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#453865 - 06/24/18 12:11 PM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: Vadim]
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Senior Member
Registered: 09/21/02
Posts: 5520
Loc: Port Charlotte,FL,USA
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What Donny said
_________________________
pa4X 76 ,SX900, Audya 76,Yamaha S970 , vArranger, Hammond SK1, Ketron SD40, Centerpoint Space Station, Bose compact
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#453934 - 06/26/18 06:33 AM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: montunoman]
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Member
Registered: 11/25/17
Posts: 65
Loc: TX
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With Dan's vArranger2 software, free or commercial SF2 sound fonts / sound modules like Ketron SD1000 module, and MIDI controllers like Akai APC40 mk2 and APC Key 25 with MIDI light feedback buttons, I turned my old Yamaha S80 88-key synth and my Casio PX560 88-key digital stage piano into decent arrangers that can play styles from Yamaha, Korg, Ketron, Roland, and Technics in 2 different rooms.
The vArranger2 software covers arranger basics well, and makes arranger travel light by using a Windows touchscreen laptop, mini keyboards like Korg microKey Air 61, and small MIDI controllers like Korg nanoKontrol2 for MIDI light feedback buttons.
Thanks,
Paul
_________________________
Yamaha Genos, Ketron SD90, Korg Kronos 2 88, Korg PA1000, Casio Privia PX560
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#454117 - 06/29/18 08:47 AM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: cgiles]
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Senior Member
Registered: 03/02/06
Posts: 7143
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@ $300 price difference. Hate the fact that I'd have to buy an Ipad to take advantage of the app.
chas Well, when it comes to tablets, seems apple has won the war, android tablets are slowly leaving the scene. Windows tablets however like the high end micrsosft surface are another thing The main reason why all these companies choose Apple is the fact that its much more reliable because of a single hardware platform and much much more secure .. on top of that the average ipad owner spends a factor 100 times as much monmey on apps as the android owner, simply because apple has banned out the hackers and the pirates where android still embraces them, even offering them their own markets.. Prices of software on apple are really really acceptable to me, i will never look back. And another thing, did you know that programming a high end Android app costs as much as 5 times as programming an Apple app, because of how the tooling works... and there is no easy way to convert from apple to android, so programmers need to start all over. So my best bet is, apple will be king of the tabblet market for a very very long time... the tablet market is very different from the mobile phone market. So there is many many reasons why these apps mostly come to apple... espescially in the musik market apple ipad is king... now all yamaha needs to do is allow this app to communicate with other music software on ipad.
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#454169 - 06/30/18 02:45 PM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: Vadim]
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Senior Member
Registered: 09/29/05
Posts: 6703
Loc: Roswell,GA/USA
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I'm guessing that if the average musician was blindfolded in a room and only one was played, he/she would be hard-pressed to say which one it was. BUT...in the video below, in the comments section, the majority seemed to favor the Casio PX560. Unfortunately, the Yamaha 515 was not included. To me, the Casio seemed a little 'heavy' (ponderous, thick, too full, don't know quite how to describe it) but definitely not 'bad', just probably not my first choice among those three. But as we always say, it's purely subjective, and all sounded really good (the Casio being 'killer' at it's price point). Of course, key feel can not be demonstrated in a Youtube video, so it IS important to go to the store and play one. I'm still up in the air and spending lots of time (too much  ) checking out Youtube demos and reading comments of all the models mentioned in this class of digital piano. Thanks for your input. Still loving the SEVEN but still trying to adjust to it's keyboard action. Not quite there yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-yO6caa1z0chas
_________________________
"Faith means not wanting to know what is true." [Nietzsche]
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#454182 - 06/30/18 10:51 PM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: Torch]
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Senior Member
Registered: 03/02/06
Posts: 7143
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Save yourself some money and buy the Casio PX 560. No iPad or apps needed because everything is onboard as it should. Great allrounder with everything you need. So many great choices when it comes to 88 keys, but I, too, think the PX560 is among the better choices in many respects. I used to own a Casio PX330. An excellent action (as subjective as it can be, it is a very solid keyboard action) and great piano sounds at only 24 pounds. The Yamaha P515 looks promising, but at 48 pounds, I won't consider it as a gig instrument. The PX560 is 26 pounds. Just recently I purchased a Numa Stage (28 lbs) by StudioLogic. I should have purchased the PX560. Anyway, any 88 key controller paired with either vArranger or the SD40 would make a great 88 key arranger. The P515 has wooden keys.. which makes it heavy... I don’t think either the p515 as well as the fp90 are meant for gigging.. I allways asumed them being aimed at home players and kids starting piano.. If you need to move it a lot, and buy it for the typical keyboard sounds, the px 560 might actually be the best choice.. despite having a less authentic action, and not having the best arranger styles.. it still is a good instrument, just not the best, but does have its adavntages.. However if only weight counts... you could also look at a nord stage, its in the same weight category... and asuming you will use it with an sd40, would also make a very very nice setup.. There is so many options... thats what makes choosing hard..
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#454219 - 07/01/18 09:23 PM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: zionip]
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Member
Registered: 07/13/03
Posts: 321
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With Dan's vArranger2 software, free or commercial SF2 sound fonts / sound modules like Ketron SD1000 module, and MIDI controllers like Akai APC40 mk2 and APC Key 25 with MIDI light feedback buttons, I turned my old Yamaha S80 88-key synth and my Casio PX560 88-key digital stage piano into decent arrangers that can play styles from Yamaha, Korg, Ketron, Roland, and Technics in 2 different rooms.
The vArranger2 software covers arranger basics well, and makes arranger travel light by using a Windows touchscreen laptop, mini keyboards like Korg microKey Air 61, and small MIDI controllers like Korg nanoKontrol2 for MIDI light feedback buttons.
Thanks,
Paul I tried varranger few months ago on friends home set up, it seems at very early stages and has long to go to catch up to hardware arrangers. Worst part is that on many styles after filling end and goes into “normal” part, there’s a few milliseconds pause , like 1/32th note, that makes this varranger software unusable.
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#454223 - 07/02/18 02:11 AM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: DAN.2000]
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Senior Member
Registered: 09/21/02
Posts: 5520
Loc: Port Charlotte,FL,USA
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I have vArranger and don't find that to be true at all.
_________________________
pa4X 76 ,SX900, Audya 76,Yamaha S970 , vArranger, Hammond SK1, Ketron SD40, Centerpoint Space Station, Bose compact
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#454273 - 07/03/18 12:04 AM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: cgiles]
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Member
Registered: 12/17/12
Posts: 770
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I'm guessing that if the average musician was blindfolded in a room and only one was played, he/she would be hard-pressed to say which one it was. BUT...in the video below, in the comments section, the majority seemed to favor the Casio PX560. Unfortunately, the Yamaha 515 was not included. To me, the Casio seemed a little 'heavy' (ponderous, thick, too full, don't know quite how to describe it) but definitely not 'bad', just probably not my first choice among those three. But as we always say, it's purely subjective, and all sounded really good (the Casio being 'killer' at it's price point). Of course, key feel can not be demonstrated in a Youtube video, so it IS important to go to the store and play one. I'm still up in the air and spending lots of time (too much ) checking out Youtube demos and reading comments of all the models mentioned in this class of digital piano. Thanks for your input. Still loving the SEVEN but still trying to adjust to it's keyboard action. Not quite there yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-yO6caa1z0chas Casio is no longer your grand children' toy keyboard. When a person buys a Casio, he or she doesn't pay for the "name" but instead you get more quality and features for the money.
_________________________
"You Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." John 8:32
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#454341 - 07/05/18 07:43 PM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: Bachus]
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Member
Registered: 07/13/03
Posts: 321
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#454349 - 07/05/18 09:33 PM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: Torch]
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Senior Member
Registered: 03/02/06
Posts: 7143
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The Varrange with the lates sound sets sound as good as the TOTL arenagers curently available..
In speaking of a TOTL, that's quite a compliment for vArranger coming from someone who knows gear and I agree with you. I know that you've been saying quite often about a TOTL 88 key arranger. It dawned on me that if there is an 88 key arranger, it will be probably too bulky with all the buttons and knobs. You know how most arranger keyboards are pretty deep. I find vArranger a lot easier to work with than any hardware arranger. With one or two midi controllers, it can be so flexible. For instance, I use a small $12 Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard to call up a number of functions or sounds - just as many functions or sounds as there are keys on the QWERTY keyboard. I attach the Bluetooth keyboard on the grille of my accordion and call up sounds/functions wireless. Or if I play a digital piano, I use a little bigger QWERTY keyboard. Recently, a vA user named Bluebeat posted on the vA forum about Synthfont. He asked the owner of Synthfont if he would add features to Synthfont so that it could handle large banks and multiple files (soundfonts). The program has started working on it and there is a beta version. The program is only 15 Euros. So I purchased it and I believe it will really enhance vA for recording and live performance. There are some excellent soundfonts out there. The strong point of Varranger remains, that you can use VST's, for the widest sound quallity and choice of sounds... this allows you to add some depth where you need it. Having a good sound set is just the beginning... What in my eyes makes Varranger still a 2nd choice is thats it missing all those buttons and direct controll, and i think that there for it could never become as comfortable to me as a hardware arranger like the pa4x or Genos where every button is on the right place.. and gives you the direct controll you need. I am still considering going back to a single 88 key however, being my Kronos(or a nord stage) combined with a Ketron SD90 and my mainstage/VST Macbook. Having the Nord stage for example, with SD90 in the middle on top of it in an almost vertical position (20 degrees) sounds like the closest thing to an 88 key totl solution..
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#454353 - 07/06/18 08:07 AM
Re: 88-key arrangers
[Re: Vadim]
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Senior Member
Registered: 09/21/02
Posts: 5520
Loc: Port Charlotte,FL,USA
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I have owned vARRANGER from day one, and I want to say that Dan, not only has made the program what it is today, but has personally helped me on numerous occasions. I am a big supporter of Dan and vARRANGER.
Bernie
_________________________
pa4X 76 ,SX900, Audya 76,Yamaha S970 , vArranger, Hammond SK1, Ketron SD40, Centerpoint Space Station, Bose compact
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