My "gut" feel tells me Roland wont be releasing any new arranger this year... Has anyone noticed how the E series is coming to a gradual end..There shud be an all new ranger of E and G series.. EM are so few (EM15,25,55). And whats to become of the VA series ?? (sigh)... Roland I personally think ur the best but please start competing again...

I heard that a new one will be shown at the summer NAMM, and probably shipping here in the USA in Sept. I had previously heard it was to be ready by the winter NAMM and it wasn't, so we shall see. The info is from a Roland dealer. It didn't sound like it was going to be a newer VA though. It sounded like they were going to make one that was similar to one of their new KR piano's instead.

Marilyn

*wishing from roland a huge blow in yamaha and korg's face*

[This message has been edited by vic83 (edited 04-26-2003).]

See you at www.francepianos.com/pp/roland_kf7.htm

Perhaps the new arranger kb from Roland will be similar to kf7, but not with 88 keys, of course.

Kf7 costs 3500 euros (=dollars), but it is not too much money it you compares it with Tyros.

If this is it, then Roland is missing the boat for the second time. The touch screen is a useful tool IN ADDITION to the multitude of buttons, such as G1000, not instead of them. For home keyboaridsts this may be fine, as there is usually no great pressure to quickly change settings, but for a live performer, having a hundred people stomping on the dance floor it is totally impractical having to wait for the screen to redraw.

G1000 needs a bigger screen and MORE buttons, so that sound banks are not multiplexed, and group/individual selections are done by separate sets of buttons; it should have programmable one-touch setting for EACH style, not just preset ones. It also needs a vocal harmonizer, and fully programmable super tone banks. Also, a real hard disk, or at least a memory card (like technics) instead of floppy, and full speed USB (preferrably 2.0), which should allow multi-channel digital audio to be sent directly to the computer without the need of audio interface.

In KF7, Roland is sticking to its stupid idea that auto-accompaniment is for home keyboard users, so it is building instruments which are not suitable for live performances.

Regards,
Alex

Maybe Roland want their arranger keyboards to be used at home more in the future...but with sounds to rival the professionals...Most of you hated the VA's touch screen but Roland dont want to do another G1000... I'm guessing the next Roland Arranger will have even less buttons than the VA series..Everyone complained about only 1 fill in button...There too I doubt Roland will change that.. (sigh) (sigh)

Are you aware of Roland's "DisCover5" orchestrator. It is new to the US. It's not exactly an arranger, but more of a MIDI editor w/keyboard. Maybe this is their answer for this year because they are also releasing the VR-760 which has pianos, horns, strings, VK8 style drawbars and a synth section, but again no arranger.

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Cass Pawlowski
Detroit, MI
PSR2000, Roland SC88
Cakewalk, Sonar, Power Tracks, BIAB

Hi,
I just recently bought a Roland VA7,( from a friend)and I must admit it is not all that easy to use. I have to do a lot of delving into the manual to work functions out. I had a g800 a few years back, and I found it far easier.

Be a pity to see Roland arrangers disapear. Over the years I progressed from the e20,e86 to the g800 and now a few years later, to the va7.

I have to admit my KN7 is my favourite keyboard, but I've always had a soft spot for roland equipment.

best wishes
Rikki

rikkisbears
what do you think of the VA7 Style Morphing feature. I thought it was very kool!

I have a question for VA7/76 owners...

What happens if you want to start a style with a BASIC Intro leading to an ADVANCED Orignal...

I ask this because the VA7 doesn't have a basic/advanced button any more ... how hard is it to do this is u playing live...is it possible at all ?