I like to hear people's thoughts on these brands and differences.

Vocalizers
Styles
Sounds
Op systems

and such

Which are better for certain kinds of music and such

thanks

Best to worst (IMO)

OS:

Yamaha (by a wide margin)
Korg
Roland
Ketron

Sounds:

Yamaha (overall)
Korg
Roland
Ketron

Styles:

Yamaha (except drums & bass)
Korg
Roland
Ketron

Vocalizers:

Korg
Roland
Yamaha
Ketron (don't know)

Kind of music:

Yamaha - Everything
Korg - Mideastern / Dance
Roland - Dance / Hip Hop
Ketron - Mideastern

I have spent excessive time with all of them.
Vocalizers:
Roland
Ketron
Korg
Yamaha

Styles:
Ketron
Roland
Yamaha
Korg

Lead (right-hand) sounds:
Yamaha - Ketron
Roland
Korg

Drums and Bass
Ketron
Roland

Op System
Yamaha
Roland
Ketron
Korg

Country Music
Ketron
Roland
Yamaha
Korg

Swing Big-band
Roland
Yamaha
Ketron
Korg

Jazz
Ketron
Roland
Yamaha
Korg

Midi files sound
Roland-Ketron
Korg
Yamaha

Portability:
Yamaha S900/3000
Korg PA800
Ketron
Roland

Value for dollar
Yamaha
Roland E-50, 60

It took minimum of one week steady hard work to learn enough about each of these to form opinions.

DonM

Dito all Don Mason said, I will add the Latin (American and the other REAL Latin, like the one you hear in the radio/TV in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, etc.)
And Ballroom music styles (not mentioned) in My own opinion and experience with those brands.

Latin Styles:

Ketron
Korg in certain areas is better, but
Roland-Yamaha is getting better...


Ballroom Waltz, Fox, Viennese W.etc

Ketron
Korg
Yamaha-Roland

I will add that in the Midi File play with NO editing...in other words, a Generic Midi File (Plain GM)...NO GS or XG banks.

To my ears Ketron beats all the above, Roland may came close, they have terrific tone generation too.



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

I have been working on my S900 Yamaha for more than four months and I am still discovering new things. The keyboard keeps getting better as I learn more about it. It was just OK just out-of-the-box, now I am finding ways to do whatever I want and the keyboard sounds great.
Dom, with all respect two weeks of dedicated work will not reveal all the possibilities of a keyboard, although you would have the answers to your personal needs.

My opinion, John C.

Thanks guys,

Just ttying to see which professional think of each, this helps me when selling, since certain music styles are really best judged by those that truelly know them.

Thanks

"with all respect two weeks of dedicated work will not reveal all the possibilities of a keyboard, although you would have the answers to your personal needs."

Oh I agree 100%. The shortest time I had any of these boards was the Korg PA800, and that was for several months. My point was, you have to spend a LOT of quality time with a keyboard to become familiar enough with it to see whether it will work for you.
I've had the SD5 for about a month now, but previously had X1, SD1 and Midjay (twice), so I was already familiar with the inner workings of the OS.
DonM

Many folks get a product and spend months on end trying to make it work, only to get frustrated. For me, that's valuable and wasted time. I personally can tell in a few days (raised eyebrows) if it's something to keep working on.

In my case, I have an incumbent to compare to and it delivers, day in and out. So I carefully compare the parameters to determine gains and losses. These parameters aren't rocket science. It's simple stuff like styles, style play, OS and individual OTB sounds. All the boards tried lately would be too much on the negative side, despite some great features.

My time needs to be devoted to working on new material instead of long learning curves or excessive tweaking.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone with quick judgement and therefore will reserve comments on products. I don't want to offend my good friends on the forum.


zuki

Vocalizers:
Korg(only the TC)
Ketron (close second)
Roland
Yamaha doesn't qualify for this category

Styles:
tough ctaegory:

Useable/generic:
Yamaha

Punchy/live:
Ketron/Korg

Swing/Latin:
Roland

Sounds:
They all have terrific engines now...each with different strengths

OS:
Yamaha
Newer Korgs
Roland

:::::::::::::::

This debate is always a ballbuster, but I know that Frankie is just trying to get a good market analisis. Lots of features - even more opinions !

Good Luck Frank !