| John - Devon |
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Reply with quote | #1 |
I have been reading on another internet website that they are against multi-tracking musicians and the whole backing track use. It was amazing to then click on one of their videos and see a UK concert organist playing Yamaha Stagea at one of their holidays with nothing more than pre sequenced backings.
Most of the pieces that stagea owners play in concert are pre-sequenced backings with pre-recorded drum patterns, voice changes etc... They come from Japan and this is why none of the songs are well known.
Surely this is everything that is wrong...? Amazing - talk about the kettle ... |
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| graham lowe |
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Reply with quote | #2 |
If it is the site I think you are talking about, then i know what you are talking about.
I have never seen a yamaha stagea player play live - ever. They are all using pre-sequenced backings because nobody has the ability to sequence their own using the stagea. |
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| Jazzhooves |
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Having read this thread i have had a look on youtube under the heading of stagea and you are correct. The songs are all sequenced, involve Yamaha's own backing tracks and the tell tale sign appears to be the music - its all the same - same arrangements, voices etc...
Yamaha is taking over the world.
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| Gary Brown |
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Reply with quote | #4 |
I have a Stagea on order since last August and although I obviously like the instrument
I have to agree that 90% of all the performances on Youtube are book/disk arrangements. Even at the concerts of which I attended one in 06 in Blackpool.
Many participants had memorized the book disk arrangements and maybe felt that the judges hadnt noticed this??
The Yamaha book disk arrangements especially Grade 5-3 are very difficult to play even for me being a good reader. However I have to say they can become addictive as they are superbly arranged. They make players lazy though.
When I get my Stagea I can guarantee I will be playing ad-lib most of the time as I do in my club on the Hammond and Synths. I havent much clue on arranging drum patterns and sequencing so I just play with presets. I do feel theres some Wersi rivalry going on here though. Although Wersi have better organ voices than Yamaha they lack in true sample voices but I guess it's again a matter of preference.
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| Michael Dann |
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Reply with quote | #5 |
As a Stagea owner since June 2005 I would like to say that in all my performances I have never used Yamaha's own 'backing' programmes. I play everything 'live' and never ever multi track. To tar all Stagea players with the same brush is a little much!!! I have recently worked as Musical Director on the musical Jekyll & Hyde where I used only my Stagea - 100% live, this production has just won the National Operatic & Dramatic Associations best musical award for Eastern region 6 so I must be doing something right???? Check out http://www.mereplayers.co.uk for Jekyll show details and my web site http://www.michaeldann.co.uk for details of my performances and recording (as heard on Jazzhooves)
The Stagea is a wonderful instrument and a worthy successor to my beloved EL90 and I always receive positive comments on it's voicing quality - perhaps I need to get something posted on Youtube to address the balance???
Cheers
MD
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| Gary Brown |
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Reply with quote | #6 |
Hi Michael,
would you believe Im still waiting for my Stagea after 10 months but should
have it by june (long story) anyway I loved your CD and I agree with what you
said. Why dont you upload a video of yourself playing and make the comment
'LIVE' no Sequenced backing or something? I will be taking mine on the pro-
circuit this year to work in cabaret with a LIVE drummer so no sequences for
me. The book disks are fun to play as I said but are so 'staged' if you'll forgive the
pun. Im tired of all the Asian players performances as they ALL seem to
be Strings, Brass, Orchestral pieces and get very very boring as you hear
the same phrasing, crash cymbals and timpani drums.
Why can't somebody do a quicktep swing medley or an ABBA pops
balled or something else to show what the Stagea can do!!!!
Ive scoured youtube for stagea videos and 95% have no organ sounds, piano
sounds or electric piano. Considering the range of the instrument it makes
me sick!
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| Michael Dann | |
| Jazzhooves |
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Reply with quote | #8 |
Just to let you know, one of Michaels tracks is in our next podcast - on line from Sunday onwards.
Stagea live is a great instrument.
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| Robert New |
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Reply with quote | #9 |
Hi guys,
interesting topic... it always raises a smile on my face when it comes to this topic... Most Yamaha players play live and do their own programming, but you can't mistake the Yamaha professional backing programs - all of the Yamaha music schools of any importance have them and their performers perform standard Yamaha backing tracks and end up creating amazing sounding 'Clone' performances. It's a shame that this happens, but then we live in a world where young students want to sound incredible before they are at the stage of being able to produce the performance themselves... i.e programming the drums and additional backing tracks.
I remember my days of programming my EL-90 and the hours it took, but the end result was always worth it. Now with my WERSI, I am able to go beyond anything possible with my old El-90...and I work hard to produce all of my own backing sequences and drum programs.
Also it should perhaps be noted, that software makes up a large part of Yamaha sales, so the company is keen to push their backing software... especially in the East, so you can't really blame them as they are running a business.
Best regards,
Rob |
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