Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Price is coming down fast, and quality is going up almost
as fast.  If you don't see what you want on the market now,
at a price you can afford, I suggest you wait.  There's a
good chance it will be available by next Christmas.

I'd shy away from the DX9 if I were you.  It is the "cost-
reduced" version of the DX7, and has received little
attention from third-party developers.  Even some of Yamaha's
new stuff says "8-oscillator", meaning DX7 and TX7 (perhaps
also DX21, not sure about that beast).
    John Sauter

I strongly recommend you seriously consider the Casio CZ-101, or one
of its full-sized keyboarded brethren (CZ-5000, CZ-1000).  I far prefer
my CZ-101 to my Polaris (see my responses to the Polaris note).  The CZ-101
is more capable, sounds cleaner, and is less than half the price.

len.

My 10 year old son and I are about to make the plunge into, for us, the
totally uncharted waters of synths and electronic music.  He plays the
keyboard and I mess with the computer.  I want something he can have fun
with (while he's still studying and working on his "acoustic" chops and
general musicianship).  For me, it's just fun (at least for now).

Anyway, I've been to the appropriate stores (EU W and Daddy's) and am
ready to get the Roland JUNO 106, at $695 (no tax).  My rationale is that
while FM (e.g. DX7, etc.) is more flexible on the computer side, the 106
has all the controls "up front" where my son can get at them, and he
doesn't have to know much about signal generation theory.  The Casio CZ-101
came highly recommended, but the "keyboard" left my son cold.

Now, am I going to regret going with the 106?  Remember, we're both novices.

I assume that the MIDI business is all pretty much the same (at least among
the synths referenced here) and that someday there will be an RS232 interface
that I can deal with on my Rainbow.

Thanks!

John (and Ben)

I have a JUNO 106 and for the price I paid, I am very satisfied.  Oh sure,
I can pick on it because it doesn't have a velocity sensitive keyboard or
has only one oscillator per voice, but bottom line, it is a great sounding
and flexible keyboard.  I have had mine for over 1 1/2 years and would buy
it again if given the oppurtunity.  The main reason I bought it was because
it had sliders to program all parameters.  Coming from ARP 2600 type synthesizer
programming, I wasn't thrilled about buying a synth which used one slider
to program everything.

Regarding the DX21 vs. the DX7, let's face it, you get what you pay for.
The price of the DX21 is $795 list, versus $1995 for the DX7.  If you can
afford to plunk down about $1700 for a DX7, then do it and get all the nice
features (16 note polyphonic, 6 operators, 32 algorithms, velocity and after
touch sensitivity), but if you don't, I think the DX21 is a good alternative.
                      
A JUNO 106 vs. a DX21 is almost a religious argument because you are
fundamentally saying analog vs. FM digital.  Each has its pros and cons.
Since I have an analog synth, I am looking now at an FM or sampling machine
to round out the number of sounds I have available.

My suggestion is this: both are good synths.  Both give you a lot of features
for the money.  Play both, see which sounds best to YOU, and then find your
best price and service.
                                                   
		Derek

I'll give the Juno-106 another unqualified recommendation.  With 128
programs, a wide range of great sounding factory-supplied programs, and
a very simple and easy to understand programming interface and synthesis
architecture, this machine is a real winner.  I talked to the local Roland
rep a few weeks back, and he said the -106 has been one of their most
successful products for exactly those reasons.  It was deliberately designed
to be an effective, easy to use instrument.  They're apparently being sold
off now as I'll bet there's a successor in the works - but you can't go
wrong with a -106 for $700.  Compared to my Super Jupiter it's got some
limitations, but for 1/3 the price, what do you expect!

len.

I have to go with the CZ-101 as being a great deal. Lousey keyboard, lame
presets, no sliders...etc but worth the money.

As for a step up the 106 is really great. Especially at the price. Can't
go wrong here.

The DX-21 isn't worth it. Get a DX-7 or don't bother.

The JX-8P has essentially been supplanted, in my mind, by the Korg DW-8000.
Available at $895 right now. Built in DDL on top of everything else. 

I say Korg DW-8000, Casio CZ-101 and DX-7. 

Dennis Savage

 If anyone is thinking to buy DX-21, I think that DX-27 or DX-100 is worth
to consider.
 DX-27 is almost same as DX-21 except for split keybord function. And its
price is about 70% of DX-21.
 DX-100 is mini keybord type of DX-27. Its price is about 50% of DX-21.

 I'm not sure that DX-27 and DX-100 are already published in U.S. They
are being sold from December 1st. in Japan.


Real novice - Makoto Kikutani (Tokyo Japan)

	I'm encouraged with the good reviews of the Juno 106.  That's my
sentimental favorite because I played one for a few songs in a band.

	The Casio stuff sounds interesting, but I don't see Casio 
synths at my usual musical haunts.  Does Daddy's carry both Casio, Roland,
Yamaha stuff?

I've seen all three manufacturer's stuff at Daddy's.
    John Sauter

I also vote Juno 106 - see 194.6

Steve