Each individual requires different features in a board, therefore I thought it would be a good idea for members to say exactly what they want in a board, (Include why if you wish) and then see what other members suggest would suit that person. (With the number of different boards out there, it would be impossible to know every feature of them, but owners will)

Here are my requirements

1. The capabilities to use external sounds. (This is because I was using VSTi and other samples long before I had an arranger, (I was using a computer based system) and once you have used them, you never want to be without them)

2. All the advantages of an auto accompaniment, with individual control in an easy to use and integrated package. (Song specific (all singing and dancing) styles are a no, no)

3. Can be situated in the lounge without upsetting domestic harmony

4. Can be played by others without requiring technical expertise (Switch on and play)

Look forward to suggestions and others requirements

Bill

I want is a keyboard that I can make my own, something 100% personal to me so much that if you buy one too, yours will sound nothing like my one unless you can somehow figure out what software I'm using on it and clone my work.

It also must function flawlessly.

Regards
James

Bill. My request relates to Styles. What I would like to see in an arranger.
To get rid of the repetitious loop of styles Band In a Box use a system that picks style parts from a Data Base of the style selected. This varies depending on how long you hold a chord for and also how many chord changes in a bar.
Should work well in an arranger keyboard to make the style more life like.

Minimal weight, 88 weighted keys and a decent sounding stareo grand piano and I'll play it all night.

If it's an arranger keyboard you're talking about, then I'd want the weight less than 30 lbs, great piano, organ, guitar, strings and sax sounds, exceptional 3rd party support, built in speakers, 5 octave light action keybed, easy to use/learn rock solid reliable OS, a nice basic built in 16 track sequencer with audio to USB capability, and, last but certainly not least, great accompaniment styles with easy editing.

I don't need sampling, or sample importation...just basic sound editing will do fine.

Mmmmm...so far, I've just described my PSR-S910.

1. Decent sounds and styles
2. Intuitive UI that allows on-the-fly changes in live performance
3. Um, that's it

more a wishlist than a requirement

*under 30 lbs
*solid build quality and keybed
*easy to use OS
*minimal pages in edit mode
*More dedicated knobs and buttons
*state of the art storage USB2, SDHC, etc.
*large touchscreen
*built in PC/Mac editing software
*more global editing settings
*performance sequencer is good enough for me
*Don't need 1000 sounds, just great piano, organ, strings, wind and brass. Don't need 50 EP's, give me two or three good ones. Only one page/screen per instrument sound.
*Don't need sampling
*

Hi Bill,
basically a korg, with yamaha styles/ ketron drums/& the addition of Diki's G70 style makeup tools to complete the PA's already good style editing/creation functions.
best wishes
Rikki


[QUOTE]Originally posted by abacus:
[B]

It's a more complex question than it first seems. "What do you require in a keyboard?"

I guess the simple answer would be 'Everything!'

The trouble starts when you don't realize that you could need your keyboard to do several completely contradictory tasks. For live, solo stuff, you need one thing. For studio work and pro production, you need another. For dance production, something else, for retro acts and recording, something else again.

Live, you need the ultimate ease of use even perhaps at the cost of the quality of the sounds (an awful lot of detail gets lost in a band or busy solo situation). You need an OS geared towards instant recall of any setup, seamless changes from one setup to another, conveniences like lyric readers, songbook lists, easy patch selection and fast on the fly mixing of setups you create on the spot.

In the studio, there's more time. More detail in editing voices, setups, effects, routings, etc. are required. 'Close enough' isn't a phrase that should used much! Versatility, flexibility, customizability, a degree of 'openness' even if it is just a sampler or loop player, and a VERY comprehensive set of controls make for a powerful studio tool. But they are the very things that work against you if you play out live, unless you do a highly choreographed show that never asks you to do something you haven't already prepared for.

Then there's the 'open' keyboard issue... Most people know my opinion of those... if you aren't at the top of your game, you are setting yourself up for a frustrating time getting as good an overall sound and degree of usefulness as a closed one. Whether studio OR live, but especially live...

Retro keyboards, the accuracy of the emulation is the main criterion, followed by ease of live use, again.

All different keyboards, with different focus. Expecting any one to cover everything with the same ease is unrealistic. This is possibly one of my issues with open keyboard supporters. Yes, theoretically, one good open keyboard OUGHT to be able to do it all. Sadly, IMO, they haven't made one yet that does. No doubt eventually, it can be done. But until then...

I like specialists. Got great WS's and a decent VSTi rig for studio, got a great live keyboard for live. There's a certain amount of crossover (mainly towards studio use) but each are better at one thing than the other. And I'm happy with that. Maybe, a ways in the future, someone is going to make something that IS the master of all trades, but so far, I haven't found it..!

Perhaps you and I have different criteria, Diki...I'm very happy with the PSR-S910 as both a "live" arranger, and a recording instrument.

If I wanted a piano (that felt like a piano), or organ (same deal), I'd get them...perhaps a CP-300, and maybe an XK-1, but for my arranger needs, emphasis on the "my", the S910 is the ideal instrument.

I suppose it depends on what you have planned for it...I just want a nice sounding, easy to transport arranger, that will also let me make a CD of my playing, to use as a promo, or even to sell.

I can do it very nicely with the S910.


[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 10-25-2009).]