Casio should die in a fire

[Heist]

I've been using a Casio Workstation (WK-3200) with my band for the last year

and it has been ...satisfactory i guess until! >

a few weeks ago I decided to plug it into another outlet in the house

When i turned the thing on nothing came up at first

when it finally loaded i noticed that all my saved patches/ recordings had been erased!! a year of programming gone:mad:

and most of the functions that let you tweak the sounds were not working

this was a huge problem since i can't rely on the preset sounds Casio gives me (they suck!)

so it's time for a new board...and new company :tongue:

i need something that gives the best lead sounds (my main role in the band)

options in price range =

Roland Fantom (what I'm leaning towards)
Korg TR-76
Alesis Fusion 8HD
Yamaha MO6

experienced keyboard rockers have any opinions?

[MrPillow]

If all you need is lead sounds I'd look more into a VA such as a Nord Lead, Modular, etc.

ROMplers aren't the most easily editable platforms when it comes to sculpting lead sounds and such.

[SerFox]

It depends. If you are only looking for lead sounds, then all youd need is a Synth board, but if you are wanting pianos, strings and whatnot in your songs as well, much like what JR uses, then something like the Fantom is a good way to go. The Synth editor is ahrd to use, but I'm getting my head around it, and theres quite a few patches flying around.

But if not, then I would REALLY suggest the V-Synth GT. Fantastic Instrument, will do all your stringsy stuff too, and it's extremely versatile.

[Heist]

o no i definitely need all the other accompaniment stuff too

but any board that stands out in the heavy sounds would be the best choice

my drummers' dad is selling a fantom for $600. Good deal?

[MrPillow]

If it's the original Fantom (Fa-76), no deal. Stay far away. I'd go for a Korg of some sort, you shoudl be able to get a Triton Extreme on the cheap nowadays, but not as cheap as $600.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Alesis Fusion is pretty cheap.
I can buy one @ 1000 euro (with 88 keys!) where I live. Fusion 6HD is even cheaper - 790 euro.
It's an absolute unbeatable price/performance ratio. :cool:

[normthesamurai]

If you do a lot of pitchbending you may wanna keep in mind that korg triton series joysticks are fragile and a lot of people have recurring problems where the joystick breaks which means your triton will spend a bit of time at the repair shop. Other then that they are pretty awesome for lead playing.

The V-synth line is pretty amazing. I don't own one but spent a bit of time with the GT. Very unique sound capabilities and awesome for leads but maybe out of your price range.

If you need your pianos and organs though I would look at the Fusion. Haven't tried one but they would cover all your bases with the VA and sample based synthesis engines at a hard to beat price

[stealth]

I'd look at a used Trinity or Triton - the touchscreen makes it an awesome synth to program and both are really versatile for lead sounds. They're also coming down in price.

[Grey Loki]

I'd also highly recommend the Alesis Fusion - for the price, it's gotta be the best value for money i've ever seen in a keyboard.

In respect to your original problem with the Casio, i'd wager that it has some sort of CMOS battery in it that keeps the memory powered up, and it failed, and so was relying on mains supply to retain all of its patch information - obviously, when you unplugged it, it lost its power, so there went all your patches.

I feel I should point out that because the Fusion (6HD or 8HD - it doesn't matter) comes with an internal 40 or 80GB hard drive installed to which it saves all of its information, you'll never have that kind of problem.

If you're new to the concept of sound synthesis (as I suspect you will be, as you have been using a Casio board), i'd stay away from more 'advanced' or bizarre synthesizers such as the Roland V-Synth (or the GT) - yes, it's a very powerful beast, but it's really designed as a stand-alone performance object - it doesn't fit very well into a band, because it's just not that sort of synth.

Yes, you could contort it and try to mash it in using just the available patches, but then you'd only be using about a tenth of the power that the V-Synth offers you - IMO, you'd be better off going with a more 'simple' or regular synth that you'd use to the full - the Fusion would be one, the Triton (LE) would be another, the Yamaha S90 would be a third, and a second hand Motif would also be well worth checking out.

[Omega Monkey]

It sounds like what you need is a nice workstation from a generation or 2 back. The best options for those would be...

Motif
Fantom or Fantom S
EX5
Trinty V3 (V3 has a lot of upgrades such as built in MOSS board)
S80/S90

All of those should be in about the $600-1000 range for the 61 key versions, a bit more for 76 or 88 (the EX5 is only 76, and runs towards the bottom of that range, depending on what options you get with it).

Personally, I wouldnt go for any of those new but downgraded versions (TR/MO/etc...). Basically that just means you pay more and get less than getting an older top level model used. The ONLY advantage to buying something like that is to get the original warranty, or if you dont have access to ebay, etc... But if you live in a civilized country that shouldnt be a problem.

the Roland V-Synth (or the GT) - yes, it's a very powerful beast, but it's really designed as a stand-alone performance object - it doesn't fit very well into a band, because it's just not that sort of synth.


Tell that to awesome Japanese fusion band Kenso. When I saw them in 05, they had TWO (both their keyboardists had one, along with Motifs and some other stuff), and they sounded badass.

[Grey Loki]

I just looked up a few audio samples and videos for Kenso, and they do sound pretty sweet - do they use their V-Synths for a lot of stuff, or just the occasional bleeps and bloops?

[SerFox]

I'd look at a used Trinity or Triton - the touchscreen makes it an awesome synth to program ...

No it doesn't, because there is too much crammed into the screen at one time and it's far too confusing ebcause of the lack of space. You need to learn all the abbreviations and everything is laid out wrong.

[maJ estY]

Honestly, Heist, this can happen to you with every board out there. If you program your own sounds, you need to do a backup of your data. No matter if it's a keyboard or a PC or a Mac...

[stealth]

No it doesn't, because there is too much crammed into the screen at one time and it's far too confusing ebcause of the lack of space. You need to learn all the abbreviations and everything is laid out wrong.

Eh, to each his own. For what its worth, I started out with a Trinity and had no problems figuring my way through it as a newbie way back when. And that was before all of the online resources that there are now. I still find it a much easier platform to program than the Fantom or Motif due to the touchscreen.

[Grey Loki]

I'm of two minds about touchscreens. From a programming and setup perspective, they're a real plus point - it makes almost everything easier to do. But then, if in the middle of a song, you suddenly need to change something or your entire set is gonna fail, and need to change it -fast-, a touchscreen isn't so good, as it has no tactile response, and takes time to update, whereas if you were using a 'synth with buttons', you can easily hammer the buttons in whatever order you need, and then grin as the screen catches up.

I personally would say that a touchscreen shouldn't really be viewed as a plus point - just as a 'non-negative' one.

[dsadsa]

well what kind of leads you only need? I mean more "guitar like" with distortion or more "techno like" with no overdrive.

I do get some VA and badass FX board...

[Omega Monkey]

I cant remember what specificallly Kenso used the V Synths for. I think mostly more VA type stuff, lots of leads, etc... I wish they would release a cd or video of that concert. Honestly, they kicked so much ass Le Orme (the headliners of the whole festival) were kind of a letdown.

[Gitarzan66]

I am new to the group, hello everyone.
I am also looking for a lead sound. I saw D.T. last year in Denver and Joran did a solo on a small board, maybe a 25 key. I couldnt see it that great from where I was standing. he made it sound like a lead guitar and it was feakin awsome. anybody know how he gets this sound?

Thanks
Gitz:biggrin:

[whitelightening]

I am new to the group, hello everyone.
I am also looking for a lead sound. I saw D.T. last year in Denver and Joran did a solo on a small board, maybe a 25 key. I couldnt see it that great from where I was standing. he made it sound like a lead guitar and it was feakin awsome. anybody know how he gets this sound?

Thanks
Gitz:biggrin:

That was actually the Haken Continuum Jordan was soloing on. Check here: http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/

Not really a "keyboard", but rather a midi controller. I'm pretty sure he was controlling a Roland V-Synth with it.

[Spacehog]

You're sure it wasn't his Zen Riffer? http://www.zenriffer.com/

Still controls the V-synth though...

[Gitarzan66]

Wow! that thing is really cool. I never knew such a thing existed. Its well out of my price range. Maybe I could find one on Craigs List in about ten years for a couple hundred bucks:biggrin: . I am sure it wasnt the keytar. it was on a arm of some kind that swung out from behind him. thanks for the info.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Sorry, but Zen Riffer is just a rip off -for musicians who can afford anything and looking for something "new".
Hake Continuum is also ridiculously expensive, but at least it is something fresh an innovative (a giant ribbon :tongue: )

The fact is, that none of us would ever buy it, at this unbelievable price.

Besides, they don't even make sounds (like already mentioned) - both of them are midi-controllers.
If you want cool JR leads, take a look at V-synth.

[Omega Monkey]

Yeah, the Zen Ripoff is just that. For way less you could take the MIDI controller of your liking, build a new case for it (or even have one made to your design), and have exactly what you want for a lot cheaper.

Personally, I think it would be cool to take a nice 37 key, battery operated controller, ditch the stock case, and make a nice (lightweight) wooden case, so it looks like you're playing a tiny harpsichord or something. Something like a nice walnut or teak or something like that. You could probably have a lightweight metal frame and then bolt veneer to the outside.

[Everlasting_Rain]

so it looks like you're playing a tiny harpsichord or something.

That reminds me an idea I had a while ago for a band I'm in, where there's some theatrical/puppets play going on with the music. I thought about building a fake little piano body into a cheap midi controller, so the pianist would look like Charlie Brown's friend. It's still just an idea though.

[Spacehog]

Still after a keytar myself, but yes, the Riffer is a complete rip-off. Keep missing AX-1's and AX-7's on eBay :frown:

[-=AnatomiC=-]

I think, a cool design for custom made keytar would be some kind of a giant sword, made of aluminum, where on right side, you would have keys, of the left side it would be a blade. Handle can be used as a pitchbend, modulation source :smile:
But you would have to hold it in a strange manner. It would look much more natural for left-handed keytarists.