I am stuck between both of these arrangers, which one to buy?
I want a portable keyboard to hash out songs when I'm away from my home studio as well as having a good keyboard to take out of the house to jam with ome of my friends. I have owned the PSR 540 and currently have a home studio with a bunch of other keyboards but I feel that one of these is what would suite me for this....My question is this both of these are the same price and I understand that the roland has more sounds and more poly. other than that which one should I get. I'm interested in others comments.

No contest here - PSR1000 is the winner !

I also faced with similar dilemma not too long ago. I owned PSR1000 for 2 weeks. Also tried EM55 for an hour or so at the store. The store had both and YAMAHA wins hands down. The EM55 is like a lousy toy in comparison.

In my opinion, EM55 is a piece of TRASH compared to PSR1000.

The internal speaker is lousy in comparison with PSR1000.

Also, the button access is confusing compared to the YAMAHA.

Quality of sound - YAMAHA better !!

If I were you, check my post on CASIO WK1800 for only $300. Better piano sound in my opinion. LIGHTER and has 76 keys !!

I think it's acceptable even for the pro's ! But because CASIO had a cheesy reputation in the past, this amazing cheap keybd does not get noticed. Good for me, huh !

Hi madsynthman,
I have a "Y2K" (PSR2000) I`d say get the "Y1K" (1000)
The Casio is indeed a good KB. My first "arranger KB" was a "Casio" and I enjoyed it for a number of years. A-side from some voices and "vocal" the 1000 is just about the same (only 32 poly). Have you checked 2000 prices? I think for the extra $$ you might enjoy the "Y2K"
O-BTW, Welcome to our family and the best corner of the web
You could not have found a better place !
Great "bunch" of people and we are here for each other, so let us know how you made out !! Good luck
jedi

Welcome.
I would agree with Jedi here. I also have a PSR2000. I started by looking at the 500 series then up and up until I purchased the PSR2000. There are many that recommend if you can afford to go from the 1000 to 2000 it is worth the difference. Both of them would satisfy your requirements that you listed.
I would echo Jedi's sentiments on the group here too. A great resource of great people. Good luck on your purchase.

- Brian

I find the styles in the PSR 1000 to be much more to my liking that the EM55...but for just a few more bucks the PSR 2000 is head and shoulders above both.

A used PSR2000 will probably be cheaper than a new PSR1000. Lots of people are probably selling theirs because of the new TYROS.

But before you buy, I would recommend to go to GUITAR CENTER and hear with your own ear without any prejudice the CASIO WK1800 versus YAMAHA PSR1000/2000. Particularly on the piano sounds and maybe others and also the key feel. I think you will like the CASIO better. YAMAHA key feel is LOUSY !!!

Don't be fooled by MORE sounds. Think quality, not quantity. Who cares if there are 20 accoustic pianos, you only need a couple of good ones not 20 mediocre. I like Roland and have a Roland keyboard, but the EM55 did not impress me, go with the Yamaha 1000.
Starkeeper

Hey lukitoh, does the Casio WK1800 have a better sound quality then your PSR2000?
Starkeeper

Lukitoh,
Glad you found a board to fit your current needs.. However I have to disagree with you on the sound quality of that Casio.... If there is any Casio keyboard I'd compare to the sound quality of the PSR1000/2000, it would be the MZ-2000. The WK1800, still used the same sound source from the earlier models which was also used on the CTK series. I honestly think it's not a fair comparison between the two models and the PSR1000/2000 would fair better to the MZ-2000.. Now I can see comparing the PSR-540 and below to the Casio WK1800.. Granted the Casio has 76 keys, and better action I think it greatly pales in camparison with the PSR-1000... I've played my PSR-550 side by side with the WK series and I think by far even the PSR-550 beats it in terms of sound quality.. There are many sounds on the PSR's that cannot be matched by Casio.. Especially in the acoustic department. Now if the WK1800 utilized more sounds from the MZ-2000 then I think it would make a far better comparison.. However this is just my opinion

Squeak

This afternoon, I took a 2 hour drive just to play a brand spanking new ROLAND EM 55.
I spent an hour playing it.

Last Sunday I spent an hour with the Yamaha PSR 1000.

What do I think ?

Go for Roland EM 55

64 Voice Polyphony,32 part mulitimbral
Please,everyone this is just my opinion and how i perceive it..

While it is true that alot of the sounds of the EM 55 sound similar, I promise you that that EM 55 has a good number of sounds that will blow the PSR 1000.Those 20mb of Roland Sounds show beautifully if you look for them.. I have compared the Alto Sax, Flutes, Guitars of the Yamaha to the best one's I could find from the vast number on the Roland EM 55 and the EM 55 WINS HANDS DOWN.You'll know you are playing a VA series instrument when it has a "V" before the name. I agree there are alot of sounds on the EM 55 that dont sound good...but there are so many that sound incredible....you really have to spend time with it to find them... The screen is simple but very clear...better than the fussy touch screen of the VA series.

I'll admit the PSR 1000 has a beatiful screen, alot mroe features....but I dont need 3 intro's and endings...and the EM 55's simple 16 track sequencer is fine for me.

And dont forget EM55's stiffy drive will play E, EM, VA and G series music style disks...


Another thing about the EM 55 that amazed me was the weight of the keyboard..just under 10 kg. Its also a very good looking board. The best way I can some up Yamaha's sounds is to say its like...they have less good sounds than the EM55...

EM55 has the usual transpose,velocity sensitive,lower 1, upper 1,upper 2, punch in
punch out,

Next consider the 116 drum kits you are getting.You are even getting the V Drums. I had time to hear one drum set and it sounded way better than my Roland E 500. The EM 55's D Beam is cool but the style morphing feature
is even cooler.

You can tweak the sounds on the EM 55 somewhat ( MFX: 47,Reverb : 8 Chorus :8)

You also get the music assistant feature of the VA series.

I guess I'm just a Roland follower..You must play both instruments yourself...maybe the PSR 1000 is what you are LOOKING for...you can only know if you play..thats what I did

Ok, Rolandfan, you are right, I also had liked Rolands. But...
EM-55 has more Mbs, yes, but for much more sounds. It must be considered.
In Em55 you can't edit styles: only mute parts, but not change volume or voices for them. And you have only two "direct" variations for style (you have more no direct variations).
About sounds, a month ago I played EM-55, and I rememeber I didn't like its piano voice. But it was grand piano voice, the first voice in kb. Perhaps there are more and better piano voices hidden (Roland uses a no logical form to order voices in VA series).
About styles, EM55 it has few styles. Although Roland styles are richer than yamaha styles, which always sound (for my ears) a little "metronomic".
At the end, they are two differente kbs, but specially two different ways to make arrangers. Rolands have a different philosophy wich you may like or not.
Cheers

Hey thanks a bunch for your insight and your kindness. Your right this is going to be my new home....Here's the deal....I sold my brother my CS2x (I had 2 of them) I also bought a RM1X real cheap and after using it for a couple of weeks I've come to the conclusion that it's not for me, I'm very computer literate and am currently blessed to have Sonar, Nuendo and Cubase SX in my studio. so as you can see sequencing power is not a priority. However I really need a nice portable board that I can just sit around with and flesh out songs on before locking myself in my studio to do the real project. secondaly I could use this for when I play out with my guitar player and possibly use it for backing tracks...I did spend time both with the Casio and Roland and I'm still drawn to the Yammi....I'm most likely going to pick it up tommorow so look out!!!!!! How many of you are interested in swapping songs and styles? I know it's one thing I'm really interested in doing.... If your interested in hearing my music, even though I have not uploaded some new stuff go to www.mp3.com/mdsonic...I'd love to hear your comments....Thanks, your all some pretty cool people.....Peace

Rolandfan,
The EM55 has better flutes then the PSR1000's sweet flute? How did you find this tone. Do you remember the name? How do you access all these tones? I did the typical 2 digit input then use the variation button. This is a serious question, I will re-examine the EM55 if this is true.
Starkeeper

madsynthman,

Let us know how you like your new keyboard (whatever you choose).

I will try the WK1800 for a week to test drive it rigorously.

-Han

Starkeeper, I haven't a clue the number of the instrument but I just loved some of the EM55's flutes...yes the PSR 1000 are excellent but the EM55 had 2 I remember that sounded just too cool.... i was going through so many diff instruments that I didn't even look at the names.

There is one thing that bugs me about the EM55 is that you cant adjust the volume of the different parts of the drum beat eg drums,bass, etc...

This keyboard (EM 55) costs just about $850 in your country. Here in South Africa the lowest price I got so far is $1050... I guess if I consider the shipping cost then it would be $850 + $200 = $1050... It is expensive for a keyboard with not many track recording features and a simple screen but its the sounds that I'm in love with
I've been shopping around and dealers have been dropping their prices till I got them down to $1050... The highest price I was quoted was $1500 for an EM 55!!! thats crazy .

Maybe I like this board's sounds because my previous keyboards were a Roland E38 and then a E500...the sounds were not so good...but I wish the EM55 had the E500's screen and menu options ...

I sure secound that...

Yes flutes are awsome on the Roland so as the Obos!

Here is some demos of the Em-55
if any one is intrested.
http://www.roland.it/demo_audioEM-55.htm

[This message has been edited by vic83 (edited 10-30-2002).]

vic83,

the demos sound great. BUT when I played it at the store using its internal speaker, I was underwhelmed.

I thought it was even worse than the cheapo CASIO.

It was night and day compared to the Yam PSR1000.

-Han

I agree. The EM55 internal speakers are terrible which is why u wont get a true reflection of this board if u are playing it at a store using the internal speakers...Hook it up to some powerful speakers and you'll be the most popular guy in your street

Now this I can understand... When are makers going to realize that the quality of the speakers can be the determining factor when buying the keyboard... It's like that with my PSR-550... The internal speakers are terrible.. Even my old DJX (original) had way better speakers.. Through the internal speakers the keyboard is so so, but when I run it through my Roland Monitors BAM! the sound pops at you...

Squeak

Having played a VA-7 and various Yamaha PSR's and now owning the Tyros, I found Rolands keyboards were great for clean cut modern synthy pop and dance styles, but a bit brash for other genres. I found many of the orchestral patches on Roland rather cold, though the strings and synth patches are always the creme a la creme. The drum sounds are plentiful though, but the style arranger section is severely limited. With only 2 variations and intro/ending, simple fills it didn't inspire me. I have never looked to see if its possible to actually create styles on a Roland EM series, I guess probably not but they do sound kinda different than yamaha's well orchestrated backings. If anything yamaha's styles can sometimes be too musical, whilst rolands are a bit more plain and easy to fit into.
Rolands internal speakers are rather poor though and a good audition should be done either on cans or a decent set of monitors. I agree that the 64 note poly is a big plus, but I also suggest this person looks at the PSR2000 - there's not much difference now in prices and you get a whole lot more!

Regards
Simon



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________________________
Simon G.K. Williams
simon@svpworld.com
Creative Music & Multimedia
http://www.svpworld.com
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Squeak,
This is OT but, what is the model number of your monitors? KC's?
Starkeeper

Starkeeper,
I have the Roland MA-8BK Micor Monitors... They are small desk top monitors, but these are ones you have to check out at a local store... The air they push is amazing! Here's a link for them.. They are also very affordable, and have several differnt hookups, and controls for treble and bass...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=021031082527209211103134147022/search/g=home?q=roland+ma-8bk


Squeak

Thanks Squeak.
Starkeeper

I've played with an Em-55 week a ago. the internal speakers do sound crap.but ti sounds way rich with the peaveys that it was connected to.more rich and live. I find the to be very good too. I think I will (as always) go for the Em-55OR when I find who is selling it!.

Simon, if I may, I like to correct part of your comment on the Roland arrangers[G1000,EM2000 and VA series]They have 4 variations ,2 intros and 2 endings...You have Basic and Advanced combined with original and variation, This yields the above numbers. Throw in the 4 drum variations and you now have 16 different variations.Fran

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 10-31-2002).]

Ok here it is.....I bought the PSR 1000 as well as a used Roland JX305 $300.00 US and a Roland SH32 $200.00US both in perfect shape. I really like the PSR I did compare it to both the Casio and Roland EM55. To my personal taste I like the Yamaha much more than the other two. I grabbed the other two pieces just because of the deal I got and plus I've been looking for a JX305 for a while....I'll post a more detailed review in a day or two once I get a chance to put it through a good work out....Thanks again to you all....

There was one instrument that I love called
"VOICE DAHS" .Fran will probably know this one.... anyway I played that instrument on a G1000 and EM2000 and it sounded perfect...On the EM55 the exact same instrument sounded terrible....I guess it would sound best on the VA7 because of the 48 mb PCM in the sounds.....If Roland had put 48 MB in the EM55 and added extra editing features to the 16 track sequencer it would have been just
perfect for me...I think I'm gonna save and get a VA 7.... The EM 55 costs $1100 here in South Africa and the VA7 is $2000.

Now that you have the 1000, you will want to check out: http://pages.prodigy.net/watersj/Yamaha2K/

You'll find plenty of info on the 1000/2000 series as well as hundreds of styles and songs and an enormous music finder database.



[This message has been edited by Joe Waters (edited 11-01-2002).]

Thanks Fran for that revision. I assumed that the basic and advanced was just a small and big orchestration and not necessarily a different arrangement?

Simon





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________________________
Simon G.K. Williams
simon@svpworld.com
Creative Music & Multimedia
http://www.svpworld.com
________________________