I can't get to grips with my ROLAND EM50 Keyboard!

[Edward Huggins]

Greetings: My first ever Post here.
I bought a Roland EM50 as soon as they were released as a home practice keyboard. I had moved to a smaller appartment and this meant selling the Baby Grand and the Hammond X5 and its huge Leslie. I was a former pro-player in Jazz and R&B Bands - Royal Academy of Music Grade 8. Today, I'm just a silly old fart.....
I made the wrong choice as although the EM50 was very advanced in its day - and at a low price - I found it far too complex to programme and to easily use as a "go to" keyboard.....I was 60 then and am 80 now.
I have now returned to it all these many years later and am wondering if there is an "Idiot's Guide" to using it a just a very basic 61 keyboard with a small range of sounds/tones e.g. just Pianoforte, E. Piano, Organ, Vibes? I have the full142 page user manual but find it such hard going.
My only other option is just to go and buy a new "Student" type 88 note piano and make do.
When I gain more confidence I may well explore more of its potential, but given I am self-isolating for an unknown period of time, this is a rare chance to restore some ability on Keys!
Mucho gracias! Eddie Huggins

 

[Biggles]

Welcome Eddie.

The EM50 looks like it is an Arranger and rather than go simpler over the intervening years the opposite has happened.

I had a Korg Pa700 where the Quick Guide was still 178 pages so sadly
I do not think there is a quick and easy way to learn how to use all the features of a keyboard. That said changing the sounds should be a fairly simple task and using the arranger features would just require more practice.

Korg have a series of video tutorials on their arrangers which may help giving the idea of how an arranger functions.

As for a new 88 key student piano please read:-

Digital pianos c£500 / $750 USD / €600 / $860 CND / $960 AUD.

After last time I list currencies and got some stick I think that this time I have the main currencies listed. Been into a different Music Store today and rattled a few keys of a batch of digital pianos that they had on display. Roland Go Piano 88 keys Quite good sound from a keyboard less...

www.keyboardforums.com

I have recently bought a Yamaha digital piano and went for the 73 key version for weight and ease of transportation.

There are other options for you but I will leave them for now

 

[b3maniac]

Welcome to the group Eddie. I just did a Youtube search for "Roland EM50 " and was surprised to find a good many videos. You might try a search and see if there are any video's which explain the workings of the EM 50, or other interest to you. Good luck with your quest. Don aka B3maniac