Who has NON Arranger Keyboards & Why?

I though it would be interesting to read who has Keyboards other then an arranger kb and how you use them to create songs, music, arrangements etc, etc, and why vs an just an arranger KB?

I am a creature of habit and what is easiest for me. I also like to use the sounds to create an arrangement from nothing to final song.

1989 - Korg M1 with an Alesis Data Disk SQ to save songs
1993 - Korg O1/w fd
2000 - Korg Triton
2003 - Korg Triton Studio
2004 - Yamaha Motif ES
2011 - Yamaha Motif XF
Current ... Yamaha ES because I sold the XF to buy a Montage BUT not the same sequencer. I am also using Logic Pro X on a Mac.

I have used the Pa4X to quick record a style with chords for a few songs. I used the multi-record for one project... it works well but hasn’t replaced the Motif ES.

Will the Genos work like a Workstation? Time will tell!!

Bernie got me thinking maybe a Hammond SK1 & Ketron SD40 is really all you need for a killer combo..?

I have a kronos 88 under my pa4x..

Because :

It has 88 keys and functions as a great stage piano, i have 5 different brands grandpiano’s on it
It has increible organ and synth engines
It works perfecly as a masterkeyboard comtrolling vst’s (as well as chords for the pa4x)
It comes with an incredible arpeggiator named Karma
It allows me to have more then 4 sounds assigned to my keys

And many many more reasons..
An arranger keys, has a huge amount of limitations compared to the kronos.

Sadly getting results on the kronos takes much longer then on the pa4x where it comes to sound edditing/design

Bachus sounds like you are all set!

B-3, C-3, M, M3, SK1, Suitcase Rhodes, XK-1, 35 other keyboards, including synths, WK-8000, Arrangers (3, plus a Midjay), Clavinova 65, Wurlitzer, a Lucina...all kept in perfect working order.

Arrangers used for quick roughs. Haven't used one for performance for over a year. Don't intend to.


Russ

(I know...it's an addiction).

I have a Nord D5 for band playing , very nice sounds and easy to transport (8Kg) , arranger only for home use .

Impuls

If I count the ones back in the storeroom, I probably have at least 25, although I can't guarantee that they're all in working order (some haven't been turned on in years (VP550, JV10,Chroma, DX7,TX16,SY55,U20,etc.,etc.). There is also a mountain of PA gear and recording/gig accessories. This is the main reason I can't bring myself to downsize (house). BUT, I assume you're talking about currently in-use keyboards. That would be, in no particular order:
1. Nord C1. C2D sold after I stopped gigging.
2. Yamaha Motif ES
3. Fantom G7
4. Triton Classic
5. Roland A-70
6. Roland VP770
7. Alesis VX49
8. KeyB Duo MK111
9. Yamaha Acoustic piano

Modules:
1. Korg O5R-W
2. Sonic Cell
3. Roland SC88
4. Korg i5M

WISH LIST:
1. Korg Kronos
2. TOTL DP - Brand/Model not yet decided
3. TOTL VST Library

As to the WHY; because 1. I'm a techno-geek, 2. I'm a pack-rat, 3. I've always liked experimenting with alternative sounds, and 4. It's nice to have an 'arsenal' if you're into recording.

chas

I have a guitar.
Does that count?
Eric

I have a friend who carries,to the gig, an 88 Key weighted keyboard and an S950 midi’d to the keyboard.

Along with that he has various vocal processors and other gear. He’s been a professional keyboard musician all his life.

He loves the weighted keys but says the whole thing is way too much to haul to a gig.

Sounds like he needs an Ea7 & a Maui 5..

For now, i am..

But still looking forward to the moment there will be one 88 Keyboard that can do all and everything i mentioned above..

Bachus, if such a thing as an 88 key(weighted?) arranger was to exist, would it be mobile?

Or would it be too heavy to gig with?

Some advantages of the SD40/SK1 combo over the SK1 vids are that all Sd40 styles and loops can be activated with the left hand of the SK1, with full Hammond or split Hammond and SD40 lead or layered voices With the touch of one button on the SK1. Some non organ voices on the SK1 are quite good, but not anywhere near the quality of the SD40. This is not mentioning the other features of the Ketron like vocal audio and midi uses.

Bernie great info right from the source...is this your main rig now it sounds liek it covers all bases?

Pa4x is my main all around board, but, in the meantime, am still learning both the SD40 and SK1, but forgot to mention that I tried adding my Asus Transformer netbook, loaded with Notate Composer 3, which is my notation program for SMF. I have hundreds of tunes converted from SMF to Notation format. All sound is from SD40 and it displays my full or lead score with chords, lyrics, and scrolling notation for singing and/or playing over. So now I have a neat lightweight rig of three pieces able to handle anything I need.

My Pa4x can do the same thing, but as good as it's drawbars are, it is not the SK1. I could midi the two together, but is too bulky and heavy for what I do, so both are great in their own way.

Bernie thanx any pics of this rig your taking about would love to see it....sounds very interesting...SK1/SD30/notate 3, etc,..

I am not sure how to do this, but--

bernie thanx looking real good wow!

nice compact rig must sound terriffic too..

Maybe a bit off base of the thread but I use my FP90 pianos to just play with no accompiament or vocals. Back to basics training of playing with two hands and thinking more of harmonies and melody lines.

nothing wrong with that Bill,......brings back the way we played years ago before arranger KB,.....many people got spoiled with "Automatic style play" instead of being the player without it,....
but hey, technology moves forward.. keep doin, what your doin, take care..

88 keys hammeraction does not have to be extremely heavy to have a top performance

The Nord stage 88 weights 17 kg and has top knotch action
Its the most used keyboard on stage in europe.a
The Casio PX-5S amd px 560 are even lighter then the genos.

Both have better keybeds then for example the yamaha MOXF8

So an 88 key arranger does not have to be heavy..

And of you want even better keybeds,

Bernie...I had to look at your rig again what more do you need to play/sing live gigs...sweet!

Love this setup to...

With the sd90 around the corner, i am seriously considering a Nord-stage/sd90/mac setup...

Or an sd90/Montage/analogue synth module/mac... as i am having so much fun with the arps of my Motif XS rack.... (yes, i like yamaha arps currentlu better then Karma)

Yes, really this is all I would need for anything I do, since I am not into EDM. Even if I delved into it, I have my PA4x KAOSS. The thing is, I don't NEED anything else, but programming all my different boards with different styles and sounds is fun for me. If I were to play every song I have on all my KB's, it would take a very,very long time. I don't care, it keeps me interested every day, and that is worth a lot. Thanks for asking.

I have to revise my wishlist. It now only contains the Crumar Seven, which I have on backorder. I tend to like instruments that aren't 'yesterday's news' after 6 months. If, no, WHEN I downsize (house), THIS will be my FINAL CONFIGURATION:

----------------------
KEYS

KeyB Duo MK111 (or Legend )/Leslie 3300
Crumar Seven
Roland BK7m
Roland VP770
----------------------
PA

Analog (or Hybrid) 24ch mixer (probably StudioLive)
EV SXA250 pair
Traynor K4 (for the Crumar Seven)
Leslie 3300

-plus-

Some miscellaneous recording gear
---------------------------

Since I already own 95% of this gear, it'll be more a case of getting rid of stuff. Except for the 'Seven', I haven't suffered from gear lust for some time now. Of course my impulse buying hasn't gone away, just shifted in another direction .

chas

Bernie, sounds like you are getting your gear the way you want. Just a thought, (a bit late now), but did you think of trying midi drawbars with the PA4X at all? It is a smaller foot print and like you mention, you still had the PA4X and it did everything you wanted anyway'.

Hi tassiespirit,
Please elaborate. My goal was the addition of a clone that is lightweight and with a credible Leslie sim. I have a Neo Ventilator which gives me a great Leslie when used with good samples. The problem is that you have to have stereo sub outs, which I have on my Audya, but the samples are not as good as the SK1. The Pa4X is close, but not quite there. I, also, am a big fan of the Ketron sound, hence, the SD40.

If there is something I missed, I would like to hear it. Thanks.

I'm with Bill I have been playing more piano than I had been the last few years. I'm using the Clavinova CVP307 minus the arranger features. I'm in the process of sharpening up my piano chops for the weekly piano gig I have next year when I'm back in Florida for the winter months. This year I got tired of rotating the same 40 tunes for the 1 hour gig. Piano is my first love but have much more fun with the arrangers.

Chas, ever try the Korg Havian 30 of a few years ago?

I have not. Except for clonewheels and most recently, the Crumar Seven, I haven't had much interest in new keyboards, and even the Crumar is probably more nostalgia than true gear lust. I toyed with picking up a Kronos but decided that my Fantom G7 would suffice for the type of sounds that I would have used the Kronos for. Plus, I've reached an age where learning new OS's is more of a challenge than a pleasurable experience.

chas

I came across it accidentally and arranger features with colored touch screen and 88 weighted keys was something I thought might catch your eye.

Its korgs low end arranger (pa300).
Piano samples are the same however as in the pa4x..

It will suit people that want a little arranger in their piano very well
It will not suit people that want a piano inside their top tier arranger that well