From den121961@yahoo.com Mon Oct 21 05:55:16 2013
Subject:RE: Question about Roland VR-09 & Hammond SK1

Gene, I have both. I don't delve into midi that much so I can't answer that one, but as far as the first goes, there's a difference between presets and favorites on the SK, you can store 100 presets on the SK, the favorites are just quicker to get to under your fingers fast. I actually find the SK quicker to get to sounds in, the VR you have to do a few button presses, the SK I have the banks of presets loaded up so I go to the rhodes favorite, and if I twist the value knob after hitting the favorite I can sweep through all my rhodeses, so even though it's only 10, it's actually quicker if you set it up right. The VR you have to pick a bank, then a preset. I'm slower at that (although I admittedly use the SK more so I know it better).
Bottom line, they both have great organ sounds, but the SK feels way more playable to me with the keys and drawbars. The no pitch bend is something to consider though if you do use a lot of synth, and also no portamento on the SK. The SK has some nice sounds as far as synth goes, but not having the bender makes it unplayable for me for the most part. On the other hand the SK's sounds are way better to my ear on a lot of things (like deep strings, rhodes, clav, etc.)
What's really cool is I have both so with a two tiered stand you can bring both and be under the weight of your roland.


---In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, wrote:

HI Everyone. I'm still deciding between a Roland VR-09 and a Hammond SK1 to go with my Kronos X61. I currently use a Roland VR-760 for Organ and other Synth type sounds (limited but it works). But the VR-760 is getting to heavy for this back to carry.

So a couple questions to you owners of these two rigs.
1) How many favorites can you save? (SK1 I heard 10. That's a bit limiting for me)
2) Is there an easy way to activate MIDI on the keybaord so if for one song I wanted it to play sounds off my Kronos, can I do that relatively quickly or is it many button pushes if it can be done at all.

I guess I'd also consider the same questions about the Nord 4D. I haven't been able to find out by looking in the manuals athough I've not taked a deep dive in them, just read the basics. Your experience and knowledge would be helpful.

Thanks,
Gene