Technics KN-930

I'm a copmuter engineer and I got used to read manual before I use some new program or device. With my new keyboard it was the same. I read the documentation twice and thereafter I started to play it. I think, for easy playing (rhytm and voice) the organizing and function of the buttons is quite good (display could be a bit bigger). But if I wanted to set all possible parameters of voices, accompaniment and effects I often was confused (e.g. after playing a MIDI song, the keyboard switched into GM mode. In that mode no accompaniment style can be chosen or started. Description of that mode I found at the end of the documentation). I found also a great disadvantage: setting of sustain pedal cannot be saved in registration memory and have to be set before starting playing a song (that I often forget :-) ).

For that price (middle range keyboard), the features are really perfect: 32 voices polyphony, 200 nice instruments and drum kits, 128 styles, each 4 variations (very good), with 2 Intro/Ending, each variation 2 Fill-Ins. There are 3 effects (about 30 various DSP effects, 12 reverbations, digital effect). Patches can be of course edited, but I have not used it yet because of good sampled instruments. The on-board sequencer with 16 tracks is easy to use (Easy record - playing the keyboard is immediatelly recorded and can be thereafter processed). Techni-Chord is a nice feature, it creates to single finger playing chords according to left part. Music Style Arranger (MSA) choose to style appropriate voices, sometimes, I think, the choice could be better. In many cases MSA is suitable for quick arrangement without long settings. I was missing Fade In/Out button. Second drawback: KN-930 does not support lyrics and can play (Direct Play) only SMF 0 (not 1). SMF 1 songs have to loaded to sequencer (maximally 10 songs).

I compared that keyboard with Yamaha PSR8000, Korg i30 and Roland G-800. Of course those three keyboards's instruments were better. But I did not notice such a big difference in patches, that I notices in price. I think the patches could be improved, but then the keyboard would have cost more. The pianos are quite good and if a reverbetion and DSP effect are switched on, they are almost as good as Korg i30 pianos. The organs belong to the best sounds I have ever heard from a keyboard. Clean solid and accoustic guitar play too quiet in the high octaves, they have to be improved by switching on a strong DSP effect and a reverbation. I was also satisfied with sax, clarinet and brass section. Flute sounds quite different than by Yamaha PSR8000 (and I think PSR8000 has the best flute I have ever heard). Strings sounds ordinary. Synth patches are quite good, but I do not often use them (and I did not compare them with the mentioned keyboards).

I did not have any technical problems with that keyboard.

I have always tried to understand and use all features of the used device. I have had many question and the customer support have been great. They are everytime helpful and friendly even if I came after working hours.

If it were lost or stolen I would buy Technics keyboard, but now I would choose a better one (probably Technics KN 1600 or KN 5000).