and playing in pubs. Great days, and wow... you could even program 4 of your own 3 part styles into it That blew my mind in those days.

I don't quite get why Technics ever pulled out of the market. Seems to me that they were doing everything right and had a lot of respect for their customers. Unlike KETRON who seem to hang around like a bad smell... anyway... Imagine what a KN 8000 would look like if they were still around.

I think there's a big opportunity here for Technics to re-enter the arranger market. Roland are kind of dormant and more focused on their Workstations, so you really only have KORG and Yamaha these days pushing out high technology. KETRON are an utter joke. Technics were well to push technology limits in the day too and I'm sure they would have no problem keeping up now either.

Their WSA 1 was ...WAY... ahead of it's time and that should have made it's way into their arrangers. Man that would be one sweet keyboard actually now that I think about it.

Anyway... just wanted to say that I MISS TECHNICS.

Regards
James

I miss them too, but I think they were indeed ahead of the time, because they could see the writing on the wall that the arranger market is destined to shrink until it's gone.
Hope I'm wrong and it comes back.
DonM

I never understood why Panasonic cut Technics keyboard department..

As the keyboard department of technics was next being inovative also making profit.

I beleive they cut it down for being small scale or something..

They made aweome arrangers and i loved my KN2000. If they where still around today the market would probably look different and there would have been a lot more inovation over the last few years.

I just bought a Technics Kn7000, it�s the third time I have done this. The technology is not up to date but when I played it through the Bose Compact PA I knew I had to buy and do my best to work around the technology. It does have a SD card for storage and a sequencer/style creator that is way ahead of its time. For the music I like to play this keyboard is hard to beat.

When I get comfortable I will up load a song.
John C.

On the Kn7000...I always disliked the sunken keyboard that restricts your fingers on each end and awkward tilt up panel setup was very restrictive for navigation in realtime vs flat on deck...it did have a nice speaker system. My favorite was the KN5000.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 06-20-2010).]

Yes I miss Technics too. Great keyboards with a beautiful design.

I do have a Kn5000 for sale. If there is any interest make an offer.
John C.

The KN7000 is still my favourite keyboard of all those that I own - others are good but Technics was something special.

Would give my right leg (need my arm to play) for a KN8000 and would happily pay any price asked. I'm sure it would still be leading the field as they always did in the past.

Can't dwell on the subject as I'm still in mourning for it.

Nice to see that there is still so much support for technics ...
Still giggn' with my kn6000
"nuff said"
t.

Tony thats all well and good ....but now that they are all discontinued what do you do if ever in need of service? Honestly years ago I bought a KN6000 (after my KN5000 which I played 2 years got it from Don Mason & enjoyed playing it) .....brought it on stage ONE Time and returned it the next day to the store ...bought two PRS9000's and although I've had every major TOTL/MOTL brand arranger have been a Yamaha player ever since. For me there is nothing better AT THIS TIME. Good luck with your KN6000 it seems to work for you.

PS. I did love the Multipads sounds very much on Technics units they were very usefull.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 06-21-2010).]

Like Anthony I too still mourn the Technics keyboards. It was such a shock when they announced "no more" and in my opinion there is still nothing (repeat nothing) to beat it. I also have the Yamaha Tyros 3 which despite all the 'hype' isn't a patch on the KN7. I will say it has an excellent sound system but 'User Friendly' - forget it!

Dnj - I also had a 'duff' KN6000. I was given to understand that the first batch of the KN6000's distributed from the Factory were released with a fault, so it would seem you and I were among the unlucky ones.
However, I have to say mine was quickly replaced with a KN6500 from Technics and I had many happy, trouble-free hours playing it.

Audrey

Wasn't the KN6000 the one that suffered from sluggish chord recognition? Is that why you returned yours Donny? I guess this problem was resolved by the time the KN7000 came out. -Ted

Hi Ted & Audrey ....If I remember correctly it's been a long while.... but Yes, that was one of the reasons with sluggish chord recognition on the Kn6000 & also trying to mix all the style parts regarding volume levels was a bit of a nightmare...as I remember it had 8 different parts?....I had no problem with the Kn5000.

I will second Audrey�s experience with a Kn6000. After 10 trips to repair they replaced it with a Kn6500 at no cost. That was the only difficulty I had with Technics in well over 13 years. There was never a Technics keyboard that had 500 added to the name � Kn6000 and then a Kn6500, and I feel it came out before its time to rescue it�s customers. Lucky you Tony yours still lives. (nice)

Like Audrey I also own a Tyros3 and I am amazed at all the things it is capable of doing. I have sold three Kn7000 and I just bought my fourth, I keep coming back home. After owning and working for the last four years with a Psr2100, Psr3000, Tyros 1, Tyros2, S900 and now for my retirement bought a Tyros3 I am back to a Kn7000, there is a big difference that can not be denied. It�s a different animal with clarity that I have not heard on any other keyboard. Matched with my Bose compact it�s a touch of heaven.

All of this is in view of the type of music I play, after listening to some of the music offered by some of our members I would have to say the Kn7000 is not for everyone. Tony you would find the Kn7000 a pleasant step up from your Kn6000, everything a bit better and much faster.

I need offers for my Tyors3. It has not left my home �it is loaded (Thumb drive) styles (Hundreds) Registrations and good midi files all ready to play a job.

John C.

Restricting your fingers from what? The keys that don't exist past the 61 it had.

I had the KN5000, KN6000, and KN6500 with every EW sound expansion card and nearly purchased a KN7000 before buying my Wersi Abacus. I quite liked the sound and features. The ease of use the KN series had were far ahead of their time and I loved the extensive synthesizer features as well. The only issue I had was a speaker going out on my KN6500 which Technics quickly replaced for free even though my keyboard was long out of warranty. I couldn't fault Technics in any way other than their decision to pull out of the keyboard marketplace.

Matsushita (now known as Panasonic) is one of the largest manufacturers of electronics in the World. Their keyboard division made up such a tiny portion of their income that it wasn't worth keeping it afloat which is sad. Perhaps one day they'll enter the keyboard market again but only time will tell.

[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 06-22-2010).]

Ensnareyou,
I bow to the Wersi product. I had the first keyboard (model) they made, at the time it was too much for me. If it were not for the dollars I would have one now. I always had the feeling that Wersi has something to do with the Technics keyboards, they seemed to run along the type of quality. I would like to add � they had integrity in their product, quality came first.

John C.

The sunken KN7000 keyboard was very restrictive....fingers got craped up on both ends no where to spread......61 keys is my choice always as every other keybed design is END FREE to play on both sides....76/88 makes no difference......

I am THRILLED that I have had nowhere near the poor kn6000 experiences noted above ...
and as for service, I have a nice guy that I go to in CT about 45 min from my home ...

Play what you like, like what you play ... I know I do ... ...
t.

[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 06-26-2010).]

Hi,
I miss Technics also.
My first one was the KN800 back in roughly 1989?
From there, I had the kn2,kn3,kn5,kn7,
the module version of the kn2, the KN5 in piano version, plus the WSA synth.
They were great keyboards, so was bebop's technics forum here on synthzone.
Really miss the good old days.

best wishes
Rikki

Rikki, I think you should just give up and switch to a software based arranger system.

Hi Frank,
sorry , didn't spot your post, I haven't been around much, I've been taking a bit of a break away from my keyboards.

Strangely enough I've been thinking about trying to put all my old soundfont software etc back in my pc and giving it another go.
Just need to try and get some of my old enthusiasm back haahaa

Nice to hear from you again.

best wishes
rikki

Rikki, Just a thought � I have found that too much technology as good as it may be took me away from playing my keyboard and eventually to boredom. This is not for all people, some love the pushing and dragging of a computer or keyboard.

I first came to a keyboard because of my love of music. Midi files, new keyboards, gathering more and more styles and recording to MP3 format, Ect.. have put a dent in this love I have for music. I have gone back to 20% technology and 80% playing and I am being to smile again.

John C.

John C, couldn't have said it better. After 30 years of synths, I haven't been happier in years since I got my Nord C1 and switched primarily to organ. I haven't played 'just organ' since the 80's and I also haven't been this enthusiastic since the 80's. I've still got plenty of 'synths' but when I go down to my studio, I usually head straight for the organ; nor do they follow me to any gigs. When you're 'just playing', life is good .

chas

i have been using my kn6000 for 8 or 9 years along with my wersi pegasus, never had a problem with the kn6000 and i love how easy it is to use.
i would love to see a kn8000 as i think the kn6000, kn6500 and the kn7000 were great keyboards for there time.

This may be a bit off the topic but I could not resist.

ooops, made a mistake, sorry.
[

This may be a bit off the topic
but I could not resist.

I've still got plenty of 'synths' but when I go down to my studio, I usually head straight for the Organ; nor do they follow me to any gigs. When you're 'just playing', life is good .

Above by Chas

Hey Chas, nicely put � When I am playing my instrument and I down deep with it I experience something very special that money can not buy. Music and not the instrument has carried me through a divorce, a passing of a wife and many other ugly areas of my life. I can remember feeling miserable, I was depressed, my world was a mess. Then the lights went on the curtains opened I turned to the audience and began to play. I had one fantastic 4 hours, when it ended and the music stopped I returned to who I was. And so the power of music. Life is sooooo good!

John C.

Thanks Guys,
i have this terrible habit of getting so involved with the technology I end up not playing at all. Only time I play a song is to see if a style I'm working on, will actually work with it.
Only exception was when we had the monthly Synthzone Ejams, they were fun, they actually had me practicing haahaa.

I've temporarily gone back to my other hobby, making teddy bears ( actually currently I'm creating stuffed rabbits,)
they're taking over my music room. haahaa.
I better get back to my keyboards or we might have to extend the house haahaa.

Congratulations John, it appears you managed to get yourself a kn7000?? that's great.

best wishes
rikki ( rikki's rabbits)

I'm the exact opposite. Playing is much more fun.

Taike

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Bo pen nyang.