My absolute requirements are a compact/small footprint (i.e., no rack units or keyboard versions) that I can shove into the tiny space under one of my monitors. Something about the size of a Korg NS5R or smaller would work and older (i.e., cheap) ROMplers are fine. Before anybody suggests an E-mu Command Station, I've owned a few of them and they're much bigger than I have space for, unforunately. Something with MIDI over USB would be preferable, but not a dealmaker/breaker. Again, my main requirement is a diverse range of EP sounds. I mostly want lots of presets to use for getting ideas started, so I don't need a lot of front panel access or hands-on editing as long as there are a lot of good presets to choose from. I'd also love to have some decent acoustic piano sounds for sketching out ideas, but that's less important and I'd ultimately replace them with Kontakt, Keyscape, etc. parts in my DAW anyway.
Some of the items I'm starting to look at are the Korg NS5R, Yamaha MU80, Roland SC-55mkII, maybe a Ketron SD40, etc. Anybody have experience with any of these, or recommendations for similar ones to look at (or avoid)? Anyone know of something similar that is even smaller? TIA!
If I do find one, my search will be likely be over.
