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Compact, Budget Synth/ROMpler


allan_evett

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Looking for thoughts on a lightweight, 2nd tier keyboard to use on gigs (rock/pop/country,etc...). I was planning on a Wave 2 (VA, w/sample memory), but budget realities dictate a change - at least for the remainder of the year. Have tried my Prologue with iPad/module to add in ROMpler stuff; that did not work - too much 'fiddling' for stage use. Just want to plug n' play.

 

Still would like to get the Wave 2, but need to wait until a house sells - likely to close on or about mid December. So this 'board might be temporary, then again other expenses could come up.

 

I had use of a Roland VR-09 for a church gig, 2018-2020; still have the editor app. Also liked the Korg Kross 2, 61 when I used one briefly in 2019. What other recommendations might any of you have in a lightweight, quick and easy keyboard for sitting above a Stage 3 76? Not looking to go the controller into the Stage 3 route (as a MIDI sound module). Want something that can also be a lightweight, back-up (or rehearsal) instrument.

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If you're looking for something rompler-ish (like the Kross and the Module app) as opposed to something synth-ish (like the Wave and Prologue), then my pick for a lightweight budget model (up to about a grand) would be Roland Juno DS61 (or DS76). VR09 gives you better synth and better organ, but you've got that in the NS3, and Juno is better in many other ways.

 

Kross and Juno DS are competitive with each other. I prefer the Roland for its smoother patch transitions, availble separate volume/octave controls for the sounds on either side of a split, ability to load custom keyboard-playable samples, and what is probably a slightly better action. (Korg is smaller/lighter, has better sequencer, has better ability to integrate external sounds.)

 

Roland AX-Edge could be another possibility with a very different set of advantages... it gives you compatibility with Roland's Zencore envinroment, and it has aftertouch, and you could use it as a keytar if and when you ever want to.

 

If your budget is a bit higher, than some of the other boards mentioned also come into play.

Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)

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Elmer nailed the choices. :thu:

 

Korg Kross has sample capability. Roland Juno DS-61 can import samples.

 

Similarly, Roland FA-06 has direct sampling capability and pads to trigger them.

 

Yamaha MODX6 has sample import capability and a soundset that covers any gig. :cool:

PD

 

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy"

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Korg Kross has sample capability. Roland Juno DS-61 can import samples.

 

Similarly, Roland FA-06 has direct sampling capability and pads to trigger them.

 

Yamaha MODX6 has sample import capability

Juno DS and MODX6 permit custom keyboard-playable pitch-stretched multisamples. Kross and FA-06 sample functions are intended for triggering one-shots from pads. So, different fuctionalities, despite all falling into the sample management feature category, broadly speaking.

Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)

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Thanks all, for the suggestions so far. I have a MODX 8 in my home workspace; duplicating that in a 61 is tempting - though a little more than I wanted to spend. The VR-09 does have a lot of Stage 3 design duplication, though having TWish organs for backup might help. I like the Kross 2s' larger palette of tones, and there is a pretty useful set of sounds from Daniel Fisher (including some suprisingly good TW organ coverage). A student of mine had a Juno DS - which I helped program a few years back, so I want to give that one another listen. The AX-Edge is a fun idea; ZEN-core is massive...

 

Coming from a Prologue, which I wish had a couple handfuls of practical, gigging tones (hence the Wave 2 idea), I have entertained picking up a lightly used or new-on-sale KingKorg. Are any of you using one of those? I owned an original briefly in 2015 (IIRC it was received in a trade...). Didn't gig it, nor play it that much; so I don't recall that much about it.

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Coming from a Prologue, which I wish had a couple handfuls of practical, gigging tones (hence the Wave 2 idea), I have entertained picking up a lightly used or new-on-sale KingKorg. Are any of you using one of those? I owned an original briefly in 2015 (IIRC it was received in a trade...). Didn't gig it, nor play it that much; so I don't recall that much about it.

I think KK is a particularly nice sounding VA synth, and has enough of the bread and butter rompler sounds that you can probably get by if you're not too demanding in that department. Downsides are the action quickly gets very stiff as you move to the back of the keys, and the interface is irritating once you get past the handful of things they've made quickly available from the front panel controls. There was a great iPad app called Patch Morpher which let you do some other cool things with it, but last I checked, it hadn't been updated to run on current versions of iOS.

Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)

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That's right: The KK was an above average VA, but the action was funky - and not in a good way. The model I tried was the original (the 'champaign jam' color scheme). Did the new version - in black - have an improved action?

 

Meanwhile, I've been leaning toward the Kross 2 61 for now.

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MX49 is another nice board, certainly one of the smalle/lightest and best-priced possibilities. Very minimal sound editing on-board, but you can get a computer based editor if need be. It is strictly sample-based, so in that respect, it falls into the same category as the Kross and Juno DS.

Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)

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I've never heard anything about improved action in any version of of the boards that have used that action (Kross 61, Krome 61, King Korg). AFAIK, the KK has changed nothing but color.

Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-)

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I own a MX61 as a upper board and double-duty midi controller for my PC4. It's a good contender if you use a lot of pads, acoustic/electric/synth basses, synth comp patches, or brass in particular. Not much in way of editing or patch management but it's a fair board soundwise if you like the Yamaha sound. It's not as polished sounding as the MOXF/DX/Motif/Montage due to only having a single insert effect per voice and the chorus and reverb being global, but it works.

 

Otherwise the Juno DS is my second recommendation. I'm not hugely fond of the Kross. The MX has the best action of the bunch, but none of them are exactly high-grade.

Yamaha: Motif XF8, MODX7, YS200, CVP-305, CLP-130, YPG-235, PSR-295, PSS-470 | Roland: Fantom 7, JV-1000

Kurzweil: PC3-76| Hammond: SK Pro 73 | Korg: Triton LE 76, N1R, X5DR | Emu: Proteus/1 | Casio: CT-370 | Novation: Launchkey 37 MK3 | Technics: WSA1R

Former: Emu Proformance Plus & Mo'Phatt, Korg Krome 61, Roland Fantom XR & JV-1010, Yamaha MX61, Behringer CAT, Kurzweil PC4 (88)

Assorted electric & acoustic guitars and electric basses | Roland TD-17 KVX | Alesis SamplePad Pro | Assorted organs, accordions, other instruments

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On the subject of the KK, I"ve been gigging one regularly since 2013.

 

It"s great at what it does - the VA capability is truly excellent.

 

However the rompler sounds are poor. I doubt many here would be satisfied with the stock piano and organ sounds. I"m not particularly fussy in that regard and I find them unacceptable.

 

The action is the same cheap Krome/Kross 61 action that volumes have been written about. It did not change when they upgraded the colour from vomit to black.

 

I"ve never found the action a problem for VA use but it is not exciting to play piano on.

 

My summary - great VA, terrible rompler. I"m not an expert on the alternatives mentioned but I think you"d be better served poking around in the FA/DS/Kross direction if you want a cheap second tier 'Jack of all trades' board.

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When I read Nord Wave 2 with sample memory, I thought there might be a need to load and trigger samples. If so, neither the KingKorg nor Yamaha MX will do it.

 

However, if the goal is merely having sample-based sounds, any one of the budget-friendly options will suffice especially as a chief 2nd KB in a gig rig. :cool:

PD

 

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy"

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When I read Nord Wave 2 with sample memory, I thought there might be a need to load and trigger samples. If so, neither the KingKorg nor Yamaha MX will do it.

 

However, if the goal is merely having sample-based sounds, any one of the budget-friendly options will suffice especially as a chief 2nd KB in a gig rig. :cool:

 

 

Yep, just need a solid variety of sample-based sounds. Kross 2, 61 inbound today. Cleary budget-friendly, but respectable soundwise.

'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo.

 

We need a barfing cat emoticon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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