| Features | |
| Keyboard | 61 keys |
| Year Made | 2001 |
| Original List Price | $ ? |
| Polyphony | 64 |
| Mulitimberal | 16 |
| Tones & Patches | 640 tones 256 patches |
| Type of Synthesis | Digital ? |
| Effects | 42 different multi-effects |
| Sequencer or Arpeggio | Arpeggio |
| Drum Sets | 8 |
| MIDI | Channel 1-16 programmable for 16 instruments |
| Outputs | 2 - Out L & R |
| Backup | SYSEX |
| Options |
| My Comments |
| I bought
this used, but it was in great shape. The stickers were still on it! Unfortunately
my joy was short lived. As I started to program sounds for the cover band,
I quickly found many limitations. Really in many was my U-20 is a more
powerful keyboard. The RS-5's only real strong suites are its cornicopia
of multi-effects and it arpeggiator. I find it puzzling that you would
include 640 tones and only allow 2 to be played (from the keyboard) simultaneously.
But turn of the arpeggiator, play with the resonance and cut-off control
and ... wow! Unfortunately this serves no practical purpose, and reminds
me of the phrase " If you can't blind them with brillance baffle them with
bullshit". Even the sounds, to me, sound thin. Although I still have every
intention of having this replace the U-20 in my cover band set-up, I can
tell I will constantly be wondering how I can bullshit my way with these
patches.
Dec 2008: OK I have spent some more time with this unit and have to admit there are some really cool sounds on here. I used the brass patched to simulate an orchestra, and think it did a good job, but it still has drawbacks. There are just as many bad sounds, and I find the keyboard "feels" wierd. I guess I just like the feel of the old '80s synths. I just reset it to the factory settings because it was working less and less like it should. I'm really having a hard time setting it up the way I would like. I hope I can figure something out because there are alot of cool sounds (except the piano curiously) and I think it should a very usable keyboard. |
I rate it 
I bought it for 390$ c I owned it from 2008 - present Current PrePay value 399$ us |
| condition of my keyboard
cosmeticaly  It
is in near mint condition
electronically Functions
perfectly |
Status
2016: Although I have used it a bit (for some sequencing and some recording) It mostly just sits around. There is a part of me that wants to sell it and another part that doesn't. 2012: it is set up with the others, but the slicer effect has mysteriously stopped working and there were other problems so I reset it to the factory settings. 2010: This keyboard is set up with the others downstairs, but I will be programming it to finally use live. I can honestly say I'm not crazy about the sounds, but they will have to do. 2008: In my dining room waiting to be programmed for the cover band, and in the meantime just looking nice. |
| Resources
There are a few resources here are some I found There are probably some sites
or pages out there but I haven't had the interest to look for them.
|
