What is on YOUR Musical Agenda for the NEW YEAR 2018?
New KB?...New Gear?...New Playing Technic?...New Gig Venues?..Or?

For me in 2018 in studio recording for a New CD project & as always improving my playing abilities on the KB.

With hip replacement done...still trying to decide if I’m going to get back in the gigging game...carrying equipment around is the issue. I’ve had a rough recovery and don’t want to go through replacing another joint.

My musical partner, my wife, is going to part time in her work and may be interested in playing more. That could get me gigging again.

This is the first year, in many years, I have no plans for new equipment...that could change of course. I would love to buy a Genos or SD7, just to have something new to play....just can’t justify it...$$$$ wise.

Also, I really have just started to learn all the options of my 4X and I still have the S970.

What does 2018 hold for the rest of you?

2018 will be my return after many years to Yamaha.

sounds like you need a Roland EA7 very lightweight, mic processor, and sounds very good.

I, too, would like to make some quality recordings, perhaps in collaboration with some other musicians, and also improve on my playing ability ...
No new gear in sight, unless I need to get a new speaker, but that remains to be seen ...

Finish programming my S970 and KMA. Then take the KMA out on free-b. If I can handle that I’ll try a Roland E A7 or my S970. I added TC Helicon Touch Live to the KMA, sounds good.

That’s plan A.
Plan B is to sit back and get into the depth of my keyboards. Genos? No. Possibly a Tyros 5 set up. Do some recording. I am playing and creating arrangements for my guitar. I will be looking for a good Jazz box soon.

This is going to be one great year, John C.
PS, if you have interested in one of my arrangements let me know.

"No new gear in sight, unless I need to get a new speaker, but that remains to be seen".
Tony new speakers??????? Like what????

Ya got me thinking again, John C.

Haha ... Keep the juices flowing John, but don't go too crazy ...
For the great majority of my gigs, my two Podium 10's are sufficient ... for larger gigs, (150 ppl +) which are usually with another musician or two, I go from the Podium line outs into another system ...
Most recently, I found that one of the Podiums isn't putting out nearly the volume of the other, so I have to get it checked out ... What happens there will determine what direction I go in ...

Need to make some decisions. Studio work (hired gun-keys, strings and copy) commitment is 90 hours per month in 30 straight hour chunks. They want 120. My productions (music for my industrial projects) take another 40 hours.

Been asked to demo for an amplifier company again, and do limited touring with a Grammy winner you all know.

That means giving up my house job and one-niter's with my band, consisting of my son and grandson. Really don't want to do that.

A long-time Italian client wants a commitment of 5 years to introduce contractor staircase packages and very expensive custom staircases to the architect and custom builder market.They must think I'm going to live forever. Slamming right now to complete collateral pieces (signs, entry forms, invitations, 12 brochures, etc.) for the largest builder show of the year, starting next week in Orlando.

Man, am I lucky. Every time I get a little down about extended hours, I slap myself and force myself to appreciate how great it is to have people want me to do what I love.

But, man, will I miss laid back dining rooms.

Be well in the new year, all.


Russ

Each session is 30 hours straight? That seems abusive on the part of the employer.

I had a friend also in the music production field that did crazy marathon sessions too, and he fell asleep behind the wheel on his way home. He left behind a new born daughter and a lovely wife. Such a sad situation for sure.

work my Ass off as always LOL

Also work on my Genos and really get it down I am adding a Kawai MP7SE digi and that combo will be awasome

Also I am loving my S970 for quick set up gig small room

I am looking forward to new update for Genos it gonna really fix a few things and add a few too.

Ron please explain further what needs to be fixed on Genos?

1. Learn to use what I've got if I can keep track of them.

2. Get rid of the stuff that I don't need or want anymore.

I played at a party, but we encountered feedback. They finally threw out my wife and no more feedback.

You seem pretty happy with the EA7. Perhaps, but that TC Helicon vocal processor is pretty nice.

For the little I use the VH live I don't miss it at all.....
I use it more when recording backing tracks no big deal...

I just finished my once a year 30 min Christmas concert her at my community with my new Korg pa 600. The korg performed great. Just bought a Yamaha psr ew400 as a supplement keyboard for fun. Now I got 11 months to practice until the next concert if they'll still have me. I guess I'm the opposite of Russ.

A 30 hour session starts when the film is about 75% edited. Changes occur up until the moment it posts. There are two sets of lawyers, advertising agency people, accountants, engineers, etc. all with input. I also do script changes, because I can "hit the mark", with minimal damage to the score as it stands.

Sometimes, the stakes are very high...$50,000 per day Federal fine if information on a vehicle recall is not public within the allotted time, for instance.

Sleeping in chairs for 15 minutes at a time is normal. Sometimes, if there is major script changes, you can leave for several hours to a local Comfort Inn, where the production company keeps several rooms.

Most pressure I have ever encountered in my life.

I LOVE IT!

Russ (just wish I weren't 73 years old) Lay

I'm pretty much right on schedule for 2018. I wasn't really planning on doing anything other than having fun, and I'm still doing just that!

As for music, I keep playing and recording songs, but it continues to get harder with every passing day, though everyone that hears me keeps saying how wonderful I sound and that they wouldn't know there was anything wrong.

Today, I saw the pulmonary doctor's Nurse Practitioner, a drop-dead, gorgeous blond with deep blue eyes. She listened to my chest and said "Well, you lungs are much clearer than they were six weeks ago, but you're gonna hate me for what I'm about to tell you to do - lose 50 pounds!" Well, I've done it a couple times in the past, so I guess I will have to do it again, though it will be much harder this time of year with only indoor exercise and diet to work with. Too damned cold to do anything outdoors here for another 4 months.

Have a wonderful year, everyone,

Gary

First, total agreement with Torch’s post. Further, exploring more with the S970, since I sold the Tyros 5. Waiting for the next PSR upgrade to trade-up to, since the Genos is way more than I need. Also, waiting for my pre-order on the Korg Pa 1000 to show, which will be my first foray beyond Yamaha. Looking forward to it. And, continued gigging with Band In A Box, along with arranger use.

How do you suppose the keybed of the EA7 compares to the Yammy PSR S970?

The EA7 might be a good substitute for my S970.

From my experience, almost ANY key-bed is far superior to the entire PSR lineup. The only one I hate more is the Casio WK series.
It's not a question of light vs heavy - it's the spongy, feel and the short throw that bugs me. It's the only think that's kept me from owning a PSR in many, many years. If they put a better action on the PSR lineup - I'd be back in a flash.

New gear - work in the PA1000
Continue working on new arrangements
Create some video/audio clips (Zoom Q8)
Market myself more

For me, keyfeel was never a consideration - it was the sounds that counted most! And, Dave, you would be bugged if they hung you with a brand new rope.

All the best,

Gary

No noose, is good noose, I always say.