Motif XS vs Korg M3 vs Kurzweil PC3X

[dtcmusic]

It's a difficult one. I've heard electric piano sounds and hammond sounds that are better than the Korg keyboards I already have and I feel I need those new generation sounds. I just have used Korg for so long it's difficult for me to decide on another keyboard incase it can't do everything I need it to do.

I'd have to do some searching on the internet to find a shop that stocks Kurzweil to have a go as I don't know of any near me. I have tried the Yamaha, Roland and Korg but I'd probably only find out for sure if I've done the right thing a month or so after I'd bought it when I'd had a chance to work with it properly.

They all have plus and minus points but I suppose they're all good. I just don't want to feel disappointed after spending that much money, arrgh!

[Dbomb]

It's a difficult one. I've heard electric piano sounds and hammond sounds that are better than the Korg keyboards I already have and I feel I need those new generation sounds. I just have used Korg for so long it's difficult for me to decide on another keyboard incase it can't do everything I need it to do.

I'd have to do some searching on the internet to find a shop that stocks Kurzweil to have a go as I don't know of any near me. I have tried the Yamaha, Roland and Korg but I'd probably only find out for sure if I've done the right thing a month or so after I'd bought it when I'd had a chance to work with it properly.

They all have plus and minus points but I suppose they're all good. I just don't want to feel disappointed after spending that much money, arrgh!

I understand your frustration. I have a Motif XS and love it. I made the mistake of purchasing a Fantom G. I played the Korg M3 briefly and liked it but went with the Motif XS because I had a friend who could guide me with it which was a huge selling point for me. I also played a Kurzweil PC3 and it just wasn't the right sound for me. It wasn't a bad keyboard or didn't sound bad I just though others sounded better and offered more features. The Kurzweil also has a high price tag and I didn't feel it was worth it considering some of the things I was missing. I would play as many as possibloe and see which one connects with you. The only thing I can truly recommend to you with any degree of certainty is to stay away from the Fantom G.

[dtcmusic]

Wow thanks for that info about the Fantom G. My initial reaction when I tried it was, I've got to have this keyboard, brilliant display, loved the way you could change patches without the notes from the 1st patch getting chopped. Since then I've seen a few people who aren't happy with it so I think that one is crossed off my list.

Cheers

Dave

[Bugzie]

No matter what yoou do its going to be a tough decision. I went to the local Ukelele Center (guitar center) to find a set of Keys. The biggest problem I had was that they had all of the mentioned boards run through the same brands of powered monitors. I guess the attempt was to level the playing field. The salesman that I was dealing with was great (Surprise surprise) as he was an extremely good pianist who was very adept at playiing synths. He also had a great level of knowledge of the differences of the various brands. It was actually quiet and he spent over an hour and a half with me. I really need to send him a small gift certificate for his effort. Once I had an understanding of them I mentioned that I liked the feel of the keys on the Yamaha. He is a Roland player. As a sound guy I didn't like the sound of the monitors that we were demoing through. This guy was incredible, and pulled over a (?) Roland k550(? model) amp and plugged it in. The difference in the sounds was amazing at moderate volume. Then to my amazement he went out back and got another one and said that to really appreciate the boards you should try stereo. Well we used the 2 amps on the three boards being considered. Believe me I know that sound is subjective( as a SR guy) and I just prefered the piano sounds of the yamaha. Especially after massaging them. Gonna be a tough decision without being able to hear all of the diff. boards without standardizing the boxes you play them through. All of the mentioned sounded great. My ears just liked the Yamaha better.

[dtcmusic]

Hmmm

It sounds like a lot of people feel like the Yamaha is pipping Korg at the post. Is the M3 better than the Motif XS at anything? Somebody said the Motif XS is great also if you're doing film scores which I'm dabbling with at the moment but my main use is live playing, main stream rock and pop stuff.

[supermanrulez]

Hmmm

It sounds like a lot of people feel like the Yamaha is pipping Korg at the post. Is the M3 better than the Motif XS at anything? Somebody said the Motif XS is great also if you're doing film scores which I'm dabbling with at the moment but my main use is live playing, main stream rock and pop stuff.

I think you'd find find many people who think the Korg M3 is better than the Motif XS in areas. Its an opinion just like the ones on this thread. To be honest if I was doing something with lots of strings and pads like movie sound tracks I'd go with the Korg m3. They have also a major upgrade to the M3 in the form of an OS update which includes some unbelievable sounds and lots of them. Its like a whole new keyboard in some ways. I am really liking the M3 alot now and won't say the Motif XS is a better keyboard. They are just different from each other. I really believe if you get either the Motif XS or Korg M3 you would not be unhappy with either one. Its like choosing between a Lambroghini and a Ferrari, would you be disappointed with either one? (well I guess maybe with both if you're worried about gas mileage.)

[Atlas5]

I have the M3 & the Motif XS, just a little over a year now. They are both excellent workstation, with great feature sets. They do sound different. The XS has a more rock-&-roll sound with excellent real sounding instruments. The M3 is more electronic, synthesizer sounding. If I could only have one, I'd buy the one that complemented my other hardware.



I got a Roland Fantom -- get the M3
I am in a Rock Band -- get the XS
I Love Dance Music -- get the M3

[dtcmusic]

Wow difficult decision. I'm going in to have another go today. Hope they've done the upgrade on the M3 so I can hear the new sounds. What is the Radius Expansion oard? Some places are offering this free with the M3.

I am in a rock band but I'm really going to have to hear the XS again to hear if the sounds are better suited than the new M3 sounds.

God I'm tearing my hair out here lol

[KeyZ]

One of the interesting things I think that hasn't been mentioned yet is the skill of the person playing the instrument. If you're looking to just plug something in and start playing, you need to listen to all the options you have at your disposal and make a choice.

The other side of the coin comes down to your skill. A skillful player with some understanding of basic programming could make an almost perfect sound for themselves on either the Motif Xs or Korg m3. Both these keyboards have good enough samples that once you get to know them you could program either of them to get the sound you want. I think Supermanrulez mention of the new M3 sounds are certainly very important. These sounds really make the M3 shine and they are free and in addition to the stock sounds on the M3. So in essence you're getting more quality sounds for free. These new sounds really improve all aspects of the sound quality of the M3. In fairness you can't fairly judge a M3 soundwise without hearing them.

The Radius is an expansion for the M3. Its a keyboard in and of itself. Its more of an analog keyboard that enhances the M3 in that area. In essence it adds another element of sound, programability and ultimately more possibilities to the M3.

Lastly since so many people are pumping the Motif XS and rightfully so as it is a wonderful keyboard, I offer this in regards to the M3. With the M3, you get all the workstation features with all the bells and whistles like the XS. However you also get the 2 other keyboards with the M3. You get the Karma and the Radius as part of the M3. That's three keyboards under the hood of the M3, plus you get all the new incredible sounds of which there are many. All this for the price of the original workstation. I personally believe that right now the M3 is the best deal and option out there. That being said, listen to everything you can and get what you like best.

[musojo]

I'm happy to have found this forum as I'm also tossing up the merits of various workstations. Initially I was going purely for the Fantom G8, as I have an old XP80 and just wanted to bring it into the 21st century. In comparison to my old instrument it sounded great. Then I started doing a bit of reading and research and thought I'd better try the Motif XS. The strings and acoustic guitars blew me away with their realism and when I went back to play the Fantom it just didn't seem to have the same quality of sound particularly for the solo strings and the flutes, although I liked the pianos better. I've been advised that there are expansion boards which improve the sound but don't know how much difference that would make or even whether it should be necessary. I also like the big screen on the Fantom and the fact that already being a Roland owner I can work out how to use it fairly easily as I don't have the time to learn a new instrument from scratch. I've read that the Motif is harder to navigate so some feedback on that would be useful. I haven't looked at the other instruments mentioned but they would probably confuse me even more. I'm a studio composer working mainly with the sequencer and wanting authentic instrumental sounds and responses. Any feedback would be helpful and appreciated.

Many thanks,
Jo.

[Falgor]

Too bad you can't try the Kurzweil PC3. I guess it's because it's not sold in so many places that people don't get introduced to it .

[musojo]

Yes I did briefly try out the Kurzweil PC3X and the strings were very smooth but it didn't have the same impact as the Motif so I don't know whether it was hooked up differently (as I had heard that the strings were very impressive) or whether I missed something somewhere. I do think it's very difficult to try out all of the instruments under the same set of circumstances. The Korg I haven't met at all.

[dtcmusic]

So I went back to the shop and they'd sold out of the motif xs so I couldn't try it again. He said the Korg M3 Xpanded was due in a couple of weeks. I think if I get this with the radius board it's going to be fantastic...I hope!

[musojo]

Can the sounds be expanded on the Motif?

[Falgor]

Not with Mofit XS. That one has no sound expansion slots.