I was wondering if anyone on the boards has or has worked with some of the workstation keyboards that are around. As some of you know I have been looking at software to try to rebuild a studio, and I have tried just about everything, with nothing really working right for me. With the cost of most of the software I am thinking it might just be more economical if I look at one of the workstations. I think I may have just turned into a hardware person for good it seems.
So I am sort of looking into the different workstation keyboards around to perhaps bridge the live/studio rig together. When I record tracks now I like to actually trigger all of my tracks live to bring them in and out of the mix. Not arrange them and hit play for rendering as I would with software studio.
Would one of the workstation keyboards have the ability to fit in with a style like that? Are their sequencers capable of manually bringing tracks in and out easily or are they structured more like software these days where you have to basically write out the entire song and arrangment and then just hit play to let it run through?
Need Advice from "Workstation" Owners: i.e. Fantom/Motif/etc
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- KVRAF
- 4229 posts since 9 Apr, 2003 from Right here, in front of my computer...
Er, probably no-one could understand what you are asking...
Most sequencers pretty much work the same way these days, and let the user decide how they want to work. If you want to just loop an 8 bar section and mute/unmute parts on the fly, you can do that. If you want to work linear (tape-recorder style) you can do that.
Most sequencers pretty much work the same way these days, and let the user decide how they want to work. If you want to just loop an 8 bar section and mute/unmute parts on the fly, you can do that. If you want to work linear (tape-recorder style) you can do that.
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- KVRist
- 86 posts since 13 Feb, 2007 from Israel
I own a recent Korg workstation (Korg Karma), which runs on Triton engine.
Most of more or less modern Korgs have a feature called 'real time pattern play'. It allows realtime triggering of pre-programmed patterns (midi patterns), each pattern is single-timbral (contains one track only) but you can assign multiple patterns on different tracks to same key and trigger them all at once. there are all kind of options avaiable - patterns can be tempo-synced, looped, played only while key is hold, or triggered tu run forever (until sequencer stops).
More advanced Korgs, like Triton Extreme, can record audio phrases from it
's analog/digital inputs, and these can be later triggered in same way.
Actually, sequencer inside workstation is virtually identical to computer ones, like Cubase or Sonar, but with very limited audio features. For example, Tritons dont actually have audio tracks, only phrases which act like single events. I may be wrong, as I never really used Triton Extreme or studio. I think Studio might allow audio tracks to be used.
Anyway, working with workstation's sequencer through it's small screen and buttons is less intuitive and quick compared to computer screens and mouse.
You can mute/unmute tracks on the fly, and even control their volumes in real time, especially if you'll get some inexpensive midi control panel with assignable sliders and buttons.
You might try to combine things - get a workstation for many easily acessible onboard sounds, which can be called-up instantly without loading times, crashes and eating up CPU, and rugged, portable constuction, and use it with a laptop acting as midi sequencer, for sake of comfortable graphical representation of what's going on.
I cant advice on any workstation beside Korg family, but my Karma has some nice sounds, except maybe for acoustic pianos (still good enough for live setting, unless you are playing jass/classical, where piano is in center of attention)
It also has cool intelligent arpegiator (4 of them, actually), responding to your playing, and changing dynamicly, with more than 1000 patterns for every insturemt you need. cool stuff, although I dont use them - there's no place for arps in my stule of music.
Most of more or less modern Korgs have a feature called 'real time pattern play'. It allows realtime triggering of pre-programmed patterns (midi patterns), each pattern is single-timbral (contains one track only) but you can assign multiple patterns on different tracks to same key and trigger them all at once. there are all kind of options avaiable - patterns can be tempo-synced, looped, played only while key is hold, or triggered tu run forever (until sequencer stops).
More advanced Korgs, like Triton Extreme, can record audio phrases from it
's analog/digital inputs, and these can be later triggered in same way.
Actually, sequencer inside workstation is virtually identical to computer ones, like Cubase or Sonar, but with very limited audio features. For example, Tritons dont actually have audio tracks, only phrases which act like single events. I may be wrong, as I never really used Triton Extreme or studio. I think Studio might allow audio tracks to be used.
Anyway, working with workstation's sequencer through it's small screen and buttons is less intuitive and quick compared to computer screens and mouse.
You can mute/unmute tracks on the fly, and even control their volumes in real time, especially if you'll get some inexpensive midi control panel with assignable sliders and buttons.
You might try to combine things - get a workstation for many easily acessible onboard sounds, which can be called-up instantly without loading times, crashes and eating up CPU, and rugged, portable constuction, and use it with a laptop acting as midi sequencer, for sake of comfortable graphical representation of what's going on.
I cant advice on any workstation beside Korg family, but my Karma has some nice sounds, except maybe for acoustic pianos (still good enough for live setting, unless you are playing jass/classical, where piano is in center of attention)
It also has cool intelligent arpegiator (4 of them, actually), responding to your playing, and changing dynamicly, with more than 1000 patterns for every insturemt you need. cool stuff, although I dont use them - there's no place for arps in my stule of music.
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- KVRAF
- 16859 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
I tend to disagree on the "economical" part...Sup909 wrote:With the cost of most of the software I am thinking it might just be more economical if I look at one of the workstations.
A workstation like a Triton or Motif will set you back about $2000.
Obviously you haven't looked into the cheaper (but nevertheless highy respected) hosts:
Kristal is free.
EnergyXT costs €39.
Reaper costs $40.
Podium costs $90.
Tracktion costs $130.
With the saved money you can buy a bunch of commercial VST synths or sample packs.
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
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- KVRist
- 86 posts since 13 Feb, 2007 from Israel
ok, let's count what's cheaper.
I've let's say Korg Triton 61 is $2000.
Now, the PC rig:
Brand name laptop: $1500 (and it's not IBM or Apple - these will be more expensive)
Sound interface: $100-200, depending on your needs
Controller keyboard, 61 keys, with quality keybed, and USB connector - $200
Let's say we've got bundled Cubase or similar DAW with one of the products (for example, I've got Cubase LE with my Lexicon Alpha)
still missing - decent sampler module with bread and butter libraries, I dont know how much will it cost.
I doubt that computer route is cheaper..For instance, my PC rig is more expensive than my Korg, even not counting any software
I've let's say Korg Triton 61 is $2000.
Now, the PC rig:
Brand name laptop: $1500 (and it's not IBM or Apple - these will be more expensive)
Sound interface: $100-200, depending on your needs
Controller keyboard, 61 keys, with quality keybed, and USB connector - $200
Let's say we've got bundled Cubase or similar DAW with one of the products (for example, I've got Cubase LE with my Lexicon Alpha)
still missing - decent sampler module with bread and butter libraries, I dont know how much will it cost.
I doubt that computer route is cheaper..For instance, my PC rig is more expensive than my Korg, even not counting any software
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- KVRist
- 86 posts since 13 Feb, 2007 from Israel
I personally think the best ways is having some of both worlds - H/W instuments, mixers, processing, for the feel, and software DAW with unlimited tracks.
One more plus in having H/W synth - you can just sit down, dial piano patch and jam, come up with songs, without loading your daw, waiting for everything to load.
One more plus in having H/W synth - you can just sit down, dial piano patch and jam, come up with songs, without loading your daw, waiting for everything to load.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 44 posts since 1 Mar, 2004
BertKoor wrote:I tend to disagree on the "economical" part...Sup909 wrote:With the cost of most of the software I am thinking it might just be more economical if I look at one of the workstations.
A workstation like a Triton or Motif will set you back about $2000.
Obviously you haven't looked into the cheaper (but nevertheless highy respected) hosts:
Kristal is free.
EnergyXT costs €39.
Reaper costs $40.
Podium costs $90.
Tracktion costs $130.
With the saved money you can buy a bunch of commercial VST synths or sample packs.
I am a Mac user so some of those are immdiately knocked off. I have demo'd many and they just don't click with me.