From aevett1@yahoo.com Tue Feb 28 18:00:31 2006
Subject:Re: Clone Wheel Recommendation for Classic Rock

First of all: Welcome to the CloneWheel group. This is
as great bunch of folks, always willing to help
out...
I'm casting my opinion with the majority, by saying
that the solution will likely involve more than one
sound source/instrument. Like Tony from "Hello Dave"
(my fellow midwest player), I've owned/tried out more
gear than I could keep track of. At first, I thought
that a Roland VR-760 might be the ticket; but, the
need to fly in samples and have in depth synthesis
scratched that idea...Granted, it's a powerful
instrument - with the current Roland VK clonewheel
engine on-board (plus 76 waterfall keys and drawbars);
and the synth section can be quite powerful,
sonically, if one adds the Studio Essentials SRX
expansion to the mix. But, compared to the Motif ES,
Fantom XR and Triton Extreme - true synthesizer
programmability/flexibility is lacking in the VR-760.
You could use it is a your keyboard, though - and add
a Fantom XR...

I sold my VR-760 about a year ago, and picked up a
Korg Triton Extreme 76; then went internet shopping
for a Roland VK-8M. And that combination as my 'second
tier' has covered the bases quite well - in a variety
of musical situations. So, to stay on budget, you
might consider a Triton Extreme 61 with the VK-8M...
Of course, you've heard a lot of praise for the Motif
ES in these emails, and rightly so. I've got to have
that soundset in my rig, as well. So, like Tony, my
'first tier' is Motif based: I use a Yamaha S90 ES.

The second tier options I referred to are likely to
push hard on the budget you've set: If you buy all
new, you could end up over budget. I don't think you
can lose with Tony's suggestion of the Nord Electro 61
in combination with the Fantom XR; though I don't own
either, but they're both world class electronic
instruments - I've experimented with many an Electro
in music stores, and have used the Fantom XR in a
couple of recording situations. Phenomenal piece, but
I still get a lot out of my XV-5080...
These days, you almost can't lose - with all the great
gear out there. So, try some of these different
pieces; see what sounds good to you...We'll be waiting
to hear what you come up with. And if you've got more
questions: just ask.

Allan

BTW: I'm with Tony and Bruce on the 'software thing'.
I heartily agree, being a NI B4 owner....

--- njkeysman88 wrote:

> This is my first post. I'm thrilled to find this
> group and would
> like your opinions.
>
> After 30 years of not playing, I'm back playing my
> keys again. I
> play in a Classic Rock cover band. I already have a
> Roland 300SX 88
> key weighted keyboard for my piano sounds and I need
> a second
> keyboard.
>
> Here's what I'm looking for:
> 1) Good classic organ sounds, B3 variations etc,
> with leslie sounds
> ability
> 2) Good synthesizer sounds, the ability to shape the
> sounds and
> modify them.
> 3) The ability to add more sounds via samples etc
> 5) The ability to call up sounds I've saved quickly
> at a gig.
> 6) Relative ease of use. I like to layer sounds,
> split the keyboard
> etc during rehersals if we're doing a new song and I
> need a new
> sounds quickly.
> 7) Not too heavy for gigging.
> A keyboard that wont be replaced a month after I
> buy it.
>
> I know many of you on here have heavier gear, double
> manual etc but
> I've found that for me, if its much over 40bs, I'm
> going to have
> problems lugging it to practices and gigs.
>
> I've considered the Roland Fantom 7, Motif ES7, now
> the Triton
> Extreme 76 and I've toyed with the idea of a
> Kurzweil. I've ruled
> out the Fantom because its sounds sound a lot like
> my Roland 300sx.
>
> I've also had someone sell me hard on the idea of
> using software
> like B4-II and others on my laptop and use a midi
> controller for all
> the sounds I want.
>
> Give me your opinions guys, I'm driving myself crazy
> tyring to make
> this decision. At about $2500 its a lot of money to
> spend on my next
> board, i want to do the right thing.
>
> Any opinions will be most gratefully and graciously
> received.
>
> Thank you Everyone!!
>

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