... say the "Andromedia"...

...what would this be like (features, sounds, styles, build/durability, stability ...)? What would you expect of such a board?

If such were in the works, what would you expect to pay for all features listed? What about the competition?

interesting point!...
i'd be happy with some of ketron's sounds (especially drums!!) and yamaha's OS and tyros' features.
just add in a good keyboard (at least sd1 or tyros2 type) and on top, make it 76 keys.

for that, i would pay 2000.


[This message has been edited by adimatis (edited 04-30-2006).]

Ketron already has top-of-the-line keyboards, that are out of my financial reach at the moment. So how about a mid-priced keyboard that can go head to head with a new Yamaha (lets assume it will be called) PSR3100. It should be priced in the same ball park as the PSR3100, approx $1500U.S. $2000CDN. Roland's new E50/60 will probably not be able to compete with the PSR3100 (no harmonizer, no organ flutes,). It will be interesting to see how they price them. Not sure why Roland doesn't take the competion seriously.
Yamaha's strength:
1) Vocal harmonizer (not important to me, but important for others),
2) Special voices (sweet, live, cool, natural, etc). Good quality voices is very important to me, so Ketron will have to come close.
3) Large quantity of styles on the internet.
4) 3rd party software to create styles on a PC.
5) B3 organ flutes.
6) Availability of demos in many stores. This will be a tough one for Ketron. My philosphy (others have this as well), "no see, no try, no buy". I would never buy a keyboard I never demoed.
Yamaha weaknesses:
1) They refuse to make a 76 note keybed.
2) Weak organ sounds.
3) All "normal" (non special) voices are very weak.
4) The acoustic piano voices have a weak signal strength (compared to other voices),IMO. Not a big deal, but very easy to beat them on this.
5) They removed the talk and DSP button. Would be easy to beat them on this
6) They don't have any gritty voices.
Starkeeper




[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 05-01-2006).]

AJ, this seems to indicate that a merger, or at least an alliance is being formed. Right?
Use the Yamaha OS, Ketron registrations, Ketron "live" drums and bass, Yamaha lead voices. Vocal harmonizer with best features of the one in the SD1 and Tyros 2.
XLR mic inputs.
Light weight (under 32 pounds).
Ability to play all the things on the Midjay (styles, MP3s, WAV, Midi, loops, etc)
Hard disk Recorder. Quick PC connection.
Removable disk storage.
Capacity for expansion.
In other words, the best of both worlds, at a light weight, and a reasonable price. It can't be Wersi-type prices, but maybe a top model comparable to SD1 or T2, and a mid range in the PSR3000 area.
Let me know if you want me to come help you design it. I'll pay my own way.
DonM

I'll come out too, of course on Don's dime.

This sounds great, I'll buy, I love those 2 boards, but I hate them too at the same time.

If you could make a monster hybrid of the two, wow!!!..

Let me know what we need to do

AJ, is it then true..the rumor..that Yamaha will be taking over Ketron as a subsidiary..keeping the Ketron Research and developing people, at the Italy plant..and also closing the China facility..???

I like to know so I can hurry up and buy an E-80 before they run short of supply..

No Smiley faces??
Yamaha philosphy, "If you can't beat them, buy them up" (think Steinberg)

Great idea , but make a expander/module version for us midi accordionist .

Giovanni

I think I misunderstood the question, but I won't delete my post.

Eventually, it's going to happen anyways, so why not be the 1st with an open concept keyboard:
1) A full fledged arranger, with all the appropriate buttons, extra buttons and sliders for future use.
2) Ability to add/delete/change voices that can be purchased by the user from the mfg. or 3rd parties (open concept).
4) On board efax of course.
5) Styles can be added/removed, including supplied styles.
6) Choice of keybeds (61,76,88 weighted)
7) Upgradeable operating sytem.
Yamaha already owns Steinberg, they might be able to easily slide Hypersonic 2 into the new keyboard.
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 05-01-2006).]

Since I’m an avid Ketron fan at heart (I’m still playing an old reliable MS60) I find this to be an intriguing topic. Some time back (pre-Tyros II) I had an opportunity to audition a Tyros I in my home for a month. I didn’t keep it because I missed the “in your face” punch of the Ketron styles and the Ketron live drum loops and bass. (Even though I’ve never owned an SD-1, I have heard it demo’d and was very impressed. The Ketron styles have become kind of a comparison standard for me).

At that time I wrote a private email to Ketron AJ and told him that if Ketron would come out with a keyboard that had most of the Tyros features, in particular the OS and display, but with the Ketron drum loops, bass and styles I would be in line to purchase one.

I would go along with most of what DonM wrote in his post. To what he’s listed I’d add the Tyros display and the Fatar controller keyboard that Ketron uses on their products. Personally I’m OK with 61 keys and I happen to like built-in speakers for the convenience of practicing at home – saves having to keep a separate sound system set up at home.

I’ve heard and played the Tyros II (courtesy of Eric B.) and must say Yamaha has made some real improvements in their accompaniment department since the original Tyros. But a marriage of the strengths of the Yamaha and Ketron designs could result in a board that would definitely entice me to upgrade.
Paul C.