I am a solo performer, and I wanted a relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated solution to create some decent sounding accompaniment music for my instrumental guitar gigs. I am just doing cocktail and background music for weddings, cafes or restaurants. The home computer studio idea is appealing to me, but from what I have understood thus far, it involvies a certain amount of gear like MIDI/Audio interfaces, software like Cubase, software based sound modules for GOOD sounds (ie.Sampletank, VST intruments), etc. This can be somewhat expensive to achieve for a beginner's budget, and a part time gig. Not to mention, complicated when it comes to things like working in Cubase. I have considered instead to purchase a good entry level keyboard with good sounds and smartmedia/floppy drive. A couple I have had my eyes on are the Casio WK-3000 (http://www.zzounds.com/item--CASWK3000AD) and the Roland EXR-5 http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLEXR5). Believe it or not, that Casio model is being touted as an excellent buy by many reviews I read. What do you guys think? Opinions/ideas welcome. Thanks in advance.
On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 11:58:38 -0400, "spanky" <> wrote: >I am a solo performer, and I wanted a relatively inexpensive and >uncomplicated solution to create some decent sounding accompaniment music >for my instrumental guitar gigs. I am just doing cocktail and background >music for weddings, cafes or restaurants. The home computer studio idea is > >I have considered instead to purchase a good entry level keyboard with good >sounds and smartmedia/floppy drive. A couple I have had my eyes on are the >Casio WK-3000 (http://www.zzounds.com/item--CASWK3000AD) and the Roland >EXR-5 http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLEXR5). Believe it or not, that Casio >model is being touted as an excellent buy by many reviews I read. > >What do you guys think? Opinions/ideas welcome. Thanks in advance. > I'd pick the WK3500 over the WK3000, because it has a mod-wheel (vs mod-button), independent lineouts (not just headphone out). The WK3500 also has a floppy drive, but that's not that useful. I haven't tried the Roland. The roland has 64 note polyphony whilst the Casio has 32. The Roland has 61 keys, the casio has 76 keys. As far as I know, neither have aftertouch. Since I have a PC, and may one day use the PC as _the_ synth, having 76 keys can be more important! 61 keys just isn't enough for my usage - feels really cramped. Despite some people calling the WK-3500 a toy, it's pretty good for the price. It has a DSP which "saves" lots of otherwise mediocre/boring instruments - it really makes a big difference. But you can only use one DSP effect at a time ( I think you can choose to have a DSP effect on one layer/split and zero DSP effect on another layer/split). Not sure if the Roland has a configurable DSP. Don't see effects or DSP mentioned anywhere in the specs. So it may not have one. Maybe you should test the Korg X5D too if it's within your budget - can have two effects at a time. On the WK3500 you can actually upload new sounds/samples not just new parameters for existing sounds. That said, Casio's PC software isn't very good and seems to be stagnant (they should open source it or something if they aren't going to improve it). I've converted and uploaded my own wave samples and they just don't sound that good - not sure what the native sampling rate is or whatever it is. Whereas the sounds downloaded from Casio's site sound fine when I upload them, so it could be a problem with the software (and/or the sampling rate?). BTW why the EXR-5 instead of the EXR-3? Try it first- sometimes you just hate the sounds.
> I am a solo performer, and I wanted a relatively inexpensive and > uncomplicated solution to create some decent sounding accompaniment music > for my instrumental guitar gigs. I am just doing cocktail and background > music for weddings, cafes or restaurants. The home computer studio idea is > appealing to me, but from what I have understood thus far, it involvies a > certain amount of gear like MIDI/Audio interfaces, software like Cubase, > software based sound modules for GOOD sounds (ie.Sampletank, VST > intruments), etc. This can be somewhat expensive to achieve for a > beginner's budget, and a part time gig. Not to mention, complicated when it > comes to things like working in Cubase. > > I have considered instead to purchase a good entry level keyboard with good > sounds and smartmedia/floppy drive. A couple I have had my eyes on are the > Casio WK-3000 (http://www.zzounds.com/item--CASWK3000AD) and the Roland > EXR-5 http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLEXR5). Believe it or not, that Casio > model is being touted as an excellent buy by many reviews I read. > > What do you guys think? Opinions/ideas welcome. Thanks in advance. Well I'm a bit biased, but I still think you should consider the software solution. You'll be able to create *much* more pro sounding tracks for less or the same amount of money. My suggestion is to check out Reason by Propellerhead Software, Home Studio by Cakewalk or Orion Pro by Synapse-audio. Or why don't you check out the Magix software, such as Magix Music Maker. Use a controller such as the cheapest Fatar keyboard and use a cheap MIDI interface from M-Audio / Midiman. M. Hillborg MHC Synthesizers and Effects http://www.mhc.se
Hi, maybe you consider having a look at the old RA-90 series w/o keyboard. This device did a pretty good job for me and some collegues. In my studio and on stage as well. You might find them pretty cheap. I paid about $1200 in '91. You may have a look at the KORG series as well ! Best thing I need (that's MY subjective opinion) go and try to get yourself a '02 Yamaha PSR 9000 (studio version is best). This keyboard is pretty cool and does a real good job ! Cheers Ralf Mike H wrote: >>I am a solo performer, and I wanted a relatively inexpensive and >>uncomplicated solution to create some decent sounding accompaniment music >>for my instrumental guitar gigs. I am just doing cocktail and background >>music for weddings, cafes or restaurants. The home computer studio idea is >>appealing to me, but from what I have understood thus far, it involvies a >>certain amount of gear like MIDI/Audio interfaces, software like Cubase, >>software based sound modules for GOOD sounds (ie.Sampletank, VST >>intruments), etc. This can be somewhat expensive to achieve for a >>beginner's budget, and a part time gig. Not to mention, complicated when it >>comes to things like working in Cubase. >> >>I have considered instead to purchase a good entry level keyboard with good >>sounds and smartmedia/floppy drive. A couple I have had my eyes on are the >>Casio WK-3000 (http://www.zzounds.com/item--CASWK3000AD) and the Roland >>EXR-5 http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLEXR5). Believe it or not, that Casio >>model is being touted as an excellent buy by many reviews I read. >> >>What do you guys think? Opinions/ideas welcome. Thanks in advance. > > > Well I'm a bit biased, but I still think you should consider the software solution. > You'll be able to create *much* more pro sounding tracks for less or the same > amount of money. > > My suggestion is to check out Reason by Propellerhead Software, > Home Studio by Cakewalk or Orion Pro by Synapse-audio. Or why don't you > check out the Magix software, such as Magix Music Maker. > > Use a controller such as the cheapest Fatar keyboard and use a cheap MIDI > interface from M-Audio / Midiman. > > M. Hillborg > MHC Synthesizers and Effects > http://www.mhc.se > > >
