Having had both the PA2x and the T2 to play with, I can finally make a real comparison to the T3

First the sounds. Unless you hear this thing live you won;t fully appreciate the difference between this and the T2. Its not just a T2 with SA2 voices, It's a T2 on steroids. The distortion efx you can put on the guitars is amazing, as is the automatic "correction" of guitar voicing despite the chords played.
There are a ton of effects (I believe you can use up to 5 per style which really allows the mixes to breathe and create more space then the T2 which is very sterile and CD like. You can have that with the T3 but can also put more depth into the songs and styles. This is far more than a small upgrade. There are far more voices of all types (over 700).

One thing I noticed right away were the sliders. I was initially afraid they would be too small and inaccurate from the pictures....and yes although they have a shorter throw than the Korg they are much smoother and feel much sturdier and are pretty sensitive. The Korg's were too far away from the screen and seemed less precise and more "plastic" and had slightly more wobble to them. Over all the buttons and hardware are a lot larger and sturdier feeling and they light up so you always know where you are and what's going on. Korg seems to be still using the tiny button technology from their first Tritons.

The layout is better than the T2. I especially like the sliders front and center, and the 4 Pads on the left side as well. The redone effect engine makes a huge difference in the general overall sound. Major change there.

The Live Drums are far better. Far better and more of them. Again I think the new EFX engine has something to do with that as well as better samples. The SA2 controls and sounds are amazing. The whole keyboard sound live through studio monitors and a Sub far exceeded what I expected. But I really like the polished CD quality of the Yamaha mixes verses the looser sounding Korg, Although due to the effects one can make it sound less so. The Korg had a lot of multi effects which helped make it more "live" sounding. With the T3 Yamaha allows both a live sound or a tightly compressed mastered CD sound.

I also really like the IDC the LAN Internet Direct Connection, I immediately put in on the network and downloaded some Music Finder Styles. Thats a great feature. Want a song or style? A few button pushes, you got it. Thousands to choose from. My credit card is on file so it easy to just download what we need from the keyboard. But many are free as well. Especially the music finder stuff. You can download and audition a piece of everything through the actual keyboard before you buy it. Thats one huge advantage of the Yamaha. Endless styles and songs already out there at your finger tips. Thats one of the things I like most over the Korg, a TON of immediate styles and songs to download right to the board. BUt those who use Yamahas are already familiar with that.



The acoustic and orchestral sounds are Yamaha's forte. But then again Yamaha samples their own musical instruments. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the great samples but they seem to know something about Pianos,Guitars, and Horns,

When I had the Korg I yearned for Yamaha's Soprano Sax and Flute sounds, The only sound I really miss from the Korg is the great scat voices. I'm hoping Yamaha will release a scat voice pack. Korg had better human sounding voices ahhs and oohs. The one touch Pad sounds, arpeggios and loops are new FAR better than the T2

I did not get to deep into the works but at the outset I have to say its built like a tank. Big lit buttons, Smooth sliders, nice keyboard (although I will use an RD700 88 key MIDI'ed 90% of the time)

No motorized screen (which I never understood the need for on the Korg) but a bright TFT screen that needs no contrast control and VGA out looks great on external monitors. I do find myself touching the screen now and then. (6 years with a Triton will do that)But I do like the edge buttons better as the screen stays clean.

SO far my expectations have been exceeded and I have only scratched the surface. Like I said before. On paper specs to specs this is a huge upgrade. In reality its even more than that.

There is a very much wider gap between the PSR900 and the T3, I felt the PSR900 was 2/3s of the T2, Its about 1/8th on the T3. The next PSR should be quite the upgrade.

And the Manual is about 1/2 that of the PA2x....but there are less things and features to program and mess with in that regard.


The T3 is EXPANDABLE via Voice Packs from Yamaha. This is a huge plus for me as the engine is there. To be able to add voices without dealing with sample editing is a mega plus for me.


Cons...I hate the seemingly same string patch they use on many styles in Variation four. Can't wait to see what they come up with for additional voice paks....

I also would have liked to see one more foot switch to control each the SA2 sound controllers instead of the one programmable one. However I don't use a Volume pedal maybe I can reprogram that. Haven't looked into that.....Hmmmmm


My set up

Hi Tom

Many thanks for such a comprehensive review.

Couple of questions:

Any noticeable improvements/extra voices in the synth section?

Quick Record: don't know if you've had chance to explore this, but wondered if this has also been upgraded?

Any updating of the operating system? I find the T2 very 'clunky' and illogical to navigate, so wondered if this side of things has seen any improvement.

I know you're a busy guy, but if you ever get the chance to revoice a midi from one of the members here, on the T3, that would be really useful and interesting.

I don't have a music room, (damn kids! ) but if I did, I'd want a view out of the window like you have!

Thanks again,

Paul

P.S. You may have noticed we're working on the musical gear listings being shown under the member titles and unfortunately, yours seems to have been shortened by the new software. I'm looking at a fix for this, so will drop you a line when it's done, so you can get the full list back in.

Hi Tom,

I'd just like to say thanx also for a very helpful and informative review. Much appreciated partner.

Thanks for the high-level report on the T3. I'll be interested in what you and others have to say about this board and whether it is worth losing 50% on a T2 to spend nearly 4 grand on a new one. I think if you spend a lot of time working with styles it's probably worth it.

I'd be interested in:

Harmony functionality - does it still distort - what "voices" are present
Synth and Pad Patches - Have these been updated - many of the current ones are pretty cheesy sounding.

I like your studio (especially the "serene" view out the window). Mine is in the basement. You're laptop seems to be a bit far too reach.....just my opinion....what do I know

YEah when we built this house three years ago (Thank You Las Vegas home market I sold a small house for stupid money at the top of the bubble) and built a modest home here in South Carolina on property my wife bought before we were married years ago, We have truly been blessed. I see God every morning when I look out my back windows, Geese, Deer, ducks, rabbits and my two Boston Terriers running......

Regarding the T3 and some questions...
I am sorry but I do not use the internal harmonizer. I always saw that function on Yamaha keyboards as an after thought. I am not sure about this but I would bet its the same "engine" used in the S900 and maybe even the 3000

IN terms of synth sounds again I really don't use them much because Cakewalk Sonar came with some amazing software synths that I will use on their own tracks within the sequencer SW.

I am currently in the process of converting all of Yamaha Toon MIDI files from the T2 to the T3. I have not heard them yet but may take a few to the store today and compare them.

I use Arrangers in a different manner then many. I use them exclusively for recording and in that regard the SOUNDS are the key more then the features. I have features galore when the files are transfered to tracks in Sonar. My wife who plays professionally still takes an 88 weighted keyboard whether one of the RD700s or the Casio Previa 320. She records the Tyros tracks she wants on CD or laptop and uses them in that manner. She does not feel comfortable being hired as a keyboard player showing up with a 61 key unweighted board. The TC Harmonizer does a great job in and out of the studio, But she uses the guitar version.

The notebook computer is there for vocals only. I transfer the entire project to the notebook and therefore can turn off the loud tower for the vocals and any livbe miked guitars. I have used the walk in closet as a sound booth on occasion as well and the portability of a notebook allows to do vocals anywhere QUIET.

I never actually owned a T2 so my comparison is based solely on whats most important to me. Sounds...and simplicity of use. The Korg PA2x was a beast in features. Even the PA50',s manual is 4 times the size of the Tyros 3. Most of us music types don;t like to read manuals, The T3 manual is a pamphlet as compared to the Korg Pa50 EVEN!!!! LOL

BTW the PA50 is not a bad keyboard. I would recommend it to someone who like latin styles and many features who would otherwise purchase a PSR S700. for $100 less money as well.

I had to add a disclaimer here as well...Being an employee of a Dealer i bought the T3 below dealer cost,
People are paying far less than $4000 for the board here. Frank who owns Audioworks in Connecticut is delivering the T3 at very very good prices for those in the US. We could not match him but he has a great presence on the Synthzone BBS General arranger forums.

Would I pay $4000 for the T3....? I suppose so. I paid $3200 for the Korg PA2x (before we became a Korg dealer, same thing happened with the Bose LT1 ModII system for my wife Dammm)and I do think FOR MY NEEDS the T3 is worth $800 more but not too many are paying that for the T3. The price is negotiable. $3999 is only the manufacturers minimum ADVERTISED price. Selling prices is up to the dealer.

For the gigging musician the PA2x has no equal in terms of features like the XLR input, 48v Phantom power, TC Helicon and flexibility not to mention 76 keys, For pure studio record or movie scoring I am all about the T3. (Not that I score films, but I prefer very realistic sounds in that regard the Yamaha is the ticket for me.

I would think you can sell a T2 for $2300 and purchase a T3 for $3500 if you look hard enough and yes its definitely worth the $1200 difference in my opinion.

Nice post. Curious, if I read correctly you use the Tyros primarily for its "sound". I would tend to agree that it has great sounds. Have you heard the "sounds" available on the Motif XS (not including the great work by Keyfax and other 3rd party). The XS is hot! and cheaper too. Is it a fair statement to summarize that in your opinion...for the sounds alone it is worth $1,200 additional dollars - that's a mouthful. I found your discussion of your studio quite interesting.

I had a pair of the LT1s and finally sold them. I'm going back to the separate power amp and yamaha Club speakers out front with inner ear monitors more than likely.

Thanks for the post!

I don't believe the XS is a $1200 Tyros. Its a sound module. One SA2 Voice typically has as many as 400 samples. While the voices that make up the XS contain up to 8 sample layers. Very different animal. The 5 SA2 voices take up 1/6 of the total ROM in the T3.

I have been a workstation user for years. The Motif is a great module and you can edit the heck out of them, and the synth voices are far better. But it's not a Tyros as far as voices go. Even Mega voices cannot be played. They are used in styles only because of their complicated control structure.

For me it's all about the Arranger. That's what I am I'm paying for on the T3, Im "hiring" arrangers and musicians rather than trying to be all of them as I have done on all my songs. I still believe I will write without using arrangements becasue I am used to it. But If I can just us a Bass line or drum track, that's less work and better sounding. It allows me to go go places I could never go as a single person.

That's how my wife uses it. She records tracks from the Tyros and fills in the holes live. The Bose system for her is the bomb. Very light and easy and the Tone Match allows for me to step in with a pre configured scene, or a sax player she works with and various partners. All have scenes set up for them.
I see no other sound system that can do what it does sets up as quick and sounds the exactly same in a 170 degree area. And can be transported in a Smart car if needed LOL.
I cannot wait to re record the song I posted Short Lived Romance using the Tyros Sounds. I don;t think there is an "Arrangement" for that though.

Hi all,

I own the Yamaha PSR S900 arranger workstation, and am interested in possibly purchasing a Tyros 3.

Wondering what true dealer 'cost' is, so that I can make an intelligent 'offer' to an authorized Yamaha dealer. To me, I would entertain this board at about $2500 to $2800 price point. I would never pay $3800 for it, under any conditions.

I am aware of all the 'arguments' about what dealers have to put up with in terms of overhead, and how their 'net' profit is so much less because of all their expenses.

My answer to that is simple. NO ONE at the dealer will ever lay eyes on me, spend time with me, demo the board, sell me on the quality, features, benefits, yada yada yada.

To me, it's a commodity, something I can buy anywhere. Someone will simply take my order info and credit card, and arrange to have it shipped to me, thank you very much.

AFTER SALE SERVICE if any will be all Yamaha, not the dealer. So why pay a huge profit to someone who's providing me nothing more than a pipeline to take my order?

Ok, throw in the hot item and everyone wants it, and limited allocation, yada yada.

I can WAIT until it's not that hot any more, or someone might notice there's a pretty big recession/depression (choose your semantics) going on in the USA... so what's a really GREAT price on this and where can I order it?

Thanks for any responses. Please don't flame, I'm a very limited resources musician with NO rich relatives helping!

Cheers.

You won;t get a T3 at those prices. Minimum if you find a hungry dealer would be $3200. You can still buy a new T2 for $2500 though.

One just went on Ebay for $3050 USED. There is a market out there to save $500

They are going up on March 1 as well.

Hi Tom What a great review, It really is a great machine, and to RSM, recession doesn't only exist in the US, It's worldwide you know...Pam