Reg,
Believe me, you can tell the difference between FM and Sample Playback. FM Synthesis uses a variet of mathematical algorithms to model a sound. For their time and place, they were revolutionary. Every song in the 1980s used the Yamaha DX7 electric piano. It was the de facto standard for synths in it's day. But, for 'acoustic' instruments, it still didn't sound 'real.' But, then again, it wasn't. Sample/Playback, also known as 'wavetable' synths are actual digitized samples of real instruments. Ever listen on one of those computerized phone answering things, where it walks you through a whole bunch of stuff? In essence, that's sample playback. You know that they do it by putting bits of recorded words and stuff together to form the sentences. Such as it is with this type of instrument. Maybe you've heard a computer synthesized voice? Doesn't sound real at all, but at least you can understand it. That would be the analogy to FM Synth versus sample playback.

Find a song that is heavy on piano. Play the song back through one of the Yamahas, and then play it back through the SC-50. The SC-50, even though it's early generation sample playback, should still sound much more 'realistic' to you.

You should be able to use the Delta 66 from M-Audio to do much of what you want, or a small Behringer Mixer and a M-Audio 2496, letting you run all the outputs from your gear into a single mixer, and then recording just two tracks at a time. Also gives you a mic preamp, usually, if you want to record vocals.

The Real Instruments are a limited set of instruments that come with the latest PC version of BIAB. PG Music is promising that the Mac version will be out, and will have them, but we still have no time line on that. But, it will replace some of the instrument sounds.

For example, the song is "Dream", and is done in two versions. The first version was done several years ago, using a Korg PA80, and the keyboard played all of the parts
First version: http://www.catsmeowcafe.com/Music/MP3s/Dream.mp3

The second version is using my newer Korg PA800 and Real Instruments. The ONLY part of this that is the keyboard is the melody. All other instruments, including the soloist, are Real Instruments and Band In A Box.
Second Version: http://www.catsmeowcafe.com/Music/MP3s/Dream%20Mix.mp3

As you can tell from listening, the second version is much better, due entirely to the Real Instruments.

I'm not saying you'll get that kind of sound from the Ketron SD2, but I would put the SD2 on par with my PA800. Of course, the price difference is huge, also. My PA800 street price is $2,900, the Ketron can be had for $400 or so. Real Tracks and the SD2 together makes a killer combination.

If your goal is to record backing tracks, like mp3s to play with your keyboard on a live gig, you could do it alone with Real Tracks and the Ketron, and the better of your Yamaha keyboards, if you turn the sound from the keyboard off. For that, the SD2, the M-Audio 2496, BIAB with Real Tracks, and one of the Mac sequencers would, literally, be all you need. Save you a lot of money, too.

Here's the link to Reaper, mentioned above. For $50, it looks pretty good. http://www.cockos.com/reaper/download.php?l=1

As to the amp, I don't know, I use powered monitors, and don't play out. I have KRK Rokit RP5s, which I've been relatively happy with.

Gary

Last edited by Gary Curran; 04/21/09 10:03 PM.
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!