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#267339 - 07/08/09 10:29 AM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 4715
Loc: West Virginia
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I see you wrote "lightweight synth". If it's a good lightweight synth you're looking for I suggest you have a good look at the new Roland Juno Di.
128 note poly Fantom G sounds **has that great Roland 88 Stage Grand Piano USB File/Audio player Mic input with effects AND vocoder (mic effects are even independent from the tone generator) Very logical layout FULL SOFTWARE EDITOR that edits parameters not available on the synth (puts patch editing at a more pro level with the sofware) VERY LIGHTWEIGHT and (drum roll) Roland drops a Juno that runs on freakin batteries!
It's selling for $699 (not a bad price considering the poly, patch set, USB player, and mic input with vocoder.)
_________________________
GEAR: Yamaha MOXF-6, Casio MZX-500, Roland Juno-Di, M-Audio Venom, Roland RS-70, Yamaha PSR S700, M-Audio Axiom Pro-61 (Midi Controller). SOFTWARE: Mixcraft-7, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2013, Beat Thang Virtual, Dimension Le.
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#267342 - 07/08/09 12:53 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 4715
Loc: West Virginia
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Yeah..., the old Juno-D just had a price drop too. It's down to $499 (sounds are decent.., but not stellar as the Juno-D has been out since 2004). If you choose to get the older Juno D model make sure you get the Juno-D Le. The Le model has TWICE the rom of the Juno-D classic. Here's a link for the NEWER Juno-Di model. Look at this new model as a Juno-D on STEROIDS. http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1022&ParentId=72
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GEAR: Yamaha MOXF-6, Casio MZX-500, Roland Juno-Di, M-Audio Venom, Roland RS-70, Yamaha PSR S700, M-Audio Axiom Pro-61 (Midi Controller). SOFTWARE: Mixcraft-7, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2013, Beat Thang Virtual, Dimension Le.
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#267344 - 07/08/09 01:11 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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#267345 - 07/08/09 01:12 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 4715
Loc: West Virginia
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Is he looking for an arranger or synth though? He posted "lightweight synth" in the title..., but if he's looking for a lightweight synth (and an arranger with good pianos and EP's) the GW-8 would go nicely with his other unit (as stated some limitations with the styles though).., but he'd be getting a synth and an arranger in one package that's lightweight...
_________________________
GEAR: Yamaha MOXF-6, Casio MZX-500, Roland Juno-Di, M-Audio Venom, Roland RS-70, Yamaha PSR S700, M-Audio Axiom Pro-61 (Midi Controller). SOFTWARE: Mixcraft-7, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2013, Beat Thang Virtual, Dimension Le.
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#267348 - 07/08/09 05:48 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Registered: 04/25/05
Posts: 14194
Loc: NW Florida
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It would be interesting to compare the GW8-L's patch list and the JunoDi to see what's onboard. Thing that strikes me is that the expansion for the GW8 has as much ROM as the basic soundset... Looks like at least 1000 patches altogether, you might possibly be getting more ROM for your money with a GW8-L. Given the layout (very similar) and look (ditto), I've got a sneaky suspicion that BOTH these products are based on the Sonic Cell engine. Similar specs polyphony and effects for both, etc.. It's just that double sized ROM that looks like a winner to me. I'd really want to test both side by side before I'd be willing to say the JunoDi has an edge... BTW, Dennis, I realize that operating both together as an integrated arranger is difficult. Mind you, just about ANY arranger is pretty hard to set up that way, these days. PLEASE, if this is of any interest to you all (linking two different arrangers, and having them work as one), contact your manufacturers, and pressure them to adopt standardized codes for NTA, variation and fill selection, breaks, etc.. At present, even if the codes exist, they are all different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Hardly 'General MIDI' in any sense of the words!
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An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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#267351 - 07/08/09 06:02 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 4715
Loc: West Virginia
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I'm not going to give the Di the edge either. One's a budget performance synth and the other is a budget performance arranger. Major difference between the two though is the Di's software editor. Reports are saying the Di's sound set is based on the Fantom G. Personally.., I'm with you on one thing Diki. I think the Di's gonna sound very "SoniCellish"... Not only that the software editor (at least the pics that have been shown for the Di's editor) Look almost (if not identical) to the SonicCell. The Di's software adds more editable parameters too. For example. The Di's panel is set like the Juno-D in that you get two tones/osc per patch. With the software editor it's bumped up to 4 tones/osc per patch. The LFO section in the software is VERY detailed too. Not too mention that using the software gives you access to a 3rd MFX. The keyboard itself gives you two MFX per patch/perform.., and the software editor adds an additional MFX. The editor is pretty impressive. I gotta give it to Roland though. They're dropping budget keyboards with 128 note poly! The Di also has that Vocoder (along with the mic settings for singing). I know I'll be using that Vocoder I'll wait until I get it.., then I'll check with members here to see if anyone's interested in seeing a review for it. Wish I had a GW-8L to do a side by side too.
_________________________
GEAR: Yamaha MOXF-6, Casio MZX-500, Roland Juno-Di, M-Audio Venom, Roland RS-70, Yamaha PSR S700, M-Audio Axiom Pro-61 (Midi Controller). SOFTWARE: Mixcraft-7, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2013, Beat Thang Virtual, Dimension Le.
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#267352 - 07/08/09 06:07 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 4715
Loc: West Virginia
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Diki.., yes there's a big difference in the ROM size listed between the two boards. I think a big part of that is also that the GW8-L has that (L) in the title. There are numerous extra patches that would increase the ROM size for those latin specific patches. Not only that the GW has a better screen, and (although basic) a 16 trk sequencer.
[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 07-08-2009).]
_________________________
GEAR: Yamaha MOXF-6, Casio MZX-500, Roland Juno-Di, M-Audio Venom, Roland RS-70, Yamaha PSR S700, M-Audio Axiom Pro-61 (Midi Controller). SOFTWARE: Mixcraft-7, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2013, Beat Thang Virtual, Dimension Le.
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#267353 - 07/08/09 06:28 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 01/31/06
Posts: 3354
Loc: The World
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Originally posted by Diki: It would be interesting to compare the GW8-L's patch list and the JunoDi to see what's onboard. Thing that strikes me is that the expansion for the GW8 has as much ROM as the basic soundset... Looks like at least 1000 patches altogether, you might possibly be getting more ROM for your money with a GW8-L.
Given the layout (very similar) and look (ditto), I've got a sneaky suspicion that BOTH these products are based on the Sonic Cell engine. Similar specs polyphony and effects for both, etc..
It's just that double sized ROM that looks like a winner to me. I'd really want to test both side by side before I'd be willing to say the JunoDi has an edge...
BTW, Dennis, I realize that operating both together as an integrated arranger is difficult. Mind you, just about ANY arranger is pretty hard to set up that way, these days. PLEASE, if this is of any interest to you all (linking two different arrangers, and having them work as one), contact your manufacturers, and pressure them to adopt standardized codes for NTA, variation and fill selection, breaks, etc.. At present, even if the codes exist, they are all different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Hardly 'General MIDI' in any sense of the words! Already did Diki. The response from Roland was that they have NO intention of adding the NTA capability for either the Prelude or the GW8. Interesting also is they classify them as Synths and NOT arrangers, which is another reason they quoted for not including NTA, OR the ability to change patches in styles. Thats another thing that cannot be done on either the GW8 or Prelude. Oh and they are the soundset from the Fantom via the Sonic Cell. Dennis
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#267354 - 07/08/09 11:42 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Registered: 04/25/05
Posts: 14194
Loc: NW Florida
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Dennis, I have a feeing that nothing soon is going to happen... after all, Roland can't turn around and put a Standard Arranger set of codes in until there IS a 'Standard Arranger' set of codes! (I know NTA is a start, but we really need much more than this..). And Roland need to be told that, if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it needs the OS of a duck, even if Roland (for marketing voodoo bullsh*t reasons) want to call it a swan... And Squeak, even then, just like editing or creation sections of the OS, most likely more expensive members of the line will sport them. What do you expect for $699, anyway? [This message has been edited by Diki (edited 07-08-2009).]
_________________________
An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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#267356 - 07/09/09 04:17 AM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 4715
Loc: West Virginia
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Diki..., (unless it's too early and missed something) what do you mean "what do I expect for $699"? Did you not read my post where I said I just bought a Roland Juno-Di (pre-ordered)? I said nothing about any expections beyond something in the $699 price range. If you go back and read you'll see I'm agreeing with you.., and I even said that "I'm not going to give the Di the edge either".
In comparison with the GW-8L.., the GW's nearly $200 more.., and as expected considering it has a larger ROM, a sequencer, better screen, ect.
I've stated that for what all it does $699 is a bargain for the Di. I wouldn't have pre-ordered one if I didn't think it was.
_________________________
GEAR: Yamaha MOXF-6, Casio MZX-500, Roland Juno-Di, M-Audio Venom, Roland RS-70, Yamaha PSR S700, M-Audio Axiom Pro-61 (Midi Controller). SOFTWARE: Mixcraft-7, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2013, Beat Thang Virtual, Dimension Le.
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#267358 - 07/09/09 10:18 AM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 4715
Loc: West Virginia
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My bad man.., I read your response bright and early this morning and hadn't even had a cup of coffee yet. My brain's OS was still booting up for the day and I think a driver failed to load I got some cool news today. Sweetwater informed me that I was the FIRST pre-order through them for the Juno-Di I take that as being WAY COOL considering Sweetwater's relationship with Roland. [This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 07-09-2009).]
_________________________
GEAR: Yamaha MOXF-6, Casio MZX-500, Roland Juno-Di, M-Audio Venom, Roland RS-70, Yamaha PSR S700, M-Audio Axiom Pro-61 (Midi Controller). SOFTWARE: Mixcraft-7, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2013, Beat Thang Virtual, Dimension Le.
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#267362 - 07/09/09 02:09 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Senior Member
Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
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You didn't mention voice editing, so consider the Yamaha PSR-S550B...a nice little arranger...a bit more loot than the GW-8, but it offers:
Keyboard: 61 Standard size keys (C1-C6) with Touch Response
Display: Large Backlit Black and White LCD (320 x 240 dots) displays notation, lyrics and chords
Voices: - Total Number: 774 Voices+22 Drum Kits - Compatibility: General MIDI (GM) & XGlite Compatible - Piano Voice Quality: Stereo High Resolution - Sweet! Voices, Cool! Voices, Live! Voices: Dedicated buttons - Dual / Split: Yes / Left, Duel - Drum Kits: 22 Drum Kits - Polyphony: 64 Note
Auto Accompaniment: - Styles: 176 styles - Variations: 4- Variation A~D & Fill - One Touch Settings: 4 per style - Registration Memory: 8 x 8 Banks - Music Database: 500 setups by song title
Digital Effects: - Reverb: 36 types - Chorus: 45 types - DSP: 239 types - Harmony: 26 types
Sequencer: - 16 tracks to record your own songs (15 Melody + 1 Chord) - 5 User songs +10,000 Notes
Real Time Control: Pitch Bend Wheel
Auxiliary Jack: Phones/Output, DC in 16V, USB to host (MIDI In/Out), USB to device (optional storage devices), Sustain
Amplifier: 12W + 12W
Speakers: 12cm x 2 + 3cm x 2
Power Supply: PA-300 Adaptor (included)
Dimensions (W x D x H): 37.2 x 15.8 x 5.1 in. (945 x 402 x 130 mm)
Weight: 16.5 lbs (7.5kg)
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros4, Yamaha MS-60S Powered Monitors(2), Yamaha CS-01, Yamaha TQ-5, Yamaha PSR-S775.
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#267364 - 07/10/09 10:21 AM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Registered: 04/25/05
Posts: 14194
Loc: NW Florida
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Originally posted by miden: Where the f#@k did that come from!!! I never said anything of the sort!!! I guess the general spirit of 'lightening up' hasn't made it to Oz yet... All I'm getting at, Dennis, is there is FAR more to linking two arrangers together than one of them having an NTA track. How do you deal with filtering PC#'s coming from the master (that might change styles, or patches, etc.)? How do you deal with triggering variations and fills, intros, endings, etc.? I am curious... do you, at this point, actually run two arrangers from one keyboard yet? Or is it something that you would like to do, but haven't tried, yet? I have to confess, I've tried this in the past, and it's a total PITA. Even if you can get the NTA track to work, you still have to reach over to the secondary arranger for all Variation operations, sometimes they don't start together, or stop together, and you often need a computer between the two just to filter out controllers or PC#'s that do weird things to the styles... All I was trying to point out is that an NTA track, by itself, isn't really all that useful. As to the GW8-L's lack of style editing, I have commented at length about that... The only way to edit styles is to turn them into SMF's, edit those, and turn back into styles. A terrible system, IMO. But, as I also said, for the VERY light price of the GW8, you get FAR more ROM than many similar priced arrangers with better MIDI implementations and onboard style header editing. I was just pointing out, at the low end of the price scale, it's all about compromise... The main problem exists that each manufacturer implements arranger to arranger control (if they implement it at all) in a totally different fashion, and that most of the codes are hardwired. We need a Standard Arranger Code that would allow exactly what you want without the either major roadblocks for variation triggering, or current ultra basic NTA only transmission. So.... which two arrangers have you linked together so far? I'd love to hear how well it worked for you.
_________________________
An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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#267366 - 07/10/09 03:34 PM
Re: Need lightweight synth w. good piano and E.P. sounds
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Registered: 04/25/05
Posts: 14194
Loc: NW Florida
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Originally posted by miden: Only Roland. They sometimes do brilliant things, but then do really dumb things. Truer words were never spoken... I did not realize that you were talking about triggering from a WS. You had mentioned the SD-1 in your post. Yes, triggering from a WS is usually a LOT easier, as on most TOTL WS's, you can configure the buttons and knobs to send whatever MIDI you need to. The things are DESIGNED for flexibility. But arrangers rarely have ANY kind of button, knob and slider MIDI flexibility... Heck, half the time, they don't send anything at all, and the rest of the time, it is hardwired codes that you can't change. This is what I find so frustrating. Yes, I can control my G70 from my K2500 (possibly the MOST flexible WS ever made), but I can't control an S900 from my G70 The thing that strikes me is, if you have to have the GW-8 close enough to get at the controls, it's close enough to actually PLAY
_________________________
An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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