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synthguy, you are no doubt listening to too much Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. Nevertheless, this discussion should probably go in the Off Topic forum.

Synthguy,

from Sharp:
Banned topics of conversation on the forums
1: No Religion.
2: No Politics.

I'm curious as to whether people think Korg will introduce an M3 replacement. It seems to me that there's quite a gap between the $1000 Krome and $3000 Kronos. I could see a line based more on the Krome than the Kronos, but with full sampling and perhaps streaming sampling from SSD. Add some synth capabilities like the M3. A more pro version of the Krome with the keybeds from the Kronos.

I also think the SV-1 will get a refresh with at least the APs/EPs from the Krome and perhaps more.

Busch.

Woops... sorry, I'll go back and edit. But, no, I'm listening to business news and looking at mobs rioting in Europe, and I know why.

As for busch's post... I'm not sure on that. Yamaha has the flagship Motif and the more affordable MOX with nothing in-between. If the M3/50/80 are still selling, I suspect KORG will let that ride. If it isn't, I think the Ms will be discontinued and Krome will fill the gap. They could produce a Krome II, a VA based on AL-1 with the Legacy modeled filters, and an SV-2. But I have a feeling that they don't want to dilute their market too much because of the other factors I mentioned in my previous post, and will offer a smaller list of more focused targets, and so if you want the big enchilada, they will channel you to Kronos to boost its sales.

I strikes me that the only adventurous manufacturer out there is Korg. They seem to have tried to cover all bases from the fun to the serious pro gear. From the Monotrons to the Kornos. Microkorgs, Monotribes, plus a slew of other great and exciting prices. Korg also has it's pricing so well figured out that it makes it almost impossible to say no to something that can help you musically and most importantly, in a fun way.

I have to admit that I'm more than a bit biased here. My first synth was a Korg and I've had several of them over the last 4 decades. I used to own a Yamaha DX-7 and yes, I did program it although I found that to be tedious at best. I still have 2 Roland U-20's and do use them because I like the sounds and find them easy to use. However most Yamaha and Roland gear I find to be, well, just awkward to program. It is probably just me but I "get" the Korg system. Pretty much my main gripe with the Kronos boils down to the GUI with Mod-7 and AL-1. I want and need to see knobs! I need a visual interface like the ones that I get with the Polysix and MS-20.

As far as what are the others doing, I have to say I really didn't hear very much from our community about Dave Smith's amazing machines or Tom Oberheim's either.
I have to say that I hope these guys are quietly plugging away in their shops, burning the candles at both ends in the hopes that they come up with something that blows everybody right out of the water.

As the Fantom series is definitely due for an update, I expect to see a workstation series called the Integra. It would be based on what's in the Integra module but with the addition of sampling and sequencing to provide a complete workstation. Will be interesting to see if they go the streaming from SSD or flash route.

Busch.

synthguy wrote:I think a Roland megasynth, while extirely possible and feasible, won't happen for a few years yet. What's more likely to me is an Integra-80 with something like Sonar built in, and a nice touch screen or mouse, kbd and monitor ports.

To follow up on my post, I think this is highly likely. Maybe not with monitor, mouse and kbd ports, but it depends. They have provided such PC-like support before in other units.

The Kronos is very appealing as an all-in-one studio solution. Roland might possibly wedgie in an SSD with gigastreaming technology like Kronos has, but their sample ROMs are outstanding, and have been viable and musically useful for more than a decade.

I think an ideal compromise might be for Roland to provide a potential Integra-80 with a pair of combo jacks with phantom power for stereo mic or line input, and then give the keyboard either Firewire or USB 2 or 3 ports, and let you buy the hard drive of your choice, or record to flash drive. Because hard drive capacity increases steadily over time, I'm always mindful that instruments with built in drives will be superseded within months by larger, perhaps even faster drives. And not much is faster than an SSD. Built in drives are great, but if Roland goes this route, they had better be good capacity to start with, or easily user upgradable.

Not sure what the future brings for any of the big three makers, but for me I am very upset that my now only choice for a non-weighted keybed is 61 notes with the Kronos.

It appears that Yamaha and Roland are still both offering 76 key units ie: JP-50/80 and Motif XF-7. I don't want just the Krome technology I want what's in the Kronos, and to me it's going to really be hard to go back to 61 keys when I've been playing 76 keys since my Roland XP-80.
Since my XP-80 started it all for me, I had a Triton Studio 76 and now I'm looking to replace my Triton EX76 and Roland VR-760.

I don't see the reasoning behind Korgs decision to change to 73 keys???
AND make them weighted!
Anyway, that's all I want to see from my old friend Korg.....76 keys UNWEIGHTED....low E to high G

Paul

The Kore 64 sounds interesting but it would have perhaps been better for Kurzweil to bring out 2 expansions at the one time:

1 that caters for the more electronic end of the market with all the new synth and electronic drum samples etc.

The other that caters for the more acoustic side with those much improved sax, electric guitar and drums but also vastly improving the (in this day and age) rather lucklustre acoustic guitar and electric bass programs in the PC series.

Oh hang on... this is Korgforums not Kurzweil forums! LOLOL

I have some "news" in this front I guess. For Roland though its been a while since I got this news and they might have changed since. BUT last I heard they were doing a few things with there new synth.

First thing is apparently they are thinking of not making the new flagship workstation a Fantom series keyboard. They are thinking of starting a new name for their new workstation and the Fantom name will be put to rest. Oh and that means a new look too, sort of new interface.

2nd! I was told they plan to differentiate themselves with there new workstation. This would be with a focus on psychical modeling or what roland like to call "supernatual". How It was explained to me was, mastering psychical modeling would allow them to skip over what has becoming mainstream now, big sample library's. psychical modeling is what they have been focusing on and plan to do so.

Another thing is they are trying to get all of their virtual instruments on to the keyboard. So things like Z3TA+, Rapture and Dimension Pro.

Last thing that they were debating on was to keep all of there legacy stuff from the JV series and Fantom Series in the keyboard or as a add-on or not in there at all.

Now I should make it clear, this is not a list of things that will be the next roland workstation. This was just information I got at a certain point in there R&D process. You might be wondering, where on earth am I getting this info from? Well let me just say this person told me about the AX-Synth an entire year and a half before it was announced. For those looking other signs of a new workstation. Consider this, rolands newest catalogues don't have any of the Fantom Series keyboards in them. Also my friend who works at sam ash says they cant order anymore from roland.

Now, what do I think of all this?

Personally I would be very sad if they didnt leave all the legacy stuff on there. I mean, yeah I could sample it but I would rather not.

Their virtual instruments in the keyboard? That would be pretty awesome! but I can see that be challenging for them to pull off. Hmmm now that I think about it maybe the new UI is a form or Sonar ? That would be really cool!

As for psychical modeling it is the logical next step all keyboards will eventually go to after sample (at least at some point or other). So if roland can get it right and sounding great (like there V-Synth and V-synth) then I would probably be happy with that!


What I have heard from Kurzweil? They have been working on their K3000 keyboard workstation for a while (2-3 years I think) and apparently are still NOT ready to show it off. Really unfortunate, wanted to check that out this NAMM.

Yamaha? Have not heard a thing. I dont think they will be showing off a new workstation yet though.

Long post >.> sorry about that!

Last thing that they were debating on was to keep all of there legacy stuff from the JV series and Fantom Series in the keyboard or as a add-on or not in there at all.

Isn't the Integra all the old JV sounds? In that case, they have already moved legacy to one side and can concentrate on new synthesis. This supernatural might be great but they waste it on acoustic instruments - physical modelling of all of old x0x boxes would interest a percentage of people who have no interest in the Jupiter right now. (hint, that me, for one)

B

LivePsy wrote:

Last thing that they were debating on was to keep all of there legacy stuff from the JV series and Fantom Series in the keyboard or as a add-on or not in there at all.

Isn't the Integra all the old JV sounds? In that case, they have already moved legacy to one side and can concentrate on new synthesis. This supernatural might be great but they waste it on acoustic instruments - physical modelling of all of old x0x boxes would interest a percentage of people who have no interest in the Jupiter right now. (hint, that me, for one)

B

Well you will be happy to know that when this new workstation comes out that it WILL have physical modelling of at least a 303 box and pretty much ALL of rolands legendary synths of the past.

How do I know this? Well, because roland has already released the first volume of these as a FREE sound library update for the Jupiter series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... T4_sGgtKGM

http://www.rolandus.com/go/jupiter-80/

I can only assume that these would come on a new roland workstation too.

Oh and as for the integra, yeah it is all of there legacy stuff but I want to be able to use it all live, not just in the studio.

I couldn't help laughing at this marketing hype on the Integra webpage:-

The newly created SFX kits offer a variety of stunningly realistic sounds, such as car crash, door slam, footsteps, birds, river, and more. Great for film scoring, some of the effects offer real-time control.

OK, its got GM. Wow.
B

LivePsy wrote:I couldn't help laughing at this marketing hype on the Integra webpage:-

The newly created SFX kits offer a variety of stunningly realistic sounds, such as car crash, door slam, footsteps, birds, river, and more. Great for film scoring, some of the effects offer real-time control.

OK, its got GM. Wow.
B

LOL I never noticed that part on there page!