software

I have to admit.....I've missed the presence of keyboards in my life, since I took piano lessons as a kid. I've been playing guitar for 25 years, and have finally hit a point where I want to stray into electronic music, mixed with an eclectic mix of guitar. After selling a few pieces of gear last week, I stepped up to the most amazing keyboard/synth/drum machine/studio in a box........I jonesed until I snapped today and grinded a serious deal at my local Sam Ash.
from : localhost/samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?itemid=32825

This thing is so amazing, it's got the same sounds as $3000 Fantom X8. If you listen to every preset sound in the keyboard, you hear EVERY soundtrack for TV and Film! It's the funnest thing I've ever bought!!!

Looks like a cool piece, have fun with it.

I always wanted a paino as a kid. I guess trumpet and guitar just weren't enough. I have played keys on and off since I was young but never really got close enough, long enough to get quot;goodquot;. Fortunately my schools all had solid music/band programs and I always found the time to play at least a little.

I picked up a Yamaha S80 a couple of years ago new and cheap right when Yamaha was releasing the S90 and I couldn't be happier. 88 weighted keys, killer paino and organ voices plus all the synth bells and whistles. Its expandable too but I haven't bothered to buy any of the plug in boards yet.

I have a hard time being just a guitar, bass and drums guy when I write and record. Too many years exposed to symphony music and fusion I guess and I always seem to hear something extra in the mix that needs adding.

I'm finishing the mix on the song for the SD comp CD as Im typing this and it looks like 24 tracks will be the end result. A good chunk of those is keys and synth.

Having keys to play with is too much fun.

I can see I've got a lot of learning to do, as both a keyboard player, but also navigating this advanced machine! Roland gear always seems infinite in it's options. I may take a few months to explore music on this instrument. It's something I've often overlooked, as I clung to 6 strings for dear life.....for a reason that's eluded me till now.

I sold my Bassman LTD and Marshall 1-12 combo to pay for the bulk of this toy, and don't regret it for a second. It's like a whole world in a box.

Very cool...have fun

Is it a full sized keyboard or mini kinda' deal???


Originally Posted by PUCKBOY99Is it a full sized keyboard or mini kinda' deal???

It's a mid-sized unit, 61 key I think. I saw those mini Korg synths, but those were too centralized around weird sounds. I pondered cheaper keyboards, but they just didn't seem inspiring. The XA is the most expensive I was willing to shell out, but I'm sure I'll be glad about it, the more I delve into it.
I may even be able to recoup money by selling my Boss Drum machine, if this new drum section turns out to be just about as good. It has a zillion sounds, a bunch of drumsets, and full sequencing/recording. I'm gonna be doing some serious reading on that manual!!!

See ya' around.....that might take a while!!!

That's awesome, man. I've always wanted to get a keyboard and learn, just never gotten around to it. Cool stuff though.

Hey, this should be in the keyboard shop

Good luck with it brother

now just get a midi pickup on your guitar, and a Roland GI-20 and combine the 2 loves.

Thats great GJ,
I've always thought about getting into playing keys and organ, picking up something new and fresh, but for some reason I still feel obligated to work on guitar only.. I don't know, maybe a bit later I'll try keys too.

Good luck man

Alex

Holy smokes, this thing is a fun toy! It's got a 16 track sequencer built in, so you can even plug a modeler into the back of it, and track right into it.

Tonight, I have to rearrange my whole studio, and wire everything up to include the keyboard. This whole setup takes up some serious space in a room.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserHoly smokes, this thing is a fun toy! It's got a 16 track sequencer built in, so you can even plug a modeler into the back of it, and track right into it.

Tonight, I have to rearrange my whole studio, and wire everything up to include the keyboard. This whole setup takes up some serious space in a room.

More fun than an EJ or JM Strat?

Seriously, glad you're having fun!


Originally Posted by gOgIverMore fun than an EJ or JM Strat?

Seriously, glad you're having fun!

Heck yeah! I like talking about guitars I wish I had, but I've had my sights set on a keyboard/workstation for quite awhile. I just had to financially position myself to absorb the cost.

How are the choir sounds on it? How are the horns? Those are two sounds I always listen to when dealing with keyboards as very few keyboards ever seem to get them right.

My mate has the full out X8 top end model. I know exactly what you mean when you can play soundtracks etc, he randomly started playing some famous usher song, had THE sound in there. Incredible piece of kit!

while we're on the subject of rolands has anyone played the rs-70?


Originally Posted by vinterlandwhile we're on the subject of rolands has anyone played the rs-70?

That's the keyboard I had originally intended to buy, since it's around $600-700.
I couldn't find it at any store, since they just discontinued it. They still have a few online, but almost everyone I talked to kept saying quot;spend the money and get a Fantom series Roland....it'll be the industry standard for the next few years.quot;

They normally want $1400 tax for the XA, but I grinded a 10% up deal out Sam Ash. I got out of there for $1350 tax included.

I still think the RS-70 and Juno are worth buying, if you can't go beyond $700.
Some of the Yamaha Motif's are nice too.

I have a Roland XP-60 for about five years and I believe the functions are similar to the Fantom. When I flipped open the manual, I thought I had to get a Ph D degree before I could read the darn thing. As of today, I still haven't read through the whole manual yet. It's just too much fun to play with the keyboard than reading the manual. Roland is probably the benchmark for snycs and keyboards right now. Congratulations on your new purchase and have fun with it.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserThat's the keyboard I had originally intended to buy, since it's around $600-700.
I couldn't find it at any store, since they just discontinued it. They still have a few online, but almost everyone I talked to kept saying quot;spend the money and get a Fantom series Roland....it'll be the industry standard for the next few years.quot;

They normally want $1400 tax for the XA, but I grinded a 10% up deal out Sam Ash. I got out of there for $1350 tax included.

I still think the RS-70 and Juno are worth buying, if you can't go beyond $700.
Some of the Yamaha Motif's are nice too.

They are on ebay for around 450-550. I listened to a few soundclips of the rs-70 as well and as you say they aren't a fantom but I was pretty impressed for their price range. I'm really wanting a good keyboard. I've been using software workstations like reason and while they have their uses they also hord all kinds of computer power. I'd really like to have a good keyboard then I could always just run midi out if I needed a soft synth.

i took my wife to a music store over the weekend while we were in South Bend...

she fell in love with this...Yamaha S90