Should I Buy This ???

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layer7

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I've been saving up and I'm about ready to buy a keyboard/synth!

I'm mainly interested in good sounds (orchestral strings, drums, etc) I know that I will NEVER use a built in sequencer ... I plan on sequencing in Dig. Performer or Logic.

I want the money I spend to be spent on good sounds and not a sequencer that I will not use. I've heard a lot of talk about the MOTIF and the TRITON ... is this is a good route to go if I don't need a built-in sequencer?

Any suggestions?
 
wait for the Motif rack, it has all the sounds..is alot cheaper and doesn't have the sequencer or sampler.. Also has 128 voices as opposed to 64
 
If you dont need the sequencer (or sampler) then the yamaha s90 is a better option than a motif. Same sounds and keys as the motif 8, plus a triple strike piano sample, at a much lower price.
 
I was gonna suggest a triton rack ... You really should consider modules. They are the most synth sound bang for your buck. Also if you have any gear that accepts ROMs or expansions cards, that's allways an option too. If you are just starting studio, where to spend that first money is a really hard choice.

The Motif, even for the low end one, seems astronomicaly expensive. If you saved the the money for that, you'd have enough for the triton rack, a controller keyboard and at least a sampler or other module.
 
layer7 said:
I've been saving up and I'm about ready to buy a keyboard/synth!

I'm mainly interested in good sounds (orchestral strings, drums, etc) I know that I will NEVER use a built in sequencer ... I plan on sequencing in Dig. Performer or Logic.

I want the money I spend to be spent on good sounds and not a sequencer that I will not use. I've heard a lot of talk about the MOTIF and the TRITON ... is this is a good route to go if I don't need a built-in sequencer?

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

I would also look at the Roland XP30 and XV88 depending what your budget is.
 
I have been researching the same question for a while and believe if your budget is under $1000 you should consider the Roland RS5 or the Yamaha s30. If you are between $1000 - $2000, I agree with the Motif, or Roland XV88 or Fantom. If your budget is over $2000 Kurzweil for sure!!
 
You guys rock. This is great feedback!

Proteus ... If I go with a rack option, what kind of controller keyboard do you recommend? And sampler?

Also... when are the Motif racks coming out?
 
OK, I'll add to the fray by offering opinion and asking a question! :)

First, I've demo'd the XV88, Kurz. PC2, Kurz SP88, Korg SP500, Roland RS-9 (same sounds as RS-5) ... I think by far, of these, Kurzweil has the best "natural" sounds ... but the Roland XV's synthier stuff is really cool.

So what I'm wondering, in the opinion of those of you who know about some of the keys I've mentioned above AS WELL as the Yamaha stuff is, how do you think the Motif/S90 sounds compare? I've heard the Triton and it seems its strength are more in tweakerville, maybe if you do techno. I like more "organic" sounds, like good strings and horns and/or good pads, etc. SO how is the Motif on the organic-to-techno-sounding scale?

Also, when I tried the RS-9 I was amazed at how many sounds were similar to (if not exactly the same!) those on my U-20 ... which is late-'80s technology ... I wasn't too impressed. In fact, I read one review where they said a lot of those sounds come from the same SR or SV or whatever sound set. That's a bargain board, but IMHO they skimped on the sounds to cut the price. Too bad.
 
I am sorry, but I had figured that an EMU sampler would be perfect at around $700, but they now only carry their upper model at around $1500. There is allways ebay.

But if you have a couple grand, id seriously consider the folowing:

I would reccommend one of these:
http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.FATCMK137PAK&z=1625610159310

If you want to go uber nice:
http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.FATSL161&z=1625610159310

The triton rack:
http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.KORTRITONRACK&z=1625610159310

And perhaps one of these depending on your pleasure:
http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.EMU9099&z=1625610159310

http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.EMU9110&z=1625610159310

http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.EMU9113&z=1625610159310
 
Motif Rack???

have they announced a price & release date ???
 
Proteus ... thanks a bunch for the links. I think you're right about going with a modular approach.

I'm leaning towards the Motif rack but I want a keyboard controller that has more keys (at least ~ 76 or so). I'd also like it to have "piano action"... or whatever it's called when you get a louder sound the harder you press the keys.

Any suggestions on such a keyboard controller? Will I be able to tell the difference between a midi keyboard controller and the keyboard of a Motif 7?

By the way, I went to GC today and played around with the Motif 7 and 8. Also the S-90. I was blown away by the sounds. Almost starting crying when I heard the orchestral sounds.
 
"piano action" is called velocity in synth terms. Meaning the velocity with which you strike the keys is translated to how loud or soft the sound is. If you are looking for ultra realistic sound though, you will also need a controller with "after touch". This is the opposite of velocity. How quickly or slowly you release the key also affects the sound too and it's called "after touch".

this is a bit more expensive, but it's got 76 keys and probably all the features your looking for and then some

http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.ROLA37&z=1627174691353
 
Proteus:
You’re not exactly correct there...
Your right on velocity sensitivity, the faster (harder) you press the key, the louder it gets.
Your wrong on after touch... with an after touch sensitive keyboard if you press down on a depressed key it will apply an amount of modulation (usually LFO) that grows with increased pressure. This is used usually to give a vibrato effect… but has many, many other uses.
What you were talking about was release sensitivity, which is less common and less important than the above 2 (IMO anyway). Release sensitivity measures how slowly you release the keys and uses that info to affect the sound.


--------------
Layer:

The yamaha S-90 is a really great choice IMO. It is a performance snyth, not a workstation. So it has all the sounds of the motif, but no sampler or sequencer. Its not quite as powerfil as the motif rack unit, but there is no need to buy a midi controler for it. If your using this with a PC based sequencer, you will have a really powerful system.

But if your dead set on the motif rack.... you have to decide weather you want a controler that is designed to feel like a piano, such as :

Studiologic SL-880 SE 88-Key Hammer Action Controller ($599):
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...96130788224/g=key/search/detail/base_id/55694

Or almost like a piano:

Studiologic SL990 PRO 88-Key Controller ($399):
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...6130788224/g=key/search/detail/base_id/103737

Or not at all like a piano (snyth action):

Roland A-37 76 Key Midi Controller ($399)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...96130788224/g=key/search/detail/base_id/54345
 
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I guess I might be confused. I was thinking of the variable for the control for the Decay and assumed that it was aftertouch. It kinda made sense the way it sounded...
 
Again ... you guys rock. Can't tell you how great it is to get this kind of feedback.

Last night, I did a bunch of research and decided if I go the Motif Rack route, then I'm gonna probably get a controller such as the Roland A-37 or the Fatar SL-990.

If I don't go the Rack route, the s90 looks good. I played one the other day and liked it a lot. While due to my piano background, I like the feel of the weighted keys, I'm worried that it may be difficult when it comes to "keying" drums. Think this will be the case?
 
You mean triggering drums off the keyboard? No I don't think that being weighted should affect you ability to trigger the drum sounds. Just like anything else, you'd get used to it.

Of course there is the problem of where the drum sounds are located... The tritons do a pretty good job of arrange them in some logical sequence on the keyboard. The rolands, not so good. In fact it's been quoted that to play a drum kit on a roland keyboard is like trying to teach an octupus to play a real set of drums haha.

But none of this should matter if you aren't going to play a full set at once. It hsould be easy to get used to if you are going to be playing into the sequencer.
 
Proteus: But he is getting a Yamaha.
The controller doesn’t affect where the drums are at all, the module does that.


Layer: I do drums better with the piano weight... I think it’s easier for me to keep rhythm that way. But for some sounds I would prefer a lighter keyboard, like organ sounds or snyth solo sounds. In the future ill probably get a cheapie 61 key unweighted controller for those few times I prefer it (you can get them for like $150)... but thats after I get the motif rack for myself (which is after I get my monitors, which I buy tonight)

Oh, the Fatar SL-990 is only semi weighted I think. Only the sl880 and the yamaha s90 are fully weighted, and my guess is that the yamaha feels better than the fatar...

Shit, I wish I owned an s-90 :)
 
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