If you're interested in how close a Roland Integra-7 can get to a realistic symphony orchestra sound: this is an excerpt of Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz) by J.Strauss, realized on my Integra:
https://soundcloud.com/rorosetree/roland-integra-7-symphony

Very Nice I love Viennese Waltz....it's hard to tel the difference when my eyes are closed nice job thanx for sharing!

Thanks. I think the Integra is hard to beat for such classical symphonic sounds. However, I've made the experience that it's quite difficult to get this sound across via PA system at an event. It always sounds much best via headphones.

rosetree:

Your are controlling the Integra from your MOX?

How does it sound through studio monitors?

Is it easy to connect and control?

Normally I'm playing its sounds from my MoXF (not MoX any more, quite a difference ;-)). In this recording however, it is a sequencer project controlled from my laptop using Sonar sequencer software.
For live use, no problem at all using the MoXF as the master keyboard, sometimes in combination with a second small master keyboard (Roland A300pro) for a second upper part. I connect MoXF midi out to Integra midi in, and Integra audio out to MoXF audio in, so I don't need a mixer. There are 2 ways I use it:
- If I only need to play a few songs or only need very few Integra sounds to be added to the MoXF sounds, I use a very simple configuration: I simply prepare a few studio sets in the Integra (studio set = combination of 16 parts/sounds). In the studio set I can set key ranges and thereby assign sounds to various zones of the keyboard. I set all live parts to midi channel 1 and I can also mute parts if I want to. In thee MoXF I use performance mode, so everything I play is sent on channel 1. In the MoXF I can switch on/off the MoXF's own parts. I can also switch off the input signal so that the Integra is muted. So I can control quite easily if I want to play Integra or MoXF sounds or even combined ones for upper/lower.
-If I play many songs, unfortunately the Integra has the disadvantage to have only 64 storage locations for studio sets. But then you can use the MoXF master mode, which has 128 storage locations and lets you store patch change commands for external instruments, so that you can change Integra sounds from the MOXF.

Of course, the Integra sounds very good played on studio monitors. It's just symphonic music tends to be easily "swallowed" by chatter and noisy environments at events, so it's always disappointing then if you know how good it sounds via headphones.

Dammit!!! Now I want one!!!!!!!!

Great sounds! I'd love to try one and revoice some of my old midi's. I still have an old Roland 8850 SoundCanvas. Used it with SCPOP software. It produced some lovely concert organ voices. Thanks for posting. -charley

Charley reading your reply... is your T5 lacking in this orchestral sound dept? or?

Owning the MoXF, I can say that the MoXF and Motif XF are only able to compete with the Integra in this symphonic department if you expand it with orchestral libraries for the flash board. I did so, bought 2 libraries, and still to my ears the MoXF is about on a par with the Integra.
I'm quite sure the on-board sounds of the Tyros do not include such specialized, differentiated orchestral string samples as the Roland SRX 04 Symphonic Strings expansion (dedicated violin, viola, celli and basses sections, big and small etc.), similarly regarding the SRX 10 Brass.
Now, these libraries I bought for the MoXF (e.g. Garritan Personal Orchestra Lite for Motif XF) - I just found they are obviously NOT compatible to the Tyros flash board (which is no wonder as the MoXF and Motif use a voice architecture composed of waveform elements). Can you only use the Tyros flash board for Yamaha's own voice expansions? These include a lot of solo instruments like saxophones, celtic etc., but obviously not special symphonic sounds.

That's interesting that you said this. I have a Korg PA3x and I do not like the sound of it, but.........I've only ever played it through headphones. I'm wondering if what you said works in reverse. That I'm going to hear a different (hopefully better) sound if I listen to it through my big EV system?

What do you think?

rosetree:

Thanks for the info. I am trying to decide between adding Flash to the Motif with the Complete Orchestra Library or going the Integra route which is more expensive in the short term. However if I were to add a second Flash and many more libraries it would be pretty close. I use my Tyros 3 just like you do the Integra. So If I add an Integra I will also need a Mixer for the Tyros and Integra so I can feed their output into the Motif A/D input.

Why don't you try it? But my experience says headphones always sound best because they deliver the most comprehensive frequency range to your ears AND separate stereo channels. But the degree to which sounds get worse via PA varies with the type of sound and obviously also with the manufacturer. I've often heard that Yamaha somehow manages to keep sounds crisp and clear via speakers. My experience is also, e.g. for pianos, the more realistic a piano sample sounds, the more difficult it gets to keep it crisp and clear via PA.

I was quite disappointed with the DCP Complete Orchestra first, just bought it 3 weeks ago, some samples are incredibly bad (e.g. violins with only 1 sample for the entire key range, so that the sampled vibrato gets ridiculous). A few samples are very good. Eventually I found it is a useful library (Garritan GPO too) if you mix the samples with the Motif's factory samples, then in SOME cases it sounds even a bit more realistic than the Roland expansions. Mixing this with the Integra will nearly be the 'ne plus ultra'.

I think you don't need a mixer, you could use the Integra's audio input for the Tyros and then direct the joint signal to the Motif input.

DNJ.

On the contrary my friend. I love the orchestral voices on my Tyros5. The ensemble feature creates some fantastic harmonies. The Organ World concert organ voices are better than any I have ever had. It would be interesting to revoice some midi files with both the Tyros5 and Roland Integra for a comparison. I had a Roland BK7 when I had my Tyros4. I like having the best of both worlds when I can. Roland can certainly be proud of their Integra as Yamaha is of their Tyros5. -charley

Thanx for the clarification Charley...

I'm hardly playing these days, just a few small gigs so I haven't had the big rig out in a year or two.

Ironically, I think that's why I don't like the sound on the PA3x through headphones. It's too pure.....too clean....too sterile. I'm wondering if a more "gritty" sound that you get going through the PA on a dance floor wouldn't help me to appreciate the instrument more? Now that I think of it, this is the first time I ever used headphones to listen. Most of my boards had speakers.

I've got to think about this whole thing now. Possibly that's the simple incentive I need to get going again.......try it out on a crowded dance floor? I seem to be the only one who doesn't like the PA3x, so I must not be hearing it correctly?

Mark