Botanicus

Another one HERE ! Hi again, don't mean to get too far off on a tangent as I'm following this thread with great interest, enjoying getting to know you getting to know your FA's. But I'm piqued by the Kurzweil refs, so a question. Does the PC3LE61 have the same sounds as the PC3K6? I noticed where Sweetwater was throwing in the Kore 64 expansion board and other extras on the PC3K, which looked like it had some of the sounds I'm looking for (great guitars, brass, etc.). I would assume the LE versions came out after the PC3K series, so similarly to the FA and MOXF does the LE have all the sounds of the PC3K along WITH the Kore 64 sounds?? Thanks!

Thanks Bob, I remember watching the PC3LE videos with great interest when it was released. I just never seem to be able to get to a place where I can check out the Kurzweils in person. Lots of good feedback on the SP4-7 as well. In one of my bands (New Orleans jazz/standards) I just play winds and sing lead, and my keyboard playing partner has used Kurzweils for years. The pianos and electric pianos are indeed exceptional live. He hasn't had the KB3 organ component so his organs are a little lame (pardon my French). And again, I never have a chance to actually play the Kurz's to check out the 'variety' color instruments I need on occasion like accordion, banjo, pedal steel, and harmonica.

You will be able to load them into the FA. Most or all of those sounds ended up on SRX cards, which are being made available as downloads for the FA (you'll be able to load two of them). The sounds may be slightly different, because of changes made to the patches between the JX and SRX versions, or changes in the design and architecture of the board you are playing them on (effects in particular may be different), but they should at least get you close. I can appreciate that, but my point is that I already have these sounds, and can have 4 boards available at once, in a rig that has a superior power supply and no doubt equal or better action and weighs a manageable 27 lbs. It seems absurd to spend good money on sounds that I already have. I do like the FA interface and improved navigation, and no doubt a lot of the included patterns are inspiring, but I wouldn't be able to use them in a live context with my bands. Although most of my keyboard work uses the usual AP/EP/Organ variations, I also provide 'color' for a wide variety of styles, so Accordion is needed for Zydeco, Banjo and Pedal Steel useful for country and bluegrass, Harmonica for Buffet, and I also play electric guitar and synth leads of an aggressive nature. The Triton has covered these needs adequately, whereas in some of the considered boards there are only fairly tepid GM versions of these instruments. I am actually enjoying re-evaluating the XP80 and Roland sounds after years of only using it for left hand bass from the Bass Legends. To be sure, there's some very nice sounds across the board. If the FA had the AP/EP SN soundset of the RD-800, I would be chomping. As it stands, for MY needs, the SN Synth engine focus would not be as useful. Thanks for the feedback, AnotherScott, I really enjoy your posts.

I have been watching this thread with great interest since I awoke as if from a dream and realized that I have been gigging with an original Triton 61 for almost 15 years. As with the O1W/FD I gigged with for 10 years before that, it ain't broke, but I find myself wanting a 'new car' to bring a little more excitement to the gigs. So, I've been trying out keyboards and seeing what the state of the art is these days. As I mentioned, the Triton has been my gig machine since the turn of the century, but around that time I also picked up an S80 and Roland XP-80, which served their purpose in the studio. The years since have focused on studio purchases and putting more and more things 'in the box'. I had back surgery a couple years ago so the aging process has me eager to find, like many of you, a solution that incorporates lighter weight keys and improved piano and EP sounds. My Triton is around 32 lbs. which is still manageable. But I'm intrigued not only by workstations that are half that weight, but also by 88 key options that are now worthy of consideration. I loved my S80, but lugging those 54 pounds out the door a couple times was more than enough. So, here's my take on what I've played so far... I must say that in the last 15 years I'm a bit surprised how little has changed, although there are definitely some improvements. In the Roland dept., I've played the FA-08 and RD-800 in recent days. I LOVED the SN sounds in the RD-800 and the feel, lots of great EP variations. But it's too heavy. I was disappointed that they went for the SN Synth engine instead of the full piano engine in the FA. I don't need 49 Saws. The best sounds in my XP-80 all come from the expansion boards, the Session, both Orchestrals, Bass & Drums, and 60's and 70's. Disappointed as well that virtually none of those sounds are in the FA, yet the entire base XP sound set of 512 that I never used in the first place. No new SN electric guitars. On the plus side I thought that the SN Organs were very nice, I just have trouble dialing in the right amount of Leslie from the Roland wheel. I've come away thinking that since the XP80 is less than 30 pounds I might just as well find it's case and take it out for a gig or two. Played the Yamaha MOXF8 a couple times now, and really enjoyed my session with it the other day. Can't quite make up my mind about the keybed action. I'm quite fond of my S80 sounds EPs/piano/strings etc. but was never able to gig with them because of the weight. User bank 9 in the MOXF seems to have the new sounds like the S6 piano, but really really liked the Electric Guitars in that bank and Strings among others as well. Love the definition of so many sounds. I tried the Korg Krome and although I love the piano and EP sounds, in many ways I'm losing more from the Triton because of it's MOSS board and other expansions. I use the MOSS Whirly and MOSS Brass combi all the time and they're fantastic, as is the Resonator Guitar and 12 String which came from another expansion board, and to not have them transition to even the Kronos is disappointing. So I tried the Kronos next. I find the EPs and Pianos stunning, so many things to like including the great organs that I've been spoiled by on my Triton. Like Roland, however, they haven't made changes to their electric guitar offerings in 15 years. The internal power supply is a plus though as my Triton has been rained on and snowed on innumerable times and just keeps ticking. What's a mother to do? I think I have to go Kronos, maybe used. I want the MOXF but can't decide between the 6 and 8, and would I take it out with the Triton, with a Kronos, or by itself? X factor is the Casio PX-5S, which would be nice paired with one of the above. I'll probably do what I did 15 years ago and eventually buy one of each. Sorry to be so long winded!!