#1933009 - 04/27/08 05:20 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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GregC
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I still think something like the Promega has the edge in the piano sound/usability department (heck.. the RD menu/sound selection is a bit convoluted off hand I think..)
I think it depends on what you are use to. I have had the SX for a few years and the Rd700 before that. I find that Roland put a lot of thought into making the Rd easy to operate and do basic things, like keyboard splits/zones, octave changes, banging in FX, the one touch mode, etc.
I spent another 45 minutes with the Rd700GX at another ( Concord)
GC. This time, with my headphones. And the GX at this GC wasn't abused like the GX at the San Francisco GC.
One final GC comment- I dislike the chaos at GC while trying a keyboard. It is most distracting to endure 1 or 2 other hip hop maestros playing their 4 bar sequence for 30 minutes, over and over again, on a Fantom X8 through a KC 500 on high volume.
Ok , GC rant over.
IMO, the Rd700GX is the piano players Digital Piano. The acoustic pianos and EP's sound great and are varied. Plus adding FX and the new ARX features- honestly, I don't see any other Keyboard co offering a DP with this level of quality and FX control.
I especially like the 2nd Control FX knob. And the Midi thru can now multi function as a full Midi 3 out. Thank you, Roland .
Lovely, lovely, since I have 3 other boards to control from my Rd700GX.
I think this point bears repeating- its best to run the Rd700GX in stereo. I think you will lose quite a bit running it in mono.
I am not 100% sure on this but folks that gig should be solid they like the mono of the Rd700GX
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#1933024 - 04/27/08 06:37 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: GregC]
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keysplease
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[quote=orangefunk]
One final GC comment- I dislike the chaos at GC while trying a keyboard. It is most distracting to endure 1 or 2 other hip hop maestros playing their 4 bar sequence for 30 minutes, over and over again, on a Fantom X8 through a KC 500 on high volume.
It's like the Kinko's of music production for a lot of people, except they'r not paying a dime for using the equipment. I enjoy when friends come along to hear the masterpieces :-)
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#1933043 - 04/27/08 07:15 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: GregC]
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orangefunk
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IMO, the Rd700GX is the piano players Digital Piano. The acoustic pianos and EP's sound great and are varied. Plus adding FX and the new ARX features- honestly, I don't see any other Keyboard co offering a DP with this level of quality and FX control.
Did you find that the new Expressive Grand was any better than the Superior? I find it a bit thin with little stereo imaging... the Superior is beautiful and warm.. Is this really the same piano thats in the old SX and the Fantom? If so its a helluva great sound...
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#1933112 - 04/27/08 10:41 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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Jazz+
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Is the Superior Grand in the Fantom too? I thought it was only in the RD-700SX, RD-700GX, SRX-12 card and the FP7 and FP4.
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#1933128 - 04/27/08 11:39 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: Jazz+]
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orangefunk
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ahh so its on the SRX card... makes sense...
Jazz+ I think the GX might be a little heavy on the tendons... put it this way.. I played my rhodes after the gig and it felt like I was playing a synth... so I can understand what Busch says to a degree...
That being said.. its without a doubt the best piano action I've ever played.. a real pleasure... I'm also impressed by the synth engine and the way you can alter pretty much all the standard synth parameters (e.g. cut off, resonance, etc..)
I just wish it had aftertouch... really useful for putting vibrato on left hand double bass
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#1933137 - 04/27/08 12:03 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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Jazz+
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It's weight eliminates it for gigging for me. And from the descriptions I am getting the action does seem like a lot of work to play. I will stick with FP4 which is an ideal solution for me because it's only 32 pounds, has the Superior Grand samples, and has an easy to play action.
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#1933149 - 04/27/08 12:18 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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GregC
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Did you find that the new Expressive Grand was any better than the Superior? I find it a bit thin with little stereo imaging... the Superior is beautiful and warm.. Is this really the same piano thats in the old SX and the Fantom? If so its a helluva great sound...[/quote]
I spent some type with the Expressive Grand sample and I like the sample more than the Superior. it seems to have more sustain or some other quality. I guess we hear things differently
Yep, the Superior is in the SX. But not in the Fantom X
The Fantom X has the " Ultimate " sample
Confusing, I know
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#1933178 - 04/27/08 01:07 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: GregC]
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orangefunk
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Yep the Ultimate is okay sounding too if a little 1990s...
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#1933239 - 04/27/08 03:30 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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eric
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I've had the 700GX for about 4 days and used on 2 gigs. No time for huge content now, but the way the keys feel (Ivory Touch) is first class and never been done on this type of stage piano. It is truly great. The pianos sound great and I am digging the new Expressive Grand layered with various other sounds, such as GX Strings 1 & 2.
The action feels great, but is fairly heavy. Playing my S90 feels like I'm playing a synth action after a long session on the RD. I think this GX has the best piano-style action on the market. For folks with tendonitis it might not be the best solution and I hope Roland or other companies start bringing the Ivory Touch surface to other keyboards.
For nostalgia's sake, I simply LOVE the RD600 Grand sound that is provided on the 700GX. I had an RD600 for nearly 5 years and was really attached to that sound.
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#1933253 - 04/27/08 04:15 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: eric]
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b3keys
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OMG! Eric's done it again!
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#1933258 - 04/27/08 04:22 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: b3keys]
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b3keys
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BTW, I did get to spend some more time with the GX at the Pittsburgh GC on Friday evening. I was able to edit the EPs, turn off the auto feature. I really, really liked this board.
I almost felt that the keyboard was too rigid. I can understand about the tendonitis comments. I have been playing a Motif ES8 at home, and by comparison the ES8 almost has a lightweight feel as compared to the GX.
Anyway, I decided to play the last hymn in church this morning on our Baldwin upright, and lo and behold, I had a feeling of deja vu. I felt the GX's action was very similar to our Church's piano, much more so than the ES8 I am playing at home. Wow!
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#1933263 - 04/27/08 04:35 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: b3keys]
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orangefunk
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The thing about the GX is that it has this lovely resistance and then a sudden drop just like on a real action.. try pressing the key real lightly and you'll get a sudden resistance... theres some other nice touches like slightly yellowed keys and even a wood key effect if you look at the key from the side... it really does feel and act like a real piano action...
Also the GX might be the only stage piano on the market that doesn't trigger a sound if you play too lightly... what a great feature... its real nice to play very lightly and get those ambient modern jazz tones..
I have been playing a GX everyday since the gig and I absolutely love the damn thing... even the synth sounds are just first class... who needs a rompler these days when the synth sounds are just so damn good in these things...
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#1933265 - 04/27/08 04:49 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: b3keys]
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eric
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OMG! Eric's done it again!
Not exactly! 
I am doing the KB Mag review for the RD700GX, which I suppose you'll get to read in the next month or two. I really do dig the GX, particularly its slim and simple form factor. Once you understand how the Tones and Setups work, it is very easy to set up gig-worthy master setups that include the internal and external zones, with heavy-hitting MIDI capabilities.
The action is very much like playing a grand piano. Not what I'm used to for live gigs, but actually not a bad thing if the hands could get used to it. The action bottoms out very nicely (not like playing a tabletop) and the Ivory Touch, like I mentioned before, is simply sublime.
Regards,
Eric
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#1933294 - 04/27/08 06:08 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: eric]
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orangefunk
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Eric
Just to confirm.. the GX screen is monochrome right (yet the SX was color)? Also I could not see any mention of a sequencer in there (not even a simple piano recorder) is that right?
Edited by orangefunk (04/27/08 06:09 PM)
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#1933296 - 04/27/08 06:15 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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cnegrad
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Eric,
Is the only difference between the 300 and the 700 the weighted action? Please specify any other differences. Thanks!
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#1933313 - 04/27/08 06:55 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: cnegrad]
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burningbusch
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There are significant differences between the RD300GX and RD700GX.
Action:
700 has "Ivory Feel" with escapement (the feel of escapement). The keys are two piece construction and though both pieces are plastic Roland claims it has advantages other than just the aesthetic look of wood. The action is heavier and more like a real grand. The 300 uses an action that is based on the 700's, but is lighter in touch and lighter in physical weight by about 20 lbs.
Sounds
700 has three 88-note ac grands, the 300 has two of those. It is lacking the new Expressive Grand. The 700 can accept up to two SRX cards. The 700 has the new SuperNatural EPs. The 700 has some additional sounds in the other banks, but nothing to get too excited about. The 700 now allows two FXs per part and you can have four parts in a layer/split. The 300 only has one (I believe) insert FXs, plus reverb and chorus. The 700 has the modeled organ from the VK series.
Control:
The 700 is more complete as a controller. It has four external zones vs. three on the 300. Three MIDI OUTS plus the ability to echo MIDI IN to the USB. It has more control over what you can send to the externals.
Other thngs:
The display is larger on the 700, though the 300 finally has a character based display. On the 700 you can have 100 SETUPs available while only 32 on the 700. Both allow you to save SETUPs to internal memory or USB. Both have playback-only sequencer and Audio Key.
The 300 is about 20 lbs lighter and $1,000 cheaper. In many ways the 300GX is now closer to the RD700SX in terms of capabilities.
I think that covers most of it.
Busch.
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#1933314 - 04/27/08 06:57 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: cnegrad]
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eric
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Eric
Just to confirm.. the GX screen is monochrome right (yet the SX was color)? Also I could not see any mention of a sequencer in there (not even a simple piano recorder) is that right?
I'll have to look again, but pretty sure it is black and white (though a very sharp-looking display). I have not found any sequencing functions, but have only had this in my possession for 4 days, mostly spent dive-bombing to get prepped for gig setups.
Eric,
Is the only difference between the 300 and the 700 the weighted action? Please specify any other differences. Thanks!
I cannot answer that definitively as I do not have the 700GX and the 300GX in my possession. Based on what I learned at NAMM, they are pretty different. The 300GX does *NOT* have the Ivory Touch keys and is weighted lighter, probably similar to the 300SX and FP4 actions. I believe the 300GX has the sounds from the 700SX, but I am not entirely sure about that. I believe another poster covered the 300GX vs. 700GX (Busch?) differences in another recent thread.
Regards,
Eric
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#1933315 - 04/27/08 06:59 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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burningbusch
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Eric
Just to confirm.. the GX screen is monochrome right (yet the SX was color)? Also I could not see any mention of a sequencer in there (not even a simple piano recorder) is that right?
The GX has the same screen as the SX. Both are monochrome. There is a playback-only sequencer plus you can load audio files on USB and play them back using the Audio Key feature.
Busch.
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#1933316 - 04/27/08 07:00 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: burningbusch]
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cnegrad
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Thanks Busch. Does the 300 not have the SRX EP's built in? If not, will it accept the EP SRX card?
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#1933346 - 04/27/08 08:07 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: cnegrad]
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burningbusch
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No can do. It has, I believe, the main Rhodes from the RD700SX, which is decent and usable. No SRX slots.
Busch.
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#1933347 - 04/27/08 08:09 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: burningbusch]
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burningbusch
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FYI, you can set the button lights so that they are dimly lit at all times. Looks pretty cool. Makes it easier to see on a dark stage.
Busch.
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#1933360 - 04/27/08 08:37 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: burningbusch]
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cnegrad
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Oh crud.
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#1933361 - 04/27/08 08:42 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: cnegrad]
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Jazz+
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I think it has the Rhodes sound that SK used in his FP4 when he recorded Easy Living in the reharm thread, sounds pretty good to me:
http://www.divshare.com/download/4363603-b4e
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#1933362 - 04/27/08 08:44 PM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: Jazz+]
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cnegrad
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Granted, but I want access to the Dyno-My-Piano models in the SRX card/700/Fantom GX.
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#1933422 - 04/28/08 04:55 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: cnegrad]
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orangefunk
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cnegrad, I just bought the GX after my little demo... I am well pleased with it... I feel its the first instrument in some time that makes me forget I'm playing an electronic instrument... it really is that good esp on headphones...
I still prfer the Superior piano to the Expressive.. its a lot warmer.. I'll concede that the expressive has more expression.. but it just sounds a bit thin with minimal stereo breadth (maybe this is a concession to the live pianist playing in mono?) to me in comparison to the Superior... maybe I can EQ some warmth into it... I also (re)experience some slight phase problem with the Expressive... just like when I used to play my P120 through a mono amp... I wonder if this can be fixed or whether the Roland ROM is updatable (I tend to think it isn't)?
Just some comments...
why are there so few decent drum patterns in the RD? I have only found half a dozen useful ones... Jazz 5 is brilliant for basic songwriting... the others just sound busy with odd sounds... i.e. no decent latin jazz rhythms at all...
Organ sounds are not too great but probably could be coaxed into something for live without having to take out the CX3... soloing Hammond lines is not easy at all though.. yuk..
Not too convinced by the rhodes so far... but certainly serviceable in a gigging situation... I think its a shame no one has gotten Chicks LAAF in a piano yet... in fact that would be a lovely sound to have matched to the action... I think the rhodes suffers from the same problem I always have with rhodes in romplers (except the Motif of all things) and that is that the initial attack and envelopes don't feel right...
As someone who has not been keeping up with the latest advances in romplers (e.g. Triton/Fantom - though I had a Motif come to think of it).. I think the extra sounds are pretty cool... some lovely Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays style pads in there... some nice electronica stuff too... even the Lead synths are adequate for live... amazed that these are actually programmable too just like a normal synth...
So all in all some low points but the digital pianos and action are to die for... orangefunk rating 9.5/10
Edited by orangefunk (04/28/08 05:05 AM)
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#1933429 - 04/28/08 05:20 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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cnegrad
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o-funk,
Thanks for your perspectives. Admittedly, I have some odd criteria. Unlike most here, I have "a thing" for Dyno-My-Piano" rhodes sounds, so the 300 won't do it for me. Additionally, I have a bad back, so overall weight considerations take precedence over the Ivory action. Regarding the acoustic piano sound, at home I use Ivory so, the piano sound isn't that crucial to me, and playing live I'm willing to make concessions on Acoustic piano sounds. It's the new modeled Rhodes sounds that I'm most interested in, so the new Fantom might be the way to go for me...
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#1933442 - 04/28/08 06:03 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: orangefunk]
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GregC
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cnegrad, I just bought the GX after my little demo... I am well pleased with it... I feel its the first instrument in some time that makes me forget I'm playing an electronic instrument... it really is that good esp on headphones... I still prfer the Superior piano to the Expressive.. its a lot warmer.. I'll concede that the expressive has more expression.. but it just sounds a bit thin with minimal stereo breadth (maybe this is a concession to the live pianist playing in mono?) to me in comparison to the Superior... maybe I can EQ some warmth into it... So all in all some low points but the digital pianos and action are to die for... orangefunk rating 9.5/10
hey , o-funk, congrats on your purchase. roland has never done a ' rom update' on the RD line.
About some warmth, The GX has a strong EQ section, go ahead, ' 10 it'. And whats up with your audio ? I have taken down the digital edge on my boards by having a Mackie Onyx
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#1933520 - 04/28/08 08:58 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: burningbusch]
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playsthe88s
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Hello all. I am a professional jazz pianist looking for a great portable dig piano so I can practice late at night and for gigs where there's no acoustic piano. I stopped into Sam Ash yesterday to pick up some cables and was surprised to see a 300 & 700gx on the floor. I have been anxiously waiting to try these out. I spent about one hour playing them (with headphones on). The store was quiet. Unfortunately, I heard some annoying dirty noise in the middle range. While I could eq some of the noise away, it was always there. Has anybody else with critical ears heard this?
The 700 seemed a bit too heavy for gigging and I wasn't particularly impressed with the other sounds. The 300 could be a possibility for me, esp. at that price. I'll go back this week and spend some more time. I used headphones because the Roland amp it was running through sounded just awful! We tried some Samson monitors, which sounded better but not great (and not good for live gigs) Is there an affordable amping system for live gigs that would faithfully recreate the sound coming from the keyboard?
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#1933578 - 04/28/08 10:13 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: playsthe88s]
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orangefunk
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I think the Promega offers a cleaner sound.. but I think the Roland has some great character... I wouldn't say dirty, though I found that something that sounded like multiple sample crossfades in the Expressive Grand which seemed to cause a slight phase at times.. I could be wrong though... its not always consistent to my ears..
There is some dirt in the fender rhodes though.. . its actually part of the parameters... sounds great to me ;-)
Edited by orangefunk (04/28/08 10:14 AM)
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#1933581 - 04/28/08 10:18 AM
Re: I have an RD700GX and you don't
[Re: playsthe88s]
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burningbusch
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Rather than use horribly cheesy MIDI drum patterns for jazz/latin why not load up a USB drive with real drum patterns or Aebersold backing tracks and use the Audio Key feature.
http://www.paulcarman.com/store/home.php
Busch.
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