What is a synthesizer workstation?
A synthesizer workstation or keyboard workstation is a polyphonic multi-timbral synthesizer with a sequencer, drum machine, effects and a mixer capable of producing a complete demo or song.
A workstation can look like a traditional digital synthesizer however it may have a large display that differentiates it. This is usually needed for the sequencing and editing functions.
History of keyboard workstations
The first real keyboard workstation was the Korg M1.
This had 61 notes and a decent touch-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch. it had a ten-song sequencer with loads of notes and was multitimbral for up to eight parts. It could also have drum sounds which could be sequenced like a drum machine from the sequencer as that could be pattern-based as well as linear.
To finish it off, all these sounds could be processed by two digital multi-effects processors and then mixed. It was basically a small studio all in one box. You could produce a complete finished song just on the Korg M1.
What are the benefits of a workstation?
A synthesizer workstation can be great if you have limited space and nowhere to set up a small home studio. You can keep it in a large cupboard and take it out when you need it.
A workstation can save you a lot of time. You can turn it on and start using it straight away. There’s no setting up of a laptop, adjusting sound card latency, linking up effects and drum machines.
There are no distractions from the laptop either. Like checking your Facebook. There’s just you and the workstation. If you’ve never used one you’ll be surprised how quickly you can get ideas up a running. Once you’ve got over the learning curve you can set a starting template of sounds and effects and recall them at the touch of a button.
A workstation can also save you money. It may seem like a large initial investment but add up all the additional stuff that you can do without if you have a workstation. You don’t have to have a laptop, mixer, drum machine and all the leads that you have to use.
Disadvantages of a workstation.
They can be large and heavy to have to move a distance or up a few flights of stairs.
Initially, this can be quite a large investment.
Sometimes there can be quite a learning curve, especially having to get to grips with a new sequencer. Particularly if you are more than happy with your laptop DAW.
What can you do with a workstation?
With a workstation, you can switch it on and be recording stuff in seconds.
Sometimes plugging leads in and finding no sound coming out and you are on the wrong audio channel or wrong midi Chanel can be really frustrating. By the time you’ve sorted it out your inspiration has gone. If you’ve had that pain you’ll appreciate the immediacy a workstation offers.
A workstation can also be fantastic for live performances. You can pre-program stuff to your heart’s content. You could have a complete song play at the touch of a button and just sing live or you could just have a drum pattern or bassline.
Anything you want is basically and recallable at the press of a button almost instantly. Stability and reliability are very important when it comes to performing. Believe me, you don’t want to be on stage trying to reboot a crashed laptop.
How much does a workstation cost?
A synthesizer workstation will cost you between around £400 and £4000.
Starting at the lowest price you can still get a machine that a few years ago wouldn’t have been possible.
You can buy an entry-level workstation for around £400. This is the Casio WK-6600. When I think back to the music technology I’ve bought in the past and what I paid for it this is pronominal.
You get a 76-note full-size keyboard. There are 700 different sounds with drum rhythms and a 17-track sequencer to record with. You also have effects and a mixer.
The only thing you really miss out on is audio recording. It’s got built-in speakers and can be powered by batteries so this really is fully portable. Just turn it on and you’re ready to go.
If you get an idea and want to quickly record it before you forget it, this is ideal. You could have finished your recording with this at the same time you’d still be waiting for your laptop to boot up.
Talking of portability some workstations are pretty huge and while this one is 119 cm by 40 cm by 15 cm, it only weighs just under 8kg. There really isn’t anything to compare this to. It’s under £400 and you get such a lot for your money.
I don’t think anyone can honestly say that the Casio WK-6600 isn’t easily worth the money. So why wouldn’t you buy one? The only reason is if you have more money and want something better.
Costing a bit more
If you have a bit more money to spend there is the Korg Kross 2 at around £650. There are several workstations that come with different numbers of keys. This is particularly useful if you don’t need a full 88-note keyboard. The Korg Kross 2 comes as an 88-note version or a 61-note version.
Some people want a full 88-key keyboard however for me the 61-note is better being cheaper and smaller.
How is the Korg Kross 2 better than the Casio WK-6600
Firstly the sounds of the Korg are better, especially the drum sounds.
The effects are better. You get everything you need, all the normal stuff and things you wouldn’t expect like amp modelling and even a vocoder.
It has an audio recorder so you could easily add vocals or a guitar part.
It also has a fully functioning sampler
You also have sixteen pads multifunction pads that you can use to trigger samples or use them to program the step sequencer for drum patterns.
It’s even lighter than the Casio weighing less than 4kg. Important if you move it around a lot. You can also power the Korg from batteries.
The only thing it doesn’t have is built-in speakers. You’ll have to plug it into some mini-powered monitors or use headphones.
There are numerous other features that make this so useful for music production.
The ones I like are the audio input. You can quickly record vocals and samples. It also works as a USB audio interface when connected to a laptop so you can use it to quickly write as a stand-alone workstation and then connect it to your laptop to do even more stuff.
Another thing that I must mention is the way the buttons and controls work together. Sometimes some technology feels like it’s working against you. You can tell that Korg has been producing music technology for years because when you use it to make music you get the feeling it’s helping rather than hindering.
It will quickly work in the way you want it to and not force you to work the way it wants you to.
What is the best workstation with money no object?
For me, this has to be the Yamaha Montage.
What makes this so good and why is it the best?
Just look at it for a start. It’s got the wow factor. The control knobs have LED rings around them indicating where they are set the buttons light and there’s even something called a super knob! This can be programmed to do many different things.
The Yamaha Montage has a full-colour touch screen in its centre showing various parameters. It does all the normal workstation stuff and much more. The sounds are unreal, the best, out of this world. I don’t know how else to describe them.
Go and demo it if there’s one near enough to you but be prepared to try to find the required £3000 to buy one once you have seen and fallen in love with it. If you can’t afford it, don’t try it out because you’ll want it.
Technically it uses an advanced AWM2 and FMX sound engines for generating sounds and a next-generation analogue to digital converter. This is known as the “Pure Analog Circuit” and Yamaha claims it improves the quality of the audio signal for clear harmonic reproduction and an even frequency response.
There’s no room here to list and go through all the features. That would be an article on its own. One thing worth pointing out is the motion sequences. These are fully customisable tempo-synced and can control almost any parameter.
It comes in different sizes from 66, 71 and 88 note versions known as the Montage 6, 7 and 8.
It looks stunning, sounds stunning and is stunning. The only problem is the price, but if you can afford it, it’s the best synthesizer workstation you can buy.
Summary of synthesizer workstations
If you are in the market for a synthesizer workstation I hope this article has pointed out what a synthesizer workstation can do for you and how it can help with your music production.
The choice, as with a lot of things comes down to price. However, if you choose to buy any of the three machines that I have mentioned you can be sure that you will have bought a really good and useful machine that you can use for years and make great music.
I did a lot of research before getting a workstation keyboard. I used to have a home studio but don’t have space now so I wanted something primarily to write songs with.
Firstly I did consider the Casio WK-6600 because of what you got for your money.
Secondly, I really, really wanted the Yamaha Montage but I couldn’t afford it.
Luckily I was able to stretch to the Korg Kross 2 and it’s a great machine. I still have a dream that one day I’ll get the Montage though.