T5 Frenzy!!!!

Wow, people still salivating over the sound of an instrument being played by a MASTER KEYBOARDIST. People still thinking that THIS is the one that's going to put them over the top. NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!! If you sounded like crap on the PSR3000 or the Tyros or T2 or T3 or T4, I can pretty much guarantee that the T5 is NOT going to be the solution to your problem. A Steinway 'D' is a great sounding instrument, but in the hands of my 6 yr old grandson, it still sounds like puppy poo.

My advice (like anybody cares ); unless your old board is on it's last legs or the sounds are so dated that it's embarrassing, take some of that disposable moolah that you're about to blow on a T5 and try to figure out a way to improve yourself as a keyboardist and musician. If you remember back that far, all those top notch Yamaha demonstrators sounded pretty darn good on the last three or four introductions of Yamaha products---that's why they're demonstrators, DOH!

Of course, there is an exception to the above (valuable) piece of advice; if you're like me and just love the latest gadget, then by all means, break out that credit card and have at it.

chas

This is America - land of instant gratification. Shedding takes too much time - with modern technology you can fool many with less effort.

Having said that, I preordered T5.

This is pretty much a rhetorical question. I agree that if money is an issue (and it usually is) there's absolutely no need to worry about buying or upgrading to the T5. But in the same time, if the money isn't an issue (congrats on that, BTW), I see no point of not getting the T5.

The fact is that the progress is still going on. Let's say, there was the time when all the arranger keyboards sounded like toys, and now they sound like real bands. Did it happen in one moment? No. It was one step after another. And now T5 is one more step after T4 towards the future.

I think it's nice to see that some of the things Yamaha added to the Tyros line this time round are FINALLY things the better player or full time pro can appreciate! Primarily, the return of a 76 option for those that actually CAN play a piano, and then the dual sequencer/MP3 player for those that need DJ style non-stop music...

But yes, Charles' post can basically be said for ANY keyboard. If you aren't as good a player as the demonstrator, you are NEVER going to sound as good. But advice such as his is always wasted here. This is the last place on earth where anyone seems to care about being a better MUSICIAN... Most seem to have drunk the Kool-Aid and think that the gear alone is going to achieve that!

And when it doesn't, they are convinced the NEXT model will do the trick...

I would say theres some jealousy floating around also...

If arranger keyboards represents the future of music, god help us all. As I see it, as the technology advances, it takes your same meager efforts and makes it sound better......but it doesn't make YOU better. But it's okay to delude yourself into thinking you're better than you are; most men do that in the bedroom every night .

chas

PS: Just yanking your chain....all you guys sound amazing....ly similar .

Next to music, I love a good sense of humor.

chas

Jealousy over what? If I wanted the bland Yamaha sound, I would already have it.

There have been some very nice Tyros demos over the years. But I'm not shooting for 'nice'. I honestly can't think of the last Yamaha demo a member here posted that was a tune I would touch with a bargepole..!

I don't do Broadway, I don't do oldies (at least not THAT old!) I am primarily still interested in a good rock and blues, reggae and funk sound.

If I start doing Broadway medleys, or 40's and 50's music, maybe I'll be jealous. Right now, I am merely grateful.

It's too bad some people are limited to certain genres, when there is so much to enjoy and express and learn in the others, of course if it's beyond some people's skill level, or not to their taste, that's quite understandable.

Then you say " they think gear alone is going to achieve that!

And when it doesn't, they are convinced the NEXT model will do the trick..."

Mmmmm YOU just bought the NEXT model...what flavor Kool-Aid did you have?

And, if you feel that, and I quote, "this is the last place on earth where anyone seems to care about being a better MUSICIAN"....why are you here?

It doesn't appear this place meets your standards.

Ian

As much as some of you may not want to admit it, Chas does make a valid point. From all the years I have been a member here.., from what I can tell.., it's not the players here who outgrow their keyboards, rather they get bored of playing their SAME routine on their keyboard. Then the new lemon fresh model comes out and they flock to it just to play their same routine, barely scratching the surface of their arrangers capabilities.., and then they just wash rinse and repeat over and over.

The truth is that an original Tyros (even by today's standards) would be more than sufficient for the performing OMB. The sounds are there, the styles certainly capable of meeting today's arranger players need (ie: choc full of good o'l oldies-which honestly can be said for ANY brand of arranger).

If more players actually dug into their arrangers features AND learned to use them, I think we'd be seeing a lot less people flocking to those preorders. Hell my PSR S700 (circa 2008) in the right hands can shake up a crowd. IMO too many people seem to think a few new sounds and styles will make them a better player, when in reality they'll find themselves bored again playing their same routine and.., well you know how the story ends ;-)

I agree wholeheartedly, Squeak. Having been the proverbial "fly on wall" for more years than I want to admit to, as a clinician/demonstrator, I often wondered why some people upgraded.

The players I was able to do style creating clinics with, tended to hold on to their arrangers far longer than those who just played what was there, or added a few Premium styles.

I was also lucky enough to spend some serious quality time with each new arranger, and in most cases, I didn't even have to crack the manual, as the OS system was basically the same.

I always suggest that players dig into the style creator, and/or the Voice Editing software...it requires a bit of time, but the results are well worth it, and the player is using a larger percentage of his/her expensive arranger.

Let's face it, styles are the heart and soul of the arranger keyboard and even if someone did trade up, they would still be able to carry along the style/voice editing skills into the new instrument, as these tools are basically the same, with a few enhancements at the most. Plus they could still use their created styles from the older instrument, perhaps even enhancing them with the newer sounds, or parts from the new on-board styles.

After hearing your excellent piano piece on the PSR-S700, and some of the fine work by fellow SZ'er, Telmo, it should be apparent to more than a few, that tweaking and editing pays off big time.

My nearly two year old Tyros4 will carry me along for quite a few years yet...and, I truly feel, it was money well invested.

Ian

I am loving this feeding frenzy! I am seeing the opinions I expect to see here. Nobody is going to sugarcoat their comments here..........

I am not a pro.......I AM that "home buyer" Yamaha is targeting. I like finding demo's played by non-professionals. That way I know I have a chance of duplicating what I hear and see. Tyros 5 will be in stores this week and I value those here that can offer their reviews.

Maybe my thinking is flawed but someone like me who knows their way around an arranger can make their limited playing skills sound better. I can sit down at an organ or piano and sound like a child........but I can rock and roll on a Tyros!

One thing that I see repeated every time a new model appears is that the first thing people ask is "can I use all my old settings?"
Seems they want to be sure they can make it sound exactly like the previous model!
DonM

In some ways that makes sense, Don. They want a good starting off point, and don't want to be bothered doing all kinds of work, especially if it needs to be ready for a gig (or they are just too darn impatient).

I used to take a basic set of Registrations for each model with me when I did store demos.

However, I think it is such a waste of the instrument never to at least try and do some basic editing.

Quite a few people never go beyond playing the on-board styles and the relevant OTS.

I still do some private tutorials here in Cape Breton with those who want to learn their Yamaha instruments more thoroughly, and, as I said, they really do tend to hang on to the instrument at least a little more than those I described above.

Ian

I used all my old registrations and MFD files, however, in the process of transitioning up from the PSR-3000 to the S-950, the new keyboard automatically selected all new styles and the difference was dramatic. Those songs definitely did NOT sound the same, including God Bless America. In some instances the changes were too dramatic, and I had to revert to a different style to get the song closer to the original, which is what I strive to achieve most of the time.

From my perspective, a statement made to me by Deane Peters several months ago "The S-950 sounds like the 3000 on steroids." He was right on the money. I'm glad I waited a decade to upgrade, and I just wish I was younger so I could perform for another decade. Unfortunately, that's not likely.

Cheers,

Gary

I'm the same way Ian. Just yesterday I was doing some recording on my S-700. The style I used just wasn't quite there, and it took me very little time to actually get it to where I needed it. I was able to do all this because (even my 2008 model) has all the tools to do this already built in. I didn't have to search for a style on the web, nor did I feel that the next model up is probably what I should have to do this.

I didn't like the preset drum kit.., so I changed to one I like. Didn't like the default snare.., so I edited the style, removed that snare, and added the better one (from the same kit). I didn't think the acoustic piano part really fit.., so I took it out, and added my own EP part. I didn't feel the guitar part really captured what I was after so BAM! I just picked a guitar part from a COMPLETELY different style all together. The ability alone to mix and match various parts from the styles opens up so many possibilities.

I was able to make all of these changes in a matter of minutes from within my CURRENT arranger. No searching for styles via the net, no wishing it had this or that feature.., because the tools are already there (and have been in Yamaha's arrangers for some time now).

It wasn't hard either. You and I (and a few others here) are of the minority. We tend to hang on to keyboards longer because we actually explore and utilize the deep editing features these arrangers have today. Goodness.., just look back to when the PSR-740 was all the talk on the Zone. Look how much has changed in terms of EDITING and USER CREATION TOOLS since that unit.., and A LOT of Zoners had that 740 and swore by it. Yamaha has given us so many useful and MUCH NEEDED customizing tools since that model, yet few players are barely touching them.