performance keyboards with sequencers

[yeotao]

have been hunting aaaaaaard for 2 months for a keyboard...

i need a syhthesizer with seqencer, (yamaha is out.)


so far i checked out all the rolands' rs series, and the korg triton and triton le.

found triton le61 and roland rs 70 to be quite similar in functions and price. my budgent is ard 1.4 k.

can u experts out there please advise, which sequencer is easier to use..?
i've played ard with triton le 81 at boon 's b4,,and i played with roland's rs 50( which is rs 70 without sequencer) at wee lee b4..liked the sounds and feel of the keys, although roland rs 50 and 70 both have very light keys.

voice hunting wise..quite easy to hunt for the roland, becos its sorted by tone category, but korg's triron le have a trademark turnablee knob(watever u call that) to scroll thru voices which i like...so it realli boils down to the sequencer ..which is easier to use..? anyone tried b4..? pls help.?

 

[soft]

why do you want an on-board sequencer? have you thougt of connecting it to a computer for sequencing?

 

[yeotao]

i have trie d that b4..with my yamaha sy 35...using i think cubas or cakewalk..but i gave up.

mainly i need for performance and jaming. hm...can i preprogram with PC into synth then bring to studio..? issit possible.?

now piority is having sequencer so as to have more than a few voices while playing..i/e prerecod strings/pads or some simple beat.s so i can play piano parts ....etc..most ly for jaming and performace purposes when one keyboard is not enuff....

jsut realised the roland used a 1.44 floppy..korg used smart media..meaning more memory..?

 

[bongman]

floppy unreliable... spoil easily after a period of lifespan
smart media... more storage memory and reliable

both korg triton le and roland rs series are considered mid-range synth.

someone was selling a Korg Trintiy for $1.2-1.4.
used market price is $800-1.4 depending on the condition.

another option is to use external sequencer, eg. Roland MC50
Yamaha QY100 or QY70.

bringing a computer laptop to the studio may be an option as well.

 

[bongman]

Keyboards with sequencer SALE:

Date posted : 14 May 2005
WTS: KORG O1W/FD at $500
Email:call at 81630412

Date posted : 14 May 2005
Selling vintage Yamaha V50 synthesizer. Asking ard $400. Details here: http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo.com/sg/auction/89184812?aucview=user. Email pls.
Email:ktwpsg@yahoo.com.sg

Date posted : 09 May 2005
Yamaha Motif 7 for sale. Great condition.Asking for $2200.
Email:andylau180@hotmail.com

Date posted : 22 April 2005
Selling in good condition. Korg Trinity DRS. Asking $700.
Email:azpwc8iz@hotmail.com

Date posted : 07 April 2005
Selling a korg ix300 Arranger Synthesizer. Rare to find top notch arranger synth for pro's. Use for one-man band performances or extensive sequencing & programming. Heart of Korg's flaghip i-series models that rocked the wold once. Letting go at $600 only. Pls e-mail.
Email:rishidev_57@hotmail.com

Date posted : 05 April 2005
WTS: KORG M1, perfect working condition at $500
Email:call only at 81630412

Date posted : 31 March 2005
Korg Trinity 61 Keys, Roland D10 (with 3 expansion cards and 1 ROM card) and 2-tier Ultimate kybd stand selling at S$1,700. Owner giving up hobby. If interested, please email.
Email:unifai@hotmail.com

Date posted : 30 March 2005
Clearence sale: Digital synthesizer modules, brand Kawai K4R $120, Kawai K1R $100, Kawai K1M $50, Kawai mm-16 16ch midi mixer $100, digital midi sequencer Kawai Q-80ex $100, pop synth module kawai PHM-50 $100, session trainer Kawai GB-2 $100 (everything go for $500)
Email:call 81630412

 

[Cheez]

Why is Yamaha out? Their on-board sequencers are quite easy to use.

As for all sequencers, it is a matter of getting use to it. When you start of, there's always a learning curve. Same with software. Most on-board sequencers are designed to make it easy for the user. In the past, Korg was the most user unfriendly - my opinion. Now, better.

If ease of use is your goal, then you really want to use software. Speeds up your sequencing by many times. You get to use a large screen instead of a tiny screen on the keyboard. The mouse is definitely faster than fiddling around with buttons and data wheels. And the seamless integration nowadays with all major keyboard manufacturers makes it even easier - you can load almost any keyboard's patches into the software. Also, if you already have a PC, you can save money since keyboards with sequencers are more expensive. You can save the money to expand on your sounds.

Yes, you can sequence the piece and save the midi file for transfer to your keyboard on a live situation if you don't use a notebook. When I did that in the past, I usually have a few backup disks so that nothing goes wrong. Usually no problems and quite easy. As bongman said, floppy aren't all that reliable. Now, I just use my notebook.

If you already have a keyboard and intend to go software, you don't need another keyboard - get an expansion module for sounds, for example. I use to loath software because I was so used to Yamaha sequencers. After being persuaded by many, I finally took the step. Since then, I never went back to hardware sequencing again. Software is just so much easier and faster.

If you really want to go hardware, then my suggestion is to try them out for yourself and see which one suits you. Different people have different preferences. What seems "easier to use" for me may not be for you. But again, it is hard to know a sequencer unless you spend hours on it, which is quite impossible in a showroom. So my suggestion, in this case, is to get the keyboard with the best features (sounds and controls-wise) rather than sequencer. You'll eventually get used to the sequencer, but if you hate the sounds, there's nothing you can do about it after you bought it. Don't let the sequencer be the deciding factor...

 

[yeotao]

yup i agree that software sequencing is much easier to use. i tried the sequencer on triton le and saw the demo for the roland rs 70...looks chimer.

the learngin curve is a mandatory process i gues,,but i just wish on board sequencers can be more user frendly.

room constraint makes hooking my my synth to a PC quite inconvenient.

but thanks for the info guys!.

will be checking out the links! many thankx.

---------------
oh..i mentioned that yamaha is out becos the current models with sequencer dun fit my budget leh...i mean the motiff series..

 

[yeotao]

anyone can help me compare korg trinity and triton le pls...?
which sequencer in yr opinon is easier to use.?

and pls explain wats a module...? a sequencer extensions.? can i get a modulle for my yamaha sy35..?

 

[Cheez]

A module is usually taken as an external sound generator - a box that basically gives you different sounds of different instruments etc. What bongman meant by a "sequencer extension" is an external stand-alone sequencer. Comes in various sizes and shapes - does nothing except sequencing. Both connects to your keyboards via midi.

 

[bongman]

anyone can help me compare korg trinity and triton le pls...?which sequencer in yr opinon is easier to use.? and pls explain wats a module...? a sequencer extensions.? can i get a modulle for my yamaha sy35..?

Korg Trinity is Korg flagship synth in 1996
before the current Korg Triton which is the current Korg flagship synth.

Korg Triton Le is consider a budget edition of Triton
(thus the name LE == limited edition)

Sound wise Trinity may be superior, you gotta try and hear by yourself.
Sequencer wise Trinity has very good reviews for its strong on-board sequencer.

Yamaha SY35 is the vector synth from Yamaha in the early 90s,
the module version shld be TG35. The other vector synth from Yamaha
is SY22 and TG33. This vector synth is develop by staff from Sequential
Circuits that made the popular Prophet synth. Some of the staff that join Korg went on to develop Korg Wavestation that was veru popular in the early 90s.

 

[iansoh]

heh.. bong, i think LE stands for light edition.

 

[yeotao]

thanks for all the impressive info guys...!

i noticed that trinity had a touch screen. i tried the triton le's voice switching..need to click here and there..they also have a category mode..but not as asccessible as the roland rs70..?... ...seems that trinity is more user frendly in tat sense...

been looking thru the roland rs 70, roland seems easier to switch voices leh.
got buttons sorta by tone liao.

can the trinity and triton save favourite voices/patches in preset buttons.? cant seem to find info about this leh.

yea it seems that trinity does have a easier on board sequencer...but wats the durability of touch screens after years...?

 

[Cheez]

The Trinity's touch screen looks nice, but really not very easy to use especially when you are going to sequence. You have to touch using your fingernails - very fine. If I'm going to sequence on a workstation, I want BIG buttons, data wheels and faders.

All these keyboards should be able to save your edited patches for recall later on.

As I already said, don't zoom in too much on the sequencer. You'll just need time to get used to a new one. In my opinion, if you're really going into sequencing, the main thing you want in a workstation is the sound. Unless you have money to spend - to get another external sound module. Otherwise, spend your time trying out the sounds to see which one suits the type music you are going to write.

 

[SilverBeast]

Hi Yeo,

The Trinity to me is by far one of the best workstations ever produced and an inspiring kybd too. I remember I bought mine when it was first launched and at that time, I actually had the 01/W in mind after 2 years of searching and waiting until I tried the Trinity.

Anyway, good luck to your kybd search, but do bear in mind that there will never be a perfect synth. What is important, among others, is the sound (especially the sounds that you will use most often) and feel of the kybd (including choice of joystick or wheels).

...and Hey Bongman, thanks for "refreshing" my previous ad to sell the Trinity. It has been sold with kybd stand since...>Sob< >Sob<...sure brings back memories...that is why I nick myself "Silver Beast", Ha!

 

[yeotao]

oops.i think i may hav emailed to u expressing my interest in yr trinity..ahhhhaaa..nvm..

thanks for the info bros.!

now, i've more of lesslessened my search to triton le and trinity...

 

[bongman]

heh.. bong, i think LE stands for light edition.

thanks for correcting me, I'm not always right. anyone thinks I'm giving the wrong info, do step in to tell me. hope I won't lead the newcomers astray.

 

[bongman]

oops.i think i may hav emailed to u expressing my interest in yr trinity..ahhhhaaa..nvm..
thanks for the info bros.!
now, i've more of lesslessened my search to triton le and trinity...

hi YeoTao,
sori that I list out some dated ads,
just keep looking at www.luthermusic.com and other class. ads for any 2nd hand synth.

 

[yeotao]

its ok man!
thanks alot for the info guys. now i'm looking out for triton le..pretty much the same as a lot of plpl out there. its quite hot nowadays.

 

[yeotao]

jsut asking.

it the sequencer for yamaha s03 and s 08's sequencer an onboard one..or do i have to use sequence with pc and playback the file in the synth itself.?

 

[teraslasch]

s03 doesnt have an onboard sequencer..