Hi

New to the forum, from the UK. I have a lot of keyboards, including fantom x8, korg karma and discover 5.

I am a part time gigging musician, and because I need to concentrate on lead vocals supplemented by playing, I use edited SMFs via the discover5, which is just about the easiest instrument I've ever come across for this purpose. Problem is, it's getting very long in the tooth, and I need to replace it. Given that I mainly want to play SMF but I need the best possible quality with the least painful editing, can anybody recommend a replacement. I have been considering the Audya5 as first choice, but possibly a used G70, a Tyros 4 or a PA2x-pro. I did use my fantom x8 briefly but found that it was a pain to program the files with Cchange and PChange messages, but also that mixing SRX sounds with the onboard sounds gave uneven results that didn't sit well in the mix. I have also now got kinda used to the lyric and chord 'comfort blanket' that the discover provides. Any advice gratefully received

Cheers

Nick

Hi Nick,
if your smf's have been edited to suit Roland, it may be best to stick with Roland.

If you can, see if you can try them with the other instruments you mentioned, or you find you'd having to edit them all over again.

Have you considered a Roland sound module like the Sonic Cell connected to a keyboard?

best wishes
Rikki

Nick, since you are happy with the DisCover5..and know the instrument..I would suggest you move up to the G70...Everything you love on the DisCover5 is on the G70...but improved...
In the USA, you can find clean used G70's under $2,000..making the G70 a great buy..

As you know Roland still owns the field in SMF play/edit...and the G70 continues that and more...

You mentioned the Audya....as an arranger, if you can allocate that much money...will sound great...SMF's on past Ketron's don't compete with Roland..(in my opinion)..

Overall bang for the dollar without compromise..G70..

For the best sounding arranger..Audya..

Ditto... If the size and weight of the G70 are not a dealbreaker (and you have an FantomX8!), the SMF editing tools on the G70 are light years ahead of any competition.

Sonically, the T4 will be the more advanced arranger, especially lead sounds and guitars, but if you are wedded to the ballsy sound of the Roland's, and want advanced but easy to use header editing as well as a comprehensive on board sequence, look around for a good used G70 or E80 (if you can live with 61)...

Cheers guys. You've confirmed what I already suspected. For my niche "needs", the Roland approach is the dogs ""

I did love the real drums on that Audya though...

Audya's real drums are exceptional... but as you mention ease of editing as being a primary requirement (I have the same priorities!), I wouldn't go that route.

The audio loops are GREAT, but you can't really do much to them. Forget editing the kick to a slightly different beat, forget about changing the backbeat, forget about substituting a different snare sound, or all the other myriad things that doing it in MIDI allow you.

You gain, but you also lose...

Yea, again you have clarified things for me. I was seduced by the sound, but the reality would have been different. I rely on that fine tuning ability to differentiate me from the herd. I thought that live drums would give me a bigger edge, but I realise that in reality, whilst the technology is tempting, it isn't quite there yet... But when it IS!!!!