I've just about convinced my parents to lend me a few hundred bob to buy the keyboard I want, the PSR2000. Infact I've persuaded them to come along to Hands Music tomorrow (where there's a PSR2000 on display) to show them. However, I'm not buying it from there because they charge full price!

Thanks to everyone who's given me advice, it has helped a lot.

Oh, and a few questions:
1. Why is the PSR2000 slightly heavier than the PSR1000?
2. Are the voices that are both present on the PSR1000 and PSR2000 of the same tone and quality?
3. Why does the keyboard focus so heavily on 'styles' when they are generally associated with (dare I say it) beginner and intermediate musicians. Surely only more advanced players are going to buy the more expensive keyboards?
4. Is the PSR2000's sound quality one of its main strengths?
5. If you harmonise your voice on the keyboard, can you transfer the sound onto computer to be saved?

6. (MY MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION)
Which has better sound quality, the PSR2000 or the Creative SoundBlaster Live Platinum?

---------------

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

Jamie Frost

I think you are quite young, and I'm glad you're enjoying making music. I'll try to help.
First, please give your local dealer a chance to match the price you get elsewhere. Even if you have to pay a few dollars more, it is well worth it in most cases. If for no other reason, he HAS one for you to look at and try out. And, if yours breaks down, many dealers will let you use one while it is in the shop.
To answer some of your questions, the 2000 is a little heavier probably because it has additional features such as the microphone and harmonizer functions.
The sounds are the same but as I recall, the 2000 has more memory dedicated to producing sounds.
As far as Styles--they are the basis for arranger keyboards. There are countless strings on this forum regarding the use of styles by professionals, several of them quite recent. Arrangers can be used as Synths, to a degree. It is much more difficult to use Synths as Arrangers. You should be certain what you want in a keyboard before buying anything. The 2000 is a good choice because of it's versatility, many features, price point and Yamaha reliability.
The sound quality is indeed a strong feature of the 2000. I can tell very little difference between it and the higher priced 9000.
You can record the output of the keyboard by plugging it into a tape, MD, or other recording device. You could plug it into the computer and record, but you will be recording WAV files, which are quite large.
They can then be converted to compressed files, such as MP3, or transferred to CD.
The keyboard does not store vocals or record them in any sort of compressed form.
I haven't heard the sound card you speak of, so can't help there.
DonM

Jamie , Since Don has answered most of your questions, I will try to answer the last one.The sound blaster live sound cards are good, Use the sound card as a vehicle[most of the wavetables are FM and are not as good as the wavetables from Roland and Yamaha], This way you have the quality recording of your sound card, and the sample playback of quality wavetables from Roland and Yamaha..

Hi, I agree with Don, even I do not own a Yamaha PSR for the moment, and as far is concern the quality of the PSR vs. the Live Platinum ( very good soundcards ), most keyboards or Pro/modules, will be superior than the soundcard we have, I use mine for recording.

------------------
mdorantes

Thanks for the response. I'm glad to hear that the PSR2000 has better sound quality than my sound card, because I mainly use the sound card for composing. The reason I hardly ever play my PSR420 any more is because the sound card is of superior sound quality.

In response to Don's answer, I somehow don't think Hands Music (who charge the recommended retail price @ £1150) will knock £281 off their price to match the price Starland have offered!

P.S. 16 isn't that young!
P.P.S. For Don's benefit, I have posted one of my (few) compositions to demonstrate the sound quality of the Soundblaster Platinum (apologies if it's a little tacky):
http://www.jwebvision.co.uk/filmpiece.htm

WOW!
I just tried out the keyboard again at Hands Music with my mum present. Despite the fact I visited before, I was a lot more impressed with the keyboard this time - perhaps because I knew what I was doing this time, and perhaps because the bloke who was helping us wasn't dopey like the one before! The sound quality was absolutely amazing, although admitedly I only tried the different piano and electric piano sounds.

My mum was so impressed she has agreed to lend me some money, so hopefully I should be in possession of the keyboard some time next week!!!!!!!!

16?? I have underwear older than that!
Anyway, welcome aboard. And at least ASK the dealer if he'll come down on the keyboard. It's the same way with used cars--you have to make an offer to get the best deals. He sees a kid with his parents, assumes they are not knowledgeable about keyboards and quotes full price. If you let him know you're not ignorant, he may surprise you. Since you are prepared to buy elsewhere anyway, you have nothing to lose by making a "take it or leave it" offer.
DonM

Hi Jim
That "filmpiece" composition of yours sure impresses me! I think it's great! Does it exist as a MIDI file also? If so, I'd like to download it.
Tom

I finally got time to listen to your song. It is indeed a great piece of work. Seems you have a lot of talent.
DonM

I'm glad that:
a) this forum is starting to get back to normal
b) you liked my piece

Tom, I have the MIDI file,
but you'll need to give me your email so I can send it to you. However, if you finished listening to the piece, it should be saved in your Temporary internet files.

By the way, I ordered the keyboard this morning, they said it will come on Wednesday or Thursday.

Jim,

for the little tune, I really liked it. It seems to me you are influenced by themes such as Star wars or superman...

Jamie,
you can find Tom's email address in the first and second small icons from the left, in the very top row (the ones with a small face and a stamp on them).
By the way, this applies to all the other Forum members too.
Andrea

Andrea,
Thanks for explaining to Jim where he can locate user's email addresses.

Jaime,
Now that you know my email address, would you email the midi of your song when you get a chance?
Thanks
Tom

Before the keyboard comes, are there any software updates such as an OS upgrade that I can download somewhere?
And are there any pre-use important tips to I need to know before I start playing?
It'll be useful to know.

Thanks, and Happy New Year,
Jamie xxx

Jammie,
I just listened to your music theme! You are a very talented young man. I doubt you will have any trouble playing the PSR. Its very easy to pick up. I heard there was a OS version higher than the one I have which is 1.0 but I have not heard where you get it from. So many folks on here play this board now that I am sure any questions you have after you start working with it will get answered promptly.

Take care,

-LindFus

You can download the owner's manual from Yamaha.
Upgrades are apparently installed on the later European boards, but not yet available for download, as far as I've heard.
DonM

Hi Jamie,

First of all, congrats on your new PSR2000 purchase. I think you are going to be very happy with it.

Enjoyed your midi arrangement of the Star Trek movie theme. What keyboard(s) or sound module(s) did you use to produce this? Do you also use a midi sequencing software program such as Cakewalk? I just recently purchased Cakewalk Sonar. http://www.cakewalk.com
Btw, there is a Cakewalk instrument definition file (PSR2000.ins) available which allows you to select all the sounds in your PSR2000 directly from within Cakewalk. http://www.svpworld.com/files/PSR2000.zip


The Yamaha PSR2000 OS supports flashable ROM updates. So far, Yamaha has released PSR2000's in two different OS versions, but unfortunately, there are no flash ROM updates available yet which would allow us to update our keyboards to the lastest OS version. Hopefully this will become available (from Yamaha) SOON.

To find out the OS version installed on your PSR2000:

With the PSR2000 turned off, play & hold down the notes C#2,F2,G#2 (as a chord) while you turn the power ON. You will now see a test screen. Press START/STOP button. The OS version numbers will now display on your screen. Version parameters includes:

Main Boot
Main Program
BMP
Style,
Voice Parameter
Preset
Font
Wnn
XG Wave

Earlier OS version:
Main Boot 1.03
All the others: 1.00

Newer OS version:
Main Boot 1.03
Main Program 1.10
All the others: 1.00

The newer OS version corrects the 'Registration Memory' fingering mode (not saving) in the earlier OS.

Jamie, here are some links to PSR keyboard sites I recommend:

PSR2000: http://www.svpworld.com/2000world.htm

PSR Utilities: http://www.svpworld.com/psr_software.htm

PSR Styles: http://www.spectromagic.com/PSR-Styles-Vault-Archive/

CASM Edit Yamaha Style Editor: http://osenenko.chat.ru/Main_eng.htm

Yahoo Groups forums:

PSR2000: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/psr2000

PSR Styles: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yamaha-psr-styles

PSR Songs: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yamaha-psr-songs

Happy 2002 from California, USA !

- Scott
http://scottyee.com


[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 12-31-2001).]