background information
I have been playing piano since 1.5 years old (I play mostly by ear). I guess you would say the "talent curve" has flattened off since then (in otherwords, I am nothing special for my age now
I played trumpet in school bands (about 8 years).
I have been out of school a LONG time
I have had the kn5000 for ~17 years now and haven't really been able to get inspired (all the styles and instruments are kind of "worn out ")---it only took me about 17 years to get to this point.
I play for fun and enjoy making my own compositions up (can't write music and reading music is weak---I can read right hand and guitar chords)
technics made an amazing keyboard for its day, but they are no longer in business (therefore, no support, warranty, parts, etc). If they were still in business, I would be getting their flagship. that is why I am reluctant to get a kn7000--no further support (and the kn6000 had some features that were removed from the 7000---so I might have considered that)
In fact, one of the places I have been trying the tyros 4
*does* have a used kn6000 (slightly beat up)
the yamaha feels like it is built better---and after exploring more of the sounds, it does sound pretty good.
Perhaps I could sample the backgrounds that I like into the tyros and loop them?
There was some mention of a program that converts files---I will certainly look into that.
ok...so that gives you some (boring) information on me

ok....looks like emc styleworks should work wonders.
how much does it cost(didn't see any pricing on that website) and how well does it work?(I assume you need a computer to make that work)
now the challenging part....how to get floppy downloaded to computer (that has no floppy drive)----maybe they make usb floppies?

Hi.

You're right, KN5000 is a wonderful keyboard. Even today, and the features as i.e. composer and panelmemories and the very easy operation system, what other brand come close to that?

EMC Styleworks is pretty expensive, and you'll see the prices at EMC's website .

Styleworks is a nice tool, but it don't sound like a "wonder has happened" after a raw convert. As mentioned above, it takes a lot of work, you have to tweak and adjust a lot, swap sounds etc. to make it sound any good.
KN5000 package contains a convert disk that is a simplified version that works only stright at the KN, but Styleworks is a PC software and have much more options.

Regarding the KN diskettes, if your PC don't have a floppydrive, you can by a cheep external to plug into the PC.

Technics parts etc - http://www.wdgreenhill.com/
Technics Support - it is all here.
I have EMC Styleworks - cost nearly £300

Hello Philip,

I've just read John C's reason for changing to a Tyros 3 because a)you can use USB sticks and b) it does have a small on-board hard drive. I agree with most of what John says with the exception of No.2 - "easy to operate" ???

In my opinion, the Tyros keyboard's Operating System hasn't changed much over the years with the exception of the Tyros 4 which now offers an expensive optional extra but I think it is still unnecessarily complicated in that it uses different areas for saving i.e: Voices, Styles, Registrations etc. and almost every single move has to be saved in the correct area or you lose your set, or worse still, it cannot be called up because it has been saved in the wrong place. You have to go to the area button first before accessing the actual area. You also have to be very careful when changing parts/icon or renaming your set, as this could 'break the link' thus causing further complications.(can you believe that?) There is an awful lot of button pushing involved with this keyboard which is also very time consuming.

With Technics once you have saved your set, it can be called up by Folder, File, Numerical or Alphabetical accessed immediately via the load button. The KN7000 uses an SD Card which makes it even easier to save and call up your tunes but, you can only save 99 Folders to an SD Card (more than enough for most people). However, it doesn' have the facility to save to a USB stick BUT depending on the model you have, you can add an internal hard drive if you wish.

Summary:-

1) Yamaha Tyros 3 would be a good choice as there are numerous converted Technics styles available on the net that it will quite happily play. The USB stick is quicker than a Floppy Disk but for me, it isn't as quick to load as the SD Card.(or as reliable)


2) Technics KN7000 is also a good choice as the SD Card is quick to load and has never failed when calling up saved Folders/Files/Songs, making it definitely easier to operate.

You have to remember that while the KN7000 keyboard is still among the top keyboards, the sound system isn't as good as the modern keyboards but I play mine through an amplification system and you can barely tell the difference. However, each day it is getting older which will obviously reflect in any future part-exchange price plus of course, the ordinary SD Card is becoming harder to find in the shops. An SHDC Card will not work - these are for camera's only.

Hope this helps.

Audrey

Good post, Audrey

I had been looking at the tryos 4 and it is starting to grow on me a bit.
the kn7000 would be a familiar interface (I am very used to my kn5000).
I know the make SD card readers that can be hooked into a usb port---so xfering files wouldn't be hard to do.
I wasn't aware sd cards were getting to be rare (and sdhc are not useable in kn7000----very useful info!)
will the kn7000 read kn5000 files without any conversion process?
can kn7000 save files as non-proprietary files (mp3, wav, etc)

Hi,the KN7 has a file load/exchange to let you take previous KN model files to be loaded with 95-99% success. This was included in the internal software because Technics wanted previous customer to do just what you want in keeping their hard work. It's a lot of hard work to start allover.
As far as the Yamaha O.S. it is noway as user friendly as Technics. To be fair I have worked as a product specialist in retail for Yamaha even teaching Yamaha Music School (late 1970-1989)Then moving to become a Director of a Technics Dealership for a number of years.I can truly say both companies have produced great products.
I now have my trusted old KN7 plus many/many style files and play a Tyros 4 on odd times at my local bar for free and easy singalongs,yes it's great but I feel happy when I get home.

Reagrds John

johh, does the sounds of the kn7000 measure up to the yamaha sounds?
how about the accompanyments?

You need the SD Jukebox software and reader to store MP3 and WAV to SD. I still rank KN7000 right below the Audya in general.

Bernie