Roland OS vs Yamaha

Arranger play only: How does the G70 compare to the 3K in LIVE PLAY.

Are the registrations there to go from one song to the next?

Do the fills/variations/endings/intros (I use them all in a song) integrate (smooth) nicely during a song?

How are the big band stlyes?

Does it have an OTS link like Yamaha?

I'm thinking of my NEXT keyboard. It's either the S900 or something different.

As much as I really love the 3K, I need to move up a bit.

All thoughts welcome. I do not mind bashing or your favorite instrument remarks.

Thanks in advance,
zuki

Having owned a PSR2000 and now a G70, I would say the Yamaha styles are more animated with the backing parts making their sounds evident. The Roland styles seem more subtle and life-like. By that I mean the backround sounds are not so in-your-face but are there to support the drums and bass more than to stand out on their own -
IMO -.

If you've never (or hardly ever) played Roland styles, you'll be very pleased with some (traditional dance styles especially) and won't find enough to satisfy in others. The dynamic arranger option does offer some great user input.

In retrospect I miss some of the Yamaha styles, but when I hear them on recordings they sound thinner and more artificial than the Roland - IMO.

I think back to my old Korg iX300 and I felt then that those styles were way out front and very song specific. Except for a few that I just had to save (and still use) the Yamaha 2k styles were a vast improvement. Are the Roland styles a similar jump over the Yammies? Yes and no. I think the Roland styles sound so much better than the Yamaha, but if you are a long time Yamaha user you may pull out what hair you have left on your head playing with the Roland OS to fine tune your styles.

Hope this makes sense.

BTW, if you get interested in a G70 I still have mine and it's always for sale.

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 09-12-2007).]

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[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 09-16-2007).]

Yes to all the above (except the big band question - I like 'em, you'll just have to see for yourself)

Nothing short of an extended audition is going to be of much use in helping you make up your mind, I would hope, though.

And be prepared for the fact that Roland do a lot of things differently to Yamaha... No multipads, no break/fills (just break/mutes), no audio recording or playback, no speakers, and a VERY different OS.

Once you are used to it, the plusses - the 'live' sound, the toned down styles (more room for you to show what YOU can do, not the arranger!), the incredible piano and organ sounds, the amazing key-bed, the V-Drums, the touch-screen, can start to influence you.

But be prepared for a whole lot of 'Why'd they design it THIS way?' changes to your Yamaha-trained reflexes.

Oh, and make sure any G70 you audition has the OS3 styles and OS installed. Night and day to previous versions.

Take your time, and don't expect it to be ANYTHING like your Yamaha.... Good AND bad....

Have fun...

Great feedback from you fellows - thanks. Don't know what I'll do yet.

Zuki, I saw in the buy/sell section you had a budget of $1600. That will buy you an s900- which is a great ax, but you should also consider the s700, it's $600 less and only lacks the SA voices, a few less styles, and vocal harmonizer. If those are not critical, $600 is nicer in your bank or to put toward other equipment. You can't get a used G70 for $1600, but you can get a new E60. It's still 76 keys, but has speakers and is under 30 lbs and very slim- so easy to carry and move around. so for $1595, you get an advantage over the G70 in price, weight/size, speakers. It compares in many ways to the G70 (not quite as good a keybed but still much better than Korg pa800 and Yamaha) has a lot of the same sounds and styles and similar layout. it also has several disadvantages to the G70--some are lack of mic input/harmonizer, no jack for multi-pedal control, less versatility, more limited, and I'm sure others that i'm unaware of. I think for your budget these are the 3 choices: s900, s700, E60. but since the E60 has no mic input/harmonizer or SA-type voices, or multi-pedal, it compares more to the s700. Then the question is: are the 76 keys, better keybed, and Roland styles/sounds (if you prefer them) worth the $600 over the s700? and if so, do they win even up v. the s900? Hope this helps.

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Miami Mo

Do not forget the txt file ability of the S-900 and the usb recorder. Not necessities but added features besides the SA voices, harmonizer, and additional styles. There are probably other pluses but I don't have the comparisons in front of me.
It just kind of bothers me when someone states that the only differences are this/that, when there are many other differences that get omitted.
No offense meant to anyone.
Jim

I gotta confess that, other than the keys, the S900 is a VERY hard to beat arranger at it's price point.

And you are already familiar with the 'Yamaha Way'...

Backward compatibility with everything you have already done is a STRONG plus point, zuki.

The only reason I'd counsel going to Roland is if you ADORE the sounds and styles, and can't live without them (or you need 76, which you've done OK without so far)...

But you've got to sit at one for a few hours to know that. Don't listen to ANY of us... Go and PLAY your choices, and make your mind up then!

Diki,

On your Grateful Dead demo, did you play the G70 piano live and use a stock setting? I thought that was terrific sounding and a sound I could really use. Great tune too

zuki

If you mean no offense, then don't express yourself in an offensive way: "it just kind of bothers me, etc,." I wasn't aware of all the differences, so i appreciate the heads-up, which could have been made in a straightforward manner--then the "no offense" would have been unnecessary.

Zuki,

keep in mind that all those G-70 style files have been converted for use in your PSR-3000, and in some instances, the styles sound as good, or better, than the orriginals. One of the reasons I have not updated my 3000s is the availability of third-party style files for Yamaha keyboards. There are thousands upon thousands, many of which are beyond your wildest dreams. Each time I get a new batch of styles it's almost like getting a new keyboard.

As for the Roland OS, it is no more complex than the Yamaha OS for your 3000 or the Tyros series of keyboards. However, it is very different when it comes to navigation on the fly. Therefore you would have to anticipate a significant learning curve before you would want to take the board out and perform for your audiences. I only played around with the G70 for about an hour, so I am by no means an expert.

The only other objection I would have is the weight. I'm gettin' too old to lug anything heavier than the PSR-3000 around.

As for upgrading to the S-900, after playing the S-900 I found there were some really neat features, but there were some drawbacks that would be a problem when compared with the PSR-3000. This was especially true with the way the LCD display was angled. I guess if you stood up and performed the view was OK, but if you sit down, it was nearly impossible to see without tilting the keyboard up in the back. Additionally, I would have thought Yamaha would have installed the USB port in the front of the S-900 where it was readily accessible--they missed the boat on that as well.

Good luck on whatever new keyboard you decide upon,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Gary - noted about the screen, but thankfully, I stand for the hour I play. I enjoy moving around and goofing with the audience.

I agree that 2nd party styles are more easily recognizable in Yamaha boards.

The USB would've been nicer up front, but oh well, no big deal.

The new white buttons are a little harder to engage (imo) than the black ones, so I'll have to get used to that.

The multi-pads on the right side is a little strange, but I hope to adjust fast.

The additional multi-pads stock sounds are superb, especially the guitars - wow.

Can't wait to try the audio feature, ethernet and harmonizer soon.

Did I say it's a pretty board with great speakers?

Regards,
zuki

Yep, bog stock standard GrandX. I use it unaltered on 95% of all piano tunes. I just wind the Key Touch to Medium when I play live (you don't need as much dynamic range in a live, noisy venue than you do at home, where it's nice and quiet)...