Keyboards for Latin music - which do you prefer and why?

[ozrivera]

Saludos Hermanos

Ive been looking around for a keyboard workstation. but so many to chose from and loaded with features which i dont know if i will ever need.
most latin groups around here are using the ROLAND JUNO-G, but i wanted to get your opinion on features and on quality of other keyborad workstations.
is there a mainstream keyboard workstation that is more prevalant than all other keyboards for latin music?

please share your experiences
*ease of use
*quality of sound
*navigation
*live or recording
*durability-road worthiness
*whatever you can think of

thanks in advanced for help

suave

Oz

[Tonio]

Hola OZ!,

what is your budget? Workstations can get up there $$$1000 For the Juno. I've seen the Korg T61 around a bit, but have not used it myself. They are around $1K.

I tend to go with just a controller and use DAW/VI's-which isn't good for gigging, but then again I'm a percussionist and don't claim to be a keyboardist.

T

[ozrivera]

Saludos Hermanos

Tonio
thats about my limit, 1k. i don want to get too complex. something i can pick up and run with it, out the box.
there's not that many people in my area that can play Afro-cuban-caribbean music. therefor MIDI's do wonders to fill in the gaps. need some tools to arrange, record and playback music without getting too complex. im not a big fan of playing with MIDI's but, the show must go on when can you cant find someone to play a part on a gig.

im not a keyboardist either but, looks like ill be learning to at least use one. :;):

i IMHO i beleive that having one and knowing how to use it can give you flexibiltiy and open more windows.
i think theres a lot of benefits to having one.

suave
Oz

[Tonio]

Oz,

I see what you're going for now. Its too bad there isn't some kind of beat box for piano eh? There are a few for bass &drums, but I don't know any for piano/keys.
With a workstation keyboard all in one deal . it might be the best bet. Of course you'll need to feed it the piano parts for a cohesive tune situation. Couldn't you import a song MIDI file to play back? Should do the trick.
At least the Juno has Cubase DAW app, so yu could in essence create a whole song.

T

[ozrivera]

Tonio

yeah it would be nice to have beat box. and yes you can import a midi file of a song and with software like cakewalk or something similar, you add or remove parts of the song. if youre playing that song let the midi play all the part of the song that youre missing. you can also add your chorus, and your own recorded parts.
works great if youre shorthanded muscians. the only thing is that its too mechanical. and there isnt very much flexibility on stage. if the crowd is going crazy, you cant extend the song or anything like that.
theres got to be someone here that plays midi files.
id figure i would catch a bunch of flack for this

suave

oz

[zaragenca]

The choice of keyboards would be related to the voice that the piano players wants to create,Rolands havw a galaxy of brands,as well as Yamaha,etc..Dr. Zaragemca