Been with the 3X for a long time now, with many gigs under the belt. I cannot find a more powerful board for sounds, styles and ease of operation. Coupled with the QSC, the sound is very big and full.

However, this downtime has me thinking. Since my recent health concerns and age, I want to lighten my load.

I have never used a midi file live, but think this might be the time to explore that option.

These are my thoughts:

Find a lightweight 76 keyboard that has a sequencer and pads and load in midi files, mute the pianos and play along. Need a board that will allow me to remix, mute parts, etc and save the files. Perhaps use the mic input and eliminate my Zed mixer (Roland Juno series/EA?). I've never liked the 3X pianos and think a better digital acoustic would be fun to play just piano pieces.

Dump the QSCs (probably not) and get a smaller footprint for sound (has to be in stereo).

I believe a smaller setup would open up other opportunities and I NEED SOMETHING NEW - I am getting bored with things, my motivation has waned and I believe this would get me off my duff.

Any thoughts, suggestions? I surely wouldn't dump the current stuff until I made the new work well.

Playing over tracks is not a bad idea, and is more visually interesting to the audience, assuming you're playing full two handed parts. Having to follow the strict form of a track does not appeal to me though, but you could probably learn to use "midi markers" if that's an issue for you?

For smaller speakers, there's lot's choices out there. My battery powered Bose S1 Pro, along with a very small Fishlight power station, has been enough to power up my KB, vocal effects and mixer for the outdoor patio jobs I got for the summer season.

Best of luck to you with your new direction. I admire those that like to reinvent themselves.

Zuki, it seems to be the time to become restless, it’s happening all over. A few questions before I give my opinion.

1-Who are you playing for? (your audience –dancing? – age?)
2-What type of music are you now playing?
3-Have you tried playing over tracks? Did you miss not creating all yourself?
4-Does it have to be 76 keys? Do you play piano?

Doing it this way you will get answers based on you, and not what others are doing.

Playing with tracks and playing live has always been an issue. Both of them are good, what gives you the most of what you want is most important.
John C.

Paul, (Do I have the right name?)

I am thinking of buying another Bose L1 at $875 (sale) or, trading my Bose for a pair of Bose S1 Pros. I am a home player. Need your opinion.

Thank you, John C.

For home playing I'd go with S1 Pro for sure. For many years I used the Bose Compacts and to me both models are comparable, but the S1 Pro are so much more portable, and the Bluetooth feature is awesome. We are always taking the S1 Pro outside just to listen to music while we have dinner on the patio.

There are so many choices, many prefer the JBL Compact which is similar to the Bose S1. Also you should consider some studio monitors. I always thought my keyboards sounding best through studio monitors, but there not good for live playing.

Finally, any good 8" power speaker would work great for you too, like the QSC K.

Hopefully I'm not throwing out too many options, but again I think the Bose S1 Pro would be great for you.

Paul, thank you, John C.

Been with the 3X for a long time now, with many gigs under the belt. I cannot find a more powerful board for sounds, styles and ease of operation. Coupled with the QSC, the sound is very big and full.

However, this downtime has me thinking. Since my recent health concerns and age, I want to lighten my load.

I have never used a midi file live, but think this might be the time to explore that option.

These are my thoughts:

Find a lightweight 76 keyboard that has a sequencer and pads and load in midi files, mute the pianos and play along. Need a board that will allow me to remix, mute parts, etc and save the files. Perhaps use the mic input and eliminate my Zed mixer (Roland Juno series/EA?). I've never liked the 3X pianos and think a better digital acoustic would be fun to play just piano pieces.

Sounds like your describing my Roland BK9. 76 keys, light, great sounds, decent keyboard feel, mic input. You can edit SMF's and put in marker to extend songs. I don't use the sequencer but its in there. Hard to find now but a great keyboard.

I use JBL EoN Ones and love them. For something smaller there are other choices but the JBL compacts with the 8" woofer is a good choice. I wouldn't go any smaller than that.

I've tried the Bose S1 Pro and found it inadequate for my PSR S975. The Bose does not do well with stereo sampled voices, especially piano (which I use a lot). Also each venue is different, so I had to get up from my chair and adjust the knobs several times. That caused me to buy a small mixer, some more stuff to carry and worry about. So I stuck with my Fender 250 with multi directional speakers. The Fender mixer is always close by and no need to get up and adjust. Can do that on the fly while playing. My $0.02

Hello Zuki;

About Juno DS series I can only say that it has good pianos and epianos, but they are not perfect and sometimes it’s not easy to play with right velocity; it has no sequencer (only pattern sequencer), I doubt if it can play midi files.

I guess you’d have to record all midi files as MP3, using PA3X or some good software. To my knowledge, most musicians who perform with backing tracks have abandoned midi files long ago, they try to use only backing tracks which are as close to original songs as possible (often it’s an actual track of an original recording without a lead voice).

Some of the members here use Ketron modules with midi keyboards, which looks really easy to carry.

I want too to think less about carrying stuff and more about playing music.

Thanks everyone for your kind replies. I'm crazy and mixed up these days. I might try the EA-7 and will keep the 3X. I really just need a spark (not for my new pacemaker) to stir up some fresh ideas and to have FUN for a change. Even with no gigs in sight, timing cannot be more perfect. Hope everyone finds some joy in making music again (I haven't touched my board in weeks - so sad).

Yep now is a good time to experiment with something new. I hear ya with wanting to lighten the load. I never played out much, but when I did I dreaded the lugging and setup process. I'm too old for that stuff now so if ever I need to, I have my grandkids on standby to help out.😁

I heard the EA7 is a featherweight, and a decent arranger. That might be the way to go for playing out.

The BK9 is amazingly light for a 76, and they didn't sacrifice the keybed action, either! I guess not having a touch screen, speakers, or an old boat-anchor floppy disk drive pays dividends in terms of weight!
The BK9 also has a sequencer (which the E-A7 does not.) They are a little hard to find and still holding their price because of it. But unless you need the multipads I give it the edge over the E-A7.

Fran has given me the skinny between the two. I think the EA would fit better, as 61 would be OK, even on piano pieces. Pads are favs of mine, user settings and speakers..hmmm. New product, 2 or 3 yr warranty is good. I've read 1/2 the manual tonight and it seems very logical and fun. The real obstacle is getting household approval.

I know I used to be quite skeptical about Roland altogether; but once I tried Juno DS at store I bought it a couple of weeks later, mostly for decent piano, which is quite different from PSR-S950, and a variety of good electric pianos. I must say it took me months to really get used to a keyboard. At first I was unable to play the same piano tunes on Juno DS correctly, which I used to play on PSR-S950. What I’m saying is that any instrument should not be judged by demos or by having it for two weeks. Nevertheless, I bought Juno DS only after trying it for 3-4 times at store; it’s like you fall in love first and then you build relationship, but I don’t believe much in building relationship first and falling in love after.

To me Juno DS doesn’t offer anything good when it comes to guitars, saxophones, or woodwinds instruments. I don’t think E-A7 is any better at this aspect. But E-A7 has styles, perhaps, with their help everything sounds better.

But given that you own PA3X, which is one of the most advanced arrangers out there, and you already tried PA4X, it’s hard to predict whether E-A7 would be a spark of inspiration or an instant disappointment.

Kab, not sure either It all sounds good, smaller footprint, speakers, new styles and vast library on hand - BUT - the raw power of the 3X is hard to beat. I've been down this road before and always go back to the 3X. I'd bet more that it would be an instant disappointment. But this is why idle time would allow me to check it out for 45 days or so before having the chance to dump it.

After careful consideration, not interested in the EA any longer Stay safe everyone!

This quarantining has all but killed any business I was booking. Going to FL in Feb and March doesn’t help either when most places start booking 3 to 6 months out.

While home I’m posting a song a day on YouTube. I’ve sold all my excess keyboards except for a KMA Liverpool. The s975 is my instrument of choice. My Bose Compact is collecting dust while I use an EV XLS 12p in my studio. I would suggest either of those for amplification, both have two input channels.

I haven’t had any success with controller keyboards bcuz I like the onboard hardware vs software. Good luck.

Lately I’ve been enjoying playing just a guitar and Juno DS; I’m not really enjoying playing an arranger as I used to…

Zuki, may I ask you if you tried to sing with no styles playing; just playing piano/epiano or a guitar sound with both hands? We know that even in fancy places a lot of solo musicians work this way.

I have considered it and I really want to move that way, in addition to style playing. I just have to get my motivation flowing again......maybe I'll post an original with piano and voice only.

Welcome to Michigan.....all locked down. The East Lansing bar that opened is up to 95 Covid cases. The Gov is rewriting Nursing Home rules....not sure if they'll ever open. Have fun in Florida

Jim, your personality will shine thru whatever you play. You are a good enough player to switch to left-handed bass and a drum machine. It would take a little practice, but it's fun and flexible.

Hang in there.

Russ