NAM 2012

I don't know if there will be any Arranger KB surprises at Winter NAMM...if there is so far it's hush hush....;-)

The highly anticipated Yamaha CVP 6-series piano based arrangers are expected sometime in the new year...maybe they'll be at NAMM.

Ian

Is the door closed on a Yamaha S series to replace the S910 and S710?

Not sure Larry...S910's have been back-ordered here for quite some time...not sure what is causing the delay.

Usually the new PSR line is introduced at around the same time as the CVP series, so there may be something new.

As usual, only the upper level guys know what's happening, and they ain't talking.

Ian

I just received my January 2012 Yamaha Arranger price list with no new models for at least the beginning of this year. The only change is the price of the Tyros4 has gone up! not down! UP!

I should mention that the Tyros4 is the only Arranger keyboard made in Japan and the price of parts, etc. might be the reason for the few hundred dollar price increase. Yamaha has not told me this but it is just my guess.

... could also be the ripple effect of the disaster Japan just went through which has obviously made parts a little harder to get ... just my thoughts though ....

Could the micro arranger and lighter less expensive keyboards be the wave of the future as the economy declines?

I think so. As the economy gets worse, people are going to eat less, and their fingers are going to get smaller and thinner, perfect for a microarranger. Korg had amazing foresight.

My first laugh in awhile, Thanks!

- Roland Fantom V, with a V-piano, V-synth B3 emulator and Jupiter 80 inside on top of an improved Fantom engine.
- Casio workstation is XW-P1
- Yamaha Motif PCI express card
- Yamaha Tyros 4 76 key expansion, making it have 2 manuals.
- Korg Kronos Module
- Korg microGrand: a 1/4" scale grand piano with microkeys
- Nord will release a new keyboard
- Kurzweil K3000, finally a follow up for their synth line
- Moog Module: The Minitaur
- A new company with a sensation, based on VST's and open software

This is what i found so far on the web, not much on new arrangers tough, except for the Tyros 4 expansion keys, which is probably a Hoax.

So far only the Casio and the Moog seem confirmed. The Casio will have top of the line features for a price of only $699. The Moog will be an annolgue module.

Als confirmed is that Karma will release its Motif software on NAMM.


Personally i would have expected a reaction from Yamaha on the Kronos, because we all do know they have the technollogy and the know how to do so and create a sensational Synth workstation. But somehow this is not going to happen.

a) Just read on some websites that Casio will be showcasing their new synth/workstation keyboards. b) I hope for a replacement of the S910/S710(S950/S750) from Yamaha. c) Roland 76 key TOTL arrangers based on the sound engine of the Jupiter 80 ? Unlikely in this NAMM but then hope Roland is reading this d) For synth users, may be the Motif XF-Rack version will show up.

Personally I feel the arranger KB industry is slowly disappearing as today's electronic based music dictates the KB market. Year after year less & less, or a rehash of whats already available Obviously styles cannot compete with multitrack rhythms creation that are in most of today's music & songs. Workstations of some type will rule the roost in years to come for sure as the last few NAMM shows sadly show.

Donny, maybe in the U.S., but in the rest of the world arrangers are doing well. Ketron and Korg both have amazing new products, not to mention the terrific little module from Roland. It seems as if every accordion player in the world, and many guitar players, are doing one-man things with the BK7m or Audya 4.
And you can count on Yamaha to continue repackaging their arrangers every couple of years as well.
DonM

I WANT technicsBACK!!!!! ... but I KNOW that's asking too much ...

Tony, I agree that Techics was way ahead of the game in many respect. The good news is that Korg seems to have hired some of their people and you can see the influences in the PA3X.
DonM

Don I will agree with you but being I live in the USA my observations were summarized with that in mind. I'd say stock up on what you like in arranger KBs as in years to come they will be harder to come by....

So perhaps this Micro Arranger might be my first step in a change-over?!?!? ... OH MY GOSH ... did I just SAY that???

Tony your not far off !

As for Technics that only bolsters my thinking as to why they are gone in the arranger world......look back at all that are gone, there is a reason for it. I hope I'm wrong & maybe NEW companies will get their feet wet in the arranger world but that is to be seen. hang in there and enjoy your Technics kb, I Know Don m & myself enjoyed playing the K5000 years ago also.

Yes, I went from KN5000 to Yamaha PSR8000 because of the vocal harmonizer in the Yamaha. I think it was better than the "improved" VH they used in later models. It remained unchanged, as far as I can tell, until they finally addressed it in Tyros 4, which I feel is pretty good now.
DonM

Yes Don the VH in the technics units was terrible. I don't know why Yamaha wouldn't contract TC Helicon for their VH needs T4 included. Korg did it right.

It wasn't just terrible - it was UNUSABLE ... but everything else was great and as DonM said, ahead of the curve at the time ...

Tony but in Technics behalf it was many many years ago when VH was in its experimental stages......VH units have come a long way in today's world...does anyone know the TRUE reason they stopped manufacturing arranger KBs...I hardly think it was lack of customers as there is so many sad Technics players to this day out there.

I was told that Technics Arrangers were such an insignificant portion of parent company Panasonic's total business package that it wasn't worthwhile pursuing it. They continued to support Technics for some time though.
DonM