Who makes the best Latin styles?

Latin is such a broad term but I'm refering more to the "tropical" or carribbean styles like salsa, merengue, cha-cha-cha, mambo and bachata. I think the Audya is by far the leader in this category and maybe Roland is in 2nd, followed by Korg and Yamaha. What do you think?


Audya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsBziDv-gzY

Roland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSaSZa7My...re=results_main

KETRON +1

I agree with you 100%. Ketron have always been ahead with Latin material, probably because they take advantage of the expertisse of Latin Percussionists and style writers rather than a European keyboard players interpretation of a Latin Style - and with the Audya's Audio Drums and guitars it just raises the bar again.

In my oppinion Roland have the best sounding midi drum kits but don't take advantage of them with exceptional style writing. If anyone from Roland is reading this - get real drummers and percussionists on your Midi Drum Kits rather than style writers with sequencers.

Here are a couple more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jod50sAjWDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tOMYgRbrP0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba9nUSgmNOo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eln6AQsY9_w

I have to agree as well; I have always admired the Ketron latin styles, to the point that I was ready to buy an Audya 4 to use just as a backing module, but then I discovered the Roland BK-7m, whose latin styles are really well programmed, and so got that one: not the same quality as the Audya live drums, but more than enough for my needs... not to mention that I saved 2000 euros in the process.

Yes, it seems like a lot of Latin styles must have been programmed by (European?) players with more of a ballroom concept of Latin music. Very watered down. "Sin Sabor" (without flavor)

Yes, that's why I'm looking more toward Roland now. I don't see being able to afford an Audya I wish they could make a MOTL without all the bells and whistles- just give those great Latin styles and I'd happy

Montunoman: exactly! Personally I don't care about the Audya sounds, because I have plenty of them in my other keyboards, but if Ketron would put out an Audya 4 with only the styles (audio tracks) and priced it below 2000 euros I would buy it in a heartbeat.
Roland, with the BK-7m, gave everyone a lesson in marketing, showing how things have to be done, especially in this time of crisis.

Maybe the MidJay Pro would be suitable as it has the Audio Drums

I can post some hardcore Latin stuff next week - the audya has tons of it - its just there are none i ould find on youtube that i could link too.

Yes, but how much of them has inside? Could it be the whole package? The Full Monthy? I would love if they will put inside the jazz bossa and the jazz samba, but I guess that we'll have to wait until it's released, unless you know something already... (hint, hint...)
With the Audya audio drums inside, the Midjay Pro could be really a killer instrument, even more so because is technologically more up-to-date than the Audya (just to name a feature it has an SSD drive vs an ancient ATA drive, and so could stream the loops better).
Can you tell us something more, so that can we start to save our pennies?

You can still buy an SD5. I don't know if the upgraded model (with usb drive) has the audio drums or if losing the floppy is the only upgrade. Anybody know?? They sell new for around $2,200- add about $360 for vocalizer. Hard drive available as an option also.

Hi Sparky,
no, unfortunately the SD5 (like the Midjay Plus) has no audio drums, but only an audio track with short loops of percussive instruments (congas, shakers, tambourines, claves, etc), coupled with midi drums on a second drum track.
It's a real pity that Ketron, a pioneer in this kind of technology applied to arranger keyboards, is losing the advantage accumulated in years (see what Yamaha has done with the PSR-950 and Roland is doing with the BK-9).
I am willing to bet that within two years Roland will come out with an Audya 4-like module priced around 1500 euros.

I wont know for sure until one arrives. The brochures I have do not specify midi guitars - just audio drums, wether it will read Audya styles I do not know at this point.

The touch screen may make it more user friendly than previous midjays - which whilst had the ability to be used as an arranger, lacked the quick access to styles and sounds - you had to use the data wheel and cursor keys.

It could be a very interesting product indeed.

Let's keep our fingers crossed...

Merengue in the "Dominican Style" is something Yamaha definitely needs improvement on. But ketron has nailed style that for sure.
My conversions are just ok to a point, but lack the quality heard on a Sd-1, Sd5 or Audya etc.

check out merengue at 1:14 of this demo..






3:52 of this demo

Yeah Donny, those Ketron Latin styles sound great for sure... I love to check your Yamaha convertions.

Paul as always its my pleasure ....You Got Mail !!

Most of those styles have been in use for decades, and have evolved over the years. It's hard to please everyone, because someone will want a modern mambo, someone will want a 80's mambo, someone wants a 40's Prado style mambo...

Same with most of the rest.

That is true Diki, but I just can't stand the watered downed crap that often is not true to the idiom. Like on my Tyros 2 there's Mexican Norteñas with castanets and Merengues with cowbells. Whose idea was that?

Paul can you change the instrumentation on the Tyros drums? That is the beauty of the ROLAND makeup tools...best in the business when it comes to style editing and drums etc..

... other than KORG ...

Sorry Tony. Cant agree.

Some serious gaps in the ease of editing Korg styles. Primary of which is, there's no way to globally bring a Part's velocities up or down (or a single drum within a kit, globally) for the style.

Yes, you can do this, but you have to do it individually for every single Part Division AND every Part's CV (Chord Variation). This means repeating the same edit potentially dozens of times, simply to try to hear an increase or decrease in sample crossover point (one of the hardest things to get right, but amazing when you do).

It's one of the MAIN things I have to work with trying to get drum parts from one arranger, with wildly different crossover point, to sound good on a non-native kit (with crossover points in different areas).

Plus, Roland seem to have TWO separate systems for style editing. The Makeup Tools we all love for its speed and ease of use, and a regular style editor, more akin to the Korg system. It is this Makeup Tools system that gives Roland the edge. Trust me, I've done plenty of work on the PA3 trying to get non-native styles to sound good (on my friend's PA3x61) and there really is no comparison. The G70 can do the job easier and MUCH faster.

Which tends to make you want to use it!