Michael W

Here's a great example of how pads can be used in a live performance. [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWitntwPjM4

Musicians Friend says 3/18, but the date has changed a couple of times already.

I'm not sure about this... I have no idea what percentage of non-gigging musicians have become software only, but is it really more than single digits? I like my software instruments, but I use Omnisphere, Ethno, Z3TA, etc., to supplement my MOX, Jupiter, Virus, and Moog LP. At this point, I have a hard time imagining software completely replacing any or all of the hardware instruments I enjoy so much. I think the plethora of great-sounding software instruments have forced the big hardware manufacturers to develop lower-priced hardware alternatives. Hence the Yamaha MOX and MX; Roland FA, Junos, and Gaia; Korg Krome, Kross, M50, etc. And I agree the Korg has responded creatively and successfully with everything they've done. Especially with the new Odyssey announcement, you'll find a tremendous amount of Korg worshipping going on over at the much-trafficked Gearslutz forum.

I listen to the Chillout station at Digitally Imported: http://www.di.fm/chillout They play a non-stop selection of some VERY COOL stuff. While at work, I have my iPad streaming via Bluetooth into some external speakers. When I hear something I like, I do a quick screen capture of the DI app so that I can save the artist and song title.

Well, that's a bit unfortunate. I could live with the MOX6 keybed if I had to, but I just have it MIDI'd up to my J-50. That's the thing about all of these inexpensive workstations - they're just not a joy to play, in terms of the keyboards themselves. I guess its all just part of getting the product down to that $999 - $1199 price point. I'd guess that Yamaha has sold a TON of MOXes, and that Korg has sold quite a few Kromes.

Any idea when Sweetwater expects to have the FA-06 in stock?

What is the keybed like? I really like the synth action on my Jupiter-50... How does it compare to that? The action on the MOX6 is quite mediocre, as is that on the Krome 61, IMHO. Can you compare the FA-06 to either of these? Thanks for any insight.

I have no idea if anyone knows the answer to this yet or not. But I'll try. With the Jupiter-50 and Jupiter-80, we have "Live Sets", which are each made up of four Tones, while each tone is made up of three Partials. This makes for very rich and deep-sounding patches/presets on the instrument. Roland says that the FA has the SuperNatural synth engine, but is the FA architecture the same, or similar to the Jupiters' Live Sets? When Roland says that the FA can do 16 parts simultaneously, are they talking about 16 Live Sets? Or Tones? Or some kind of architecture completely different from the Jupiters? For that matter, does the Integra-7 do 16 Live Sets at the same time, or is it set up differently? I guess that, as a Jupiter-50 owner, I'm trying to figure out what makes up a "part" in the FA (and/or Integra) and how it compares to a Jupiter Live Set. I have really been enjoying my Jupiter-50, and the idea of being able to play 16 different Live Sets on 16 different MIDI channels sounds like it would be wicked fun. Thanks for any insight.

Nice videos, dB, especially the second one. Thanks.

But the GOOD news, if I understand correctly, is that the FA has 16 independent MFX units - awesome for when doing multi-part sequencing.

http://www.fototime.com/0F9E0C4A0902279/orig.jpg Virus TI Polar, Roland JV-1080 (in rack), Prophet 08, Yamaha MOX6, Moog LP Tribute Edition. iMac with Digital Performer, Omnisphere, MOTU Ethno, MachFive2, and many other software instruments.

Here's my latest concoction - Synths used include Omnisphere, Korg M3, Access Virus TI Polar, and MOTU Bassline. Sequenced and recorded using Digital Performer. [video:youtube]