I was wondering how you guys think these Arranger keyboards compare to each other , if possible give some reasons for why you think one is superior over the other .


Roland EXR-5 vs Yamaha PSR-1100

Roland EXR-7 vs Yamaha PSR-1500

both yams are better than rolands

reasons-They can write user styles and have 4 variations/fills per styles-must have for Kbs in arranger catagory.

only cons of psr 1100-(no mod wheel)-

1500's mega advantages-usb to device and Sm card slot,same simu efx like 3k

EXR- better keys,better piano for some,but more primitive everything compared to yams(functionwise these EXRs are in psr 550 catagory)( so no need to compare with psr 1X00 series).

PS-for 1000$ you can't get better than Korg PA 50.



[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 12-04-2004).]

I see . Thanks for the info .

I'm not terribly interested in how good just the Piano sounds but rather how good all the voices sound . It seems the Yamaha might have more Wave memory , considering that Roland does not list how much the EXRs have , no listing is always automatically suspicious .

I'll check out that Korg .

Even the older PSR2000 sounds much better than the Roland IMHO, not to mention a lot easier OS.

You can easily save your sound registrations to the 8 Reg Mem buttons on the PSR. YOu also have direct buttons to style groups and sound groups rather than the numbered keypad system on the EX.

Scott

BEWARE the Roland EXR-7 amplifier/speakers are unuseable IMO. You would have to purchase an external speaker system for the EXR-7. Possibly overdriven? THis is a non-starter for me. The EXR-5 does not have this problem.
Jamman said "(functionwise these EXRs are in psr 550 catagory)" The EXR's cannot create a style, the PSR550 can.
Starkeeper

Strange that a company like Roland would make Arranger keyboards which have some serious flaws and omissions .

I did check out that Korg keyboard and indeed it seems very good too .

I will probably decide either on the Korg PA-50 or the Yamaha PSR-1500 .

http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/009293.html
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/009349.html

Thanks again for the info .

Perhaps it would help if I outlined what I wish to do really with my keyboard .

I have little interest in going on stage and performing , I wish to create music of my own . I care about sounds and recording my own music .

If you are familiar with Depeche Mode I don't want a keyboard that can only manage the kind of cheap sounds that Vince Clark used to make back in the early 80s . I would like something more in line of the later Depeche Mode

Now I could go for a synth workstation rather than an arranger keyboard which would mean I would have to buy some speakers which is no big deal . However as I understand Synth workstations have no preset styles , you have to make your own which I want to do certainly but it is nice to have some preset ones which can also be edited .

If I got a synth it would probably have to be one with a built in sequencer rather than a software based one which I have to use on my PC .

On the plus side they will probably sound better than Arranger keyboards for the same price.

Anyway what I got out of those user comments is that the Korgs sound better and have a better sequencer while the Yamahas have more features and are easier to use .

Anyone disagree there ?



[This message has been edited by Darksounds (edited 12-06-2004).]

Clarke is a retro analog guy who hates midi and rely more on his ARP and Serge.
but if you like thier songs like"strange love""you're no good" stuff Korg and do them well.

those comparisms in the threads are for arrangers only.not workstations.Motif is a lot better than triton in acoustic dept.

If you like Depeche Mode and want to do that style I'd suggest a synth/workstation. The arranger is going to give you great acoustic sounds, but I think will fall short in the synth department for sounds. You may want to consider the following.

Roland: Fantom (even the earliest fantom is good) Maybe a used XP-60 or XP-80

Korg: All Triton models will work well. You may even consider the earlier Trinity (great synth)

Yamaha: Any board from the Motif series. Possibly the older Yamaha EX-5 or EX-7

Newer synths have styles, but not in the way of an arranger. The Motif is a good example. It has preset drum patterns that you can use and edit. Plus models that have samplers will be beneficial too.

All these models vary by difficultness in the OS. Personally I think Roland synths have a good OS. Korg is fairly easy as well. The Tritons (except the LE) have touch screens to simplify navigation. In my opinion the most difficult one may be the Yamaha Motif. Once you get the hang of Yamaha's OS it's quite easy to operate.

Squeak

Yeah I know Clarke just happens to have his sound .

To tell you the truth I'm not even sure how much I would use the preset styles anyway , most probably wouldn't fit with what I would like to do .

I would be very happy with an instrument that can give me accoustic sounds but also the trademark synth sounds which I guess a synth/workstation might be better for .

As far as speakers for a synth/workstation are concerned , could I just go out and buy some PC speakers of my choice or does one need special speakers for these units ?

Also the smart Card one can buy for storage ( at least for the Motifs) are these the same smart cards used for Digital Cameras or special ones designed just for these workstations ?

Oh and thanks again for the model recommendations .

[This message has been edited by Darksounds (edited 12-07-2004).]

Clarke has only 1 album with Mode(1st album)(above hits that I said are from post Clarke area),which is more anolog+sampler mixture.

yes you can buy cards(SM,compact flash)-they are same as Digi cameras.

No PC speakers(mid range lack) are'nt good enough for workstation monitoring-go buy active or passive studio monitors or high end KB amp or PA.your home stereo system(good one)(with AUX in) can do it for now.

make sure you listen to big three(korg,yam rol)cause you can sell them easier and they have numerious 3rd party support(sounds,styles,forums).

dont forget you can't have it all.some are better in some areas but not that good in other area.You MUST listen to them.onboard sampling is a must for own synth music.

on onboard(and expendable) sample mem-roland fantom S and X has the largest of big three.(but they lack real time record-with seq-you have to retrigger them).(both yam and korg do that).it has pads which are a major help for both sequencing and live.

motif has good acoustic sounds,breath controller iput(great for reed-remember those DX7's sax and brass),M-lan,but OS can be painful.
triton on the otherhand is the easiest to use and the best seller(no presets occupying ROm-all patches and performances can be all rewritable-another major selling point for Korg worstations,but ac piano and some acoustic sounds are weak.but onboard sampling can help.again user sample max mem is still less than roland or yam.

but the sounds-you have to listen them.all of them can do decent production in the right hands.

Yes I know that Clarke left DM after only one Album . My favourite Depeche Mode period was from Black Celebration to Violator .

I suppose I could hook up the Workstation to my Surround system , it has high quality speakers .

The fact that different workstations have different strengths is something I noticed .

I also agree is that I would have to listen to them at the store before I make my decision .

In the end I'll probably go with the one that has the right balance between soundquality , features and ease of use .

Yamaha would probably get high marks for the first two criterias but low marks fo the third so that's probably how apart from listening I would decide .