Sorry for the repeat post. But seems like no one tried this keyboard. It seems professional enough. 3500 sounds !!

There's got to be someone who tried it and be able to tell us how it sounds compared to the current crop of low end (budget) arrangers.

And if there are serious shortcomings for pro use. Things that are important to me as a live player:
-Pro sounds from speakers internal and external amplification. Basic voices iano, sax, brass, BASS and strings.
-Styles (drum rythms) quality
-Ease of use to change things on the fly.
-Registration memory - easy access/change.

Lukitoh,
George Kaye, Bluezplayer and Starkeeper tried the EM55 and answered your 1st query. Don't be impressed by the quantity of sounds/tones. IMHO the sounds are similar to the EM20 which I own. EM20 list about $550 cdn, maybe $300 U.S. The EM55 lists at $1100 CDN, $995 U.S. IMO the sweet voices on the PSR2000 is superior do any sound on the EM55. I prefer the acoustic piano on the Rolands instead of Yamaha's, but that could b just personal preference (I'm not a piano player).
Starkeeper

I didn't get far enough into the board to answer each question lukitoh, so I'll just summarize it by telling you that the EM55 is NOT a board I would ever use in any type of professional situation. The amplification, styles, and some of the sounds aren't on par with the PSR series, including the PSR550 for my money's worth ( nor are they on par with the VA76 ). From what I saw and heard, the EM55 absolutely does not resemble the higher end VA76 at all in any way. Conversely, the PSR2000, while it obviously isn't the 9000 pro, does a very good job and is similar to it in many ways.

The best way that you can convice yourself is if you can find an EM55 and a VA76 and play them side by side. That's exactly how I came to this conclusion.

AJ



[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 10-03-2002).]

Thanks Bluez and Starplayer. You guys are great ! You're even nicer than Uncle Dave... (just kidding UD). You're all very helpful, thanks.

-Han

Starkeeper is right! Don't let the ads fool you when they say "over 3,000 stunning sounds" You have to keep in mind that even though there are several thousand sounds, only 20 megs are dedicated to that.. Figure it like this.. 3000+sounds with 20megs is around 6 or 7mb's per 1000 sounds... That really isn't that much.. Now if there were like 48mbs to the sounds then damn that would be something worth hearing.. The EM-55 seriously lacks some of the features the PSR line will give you.. One big one is voice quality.. Again this is quality and not quantity.. With the EM-55 you get quantity and not quality.. The EM-55 won't give you voice quality anywhere near the sweet, cool and live voices of the PSR's.. That's why I think AJ compared it with the PSR-550..

Squeak