Cheap Ateliers

[toneh_UK]

Have just looked at the Krazy sale on Whitley Bay, they have a few interesting deals going

An At80R for £1299 seems a good price, they also have an AT20S is only £299 i am tempted

Trouble is i have a Tyros3

Does any one on this board have any views about the organ sounds - CHurch and Theatre on these organs compared to Tyros , i am currently using the Tyros often with Registick Organs and Theatre sounds of the Ateliers

I know the Tyros excels on Superarticualtion solo voices and styles but was thinking of maybe either downgrading to S900 or getting say a Ketron expander

Also what is the sound sytem like on these organs i currently using a £100 Logitech system with a sub woofer and the sound is superb , just wondering what sound quality would be if output is routed through hese organs?

[andyg]

Did you play organ before keyboard? If not, be aware that the playing styles are rather different. You can (and should!) dispense with all the automatics and play an organ completely manually, with both hands and feet. Playing an organ in keyboard style is a bit of a waste, IMHO.

So, if organ is new to you, and if you have the space, take a punt on the small one for £299 to see how you get on. If you do, then you could probably trade that organ back in for around the same money against something bigger.

The organ sounds on Rolands take some beating, especially on the newer and larger ones. Flutes are Lowrey, Drawbar organ is Hammond, with good leslie simulation. Classical and Theatre pipe sounds come courtesy of Rodgers organs.

Amps and speakers on the bigger models, like the AT80R are superb. The smaller ones seem a tad under-powered to me, but adding a sub and two satellites really lets you hear what they can do.

If you were to run a Yamaha keyboard through the amps of a bigger Roland you'd hear a bit lift in the sound quality. Smaller ones - not so good.

[toneh_UK]

I started off on organs at about age 9 Yamaha B4BR , i now play the Tyros 3 often like an organ (especially for Church Hymns etc)

I have bought the AT80R!!! and kept hold of my Tyros 3 hopefully the best of both worlds

I would have loved the AT800R (as far as i can make out it would do everything so if i could afford this i might have even dispensed with the Tyros) but will have to wait another 10 Years and get it second hand!

[johng]

One of the worst features of the Roland is that practically everything has to be done from the screen which is somewhat frustrating especially if the variout items you want are not on the samr screen. Surely much better to have registrations etc. selectable from the console. Makes selecting them whilst playing so much easier. 

[Craig]

AT900c has registration buttons on it

[toneh_UK]

The AT80R has 16 registration buttons (a small screen though so will need quite a bit of scrolling for selecting "others" etc)

[toneh_UK]

I notice the midi in port uses GS sound not GM bank , will GS play the right voices etc for midi played say from a midi file loaded in a sequencer on a laptop?

[Craig]

Rolands GS (and Yamaha XG) offer backward compatibility with the GM specification, so your midi files should work. GS and XG were brought out to improve upon the General MIDI Standard. I don't think GS and XG are compatible with each other though? I don't work with recording or playing back as midi, I've always preferred direct audio recording

[andyg]

GS is an extension of GM level 1, as is Yamaha's XG and the later GM level 2. They are downwards compatible and a GS device will play back a GM file (but not vice-versa). IIRC you have the option somwhere for GM/GS playback or playback as an organ - upper 1, lower 2, pedal 3 and lower split 4.

Have loads of fun with the Roland. After some moaning from customers (and me!), one of the revisions from the original 80 to the 80R was an improvement in the way that the 'Others' voices are ordered. It was hit and miss on the 80 but is much better on the 80R.

[toneh_UK]

Thanks, plenty to play around with when it is delivered (probably next week)

I am keeping the Tyros3 for now to see if i can make use of it , and make comparisons etc to see if i can live with out it!

I was thinking of putting the Tyros on top of the organ but at 49 inches high it would half way up the wall probably have to place keyboard alongside organ ... all good fun

[johng]

SWorry about my comments re registrations - yes i agree they have registration buttons it is most of the other features which have to be selected from the screen which tends to be annoying. A few more controls on the console itself would not go amiss.

[richardb9]

Hi Tony,
Dont even think of selling your T3.....I have an Atelier 90SL and love it to bits, and I also have a T2 which I will never part with, except maybe to upgrade to a T3 later. What I would suggest is to get some decent speakers for the T3 so that it is a "stand alone" system rather than play it through an organ. I have a Behringer keyboard amp which I play T2 through, and although this gives plenty of grunt. it is not the perfect solution, so I am looking at getting a Yam.Stagepass 300 or Logitech Z5500 system. I do not do gigs, but I do like a fullish sound when I play.
Richard

[toneh_UK]

Hi Richardb, I decided not to get the AT80R , as it is a bit dated and the Tyros 3 sound quality / functionality is i think far better , i think the AT80R is more akin to the old VA7 keyboard  (AT80 to E500). If i were to get an Atlier it would have to be ATX00 (or SL like yours but these do not have USB), all beyond my budget though

Note: I have been basing sound quality mainly on demos on the web (ones which have been recorded via line in not the poor quality camcording recordings), the Tyros recordings always sounds miles better, i watched a load of Ateliers AT80R range then watched some Tyros ones and thought i must have a Tyros , then realised i already do have one!

(I do have Logitech Z5XXX which cost next to nothing about £100 i think, and i agree the sound quality is excellent) Tony