I just encountered the psr8000 today, and put an order in for one. was surprised to learn there's a new model so soon on the way. would appreciate hearing any and all insights into differences between the 2, whether it makes sense to wait or what....
any and all guidance welcome...

Hi Tom,


there are BIG differences between PSR 8000 and PSR 9000!! Go to (http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/pk/nonflash/products/psr9000/psr9000.htm) to see the specs and info about PSR 9000. That keyboard is great! Incredible sounds, very good sounding styles (stereo sampled drums), the best features of all arranger workstations on the market.
I would not recommend you to buy PSR 8000 now. It make sense to wait.
If you were satisfied with PSR 8000 features, take PSR 740 - it's PSR 8000 without HD and with worse speaker system.


Marek


P.S.: In the USA PSR 9000 will be available in Jan/Feb 2000 (in Europe since middle Nov 1999).

Hi Tom,
My name is George Kaye and I'm new to this forum. I've been giving advice and discussing arranger keyboards on the Chris Hansen Arranger Discussion Group for about 6 months and his discussion group just moved to the BBS site this week. I am discovering many other groups I hadn't found yet.
I own a Music Store in Southern California and I've been selling arranger keyboards for over 20 years. I am not a keyboard player, but I have a love and a desire to know all I can about all the diferent keyboards I sell. Because I sell Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Generalmusic and Solton keyboards, I have a good working knowledge of these fine keyboard lines. Many of the manufactures seek my opinion (for which I am grateful) on which features should be on newer models, and I have many friends at many of these US company's facilities. I just thought you might like to know my credentials.
I had an opportunity to play the PSR9000 last month at Yamaha is Buena Park, Ca. for a few hours. At the Chris Hansen Arranger Sight I posted a rather lengthy reveiw of this new Keyboard. At the time of my viewing the 9000, the keyboard I used was a prototype and didn't have all features available yet.
I can tell you this. If you can buy the 8000 for a very good price, it is a great keyboard. If the price is close to the 9000 than I would say wait. The other post before mine is very accurate. You can spend approx $1000 and buy a PSR740 which has the same styles, with 2 extra variations per style, the same sounds, the same vocal harmonizer (without all the editing) and a 16 track sequencer (however, there isn't much editing here either).
In checking out the 9000 I noticed some things that annoyed me and I saw many things that were a leap foward. This is very typical for most manufactures. Some of the buttons have been placed in awkward to reach locations, yet I really enjoyed playing this keyboard. The sound system is awsome but I wish it was a little louder, and a few functions that were in the 8000 seem to be missing. However, after speaking to the marketing Mgr. for Yamaha, I have been told that a new operating system, which is on disk, will be available before the US gets it's first keyboards.
I hope this helps, although the choices are great, but that's a good thing for you buyers. Any one of these three keyboards are wonderful to play and listen to. Any more questions I can be contacted here or at my store.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, Ca.
818-881-5566

I'd wait. You didn't say how you intend to use it (gigs, home, church?). The price of the 8000 should be less when the 9000 comes out in a few months. Check out the 740. If you've always got it hooked up to amp(s), the internal "sound" (speakers, etc.) isn't that important when compared to the 8000.

I think the biggest thing the 8000 has that the 740 lacks is a Hard Drive (or potential to put one in). You can't do that with the 740. If you don't need it, what does the 8000 have for the additional expense for you? By waiting, you'll also be able to compare it with the 9000/740 to make a choice based on your individual preference. Unless you need it as an XMAS present, wait.

Bob

[This message has been edited by Bob Gelman (edited 11-28-1999).]

Thanks for those insights...This keyboard will function in a midi studio setup, so the sound quality of the spkrs isn't an issue. The thing that attracted me to the 8000 rather than the 740 was the phrase sampler and the broader range of effects, tho since no one has mentioned the sampler maybe it's not that useful/well integrated. looks like the 9000 has more expanded capability in that regard....
also, a question about the internal hard drive: does it load faster than the floppy? that, and not having to haul discs around, would seem the only advantages of the internal drive...

My understanding of PSR-8000 sampling is that it imports and exports .wav files only. The .wave files can be looped and otherwise edited inside the PSR-8000. But they cannot be exported. I have not found a way to edit samples externally or use pre-edited or pre-looped samples on the PSR-8000. SCSI should make this possible eventually on the PSR-9000. The PSR-9000 has 32MB ROM versus 12MB in the PSR-8000 and the PSR-740. Most opinions indicate the extra 20MB provide good new sounds, especially the new "Live" sounds. One advantage of the PSR-8000 over the PSR-740 that few people mention is the availability of aftertouch, which is the "handiest" real-time controller useful for string and wind instruments.

The HD is definitely faster than the floppy on the PSR-8000. If you care about styles, however, the PSR-8000 does not appear to store styles on its harddisk. The PSR-9000 should improve upon this as well. For functionality, the PSR-9000 is the winner. However, for what its worth, I think the looks of the PSR-8000 are the best of any PSR keyboard.