I started with a Korg X3, then a Korg-I3 back in 1993. In 1995, I decided to upgrade to a full size Grand Piano because it looked nice in the house. So I got the Baldwin GPS2500 which is basically the same sounds and styles as the General Music WK4.
The sound quality is pretty much the same as the i3..Some sounds are worse - some are better. I got it because of the improved features and number of styles and hard drive option. Still, I'm amazed at how little the quality of these instruments have improved since 1991-2004. Grant it, there are some big differences and they do sound better, but I haven't really sensed any quantum leaps until maybe real recently. Every 6 months or so, I scan the internet for MP3 demos to hear what the latest sounds like. I've listened to the new Technics, the Rolands G70 and VA7, the Korg PAX1PRO...

Don't get me wrong, all these instruments are significantly better than mine, but part of me is left feeling a little dissapointed or unawed about the difference in quality. I want a jazz trumpet section to sound like a Maynard Ferguson's 1970's trumpet section. I want the saxes to sound exactly like a sax section..With the enormous increases in computer RAM size, I would expect much more from these instruments. The Roland G70 saxes and trumpets to me still sounds about like the Rolands from 10-11 years ago. Also, I would think the technology to make realistic sounding styles would be light years ahead of what I have now. No doubt, it's significantly better, but still not what I would expect considering the huge leaps we've seen in computer technology. The memory capacities and storage technology for keyboard instruments seems to lag behind computers for some reason. Why is that?

There is one instrument that TO ME comes close to representing that quantum leap I haven't really heard in the last 12 years: It's the Yamaha Tyros 2. Yesterday, I visitied the Yamaha site and listened to ever single one of their demos. The Big Band Trumpet section came about as close to flooring me as I've ever been since I was first introduced to Keyboard Synthesizers in 1992. Is it just me? How do the rest of you feel about this one compared to the other new entries that are out there? Are there some other instruments I haven't listened to that I should try?

So far, the Tyros is the first thing that actually has gotten me inspired to waste alot of money on a new toy once again.