Need synth recommendations, please

[hkojan]

Hi! My name's Harvey. I've been using an Alesis QS7 for the past 30 years. In fact, I'm on my fourth one. It's got issues and, rather than replace it with yet another one from ebay, I'm ready to join the modern world and upgrade with a new or used synth.

Specifically, I'm looking for:

73/76 keys
Semi-weighted
Lightweight
Very easy/intuitive

I play cover tunes, mainly classic rock. I will not be creating new sounds, just using vintage sounds like Rhodes, Wurly, B3, etc. I assume any keyboard from the major brands released in the past 10-20 years has all of 'em. I'm not a stickler for sounds. Of course I want them to closely mimic their original analog versions, but from what I've heard online, they all do a very good job of that. (I've heard "dueling Rhodes" battles, for example, and all of 'em sounded fine to me.)

I'm definitely intrigued by Narf and other third-party sound providers and can see myself buying their packages, where the sounds have been tweaked for specific songs, and the performance parameters have been done for me.

Money is not a concern. While I don't think I need to spend $5,500 on a Stage 4, if that's my best option I'm okay with that. But a used Electro or Kronos would likely fit my needs. Ditto for a Yamaha or Kurzweil or ?

If you've read this far I really appreciate it and look forward to your suggestions. Thanks!

Harvey

 

[jmemcse]

I gig with a Nord Stage 4 73 key waterfall and couldn't be happier. Not just for the sounds, but setup and control versatility. Have fun - Jim

 

[anotherscott]

Your QS7 had aftertouch (the ability to alter a sound after you've struck it, by pressing the key down further). Is that a playability function you'd like to maintain, or do you not care about that? It doesn't really matter for the EP and organ sounds you specifically mentioned, but can be very useful on some other sounds. But you may already have a good idea about how much you use it, or not.

I believe your QS7 could split/layer up to 16 sounds at a time across the keyboard. Do you have any sense of how much split/layer capability do you need? e.g. do you only care about playing one sound at a time? 2? 3? 4? More? How much would you think is enough? To put this in context of the boards you mentioned, Electro and Yamaha CK/CP/YC series can play a max of 3 sounds at a time, Stage 4 can play 7, Yamaha MODX/Montage series can play 8, Kronos can play 16... Is this a differentiating feature that might matter to you? Again, maybe you have a sense as to what you extent you made use of the split/layer functions of the Alesis to use as a guide here.

 

[mwtzzz]

Nord Stage 3

 

[hkojan]

Your QS7 had aftertouch (the ability to alter a sound after you've struck it, by pressing the key down further). Is that a playability function you'd like to maintain, or do you not care about that? It doesn't really matter for the EP and organ sounds you specifically mentioned, but can be very useful on some other sounds. But you may already have a good idea about how much you use it, or not.

I believe your QS7 could split/layer up to 16 sounds at a time across the keyboard. Do you have any sense of how much split/layer capability do you need? e.g. do you only care about playing one sound at a time? 2? 3? 4? More? How much would you think is enough? To put this in context of the boards you mentioned, Electro and Yamaha CK/CP/YC series can play a max of 3 sounds at a time, Stage 4 can play 7, Yamaha MODX/Montage series can play 8, Kronos can play 16... Is this a differentiating feature that might matter to you? Again, maybe you have a sense as to what you extent you made use of the split/layer functions of the Alesis to use as a guide here.

Thanks so much for replying!

Aftertouch: Not relevant.

Splits: While I once did a 4-sound split, that was once - 25+ years ago. Virtually all the splits I've done have been two sounds. Example: Clavinet/horns for "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder. So it shouldn't be an issue ... unless that correlates to a synth's ability to use the third-party sounds offered by Narf and others. From the demos I've heard, it seems the vast majority of those Narf sounds split/assign functions all over the keyboard. I'm definitely intrigued by the ability to buy those custom patches that allow you to play multiple sounds/parts.

 

[hkojan]

Nord Stage 3

Thanks. Any particular reason you prefer the Stage 3 over the Stage 4 (other than price)? I see the 4 did away with "song mode," which I could definitely see being really helpful for me if/when I start gigging again.

 

[mwtzzz]

Thanks. Any particular reason you prefer the Stage 3 over the Stage 4 (other than price)? I see the 4 did away with "song mode," which I could definitely see being really helpful for me if/when I start gigging again.

I'm comfortable with my workflow on the Stage 3 and happy with the way it sounds. When I get comfortable with something I generally don't upgrade or change it.

 

[hkojan]

Ha, you and me both. I got so comfortable with the QS7, I used it for 30 years!

 

[anotherscott]

Thanks. Any particular reason you prefer the Stage 3 over the Stage 4 (other than price)? I see the 4 did away with "song mode," which I could definitely see being really helpful for me if/when I start gigging again.

I think the loss of Song Mode is more than offset by other improvements, and I can go into more detail about that if need be. But NS3 is still a great board too.

I actually want to pick up from something you posted in your first attempt at this question ;-)

** My number one requirement is EASE OF USE. It must be INTUITIVE. I want to be able to locate and/or call up sounds quickly and easily. Ditto for transposing, splitting, and simple tweaking.

Possibly worth noting here is that the boards that are easiest for some of those things may not be easiest for others. The Nords are among the easiest, most intuitive in many ways... but locating and calling up sounds is still better on boards like Roland Fantom-0 and Yamaha MODX-M, with their on-board touchscreen based patch reorganization and search functions. So there are going to be some trade-offs in ease of use depending on where your emphasis is.

I don't know much about the 3rd-party sound availability which interest you, but just broadly speaking, in current boards, your selection of 73/76 lightweight semi-weighteds isn't all that big to begin with. You've got...

Nord: Electro 6-73, forthcoming Electro 7-73, Stage 4 Compact
Roland: Juno D7, Fantom-07
Yamaha: MODX M7

(There are also Viscount Legend One and Hammond SK Pro 73, but based on what you've said so far, I don't think those are for you.)

The Electro 6 doesn't have pitch bend/mod controls... some people would rule it out right away just for that.

 

[hkojan]

UPDATE: I found a used Stage 3 in excellent condition (only used in a church) for a decent price ($3,000) and pulled the trigger!

Thanks for your help!

 

[hkojan]

Whoa, wrote too soon. The guy had agreed to a deal but it turns out someone else had already bought it at full price ($3,149). That's what I get for trying to save a little money. So, I'm back at square one. The Stage 3 looks great but I'm hardly married to it.

Btw, @anotherscott: I do want pitch bend/mod controls.

 

[anotherscott]

Btw, @anotherscott: I do want pitch bend/mod controls.

Okay, so at least in terms of current boards, I think you're down to Nord Stage 4 Compact, Juno D7, Fantom-07, MODX M7, and (if you can wait until Summer) Nord electro 7-73.

I know you said you're not fussy about sounds, but what about actions? It's subjective, but I think Nord feels best of the bunch. (The Rolands share the same kind of action, and to me, the Yamaha feels pretty similar, though it's a bit more even from the front of the keys to the rear, and it has a bit more initial resistance).

To your other interest of having 3rd-party packages of sounds for specific songs, it could be worth googling to see what's available for these particular boards. Nord users also sometimes post their sounds for download, the NS4 ones are at https://www.norduserforum.com/viewforum.php?f=33

Back to ease of use. overall I think the Juno and Nord are the easier ones... though still pretty different in that Nord gives you immediate control over many more things, while Juno provides a lot more capability but via menu diving rather than front panel controls. What makes the Juno easy despite that is that the majority of the things you likely want to do most often an be done without the menu diving. Fantom-0 and MODX M are more complicated... though as I mentioned, the patch navigation is easier. But I suspect that you'll end up preferring either Juno or Nord.

 

[hubalken]

I have a Nord Electro 4d and find it's sounds to be awesome!! Especially the B3, Vox and Farfisa emulators. The synth sounds are very pleasing to my ears as well!! It doesn't do layering but I have another keyboard and Roland piano that do this so no big deal here for me. I've had my Electro 4d since last October and have not even come close to exploring all of its capabilities!! Nord makes excellent keyboards!! Pricey, yes but well worth it in my opinion!! I bought mine lightly used. I've also read that the older models are better made than the newer ones. I'm not electronics expert but the older models supposedly use better components.

 

[anotherscott]

Electros are great, but the issue here is that no Electro (until the forthcoming Electro 7) has the pitch and mod controls needed. Which is one way you end up at the Nord Stage 4.

 

[hubalken]

Very true. I don't find myself needing pitch bend and mod wheels very often though. My other keyboard has both however.

 

[hkojan]

ANOTHER UPDATE: Turns out the guy I thought I had bought the Stage 3 from had a second one at home. I bought that one for the previously agreed-upon $3,000!

@hubalken I did want the pitch bend/mod, so the Stage 3 was the way to go. It's got everything I want/need, including the manual drawbars, pitch bend/mod, and something called "Song Mode," which could come in handy for gigging. Had to spend considerably more than an Electro, of course, but (luckily) money was not an issue.

@anotherscott I know Narf makes custom sounds for the Nord - I saw/heard a YouTube demo - so if I decide to go that route I'm all set there.

 

[anotherscott]

the Stage 3 was the way to go. It's got everything I want/need, including the manual drawbars, pitch bend/mod, and something called "Song Mode," which could come in handy for gigging.

This is the first mention of your wanting manual drawbars (or desiring any deeper organ functionality than the Alesis gave you, for that matter)... that would definitely affect the recommendations!

I think the importance of Nord's Song Mode is over-stated in many (perhaps most) situations. When you weigh the patch assembly/navigation benefits of NS3 song mode over the different patch assembly/navigation benefits of the NS4, to me, the NS4 comes out well ahead. In fact, it's largely why I sold my NS3 and got the NS4. NS3 is still a great board, though.

 

[hkojan]

This is the first mention of your wanting manual drawbars (or desiring any deeper organ functionality than the Alesis gave you, for that matter)... that would definitely affect the recommendations!

I think the importance of Nord's Song Mode is over-stated in many (perhaps most) situations. When you weigh the patch assembly/navigation benefits of NS3 song mode over the different patch assembly/navigation benefits of the NS4, to me, the NS4 comes out well ahead. In fact, it's largely why I sold my NS3 and got the NS4. NS3 is still a great board, though.

 

[hkojan]

This is the first mention of your wanting manual drawbars (or desiring any deeper organ functionality than the Alesis gave you, for that matter)... that would definitely affect the recommendations!

I think the importance of Nord's Song Mode is over-stated in many (perhaps most) situations. When you weigh the patch assembly/navigation benefits of NS3 song mode over the different patch assembly/navigation benefits of the NS4, to me, the NS4 comes out well ahead. In fact, it's largely why I sold my NS3 and got the NS4. NS3 is still a great board, though.

I don’t “need” manual drawbars but it’ll be a nice plus. As for Song Mode, I’d never heard of it till yesterday! If as I assume it’s an easy way to organize sounds in one place for gigging, it’s something I may value. Regardless, an S4 would set me back another two grand, which makes things much easier.

 

[hubalken]

I bought my Electro 4d mainly for the drawbars. Everything else on it is nice extras for me. I considered a Nord Stage 3 but didn't need all of the extra stuff it has. One of the keyboard players in my church's band has a Stage 4 and while impressive, is really more than I need since I'm mainly a piano and organ player. I come from a classical pipe organ background and led congregations in hymn singing for 30 years.