AnthonyM Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I've been keeping track of the NAMM Rumors thread, but was wondering if anyone has heard any buzz or speculation on what the major players might be releasing in the Synth/Workstation categories. I know that many people have been awaiting the next generation of Yamaha's professional Synth/Workstation line: Motifxxx or other. Also Roland are overdue for a comparable keyboard since their latest releases concentrated on Synth emulations specifically without the usual workstation extras. Korg of course have the Kronos, and I'm interested to see what they will bring to market next... as well as Kurzweil. I'd like to hear your opinions and speculation regarding this one keyboard category in particular, since workstations serve as a very well established Meat and Potatoes type keyboard... especially live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEB Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Nord Super Moduluar. "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I don't think anyone's going to post anything in this thread that's any different or more helpful than in the other one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangefunk Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Roland seem to have gone over to their JP80 line which does have a lot overlap with typical workstation needs sound wise at least. Mind you maybe the workstation concept is at the end of its life. Does anyone really use workstation sequencer capabilities these days? I can understand the need for playback and maybe basic record.. but I never really got around to doing anything more than that in my Motif and Kronos. I think what is really needed are more performance oriented workstations... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simajanpa Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Korg is doing rebates on the Kronos X models. Maybe a sign that they are trying to quickly push out the old before the new arrives?? Just a thought. Can't really imagine that they are going to drop any big new synth on us, since the Kronos still is the big new synth on the block AFAIC. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Coda Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Korg is doing rebates on the Kronos X models. Maybe a sign that they are trying to quickly push out the old before the new arrives?? Just a thought. Can't really imagine that they are going to drop any big new synth on us, since the Kronos still is the big new synth on the block AFAIC. Paul Well, there are now industry Intel ATOM mobos available w/ up to 8-core/2.4GHz/4MB cache processors allowing usage of up to 32GB RAM. Think about the board in the Kronos and Kronos X is Intel ATOM dual core 1.66GHz. That´s very old and a big difference in specs. I´m sure KORG knows this and might come up w/ upgraded models sooner or later. A.C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Mike Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I'll toss one in just for giggles. There's been a small price drop on all Kurzweil SP series instruments. In light of the Artis release, I wonder if there is an SP refresh in the pipeline using the new piano sample. I've had my eye on the SPS4-8, as I think it would make a good practice/rehearsal board. Would be happy to get one on closeout. That's all I got. It's actually more fun to watch this game than to play it. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Emm Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Keyboard workstations, like analog synths, are now fully mature. There's nowhere else to go without changing the platform itself and undermining the meaningful base intent. Looking at the entire field, its now become more a game of better GUIs and access to even deeper expressive gestures. The novelty of HOW you produce sound is being superseded by how easy/practical it is to apply it. I think I see a growing desire for better immediacy and intimacy in real-time playing. Its like a natural rebalancing of the tyranny of step-sequencers. I have 2 workstations and I love what they offer, but they'd mean less without a few softsynths to enhance them. Synthesis is by definition the process of building a useful hybrid from several discrete elements. I leave a few hazy possible lacks or bits of GAS where they are, because a few rough edges are good for your resourcefulness. NOT having Instant Everything at hand is part of what brings out my best in a clench. A solution you build over 3 days usually trumps one that came with only a change of preset. With more generous sample RAM, I could do it all with a Kronos, but I'd still be missing out on several flavors I find appealing. I could never expect to see Alchemy as hardware and I'd miss the ready drag-&-drop of building a project in Logic. I started out transfixed by the piano, so I'm always using a central keyboard, but I took a long path to get from "just" a workstation to my orderly little octopus of a rig. I can't imagine giving any of it up, including the workstations. Its my Phantom pit, from which I cackle and hold forth. That is why you will always see a few workstations about. Its a universe to a newbie and a welcome way to focus for more seasoned players. Real men LIKE playing "Science, Bitches!" "I like that rapper with the bullet in his nose!" "Yeah, Bulletnose! One sneeze and the whole place goes up!" ~ "King of the Hill" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 A solution you build over 3 days usually trumps one that came with only a change of preset. Well said! When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I heard Casio and Nord, in a joint venture, will begin offering Privias in RED for 4 times the price. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogaddict Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I'd love to see hardware boards like those from the mid 1990:s, but with modern specs and lighter materials. I know many artists are relying heavily on tracks today, but I believe most of that stuff could be done live if we had more control power in our keyboards. The PC3 series is the current pinnacle of midi control, and they are basically 6 years old... I love the sounds in my Kronos, but I find a whole new potential in it when I control it from my PC3. Also, I'd love to see the rack return. Imagine 1 u models with iPad control, powerful, lightweight, flyable and with an iPad as programmer/control surface... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DulceLabs.com Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I heard Casio and Nord, in a joint venture, will begin offering Privias in RED for 4 times the price. http://images.miretail.com/products/optionLarge/Casio/DV016_Jpg_Large_1379343500845_G.jpg . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Verelst Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 It's quite possible to stack a hard-line audio Linux on a fast SSD with some screen connected to it, etc. It's the whole design, of the software, the speed of the relevant interfaces and the special boards that make the "pc" architecture machines interesting. Apart from cooling fans etc, this could also be done with a heavier motherboard (and supply), with low startup times, open interfaces, strong sound cards with whole machines on it, etc. Some of the Open Source efforts are very usable in practice to create more interesting and varied machines with new technology than specialist digital synth building allows for, but there's like a demand it mustn't be yet another sampler, because that's boring. Various kinds of (actually) heavy signal processing is where it is at, not mofo-ing about a few details or presuming "romplers are everything". Great amplification and good basic sounds even like musically varied piano sounds are still a long technological way to go, unless you settle for sh*tty and bleak sounds in comparison, I'm pretty sure. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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