Advice needed: Korg TR & Yamaha M06

[blehz]

hi=)
would like to seek advice on the korg TR & Yamaha M06. Im piano-trained and hav interest in doing compositions,tho im an amatuer. no longer hav a piano and so looking for something which would sound and feel close to a piano, at the same time be reasonably gd for compositions without the use of the computer.

ive checked out a couple of keyboards and was recommended the Korg TR 88-key workstation. was told that this has replaced the Korg LE/Extreme ( cant remember which). Price at Citymusic inclu. sustain pedal's $2700+. ive been told korg workstations are gd for trance kind of compositions which is not my cup of tea, and also it is quite heavy, so is this a gd buy?

at Yamaha music plaza i was recommended the 88-keys M06 which supposedly has better sound and features, and is slightly lighter. has User arpeggios which i don't know if korg TR has.$3000 before 15% discount but does not include sustain pedals. Also, wat's the difference between this and the Motif ES6?

pls advise as Im new to this and Im really confused despite reading up on the net and the threads. Im also considering 2nd hand. how much shd i pay for 2nd hand ones?

thank you!!!

 

[bongman]

you may want to read this:
http://soft.com.sg/web/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4194

Keyboards buyers' guide:
http://www.backstage-lounge.com/feature.asp?featurecode=23

General checklist:
- Sound quality
- Price
- Availabilty of additional sounds
- Quality of documentation and availiabilty of how-to books
- Number of voices and multi-timbral operation
- Built-in effects
- Built-in sequencer
- Keyboard feel and wheels/pitch-bend feel
- Good match for the rest of your setup

 

[bongman]

hi=)
Im piano-trained and hav interest in doing compositions,tho im an amatuer. no longer hav a piano and so looking for something which would sound and feel close to a piano, at the same time be reasonably gd for compositions without the use of the computer.

Also, wat's the difference between this and the Motif ES6?

pls advise as Im new to this and Im really confused despite reading up on the net and the threads. Im also considering 2nd hand. how much shd i pay for 2nd hand ones?

actually it all depends on your budget.

I dun think the Korg TR88 is a good buy for your needs,
if you are going for a synth with piano touch, you might want
to consider Yamaha MO8 (88 semi-weighted keys).

Korg TR synth is a mid-range and Korg TR is good at dance and trance sounds, Yamaha MO series is also mid-range and it's has better acoustic
sounds and gear towards top40/radio sounds.

there are previously some threads on this buying your first keyboard/synth;
you got to understand each manufacturer
eg, Korg, Yamaha or Roland
launch a series of models every 4-5 years,
and the models come in mid-range and high range flagship.

Current models:
Flagship professional high-range synth -
Yamaha - MOTIF XS 6, XS 7, XS 8
Korg - M3, Triton Extreme
Roland - Fantom X6, X7, X8
Alesis - Fusion 6, 8

mid-range:
Yamaha - MM6, MO6, 7, 8
Korg - TR, triton le
Roland - Juno-G, Juno-D

the above I mentioned is workstation based meant for composition,
there are other synths specialized in certain sounds:

eg. Korg Radias (analog emulation)
Roland V-synth
yamaha yet to release any alternate synth lately

The Korg M3 and Yamaha Motif XS6 is released only this year,
if you got money S$3000-3500, go for either this two. For the piano
touch you can alternatively buy a separate 88-keys MIDI controller eg,
M-Audio 88 keys controller at about S$400.

I think the Roland Fantom X may be expensive which is selling at Swee Lee.

The difference between the Yamaha MO8 and the XS or ES series as I mentioned the MO is a mid-range model means that some features are taken away so that it is more affordable for home users and semi-pro musician.

models I recommend:
Yamaha XS, MO
Korg M3
Roland Juno-G

Since you are starting out and dun have much idea of a
workstaion synth, buying 2nd hand is a good way to start.

2nd price normally for existing models is about 2/3 - 1/2 retail price,
obsolete models can be as low as 1/3 - 1/4 of the retail.


check out:
http://www.luthermusic.com/classifieds/index.php?catid=8

and soft.com.sg ads

 

[blehz]

Hi Bongman thank u so much for your prompt reply=)
have been doin some research the past 2 days and ur advice has helped me tremendously. However i still have some queries.

been checking out websites for more info about the M08 u recommended and it seems gd. I also came across w website that compared the M08 with the Motif ES8 and it seems like the Motif ES has more features. Is the M series newer than the motif ES?what about price wise? hav not been able to get the price for motif ES.

I found this on a website comparing both but don't really understand what it means, could you help me out with this?


other than these, both seems to be similar.

The Korg M3 and Yamaha Motif XS6 is released only this year,
if you got money S$3000-3500, go for either this two. For the piano
touch you can alternatively buy a separate 88-keys MIDI controller eg,
M-Audio 88 keys controller at about S$400.

haha i don't think i've got the money at this moment =X still a student. but nevertheless thx!

i was also told that yamaha XS is kindof like the best coz it has nearly EVEYTHING Yamaha synth can have include all the sounds from the plug-in boards. But like u said it's a flagship professional high-range synth, so wud it be advisable for me to get tt? probably then i wudnt replace if for the next 10 yrs or something? :lol: new MOTIF XS8:$4800 b4 discount tho. Too much to pay for a synth?

do u hav any recommendations for speakers and sustain pedals and how much shd i pay for them?

thx so much!!

 

[bongman]

yamaha XS is kindof like the best coz it has nearly EVEYTHING Yamaha synth can have include all the sounds from the plug-in boards. But like u said it's a flagship professional high-range synth, so wud it be advisable for me to get tt?

if you got the money, why not. if you dun hv much money, start from a mid-range or 2nd hand synth; the time will come when you start working to buy the best synth.

the Korg M series is only released this year, only available in Singapore mid-June

 

[Jazzfish]

Bro, decide way from the start how much u wanna spend on keyboard

then add cost of monitors.(about 500 for a fair pair) I'v got a brand new pair of Yamaha MSP5As but I doubt you'd wanna spend tt much.

much easier for us to help u too if ur not fickle with budget or better still if u tell us money is NO concern.

I'm guessing the MO8 is best for you should cost you about $2700 now

 

[bongman]

oh yah man, listen to the Jazz master

 

[blehz]

much easier for us to help u too if ur not fickle with budget or better still if u tell us money is NO concern.

there's just too many choices!!
if only money wasnt a concern for me, tink i would buy a few keyboards alr=X

i guess ive decided on the Mo8, reassured by u guys(bongman+jazzfish), and also coz it feels and sounds gd. juz that i initially thought i could get a gd one for abt $1.5k and now instead im deciding on one that cost abt $3k including speakers etc, so feeling a little heart ache haha.

then add cost of monitors.(about 500 for a fair pair) I'v got a brand new pair of Yamaha MSP5As but I doubt you'd wanna spend tt much.

looks real nice! but price wise...hmmm i tink i can only afford smtg not more than $300?possible?probably slowly can get better stuff when i get more $$ :lol:

i'll be gg down to yamaha again proabably tomorrow to test out the Mo8 more throughly before getting it.tho im still hoping i can get a 2nd hand one if not no choice, get it new how long has the M08 been out?dun seem to see many ppl selling=(

hee 1 last qn...whats dual polyphonic programmable arppegiators found in most korg?does the Mo8 hav it too?

thx!

 

[bongman]

:roll:

 

[blehz]

Hi thx for the reply=]
glad to hear that both hav appegiators.
went down to test out the M08 again and hav decided to get that.
thank you so much for helping me out !!