Major Workstation Comparison

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Hello, I'm sure there are lots of experienced workstation owners here.
Maybe I'll go for a workstation afterall. In that case, I would like do some research.

Can someone give a review on his workstation? Any workstation.
I wanted to hear something about Fantom x8, Extreme Korg 88, Kurzweil k2600-XS. What are their advantages and cons?
I think not only I will appreciate replies :cool:

[Syrinx]

If you are looking for reviews for different hardware workstations, then the place to go is: www.harmonycentral.com/Synth/Data/

You can also check the websites of popular magazines like Keyboard magazine, Sound on Sound (newer reviews require subscription).

Good Luck.

EDIT: For example here is the SoundOnSound review of the Fantom X: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep04/articles/rolandfantomx.htm

[Staccato]

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/keyboards/workstations.php

There you can read about them..

[jeebustrain]

follow the link at the bottom of my sig

[Staccato]

follow the link at the bottom of my sig

Haha, I stole the link from you!:) I WON, I AM THE BEST!:)
(sorry, to influenced by liquid shadow!):D

[jeebustrain]

Haha, I stole the link from you!:) I WON, I AM THE BEST!:)
(sorry, to influenced by liquid shadow!):D


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[Staccato]

HAHA:) And one more HAHA, cause the 10 rule!:P

[synthcomposer]

I have the Roland x8 and I just ordered the Triton Extreme they both have great sounds and are easy to use. I went with the extreme because it is a work horse with tons of sounds. The Kurzweil is old equipment and out of date sounds, plus you will be doing a lot of reading to get the sounds you want. I hope this helped. Good luck!

[-=AnatomiC=-]

So, I guess if I'm serious about keyboards, I will to have buy few of them anyway....
First, I want a stage keyboard, and then (next year maybe) I'll buy fantom x8 or Extreme Triton 88-keys, or something new :wink: .
The problem is, it's hard to get some real money (enough for a good keyboard) when you are 18, you don't work and you study :frown: .

[Staccato]

Are you sure you need 88 keys? If you are gigging, it´s very heavy, and 61 keys is often enough.. sometimes I feel I really would like some more.. but that is not very often. And are you sure you really need the latest models? The original Motif and Triton are not that expensive any more, but still sound good.. And if you really miss a sound, then you can buy a specialzed module or maybe a card to them.. I have had my Triton for a year, and I still have many things to learn about it.. and the only thing that I can complain about is the piano sound when you play classical pieces or just by yourself.. it sounds ok when I play in band.. and many sounds are really usefull, and you can experiment a lot with it, make splits, just like the extreme.. sure it has more sounds and so on.. but to buy a used Triton and then a module or some cards are cheaper.. and for me, 19 and a student, I look for cheap but still good things!:)

[-=AnatomiC=-]

I need the highest level of realism I can get, so I absolutly need 88 keys and hammer action stuff. I'm maybe young, but I play piano as long as I can remember (in fact, I started even earlier, when I was 6. I don't even remember my first lesson). My current acoustic piano sux, so I need a good instrument.
I red some technical reports on RD-700sx (stage piano), and it's just perfect. They really pay attention to the smallest details (COSM effect modeling, just genius)
They say s90 is better. Well, in some ways maybe, but RD-700sx defenetly offers more realism. Rd has also lots of sounds (208 wave and 218 midi sounds + I want to buy srx 06 Complete Orchestra (500 Orchestral sounds), coz I want to play in a Gothic band).
About the price, I have some money and I can work during vacation, so I'll defenetly have enough in august.
Besides, I'm not too serious about composing music, and doing stuff like that, so a stage piano and laptop will do the job.

[Staccato]

Ok, then my advice would be to try them out if you can.. By just reading you can get much info, but nothing compares to a try!:)

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Well, yesterday, I went to my local musicstore, and tried RD-700sx out. It's really amazing: very simple interface, very nice look, pretty small for a 88-key keyboard, nice collection of instrumets, pitch and lots of other stuff :tongue: and still, it's a stage piano, not a synth!
I turned rhytms on and arpegiator and began to jam, really ezy to use and very educational: perfect keyboard for piano players with experience, but begginers with synth.
I also checked online prices, it costs more than 270$ to deliver something to Belgium, so I would spare only 50$ - it's just not worth it, I guess I'll have to buy it at "normal" price.
Now I understand how Europe is inferior to USA. But Europe has also lots of good stuff, like social help - I spared lot of money because of it, when I went to dental (4 times last year).

[synthcomposer]

I think the Roland X8 is the best work station out there. I decided not to get the Extreme. After playing it in the music store the Extreme does not have the realistic sounds like the Roland. Plus the Roland is a well built product were the extreme is just plastic.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

I think the Roland X8 is the best work station out there. I decided not to get the Extreme. After playing it in the music store the Extreme does not have the realistic sounds like the Roland. Plus the Roland is a well built product were the extreme is just plastic.

Roland X8 is a workstation, RD-700sx is a stage piano: big difference. Besides, they both use the same technology: PGH action and the piano sounds of RD-700sx come from fantom x8. RD-700sx and Fantom are the same family.
I just don't need a workstation, stage keyboard is more than enough... for now atleast.

About Korg, you are probably right. Fantom has a massive metalic design and Korg looks very cheap, almost like a toy. (btw - RD-700 is also metal, but colored in black). You are also right about the realism - if you want realism, than Roland is what you need.

[Syrinx]

Just one thing to add here is that the Superior Grand patch in the RD700sx is not a FX patch. In order to be able to use it with the FX you'd have to buy the SRX-11 expansion. I have read in many places over the web that this patch still sounds best on the RD.
Other stage pianos to consider would be the Yamaha CP300 or its older version P250, and if you have a Kawai dealer around, check the ES-4/5 and the MP-4/8.

Good luck.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Just one thing to add here is that the Superior Grand patch in the RD700sx is not a FX patch. In order to be able to use it with the FX you'd have to buy the SRX-11 expansion. I have read in many places over the web that this patch still sounds best on the RD.

What you say? :biggrin:
Sorry, I dont get it
About other stage pianos - nah, I think Roland is my kind of piano.

[synthcomposer]

Try the Yamaha P90 it has a great piano sound and great hammer action.

[Syrinx]

What you say? :biggrin:
Sorry, I dont get it
About other stage pianos - nah, I think Roland is my kind of piano.

What I'm saying is that not all the piano sounds on the RD come from the FantomX. The highest quality sample on the RD is called "Superior Grand" and it was done specially for the new RD's and the SRX-11 expansion card.
So, there is a legit question to ask here: Which is better sounding a "Superior Grand" patch on an RD, or the one on a FX with an SRX-11 card?

I haven't tried it myself, but many people claim that the RD has the upper hand in this comparison.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Yeah, I already knew that. RD has 2 high quality piano's, and about 10 simple piano's (regular sounds).
SRX-11 has about 50 piano's, and they all have 704 samples each, I believe (64 mb sounds). But, for me, 2 piano's is more than enough. I was thinking about srx-06 (complete orchestra) and srx-08 (Platinum trax, techno sounds etc.), they seem very good, for me. But everyone has other needs.

[Syrinx]

Yeah, I already knew that. RD has 2 high quality piano's, and about 10 simple piano's (regular sounds).
SRX-11 has about 50 piano's, and they all have 704 samples each, I believe (64 mb sounds). But, for me, 2 piano's is more than enough. I was thinking about srx-06 (complete orchestra) and srx-08 (Platinum trax, techno sounds etc.), they seem very good, for me. But everyone has other needs.

I have to make a corrections here. I think the SRX-11 has a total of 64 MB. Only the Superior Grand patch is sampled four times per note. All the other patches, except the fantom x one, are just variations/equalizations of the main ones (SG, FX piano).

Best.

[ivorycj]

I have the Roland x8 and I just ordered the Triton Extreme they both have great sounds and are easy to use. I went with the extreme because it is a work horse with tons of sounds. The Kurzweil is old equipment and out of date sounds, plus you will be doing a lot of reading to get the sounds you want. I hope this helped. Good luck!

I have to agree that the Fantom X series and the Triton have great sounds...I have a Fantom XR and a Triton rack w/ a bunch of EXP cards...

...and yes, the K2600 was released all the way back in 1999...

out of date sounds? You've obviously spent a lot of time in 'dial and smile land'...