Wersi Abacus Review

Posted by: rbmusic

Wersi Abacus Review - 07/16/01 07:25 PM

Here is a link to the Keyboard Player Magazine review for the new Wersi Abacus keyboard.
www.wersi.uk.com/review.pdf
Posted by: sk880user

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 07/16/01 08:21 PM

This sounds like what we called several years ago: electronic organ. So I would not compare/contrast it to other portable keyboards/synths/workstations... I would compare it to something like:

Yamaha:
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gELT00002AR100
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gELT00002EL15


and other companies
Posted by: Bevan

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 07/17/01 03:08 AM

It is great to read this kind of reviews of
musicalinstruments.This forum is super.
Posted by: 9000 Robby

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 07/17/01 03:36 AM

Hello

http://www.wersi.uk.com/intro.htm
http://www.wersi.net/systems/inhalt.html

http://allinteractives.com/boehm/boehm_frame_en.htm
http://members.tripod.de/schweineorgel/enter_d.html#start

http://www.boehm-electronic.de/htm_Seiten/loader_e.asp?page=boehm_electronic
http://www.boehm-electronic.de


Greatings 9000 Robby



[This message has been edited by 9000 Robby (edited 07-17-2001).]
Posted by: Notenzauberer

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 07/17/01 07:19 AM

Hi Members!

On the music fair in Frankfurt I could convince myself of the quality of the Wersi Abacus Keybaords.

The sound reminds on long passed years, I thinks of saxophone, accordion. Also the much praised gran-piano did not convince me. In the demonstrations the operating system Windows 98 hung itself partly, the consequence up was, restart. Duration something 2 minutes.

Question: How would the people feel, if they are dancing and suddenly the music stopped. I think of the situation, if people even dance. Rumors go by, which different musicians maintain, the music come from a XG sound card of YAMAHA. I made in former times many years on WERSI instruments music. Seems to me, as if they would have lost the link to the technical advancement.

Greetings
Notenzauberer
Posted by: TomTomSF

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 07/17/01 10:45 PM

Hi Notenzauberer
It's interesting to hear from a former Wersi player that you think they have lost the technological edge. I know another friend from Germany (George Oenig), from the Korg User group. He has a Wersi Spectra (I think). Anyway, he also has a Korg iS40m which he seems to prefer these days. I think the Wersi's used to be incredible but, like you say, never quite kept up with the best advances. And VERY expensive.
PS: Does your name mean something about musical notes in German?
Tom
Posted by: 9000 Robby

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 07/18/01 09:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TomTomSF:
Hi Notenzauberer
It's interesting to hear from a former Wersi player that you think they have lost the technological edge. I know another friend from Germany (George Oenig), from the Korg User group. He has a Wersi Spectra (I think). Anyway, he also has a Korg iS40m which he seems to prefer these days. I think the Wersi's used to be incredible but, like you say, never quite kept up with the best advances. And VERY expensive.
PS: Does your name mean something about musical notes in German?
Tom


Hallo TomTomSF

Look here
www.notenzauber.de


Greatings 9000 Robby
Posted by: John DiLeo

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/07/08 08:24 AM

Hi,
Does anyone here use the Wersi Abacus professionally. I was wondering how it translates navagationaly from a home user to a live on stage keyboard. Although I am not a pro this KB looks very interesting to me, & seems to be something you can build on for years to come with its OS.
Any comments
Posted by: Ensnareyou

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/08/08 01:47 AM

I use an Abacus Duo Pro as my primary writing tool and would have no problem using it live. I've seen many question the stability of computer based instruments like the Wersi but from my personal experience the Wersi is nearly bullet proof and built like a tank. The OAS software and GUI are very well thought out and quite easy to use. So easy in fact that if you can operate a basic Yamaha PSR style keyboard you'll run the majority of the Wersi's functions without even having to crack the owners manual open. The instrument also sounds incredible which is the way every fine instrument should sound.

As with any computer system what one needs to be certain of is the compatibility of third party software or hardware you install. If you aren't sure whether or not the software is compatible, don't install it or uninstall it if it creates problems. I've yet to have a problem with my Abacus and I suspect those that have had software issues were probably due to bugs in third party software or VST's rather than the actual Wersi OAS software.

The big advantages Open Software style instruments offer are future upgrades that keep the instrument on the cutting edge and the ability to utilize third party software such as GigaStudio, Real Guitars, and Kontakt. No other embedded arranger/workstation can compete with that type of versatility or sound quality. Only a Lionstracs Mediastation or Open Labs Neko/Miko is on par.

I've owned Yamaha's, Technics, Roland, and Korg's Top arrangers and workstations and few of these instruments could compare with the basic factory Wersi sounds. With Wersi OAS running VST's then no Yamaha, Roland, Ketron, or Korg arranger/workstation is even on par with the type of sounds one can produce from an instrument such as the Wersi.


[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 04-08-2008).]
Posted by: LIONSTRACS

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/08/08 12:54 PM

Well...after ton of test with our new qranger I can agree is some parts but not to the all.
VST plugins can help a lot for new top level sounds and also Kontact and Gigastudio for the sampler setup.
The big problems of this 2 sampler are the loading time untill the all sounds are ready to playing. ( gigastudio ned much more time than kontact) Big files need to be chaced in ram before they are ready to play, we know that.
Some VST can be OK, if they then have the all data in ram, but still Realguitar need a lot time for loading the new guitar setup presets.

After this all engine are running, the big issue is the full integration on the arranger engine/interface.
Wersi is able to manage it by midi out, fr play the all notes, but for sure can NOT manage the all controlles that fe example Kontact or realguitar have.
Wersi was the first company that have developed OS windows interface for musical instruments and still they offer really nice interface. ( this also because they are manufacture of hardware)

Neko/Miko can compete only in the sounds quality but never with propietary OS/interface.
They just install and optimize standard PC windows software, just for recall some sounds in realtime.
If you just want play, mix 2 Mp3 and play over with the keyboard, the Neko/Miko is not allowed, because the Audio card will be busy from another application. ( single ASIO istance at time)

Return to the arranger issue.. it mean that in real live situation you have to fight every time when you will to load a new styles and setup.
This in the PLUS on the embedded keyboard that have all the sounds resident on ROM/Flash and this all sounds are ready to play ( of course we know, limited on RAM space and for the 80% reduced also the sample rate to 32khz and in MONO too)

IF then, after you have resolved this basic Midi issue, remain then the realtime audio loops in sync with the timecode and fast to switch when chords are pressed.
Wersi arranger still is under the MIDI domain, like the all others arranger and is not able to streaming wav in sync with the midi.

The best way to resolve this all problem is to use one good SEQ audio-midi with integrated the audio straming and sampler streaming: http://www.lionstracs.com/demo/qranger/Qrangersampler.jpg
Now we have integrated the LS sampler in the engine, where for each midi track we can load one different GIG file and save it in the session.
In about 1 sec, will loaded the all audio loops and giga files used for the loaded style.
with the Export session, the qranger will create a new folder and copy inside the all Audio-midi Giga data used for this style and ready to Move and play to other Mediastation keyboards.
This is the Step that Wersi have to take too. For the all others keybaords( untill they jump to the PC X86 system) this remain only a dream...

enjoy what you play
Posted by: Ensnareyou

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/08/08 03:03 PM

Domenik,

I have to agree the Neko and Miko are great concepts but as far as user interface and OS goes, they aren't intuitive at all. Sound quality and features abound but at a price, lots of headaches from having to integrate necessary VST's, software, and sound engines to get what you want out of them. Still the sound quality of them has no competition from any other workstation/arranger besides Lionstracs or Wersi. The Korg Oasys does also compete but it's not truly open ended which is unfortunate.

The Mediastation keeps coming further ahead in the market but you still need to take a listen to the Wersi and follow their queue. If you can ship the Mediastation with a set of factory sounds on par with the Wersi, you'll sell a lot of Mediastations. The new Giga sample files you have available are great but there needs to be more factory sounds that are bread and butter type sounds.

Unfortunately many people here in the US and abroad are what I classify as "preset jockeys" who will never utilize the potential of any instrument beyond the factory sounds or load VST's to expand on the sound palette. For them they want instant gratification without any work. That's where a large array of factory sounds will appease them. Yamaha sold a ton of DX7's not because people knew how to use them or because it was the best instrument available, but because the factory sound bank was quite nice and additional sound banks were readily available. That's why Yamaha sells so many damned PSR's too, not because they are the best sounding arranger (far from it), but because they are cheap and the factory sounds are pretty good.

Like Lionstracs, Wersi is constantly bettering their instruments to stay ahead of the competition and that includes offering more factory sounds and styles. It's not likely any large scale manufacturer (Yamaha, Roland, Korg) is going to enter the market share that you and Wersi have right now because it's a small niche. You and Wersi have a big jump on other manufacturers when it comes to open ended keyboards. Stay ahead of the game and I'm sure the Mediastation will catch on here in the USA. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Diki

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/08/08 03:52 PM

If Yamaha are reticent to even jump into the 76 note mid-line and up arranger market, you can pretty much guarantee they'll NEVER attempt this...!

But he has a point (one I've been making for a while now, as well)... If you could only make an MS come OOTB sounding better and with better styles than the Tyros's and PA2X's (and Roland's, even!), they would be lining up round the block to buy them...

Just do what Yamaha do... for the 'preset junkies' just sell online content (loops, sounds AND style, all neatly packaged) at regular intervals, and have a steady source of additional income. Keep it 'open' for the tweakers, but keep a steady supply of pre-digested content for those that would LOVE the keyboard, but NOT the work to make it sound good...

The hardware is great, but the CONTENT still has a long way to go. Freeze the design for a little while (as long as it is bug-free) and concentrate ALL your R&D on the content, and you'll be amazed at the difference in sales, I am sure...
Posted by: hellboy44

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/08/08 04:33 PM

Got a 404 error on the review..........

Posted by: rphillipchuk

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/08/08 05:20 PM

This whole thread has been a real treasure to read...Thanks everyone ..

------------------
createsongstyles.com
Posted by: abacus

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/09/08 12:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by hellboy44:
Got a 404 error on the review..........

frown



Hi Hellboy
This thread was started in 2001, so the review would be irrelevant today as the Abacus would be running OAS 2 or 3, which means the only thing left that it is still used in OAS 7 are the OX 7 drawbars.
If you want a bit of nostalgia, then I think I still have some old reviews from about this time somewhere, if you’re interested.

Bill
Posted by: hellboy44

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/09/08 12:25 AM

So I have two options here:

1. Pretend I was kidding around.

2. Admit I didn't check the dates and made a silly boo boo.

Oh well -


OOPS!!!
Posted by: adimatis

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/09/08 02:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by abacus:
Hi Hellboy
This thread was started in 2001, so the review would be irrelevant today as the Abacus would be running OAS 2 or 3, which means the only thing left that it is still used in OAS 7 are the OX 7 drawbars.
If you want a bit of nostalgia, then I think I still have some old reviews from about this time somewhere, if you’re interested.

Bill


i totally missed the first post's date...
Posted by: trident

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/09/08 06:02 AM

me too...
Posted by: abacus

Re: Wersi Abacus Review - 04/09/08 03:15 PM

Here’s the review that was mentioned (2001, OAS 2 or 3) pretty crude compared to OAS 7 http://www.keyboard-cavalcade.co.uk/pdf/test.pdf

Bill