I wanted to add a few more comments here. The reason I suggested the Roland MC-808 over the Juno-G is for several reasons. Both units will give you the "all in one package". However, the MC-808 would be the leading unit for the type of music you want to do. Here's why:

The Juno-G will allow you to record audio, but it's limited. It's not a dedicated sampler per say. It's a 4 track audio recorder. For your styles of music you'll need a unit with a dedicated "sampler" that will allow you to chop and slice samples. The MC-808 will do this. The MC-808 is also as I stated before a "groove box", and that's how the panel is set up too. A great benefit of the MC-808 is it has "motorized faders", that in itself is way too cool especially on an all in one groove box that costs less than $800!


If you still want to go the "keyboard route", and have the "all in one package", I would again suggest you not buy the Juno-G as your stand-alone unit. I would strongly suggest you consider the Fantom Xa over the Juno-G. The Xa will also give you 128 note poly, 3 insert effects, SRX expansion, Fantom sounds, and so on. However, the Fantom Xa has a "SAMPLER", and not an audio recorder like the Juno-G. The Fantom Xa will slice/chop up samples too.

Here's another VERY IMPORTANT thing to consider. Both the Juno-G and Fantom Xa have sequencers, but I know for sure the Juno-G, and I'm 99.99% sure the Fantom Xa too don't have a full "pattern sequencer". The Juno-G and Fantom Xa have a "Rhythm Pattern Sequencer". They will record "drum patterns". You can then chain these patterns together in Song Mode under the 16 track "linear sequencer".

Trust me on this..., for what you want to do you WILL want a unit that has a dedicated "pattern sequencer". The MC-808 will record 16 track patterns, and those patterns can be chained together as well. The MC-808's pattern sequencer is much like the pattern sequencer on my Roland RS-70 (which is also a cool little synth).

Well hoped this info helped. Again, in short, you can go with the keyboards (Juno-G/Fantom Xa), but neither of those will do "Full 16 track pattern sequencing". The 808 is a "sampling groove box" that is loaded with the sounds you need, full sampler, and it's expandable.. (MOST OF ALL IT'S DESIGNED FOR THE MUSIC YOU WANT TO DO).



[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 02-14-2007).]