Chas..., gotta let ya know buddy... Roland just replaced the VP-550 man! Check out the replacement! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=988&ParentId=72

Awesome !!

get ready for the new G90 arranger

In the words of Squeak_D, DANG!

chas


PS: I gotta have it, I just gotta. Without having heard the new voice designer engine (the VP-550 had a slight 'metallic' overtone), it has at least six significant improvements; 1) transpose 2) USB storage, 3) auto-harmony, 5) new voices, 6) improved (hopefully) sound engine. No details yet, so I don't know exactly what the USB storage stores (but it sounds good in the specs ).

Damn you, Squeak.



chas

Chas good luck with your new VP-770

Sorry Chas She shure is purrrrty though. The VP550 was quite popular. Looks like they made some good changes with the new model. From what I've been told VP-550 are all over the place in my area being used in churches, and schools.

Yeah Donny, you and Russ may have to share with me the line(s) you use with your wives when the 'new arrival' shows up. I don't think I can stand a week of frosty looks.



chas

Chas you were wondering what to trade your roland for now you know

Can't bear to part with the Fantom G7 'cause it's the only 'new' WS I have (I have a Triton (which I still love) and a Motif ES (which I never use) - I'm not really into ARPS, maybe that's why I never warmed up to either the Motif or the Fantom; wrong genre' I guess. What can I say, I'm old. Roland (and all the other manufaturers) should have a 'trade-up program for situations like this.

chas

Take a moment, though, chas...

How many times have you actually USED your VPP? Does it tend to get onto most of your tracks, or have you only used it a handful of times? That's a fair chunk of moolah (in today's economic climate) for a one trick pony...

Wouldn't that Nord Stage get a lot more day to day usage?

I'm afraid of dying with excess cash. Yeah, it's a one-trick pony but I like the way it does that one trick better than all the other voice processors. This thing is great for people that can't sing and is a whole lot of fun.

chas

Chas...., sell your VP550 and use that money towards the new model! The VP-550 is pretty popular..., and you may not have any problems selling it.

FS: VP-550, like new. Great for people that can't sing.

Fran, you out there?

chas

I sing all the way to the bank...

Chas, Annie has never been to my warehouse, so she has no concept of my equipment "sickness".
The operation is actually a business complex. There is a partnership of 4 owners. I am the majority owner and managing partner

Actually, the warehouse is four separate buildings-170,000 square feet, with my business
(photography, video production, offices and my "toys)in one, along with three other offices for a lawyer and two musician/friends, who give lessons and use the area as their office(s). The next building has an HVAC business in it, with a sales room, warehouse and fabrication area for duct work-about 40 employees. The third building is occupied by a company that reclaims old barns and other structures and sells antique wood all around the world. The final building has a furniture refinisher, a woddworking shop and a fellow that sells sod and mulch in it. The storage lot for mulch and sod is fenced in in the back.

All of my playing and film score income, as well as my equipment purchases are officially business income and expenses, and never "hit the books" at home. Annie doesn't know or care what I do business-wise.

And as long as the bills at home are paid, I can do whatever I want.

Is that cool or what?


Russ

Fran, you know I'm just kidding you. In fact, nothing brings a smile to my face quicker than listening to one of your songs . Have a good time in Shreveport. Don't let Donny overdo it with all that gumbo and po' boys. What the heck is that, anyway? Sure doesn't sound edible. Anyway, enjoy.

chas

OMG chas! We have GOT to get you down to NOLA and educate your taste buds!

chas ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po%27_boy


t.

OMG !!! ... now IKNOW I gotta come back as Russ !!!
t.

I achieved the same level of coolness much more simply...it's called staying single.

Ian

Chas,

Just buy it! I guess I'm kinda' in Russ' boat, but not nearly to the same degree. As long as it produces more income than it costs my wife is quite happy with my musical equipment purchases. BTW: This includes boats as well.

Good Luck,

Gary

Ian, believe me, that's a MUCH more efficient arrangement. I still really like the ladies, but I'm getting so old that I'm beginning to forget wwhat all the fuss was about!


R.

It's not the settling down with one woman that discourages me...it's giving up all the rest.





[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 01-16-2009).]

Right again, Ian. You're close to being my HERO! I don't mind being a grandpa, I just donn't really like being stuck with a grandma....


R.


Russ

That has all the makings of a Country hit .

chas

You're only as old as the woman you feel.

Awwwwwwww please! You guys have it EASY compared to me. How about this one..., the woman I married has a BA in MATH and and Assoc. in Applied Science (with the majority of those courses in Accounting).

One would think... Hey sweet deal.., good to marry a person that can take a nickel and stretch it over a week. WRONG! Holy sh(%&$& it's like living with the CEO of a Credit Union! My wife talks numbers in her sleep.., and can do advanced calc and trig while stone cold drunk if she wanted to without a calculator. Her job is always bringing her files where they need someone to figure out "where's the money..., what happened to it.., and how can we get it back".

I swear that woman has harnest the power of the Force in some way because all I have to do is spend $1.00 and somehow my wife can pick up on that very MINUTE disturbance in the force....

I tease her about it all the time too. If I want to get a new high end keyboard.., geeez, fill out the application, wait for pre-approval, talk to the loan officer, blah blah blah blah

She's strick with money.., but I can't complain as we do have a lot of very nice things. We can come to agree on 95% on many things as far as money is concerned, but boys as you know.., we keyboard players will NEVER get a nonkeyboard player to understand the purchase of these things.

Do what the rest of us do; buy now, beg forgiveness later. If that doesn't work, plead temporary insanity (she'll likely tell you that it's permanent). Hey, you just gotta' grow some and let her know who's boss.......oh, and no, you can't camp out here while you're looking for new quarters .

chas

Many people today with kids use day care so that both can bring in an income...you do what you have to to get what you want.

I got a pair..., thing is (like most.., I'm a man who has needs too). I really like having a place to put that pair (if you get my drift). I'm still young enough to not throw a hip while in the act (again if you get my drift)

It's all good Donny. I joke with her, but my wife and I have a great relationship and I wouldn't have it any other way. Like I said we can agree on 95% of how the money is spent. I can say that in our years I can't rememeber us ever having a fight on how money is spent.

Plus I'll never put my little girl in a daycare. I was raised in a big family and not one of us ever spent a minute in a daycare. The wife and I have a comfortable living..., and don't struggle with money.

Plus keyboards sure as hell aren't a cheap hobby.., as is pretty much anything related to music production.

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 01-16-2009).]

There are many very good day care facilities.....of which today is a true nessessity for millions of families trying to struggle through life & beyond.

I'm sure there are fine daycares out there..., however my family doesn't struggle. We're fortunate to not have the financial problems many families today have. We're just good at managing our money. We live within our means, don't charge this, that.

Problem I've seen is too many families out there got into trouble because they're trying to live the life of a fine wine drinker on a beer drinkers salary.

I applaud and support those couples who choose to give up one income in order for one parent to stay home during the (most) formative years of their children's lives. Which parent doesn't matter. My wife, as a management-level professional (PhD/MSW)stayed home for the first seven years of our children's lives. I will always be grateful that she did. I don't see any difference between that and Squeak's situation. As I always say; different strokes..............


chas

Exactly Chas! Here's the thing.., I was raised in a family that taught equality on ALL levels. My parents did not raise us to conform to accept "gender specific roles". I was raised and taught "you do what works best for your family".

I can't speak for all you guys.., but I WILLINGLY accepted the role of "full time dad" without issues.., and I'm a college graduate too. It was nothing about manhood or pride. It was simply because I was raised that it doesn't matter WHO stays home, but if money allows.., then ONE parent stay home to raise the children and hold down the homefront.

Every one of my 7 brothers and sisters were raised domesticated. With a family as large as mine was EVERYONE had to pitch in for the household to run efficiently. My parents were loaded.., gave us everything we needed, put all of us through private Catholic school.., yet raised each of us to understand the meaning of FAMILY and value of being financially smart.

I gave up working full time to stay home as well. Thing was my wife had just graduated college..., landed a job with the Federal Government that made my paycheck look like a welfare case. We discussed it and I resigned my position to become the full time dad. I did it without question. Do you have any idea how much money we save on childcare and other things simply because we can afford to have one parent at home full time!

I guess we're all raised differently though. I will say IMO children do much better when at least one parent is home to guide and teach them. My daughter is a straight A student..., ranks as one of the top students in her school, won numerous academic awards, ect. She's polite, respects others, isn't spoiled (well by her mother at least) .., but all around she's a great kid. I think a lot of that has to do with her having a parent home.

I will say that I consider myself to be VERY lucky. Simmply because I get to watch my little girl grow up! So often it's the person that doesn't stay home that misses out on a lot of things. I volunteer at my daughters school.., participate in her class activities. I love every minute of it because I'm getting all this time with my little girl. Trust me I know the day's coming where she'll consider her Daddy to be "uncool and dorky". It's already starting really as now she's getting secretive in only telling my wife some things..., banning me from looking inside certain things that she owns saying "Daddy only girls are allowed to look in here or look inside that". I love every minute of it..., and am thankful for every day I get with my little girl because so many (2 person) working families have to miss out on it because of financial hardships.

No amount of keyboard equipment could ever replace the relationship I have with my daughter. Sure I could work just to get the biggest and baddest keyboard out there.., but I say the hell with that. I love music.., but the real music in my life that I can dance to everyday is my FAMILY.



[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 01-16-2009).]

Squeak, I think you're right. I messed up a little, though. I worked 2 jobs so Annie could be home with the kids. I missed a lot!


Russ

I have raised 4 children, my wife has never worked outside the home....
Thank God for Music.