Keyboards/Digi Pianos/Synths/Workstations

  • Thread starter Thread starter Good Bob
  • Start date Start date
G

Good Bob

New member
I am a guitar player about to buy a keyboard to use for recording situations. I THINK I need a workstation, the only thing is I don't know what the differences are between Keyboards/Digi Pianos/Synths/Workstations/Sequencers.

I record using a Roland VS-1880, and I'll be using the keyboard primarily for sound effects and percussion sounds, because I can't really play keyboards (yet). Roland VS series recorders are proprietary; does that mean I'll get better "synergy" if I buy a Roland Keyboard? Any recomendations as to what I should be looking for as far as features are concerned?

My budget is between $1,000- $2000 for a keyboard and amp/monitors. Can anyone steer me in the right direction?
 
I haven't owned a Roland synth in quite awhile, but the ones I've owned were all good ones. JX-3P, Juno 106, JX-8, etc. Yeah, the oldies.

A workstation is pretty much what you have in the VS-1880, the added benefit for a Roland say, XP-80 would be that you can sequence on it with all of the on-board sounds and dump to the VS-1880.

A keyboard is a generic term for most of the above. Digital pianos concentrate most of their engineering on the perfect acoustic piano using samples. Some do it better than others. You will usually get a smattering of strings, organs, and other acoustic instruments with the lower-end models all the way up to a full orchestra with the high dollar ones.

Samplers use digitally sampled sounds of various instruments. Again some are better than others depending on the sampling rate, looping and a bunch of other parameters that men in white coats figure out.

Many keyboards (there's that generic term again) have an on-board sequencer. It's like a digital recorder. There are also stand alone units available too.

A synthesizer synthesizes sounds internally using controls on the unit. They are loaded with presets that are all adjustable. You can get some pretty amazing sounds out of a synth. Some manufacturers combine synthesis and sampling to get their sounds.

Someone else will be able to recommend what you are looking for, but I have always been partial to Roland synths and Kurzweil digital pianos.
 
Senny got you started well - the Roland replacement for the XP-80 ( I have the XP-50) seems to be the Fantom. A friend has one, I haven't heard it yet but he loves it. If your VS has Roland's proprietary R-BUS connection, it might make sense to stick with newer Roland keys that offer that connection. That way you could stay digital for transfers from keyboard to recorder. The Fantom has also a direct digital out at 24 bit, I think it's SPDIF.

Earlier Roland keyboards were not the most friendly instruments, especially if you were dumb enough to read the manual, which REALLY confused the issue - but they seem to be getting smarter about end user friendliness in newer versions. Their sounds are among the best in the industry, along with Kurzweil.

You weren't very clear on what you mean by monitors/amps, but $2k wouldn't leave you much if you use about $1500 on a keyboard. Maybe a pair of the Behringer Truth powered nearfields at $399 mail order, if you can find them in stock?

One of the advantages of a "workstation" type keyboard is that you can do all your non-key parts on the VS and sync the key parts on the workstation, save them to the drive on the workstation, and not impact disk space on the VS. Not an ideal solution, but one to consider if space is getting tight on the VS.

It would help if you know what you want for monitoring. You didn't mention what type of music you do, so its hard to suggest much. The Behringers will give you enough bass for most styles without needing a subwoofer. There are better speakers out there, but not many at that price... Steve
 
Thanks for the quick replys!

As I probably won't be using the keyboard for live situations, I don't think I'll need a keyboard amp. Most of the music I play now leans towards blues/hard rock, but I have songs and ideas for more progressive/fusion oriented stuff that I'm delving into. I guess the nearfields are the best way to go.

The apendices mentions the R-Bus connector, but it's not mentioned in the owner's manual or user's guide, so I know what it can do, but I don't know if or how I can use it, if that makes any sense.

Also, how large is the storage capacity of the sequencers? Should I be concerned with not having enough space on the hardrive of the 1880?
 
TAFVERD

The All Famous Very Extensive Regebro Dictionary:

Keyboard: 1. Something with keys. 2. A keyboard instrument aimed at home use/practice that includes autocomp features, such as preset drumbeats and automatic chord following. Typically uses preset sounds.

Digi Pianos: A keyboard with mainly preset sounds, mainly piano sounds, but often including strings, flutes and organs.

Synths: An instrument that instead of having a number of preset sounds has a model for generating sounds based on parameters.

Sequencer: A module for recording and playing the notes played (instead of recording the sounds heard when playing). Today this is usually equivalent with recording MIDI data.

Workstation: A synth with a built in sequencer.
 
Good Bob said:
The apendices mentions the R-Bus connector, but it's not mentioned in the owner's manual or user's guide, so I know what it can do, but I don't know if or how I can use it, if that makes any sense.

Also, how large is the storage capacity of the sequencers? Should I be concerned with not having enough space on the hardrive of the 1880?
Click to expand...

The RBUS is a digital 8channel interface.

Sequence files are pretty small. You can fit several songs on a floppy.
 
Re: TAFVERD

regebro said:
The All Famous Very Extensive Regebro Dictionary:

Keyboard: 1. Something with keys. 2. A keyboard instrument aimed at home use/practice that includes autocomp features, such as preset drumbeats and automatic chord following. Typically uses preset sounds.

Digi Pianos: A keyboard with mainly preset sounds, mainly piano sounds, but often including strings, flutes and organs.

Synths: An instrument that instead of having a number of preset sounds has a model for generating sounds based on parameters.

Sequencer: A module for recording and playing the notes played (instead of recording the sounds heard when playing). Today this is usually equivalent with recording MIDI data.

Workstation: A synth with a built in sequencer.
Click to expand...

Send me a copy of that dictionary, would ya? :)

Thanks..
 
Since when do synths not have presets? And if a keyboard is aimed at home use, what would you use on stage?

Sorry, I'm just given you a hard time, bro...
 
I just aspire to have as many posts as tex, so I gotta talk out my ass alot, for a long time. But that's in no way a reference to what tex has to say. Nevrmind me for now.
 
subtractor said:
Since when do synths not have presets?
Click to expand...

Since when are factory sounds presets? You know, you can modify the factory sounds on synthesizers too, you know. :p
 
I guess technically they are patches. Know, I know...:p

So I guess a preset is an unchangeable patch?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top