Hi Heinrich,

Though I am a 'live giggin' keyboard musician, it sounds like we have similar musical tastes (soul, R & B, hiphop (no techno!), acid jazz, rock, jazz and latin music (salsa). I have a Technics KN5000 and find it works great for these styles. There have been previous postings that suggested that Technics keyboards are geared more for 'Mantovani' sounds (lush strings) etc but actually the KN keyboards cover a 'broad spectrum' of sounds/styles which include a 'healthy dose' of the ones above.

Yes, the new Technics KN6000 is still buggy (not recommended at least until the chord recognition problem is worked out) but I 'HIGHLY' recommend the KN5000 as it both sounds great, is EASY to compose, navigate and operate. Also, because the KN5000 is last years 'top of the line' model, you can probably pick the KN5000 up for a good price.

The stock R&B / soul, funk, jazz & latin styles are very good yet it is VERY EASY to customize, create your own, or import your own custom patterns/sequences into the KN5000. With so many of the current R&B & modern pop grooves available on the internet as free downloadable midi files, it is easy to load them into the KN5000 and convert/create your own custom KN5000 style patterns. Each custom Composer Memory (ABC) file can hold up to 6 different fill different variations and 12 variation patterns.

Previous to owning the KN5000, I was using a Roland RA-800 (module version of the Roland G-800) and found it both awkward and frustrating to operate. I find the Technics KN5000 extremely easy to use and the operational design condusive to both composing & playing music, yet it is vastly powerful & deep (tweekable) making it the friendliest Arrqanger Workstation keyboard I have ever owned (easy to make edits and parameter changes 'on the fly').

Though other brand/model keyboards may have specific sound and style strengths, the BIGGEST STRENGTH in the Technics KN5000 is in its' 'ease of use' for composing, sequencing and creating your 'own' custom styles. I strongly urge you to check out the KN5000.

- Scott