Hi Guys
Got a question for PSR s970 owners who previously owned a PSR s950.
How much better is it sound wise ?

Is it a worthwhile upgrade? If so, why?

http://www.synthzone.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/406089/Yamaha_S950_vs_S970

Here some reason to upgrade:

PSR S970 PSR S950
Large 7 inch screen vs 5.2
Flash memory 8 times(512 Mgs) than the 64 Mb
40 Audio Styles vs 25
More styles 450 vs 408
Same DSP as Tyros5(VCM) vs previous gen
Real Choir Voice Vs more synthetic choir

The New DSP (Digital Signal Processors or Effects), make a Big difference, makes everything sound so much better.

Manuel

I forgot to mention, many more Super Articulation Voices.....on the PSR S970

Manuel

Let me add to that

- 2 live knobs that are actually very usefull
- DJ styles, which include a chord sequencer/progression
- arpegiator..

Basically it just SOUNDS ALOT BETTER TOO!

I guess thats the final verdict from a long time psr-s series player..

Indontbhave your experience with the instruments.. But the 970 sounds pretty nifty

Yes cant wait for the next model S980...
we need stuff to talk about! lol

Hi Donny,
thank you for the demo link. It's a good one.
On the iPad it's still difficult to tell just how much better it sounds than the s950, but I'll take your word for it.

My s950 has all but been sitting idle since I bought it a couple of years ago, main reason being I had that 12 to 18 months off where I didn't play anything.
Decided to connect it to my old amp and speakers that I bought about 20 years ago, (cost me the price a keyboard back in those days) and haven 't been used since my Ketron sd1
mainly because my keyboards since have had onboard speakers, and my old ones are bulky and ugly.
Anyway, really brought the s950 to life, hence my question on the s970.
Tyros not an option, too pricey over here , plus would lose too much money on resale.
Like yourself ( I think) I've got this bad habit of wanting the latest model.
Gather the s980 is still a tiny bit down pipeline??? Haha

Thank you Manuel and Bachus,
for your input also.

The bigger flash memory sounds great. There wasn't much point in having all those expansion packs when only one could be loaded at a time. ( I beleive)
I never checked into them for that reason. More styles are always great.

That would really freak hubby out if I started playing dance music, though he actually enjoys it. Might be one way of getting him go listen to me play. Haha
Thanks Guys.
Got me thinking.

The 970 blows the 950 away. Even the same old styles sound way better on it. Vocal Harmony still suffers in comparison to the other brands. Some of the drum kits are finally better, if you are comparing to 950.
In my opinion it is quite a bit improved over the 950. The screen is a biggy! Still, they could have done so much more . . . Like Johnny Cash, you get One Piece at a Time!

Definately true.... There is not much exciting things happening

But i fear an s series update is 3 or more years away...maybe 2 when Geros releases next year

Thanks Don,
That 's interesting that it has improved to that degree.
Can't sing at all, the harmoniser is a waste on me, so not an issue.

Rikki, My sax player refused to sing; although he played a great sax he felt he had no voice for singing. That was years ago – the last job we played he wanted to sing every song. Today he sings and plays his sax with midi he creates on his Kn7000.

My daughter, which I love dearly, (smile) sang off key. She would sing a song using one or two notes. The last time we attended a church she sang all the songs right on key. ?????? Who knows; she is singing with the choir now.

Sooooooooo, give it a try, it’s fun.

My wife was standing by the piano with her dog next to her; she loves dogs. My friend started playing the piano and my wife started to sing. He stopped playing and said, “I’m calling the ASPCA this is dog abuse”. All in good fun, we laughed for the rest of the night.

Rikki, let us know, John C.

Rikki

You obviously have a good ear and sense of timing. With a little work on phrasing and breath control, I would bet you could sing.

Bernie

Rikki, not everyone can sing, however, most folks can be trained to sing on key - most, but not all. Some folks just cannot sing. That said, singing takes a lot of time to perfect and like any facet of music, practice is the key to success.

Believe it or not, Don Mason once told me that he really does not sing well and the only reason he did at that time is because the singer did not show up one night for a job. Over the many years I have known him, his singing abilities have improved dramatically and his vocals are second to none. Keep in mind that Don, like many of us that were are are currently on stage, essentially practice constantly.

Some singers, including myself, have taken vocal lessons at various colleges. For me, it was one of the best pieces of advice my wife ever gave me about music. Those lessons taught me breath control, level control and the importance of diction while singing. This also allowed me to switch to a headset mic, which provides me a lot more freedom while performing as an OMB entertainer using an arranger keyboard.

As for the S-970, I have only had the opportunity to play it once - it sounds fantastic. I currently own an S-950, which also sounds fantastic, but there seems to be a significant improvement with many of the voices and styles on the S-970. If I were still on stage every day, I would have upgraded to the S-970 when it first became available. Retirement pretty much eliminated any new keyboards for this old codger, though. I'm blowing all that cash on sailing expenses now.

Good luck,

Gary

If you A/B the same styles between the both KBs you will hear a significant difference....
if they listen to the people add a flip up display, front USB ports, XLR Mic inputs, on the
S980 and some other goodies it would certainly be an improvement to an already awesome arranger.

Fully agree, Donny. With those added goodies, I don't believe there would be a MOTL arranger on the market that would come remotely close.

Gary

With all those added goodies does it stay in the MOTL price range ?!?

Korg PA900 is far and away the best MOL arranger I've owned and played!

+ 1

If you sit low the smaller display is unreadable.... Otherwise a good second place to the S970..

To each his own ...

Hi John,
Well I was in the school choir LAST CENTURY, haha. downhill from there.

I was about 17, my future hubby came to pick me up for a date, overheard me singing in the shower, and accused me of strangling the family cat. At least that's what it sounded like. I've spared him since. Haha

Hi Gary, I think I'd fall into the latter category. Most, but not all.

As for Don, that is hard to beleive. I've only heard one of his performances on an MP3 he posted a few weeks back. Even stopped hubby in his tracks who was busy killing aliens in his ps4 game, and nothing normally distracts him when he's zoned in. It 'a like talking to a zombie.

Now that ' s a thought, might run getting a New Keyboard past him when he's playing his game. Simple case of " you weren't listening again , I asked and you said OK". Hmmm
Might just work. Haha

Hi Guys,
you 've got me thinking. Never owned a mic, so don't know anything at all about them. Wouldn't mind trying the harmoniser, even for just a bit of fun when the kids and grandkids come up for a visit.

Don ' t want to spend a lot , since it is just that, for a bit of fun. And maybe I can practice when hubby 's out of ear range.

Any suggestions.

Aha!, the seed has been planted.

OK, now we know that you can sing. The next step is to try and stop sounding like a cat. Ha Ha

I am happy that you’re back, your posts add to our forum.

John C.

Electrovoice ND767a

http://www.electrovoice.com/product.php?id=85

Thanks Donny

Thank you John.

Btw, that should read

"HOWLING Cat haha

Samson Q8 or the older Q7 are excellent mics for not much money!

Thank you Don,
I'll check those out too.

+1 for the Samson mics.

Gary

Thanks Gary
Notice you actually have them.

I've been checking eBay. I would gather a connection cable, is normally a seperate item??

Be just my luck I buy a mic, then realise I need a cable and pay for 2 lots of postage. Haha

Rikki, my thoughts.

1-I would buy an inexpensive mic.

2-Learn how to use the TC Helicon. (If my memory is correct you have a Korg)

The TCH does a lot more than adding voices. If I use my mic directly into my Bose it sounds good – but no comparison when it goes through my Voice Live Telicon. Reverb, delay. Doubling your voice, and even pitch correction. Learn about the different parameters of the unit; which I know you do well – Then if it sounds fair-to-nice, buy the best mic you can afford. Amen!

John C.

PS, After doing all the above, and you book any paying jobs (because of your singing) it would be nice to give about 15% to the guys on this forum Ha Ha

Riki, I would send you one at no charge, however, the cost of postage to NSW is probably as expensive as the mic.

Good luck,

Gary

Hi Gary,
That is a very kind offer. Thank you.
But yes, postage would be too expensive, it's gone up incredibly in the last few years.
I used to buy little collectibles on USA eBay. Now postage costs makes things too expensive.

Again, thank you.

Hi John,
basically that is the idea of getting a mic, I've never had the opportunity of exploring the vocaliser on my pa3x.

As for the above, you've got a deal, but only if you also agree to go 15% in a class action suit against me, should I destroy the audiences hearing capabilities. Haha

Your not kidding about the price of postage. I had a fellow asked about my PA4X from Sydney. He thought he would pay for the shipping until I told him the price. I I checked with Fedex, UPS and the average cost was $1100.00 US dollars!
Deane

Might check USPO. I shipped a 3x to Canada for a very reasonable price. UPS and Fed Ex wanted several times more.

Hi Don,
remember that Ketron pedal board I bought from you years ago for my sd1.
I think you nearly fell thru the floor when they told you what the postage was,but I wanted it regardless because I couldn't get one over here.

Hi Deane, wouldn't only be the postage, our dollar has dropped go 74 cents against the USA dollar. The guy would have to add another 25 % to the overall cost of pa4x plus postage.

2 to 3 years ago our dollar was worth $1.10 , they were good times for buying stuff from the USA, not now.

Hi Rikki, Just do a straight swap with my KN7 and your Korg Pax3 and all your/our problems are solved,

Ray

Good one Ray.

You can buy it off me. Maybe then I can convince him I need a pa4x. Haha

P.s
You're one hell of a dancer. mesmerising .

Thanks Guys,
for your help and suggestions on the PSR and a mic.
Hubby ended up letting me buy a Pa 4x.
Priced it Friday, picked up Saturday . Long 5 hr trip, but also gave me a chance to catch up with a few of the people I used to work with in the store.

While I was waiting for the keyboard dept to open, I decided to ask about a mic.
Unfortunately they didn't have the ones you guys recommended, but I got offered a really good price on a sennheisser e835?? so decided to take it plus the cable.

Meanwhile my keyboard guy arrives, (like old home week,) starts doing the paperwork for the keyboard. Told him I 'll pay for for the mic and cable separately , NO, was the answer, I'm not charging you for it.

So Gary, I ended up with a free Mic after all , how good is that. Haha

Sounds like a great deal on the mic, and that mic is very high quality.

Good luck, and I hope to hear some vocals from you in the near future,

Gary

Hi Gary,
Hadn't planned on getting a quality one, but , initially it was offered to me at nearly half price, then given to me for nothing, who could say , NO ,to such a great deal. Haha

Can't go wrong with Sennheiser. My regular mic is Senn E935.

That is my go to mic also.