Such a difference in both Funk Demos they are both good....one is compressed one is open and live sounding... personal preference I guess. Personally I am NOT a big fan of the T4 vocal voices seems a bit hokey to me in a style.

Hi Donny, I got to admit that I'm equally intrigued. You've spent months touting the Tyros 4 as the best sounding keyboard ever, and even going as far as recommending Leeboy to go and "buy it", and follow that a week later falling head over heels with Audya's live sound. It seems obvious long ago you were fully convinced either/both of these as must have boards to deliver the top pro live sound and features you're so much after. Realizing you gig 6-7 days a week, and sometimes even several gigs a day, I would expect the extra rigourous gigging demands on your home use intended by Yamaha S910 keyboard would have you purchasing a gig keyboard replacement by now , especially realizing the critical importance of gig keyboard "dependability" when you have so many daily gig demands. I agree with Ian that you as a full time working professional, deserve and require having the best arranger keyboard sound and features available to wow your fans and that you acknowledge that the Tyros 4 and/or Audya the best out there. I say stop dilly dallying and purchase a Tyros 4 and or Audya now. you know you want one, and as you've often said yourself, it's only money and that it will very quickly pay itself back in a very short time with all the gigs you've got. Is there a specific (missing?) feature or aspect about these keyboards that keeping you from taking the leap?
Donny, with all due respect, I'd be concerned, especially with the extra rigourous daily gigging demands you put on it, whether your S910 will be able to sustain its "reliability" untill the S920 finally comes out (2012?).

The "Live Sound" of the Audya makes that keyboard an "enigma".

It's an enigma because it has so much promise and potential, but lacks of support, reliability, 3rd party styles / voices / programs, and company loyalty.

If the Audya was sold by Yamaha, I would probably own one. However, my personal experience with both the Audya and Ketron was horrible. The keyboard does not feel like it is finished. It lacks usable software tools for creating new styles based on their wave technology. Yes, many users will say they have a style creator, but I liken it to programming in assembly code. Everything Ketron tries to do seems 3rd rate from the manuals to the support network to software releases to software bugs.

Buying a Ketron, from my experiences only, is a huge risk. But the paradox is the wonderful LIVE sound!

So, Donny, just what the heck have you been discussing on your many, many posts here on SZ?

Certainly you've been posting about your multiple gigs, and the great $$$ you make, plus, your every other post has been dealing with you buying, using, and selling instruments and their peripherals.

Just exactly what part of business can't you discuss...or am I missing something here?

Ian

I'll be stepping away for a while from SZ...
my friends have my email.

Take care

As good as the Ketron nd Yamaha top end arrangers are, to me, they're not as "top shelf" as the group at the top of this post. That's because of the awesome "synch at the hip" interchange and synergy between committed players playing off of each other.

The arrangers we're talking about are great. Group playing is a different animal. Please notice, I'm not claiming one is superior to the other, given some contributing factors like budgets, space, rehearsal requirements, etc.

It's just that, to me, the interplay between musicians of similar backgrounds and abilities is greater than the sum of the parts. Unfortunately, for me, as well as others, group work is not always either possible or practical.

Thanks, Donny for the original post.


Russ

I have to agree with you there, Russell...as good as today's arrangers can put out relatively realistic backgrounds, there is no substitute for "live" play, and the way each musician connects and inspires the other.

For me, playing together in a band is not practical most times, and I have learned to be very content with using an arranger, both for "live" gigs, and for writing and arranging music at home.

I'm just glad that arranger instruments were invented and developed to the degree they are today...now, at least I have a choice.

But, as far as TOTL arrangers being as good as a tight group like the one Donny posted...no, they're not there....yet.

Ian

Donny,

Whats with the spinning ball, only just noticed it and I have been on holiday for a while, where's the Dnj photo?

Donny,

How the hell did you do that, you changed your photo after you started the thread, I thought you wouldn't be able to do that, anyway if you are off and away I will understand if you don't answer, hope the WW (Wersi Wing) is out before you decide to come back but I am not holding my breath, if you are going don't peek in at SZ, promise me you won't, keep swinging on those keys Donny, BTW if you do go I will be able to catch up to your post count, gasp,gasp,gasp.

Cheers Donny you are always fun.

Tony

Donny,

I am having second thoughts about the new photo, I have had a look at again with my reading glasses on and it looks like you are cooking sausages on a barbecue in the garden.

Tony