EA7 Live Recordings

Recently I auditioned a Roland EA7 and used it for a few nights on the job. Here is a link to a folder with three songs I recorded. As usual no editing, all live. The mic was not through the Roland, but through my mixer.
https://app.box.com/s/5n5805i0txsyw962327keewuoxkgw8ch

I'm adding direct links so you don't have to download to listen.
https://app.box.com/s/4x0zyhbyhv6by1bswikob91mwxgx3mz8
https://app.box.com/s/bpw8h9bt3qquvwqsrt83xqydifsc3cuz
https://app.box.com/s/0ess89dftv8ow6tkere8jixqyn2gxrkf

Thanks Don. Always enjoy your playing and singing. The guitars, IMO, haven't improved since the E series plight. Sound tinny and thin, almost like a banjo. Nothing to do with your playing

I agree with Jim. Your vocals sounded really great, and the only instrument sound that sounded anywhere near realistic was the sax. The guitars were just awful.

Gary

As usual, great voice and playing, especially the right hand part. Thanks for sharing

Real nicely done as usual Don some of my all time favorite songs...
the EA7 sounds very "live" indeed especially the guitars & drums without all that heavy dsp as many others use....thanx for sharing!

I'll have the voice and dump the rest !!!

Too bad the voice ain't on the Roland, seriously though I think similarly priced boards such as the PSR 750/770 and the Korgs ( PA600, PA700 ) sound better overall.

Having said that I just wonder that with vocals like yours the folks in the audience actually perceive the big differences in sound quality with the current motl and topl arrangers.

Still there is no accounting for tastes and pricewise this Roland ain't a bad package. I guess that if you are a true Roland believer like Fran for instance this is as good most of the Rolands. And Donny seems to be well pleased with it, so be it.

Regards,
John

John and others the EA7 isn't your OOTB arranger YOU have to make it sound great by digging in and using the great "Makeup tools",....It's all in there for sure, but many don't know how or are too lazy to dig in and do your homework to create the sound your looking for with styles & sounds. Yes it takes a bit of time but the benefits are well worth it.

Bingo! I was cruising right along with my instrument and went headset, wireless. The normal compliments about my playing were in tact, but many were disappointed about my voice. Went back to the EVND 96 and the compliments returned. Singing to my group is paramount. Many just have tin ears..........

Sold the wireless and got a Baby Bottle SL............

The arranger kb is just to back up your vocals which is premier in the performance...most have their eyes on you singing first and foremost. The music can come from anywhere they could care less.

Thanks guys. I pretty much agree. The audience did notice that the sound was different. They didn't say it was better or worse, but different.
In all fairness, I didn't do much to the styles, other than I changed a few drum kits. I thought they were good overall, and there are a lot of choices for the type music I mostly play. I found some good guitars, but not many. Sax, organs and horns are very good.
I absolutely love many of the Roland styles and that was my primary reason for trying the EA7.
I find the lack of decent break/fills extremely irksome I was able to use Intro one on some styles as a break/fill, but you have to time it perfectly. There is a button that says break/fill, but it is only total silence, no riff at all. Using the Break/fills and Fill buttons on the PA4X can make a style feel so much more live. No real drummer plays a song with just the same pattern the entire way. They are usually putting in accents, little riffs, subtle volume changes, etc. and a good bass player follows appropriately.
The two screens are useful but really small. It does not display text files and has no vocal harmonizer. I knew all this ahead of time, and thought it might not matter as much as I thought, but I was wrong; it did matter a lot in real-time use. I don't want to go backwards as far as functions I use.
I wish Korg would redo their style endings to work as well as the Roland or Yamaha. Some of the Korg styles, especially on the short ending, just STOP and the sound cuts off too quickly. I have learned to live with this and to play around them. Nothing is perfect, for sure, and it is one of the few gripes I have about the PA4X.
I also wish that Korg, Ketron and Roland had the ending ritard function that is achieved on Yamaha by quickly pushing the Ending button twice.
While nit-picking, I love the way the Korg leaves the auto-start function on when you end the style. On Yamaha you have to remember to hit the AS button EVERY time you start a style, if you don't save it to Registration, and even then the setting isn't retained if you stop and restart.
Having said all this, I could certainly live with the EA7 if it were necessary, but it isn't; I believe I have the best of all available arrangers FOR ME, in the PA4X. As always, I will remain alert for new developments from all companies. Hope I'm still interested when the PA5X comes out!
As for Genos...if it were $1500. less in price I might try one, but that doesn't mean I'd change necessarily. I wouldn't mind 76 keys at that weight, and I would love to have that Pedal Steel sound. I may consider the PA5X-76 if and when it comes out, but only if it isn't toooooo heavy. Most of the time now, it doesn't matter because I seldom move, but that situation can always change. Ya never know.
Hoping Roland shows something new and great soon, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Rambling over for now.

Don you forgot to mention the EA7 is less then half the cost...that said for what it sounds like and what it can do is phenomenal for that Price point..just saying...

Of course! I said that in another thread, but it is definitely a great bargain at the price.
I almost kept it just to use at home and as a backup, but decided to wait and see what else is coming out.
Meanwhile I still have a cheapo Yamaha at home that's good enough to learn songs or fool around with if the spirit strikes, which it rarely does.

I had to listen to this again and oh what a thrill it was on the EA7 ...Don your majic kept my ears pined...nice job!!

Here's a whole folder of 'em:
https://app.box.com/s/xu3jgtt75xzfhu2oo3e749vv5n5e8bw3

They`re all a nice listen Don,that Roland quality really shines.

I think you've really improved your sax playing techniques since I last heard you. WOW! Damned, Mason. I think you are starting to get the hang of it.

All the best,

Gary

The organs leslie on the EA7 surpass SX900 for sure...

Slight edge, I'll admit, but if you dig in, and use the right insert effect - it's very, very good.

I'm not sure if this is a link to a folder - it takes me to a file straight away.

slight edge?....you mean a tremendous edge......that said
Insert fx ????..I don't know about that Dave,
please post a demo quick record like I did of organ sounds
with the sx900 Leslie ON & OFF for me it was unacceptable on the sx900..
I'd like to hear that as it was one of my deal breakers.

Very nice work Don! Great playing and singing! Thanks for sharing your talent!

Let's try again, https://app.box.com/s/w5uehusb1osspsjwlx4djqzzcg5nxlui

Wow, now this is a treat! I’ve heard some of these songs in a “GTA” game on a make-believe radio, now listening to your performance feels like I’m in America :-) You are doing a great job with your singing and playing, I will continue to listen to these songs, thank you for sharing!

Addition: this would be a really good promotion for E-A7; unlike most of the videos I see on YouTube.

I said "slight" and that's what I meant. It's a very negligible difference once you use the right tone with the right effect. I don't have time to make recordings right now, but if I get a break, I'll try and make a sample. Even if the organs please you .... I doubt that you'll climb back on board so fast. I can't believe that Leslie sims are even in your top 5 things to worry about.

Thanx Dave... I await the results.
Nothing fancy just a few seconds with on and off leslie using a few different Organs. It would take a lot more for me to ever jump back on board.

Thanx

Thank you for sharing Don,
pretty sure with your playing skills, you could make any arranger sound great.

It's the player not the keyboard..

The arranger helps...a LOT.

Great tunes Don. You’ve inspired to learn some new ( for me) songs. Thanks for sharing !

What Rikki said!

Don ... thank you SO much for that great album to add to my collection !!! ... It is much appreciated ...

Hi Don:

I never cease to be amazed at how you can switch keyboards at the drop of a hat... and never miss a beat. Sure, some may sound a little better than brand "X" or "Y"... but in the hands of "The Old Master"... it's all music to my ears when Don Mason is involved. This Site is so blessed with such a great group of performing musicians and singers... and I am grateful to you, Donny, Fran, Uncle Dave, Gary and so many others for sharing your talent and generous nature with us. Much to be learned here.

Thanks so much.... ----Dave

Dave I am honored to be mentioned on your list... you're a real good guy....if I ever meet you
drinks are on me buddy!

Thank you Dave. I'm also honored by your kind comments.
Let's don't forget Captain Russ; he is probably the most talented musician here, and certainly the most successful!