I was very late with the change towards VSTs. Main reasons: I tried it about or more than 10 years ago and at that time my Korg Kronos was obviously better. Because of that I waited long until Korg dared to call the Nautilus their new flagshop, meaning when my Kronos would breakdown there is not a good replacement.
Then I checked into VSTs and very shortly after I found GigPerformer. Now I have for the same amount of money as my old Kronos (which I don’t use anymore), a laptop, two keyboards, audio interface, and of course Gig Performer.
I had some learning curve (no experience with VSTs, and host controllers), but I probably would have switched years earlier, as the advantages are so many above hardware keyboards:
- I can chose now from 10K+ ‘engine models’ instead of the built in 9 of a Korg Kronos.
- I have 1.5 TB SSD instead of 30 GB (SSD ) on a Kronos, which is also only slightly extendable.
- I can use any keyboard / masterkeyboard which I want, and replacement will cost me just a few hundred euros instead of a new Kronos.
- I can do way more than before (metronome, time keeping, DMX control)
- The sounds are way better than before due to the sample sizes of libraries (especially noticable with natural instruments).
- Programming via a laptop screen is so much easier than a ‘relatively’ small Kronos screen.
- I can way easier change the order of set lists
- It is much easier to change / add sounds (due to Gig Performer’s wiring diagrams).
- It is extendable beyond imaginations (also due to Gig Performer’s scripting language).
- I only have to bring my laptop back and forth to the rehearsal room instead of the entire Kronos.