Workstations vs Arrangers

[kodacolor]

I'm thinking about doing something really crazy for this hobby I have.  I'm thinking about looking into getting a keyboard that will allow me to create full length gospel songs on it.  However, I'm not sure whether I should be looking at workstations or arrangers.  Well, on the Roland site the keyboards are divided into "Workstations" and "Arrangers".  On the Yamaha site they have "Synth Workstations" and "Arranger Workstations".  Which one will fit what I need?

Right now I have a Yamaha DGX520 and it's horrible for what I'm trying to do.  There are only 5 tracks plus one accompaniment track that will only allow you to use the premade accompaniments.  If the song has more than 5 instruments I have to use the registry memory bank to store two instruments and switch instruments at certain times.  If I mess up at any point I have to go back to beginning and start all over.  I can't tell you how many hours I've put into one song, getting one track right that had two instruments.  There have been plenty of times where I've been almost done and forgot a change I made to the song and had to start again. 

I pretty much need a board that will work as a keyboard with a built in music editing suite and let me export on to CDs, MP3s, or WAVs.  If it works with midi that would be great too.  I'm not sure if I want to stick with Yamaha or try Roland.  I guess whatever is the best pick for the best price (which may, almost, knock Roland out of the running.  Lol!)

Recap, I need something that...

 - allows me to do all the work on a song on the board itself

 - allows me to export the song onto the board

 - allows me to save the song on the board and/or on some type of external hard drive (like a jump drive)

 - is not over $2,000

 - does not require me to start all over again if I mess up at a certain point

 - will allow me to use way more than 5 tracks

Wants

 - 88 keys (I'm just more comfortable playing 88-key pianos/keyboards)

 - weighted keys (But I'm not going to be too picky with this.  If it has everything I need, but the keys aren't weighted then that's fine)

...there was more that I wanted to put here but I forgot 


Thanks for your help!

[under13]

If you want 88 keys then you probably will have to get a full size workstation like the motif, fantom or the triton. I know the old triton studio had a built in cd burner, you can find em used.

Have you thought about doing your recording on a computer? for under 2000 you can probably get a macbook pro or an imac and a midi keyboard system + software

I think a motif would be good for you, here is a clip of a guy making a track on the motif

Neo-soul/gospel track

[docjohn]

I think the biggest difference is going to be the sound quality at the price point you mentioned.Take the Motif XS,it's a 2-3k board(bought my XS 6 for 1600)versus the sounds in most arrangers.Unless you step up to the Tyros(which shares some sounds I quess) you're talking a pro-board versus something maybe more appropro for different skill levels;beginners to intermediate.

Look at the general lower quality of construction on like the MM ,arranger etc.,with regards to the keyboard itself.So,at a specific price -features will differ.I don't do a lot as far as recording,but all things considered ;if recording is the PRIMARY focus-the computer platform might be the best way.My Mac has Garage Band which allows you to do a lot track by track.It has some neat instruments and grooves,as well as being able to import some cool 3 rd party stuff.

Might serve you to consider going the software route,lot easier to tote a laptop than an 88 if you want to ever perform.

[musallio]

Very interesting thread- I'd like to see more feedback here..

[floaded27]

im doing the very thing you are doing, but im going the computer/software route. gives me more options. And with MIDI, i can do a lot of post-recording editing. It makes swapping out components of the rec. process as i get better at it and want more options rather than being tied to the board itself.

[betnich]

Ditto on the software - lots of people are using stuff like Reason, ProTools, etc to make their own demos and CD's. I have Logic Express, which goes for about $200. There's a learning curve and money spent on good computer/software, but it's like having your own recording studio - IMO a far better investment than buying the 'latest and greatest' arranger keyboard....

[chevonee]

My question is do you have to have a midi keyboard and specified software in order to go the computer route or could you use a Yamaha MO8 with specified software and still get the same result?

*this is probably a stupid question but I wanna know shoot

[kodacolor]

I'm not sure if I want to go the computer route because right now I want to get a computer for video production and music production.  That will run me $10,000+  Since there's no way I'll be able to get that right now I'd rather just go for the board that can do it all.  If I get a board and a computer I probably won't get a board I'm comfortable with and when I have to ask my parents to help me get the computer I want they'll be like, "Well what's wrong with the one you have?"  Little laptops won't withstand music production and video production at the extent that I want to do them.  Also, as bulky as the programs and the files made from the programs are, I'm sure I'll see the Mac equivalent of the blue screen of death a lot.

[mrmusician]

I did my whole project on motif xs7. I sequenced the song on the motif with a mock drum track.  but I afterwards I dumped it all into protools to record vocals and live drums. but all instrumentation except drums came from the motif. It all turned out great. My songs got put in rotation on a gospel station in a major market.

[betnich]

My question is do you have to have a midi keyboard and specified software in order to go the computer route or could you use a Yamaha MO8 with specified software and still get the same result?

Any (touch sensitive) keyboard will do - the power and the sounds are in the software. Look for a used MO8. Scrimp on the keys and spend on the software.

I'm not sure if I want to go the computer route because right now I want to get a computer for video production and music production.  That will run me $10,000+  Since there's no way I'll be able to get that right now I'd rather just go for the board that can do it all.  If I get a board and a computer I probably won't get a board I'm comfortable with and when I have to ask my parents to help me get the computer I want they'll be like, "Well what's wrong with the one you have?"  Little laptops won't withstand music production and video production at the extent that I want to do them.  Also, as bulky as the programs and the files made from the programs are, I'm sure I'll see the Mac equivalent of the blue screen of death a lot.

For a Mac running audio/video, you need two things - lots of memory and a fast processor. But look for a used Intel-based Mac here...

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?cid=AOS-US-AFFC-CPU

[Lanesa]

Here's a good article on workstations vs arrangers.

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/keyboards/professional-keyboards/buying-guide.php

Lanesa

[Lanesa]

Here's another great article as well.

http://www.know-your-keyboard-piano.com/yamaha-arranger-workstation.html

Lanesa

[sjonathan02]

I'm not sure if I want to go the computer route because right now I want to get a computer for video production and music production.  That will run me $10,000+  Since there's no way I'll be able to get that right now I'd rather just go for the board that can do it all.  If I get a board and a computer I probably won't get a board I'm comfortable with and when I have to ask my parents to help me get the computer I want they'll be like, "Well what's wrong with the one you have?"  Little laptops won't withstand music production and video production at the extent that I want to do them.  Also, as bulky as the programs and the files made from the programs are, I'm sure I'll see the Mac equivalent of the blue screen of death a lot.

Seeing as how this is a 'hobby you have', one would think you would want to go the more inexpensive route (since you don't seem to have any steady stream of cash yourself) and use software.

Or, you're going to have to learn to be MORE flexible than you are currently. Folks have given you plenty of suggestions that'll meet your needs....you just need to find a way to fix your thought(s) towards these suggestions.


If I'm you, I'd check into betnich's/U13's idea of finding a refurbished (read:used ) Mac and use your present keyboard; do all of you editing via the computer and software and save your files on an external hard drive.


Seems simpler, to me. BTW, I'm going to have to look into this myself especially while we don't have a keyboardist. 

[docjohn]

I think you might be wrong Koda about the Mac being insufficient or slow.From what i understand,Mac Excels  for music/video/graphics.That's why i bought an i-Mac.Like SJ and others said;get the InTel chip and lots of memory!!!! Memory is cheap!!!!!

A friend does a LOT of stuff on a Mac tower;complete CD's,projects with pro-tools(I think) and speed/quality etc. have NEVER been an issue live or tracking,Listening to some of his stuff sounds as good as anything you can find/buy.He does it all in house on his Mac;then just runs duplications.

[Lanesa]

Seeing as how this is a 'hobby you have', one would think you would want to go the more inexpensive route (since you don't seem to have any steady stream of cash yourself) and use software.

Or, you're going to have to learn to be MORE flexible than you are currently. Folks have given you plenty of suggestions that'll meet your needs....you just need to find a way to fix your thought(s) towards these suggestions.


If I'm you, I'd check into betnich's/U13's idea of finding a refurbished (read:used ) Mac and use your present keyboard; do all of you editing via the computer and software and save your files on an external hard drive.


Seems simpler, to me. BTW, I'm going to have to look into this myself especially while we don't have a keyboardist. 

I totally Agree, Also, don't forget you don't have to spend $10,000 on a computer, software and keyboard. We use already reburbished and used goods from China (some brand new). We spent about $2000 on a brand new 8 (Gig Memory, 500 Gig hardrive space) Dell Computer for our Video department and found out we could have gotten it less in China. Also, we got the Adobe Creative Suite from there as well. All that is desired can be done for under $3500. This includes the laptop, software and the Keyboard. You just need to know how to negotiate and find get international connections over there.

[Skizo Frene]

I'm not sure if I want to go the computer route because right now I want to get a computer for video production and music production.  That will run me $10,000+  Since there's no way I'll be able to get that right now I'd rather just go for the board that can do it all.  If I get a board and a computer I probably won't get a board I'm comfortable with and when I have to ask my parents to help me get the computer I want they'll be like, "Well what's wrong with the one you have?" 

Little laptops won't withstand music production and video production at the extent that I want to do them.  Also, as bulky as the programs and the files made from the programs are, I'm sure I'll see the Mac equivalent of the blue screen of death a lot.

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to do all you want with a Macbook Pro. 

I've done a lot of research on this (even started a thread on it in the lounge), and the overwhelming verdict is:

You can produce a full-featured, high-quality album on a Macbook Pro.

You can check out these three albums on iTunes to get some understanding of what Logic can do.

Two of the artists are grammy-nominated, and the third album was ranked the 6th best album of the year by Rolling Stone.

[Lanesa]

Hi KodaColor,

See this site for purchase of equipment and a laptop. He has the PSR-S900.

http://www.feijietech.com/product_list.aspx?pcid=70

Lanesa

[Lanesa]

OR purchase it from here.

http://evergobiz.en.alibaba.com/search/product?IndexArea=product_en&SearchText=yamaha