Roland AT 90SL Atelier

[Gandalfe]

<FONT face=Verdana size=2>I came to this forum hoping to find info about the </FONT><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Roland AT 90SL</FONT> (http://www.roland.com/products/en/AT-90SL/features.html)<FONT face=Verdana size=2>Atelier:</FONT></P>


<FONT face=Verdana size=2>http://www.roland.com/products/com/AT-90SL/images/top_M.jpg</FONT></P>


<FONT face=Verdana size=2>I found almost nothing about this instrument using search on this forum. Is that because it is so expensive? I can't find the price anywhere except England where a new one is £19,999!</FONT></P>


<FONT face=Verdana size=2>I was wondering if maybe the purchase of one of these are really made obsolete by digital keyboards, midi boards, virtual organs on computers or some such?</FONT></P>


<FONT face=Verdana size=2>Maybe it just is overkill for organist purists? I know on the SOTW forum that I admin it is really believed that assuming you have at least one of many decent pro saxophones, it is the player, not the instrument that makes the difference.</FONT></P>


<FONT face=Verdana size=2>I look forward to hearing from y'all.</FONT></P>

[afuller5]

Hi Gandalfe,



While I don't own an AT-90SL, I do have its predecessor, the original Atelier AT-90. I enjoy the instrument very much.



If you are a classically-trained organist, then this organ is NOT for
you. It is not to AGO specifications (AGO = American Guilde of
Organists). It has only a 25-note, flat pedalbaord. The
stop (or voice) controls are push buttons, not the standard classical
organ draw knobs or stop tabs.



However, the organ has excellent classical organ sounds, theatre organ
sounds, and electronic organ sounds. My AT-90 does not have the
virtual drawbars like the SL does. So, I am sure the SL will do a
better immitation of a Hammond. The orchestral sounds are also
excellent as are the auto accompaniment styles.



As far as the organ being rendered obsolete by keyboards, etc. I
think this is true to a certain extent. (I also own a Yamaha
portable keyboard, the PSR-2100.) However, the first instrument I
learned was electronic organ. I prefer the versitility of having
two keyboards and a pedalbaord. I also don't like to be forced
into using the auto accompaniment features all the time. When I
play popular music on the keyboard, I am almost forced to use the auto
accompaniment because the keyboard limits me to one 61-key
keyboard. I also find keyboard lacking in the organ sounds
available. The AT-90 excells at this. I also play the organ
for my church and find the AT-90 a practice instrument. (The
organ at my chruch is a 1980s vintiage large spinet organ.)



If you have other specific questions, just ask.



Later,

Allen

[andyg]

Hi</P>


Two of my organ students have Ateliers, one has the AT90SL and the other has the 'spinet' AT80SL. Lucky students, and lucky me as I can play them any time I like!</P>


The SL is the 4th generation of AT90 , and its sounds are, for the most part, stunningly good. The others have to go into the 'very good' or 'excellent' category! It doesn't matter what area you're looking for, the organ delivers. My students are at this moment stuck into orchestral arrangements of [i]Dream of Olwen and Out of Africa, a big band arrangement of I'll Never Smile Again, a Mantovani version of Almost There and a couple of straight 'pipe' organ pieces too - Prelude in Classic Style and the Bach Toccata in D minor. One's just started on my arrangement of In a Monastery Garden, complete with monks, chimes and singing birds. No other instrument can do this. And all this is just scratching the surface of what it can do. If you listen to my good friend Hector Olivera, you'll be blown away by the sounds he gets!</P>


The organ isn't perfect, and a few suggestions have gone back to Roland and I hope they'll be included next time. However it [i]nearly is! £20K is a heck of a lot of money, but do remember that's the list price! No-one buys this organ without haggling a deal!</P>


As for keyboards, you have to remember that when we [I was in R&amp;D at the time] starting thinking about them in the late 70's, they were thought of as 'single manual portable electronic organs'. No-one knew what the market would be. 1980 changed all that and the keyboard has gone from strength to strength.Yamaha Tyros 2 and the RolandE80 are incredible instruments.However, for me personally, it will always be the poor relation of the electronic organ.</P>


Andy</P>


</P>

[Robb]

Hello,
Post deleted.


robb