Keyboard / Workstations

I'm 80% convinced I want one.  The Yamaha MOXF6 and Roland FA-06 both look good on paper and in youtube. 
 
Anybody have experience using these in a Sonar environment?  How's the interop?
 
Other PRO/CON/Gotcha to share?  Considerations for one over the other?
 
 

Double Post

Yes, that is a very practical use for outside of the DAW.....not having to fire up the computer to work on basic song ideas (workstation) from scratch. Another plus is that you can always record the midi out of your workstation and use soft synths for sounds you may want that are not in the workstations library.

You probably don't really want a workstation, but rather a ROMpler. A workstation will have sequencing and sampling capabilities that you (probably) don't need. A ROMpler, OTOH, is a MIDI keyboard controller with ROM-based samples representing a wide range of instruments. However, either would be a fine complement to SONAR.
 
I've had both ROMplers and workstations for, gosh, as long as they've existed. Mainly, though, I've had them because I played in bands, rather than for recording. I do use them occasionally for recording, though, because they offer sounds that I don't have in, say, Kontakt. In fact, I have made Kontakt instruments from my ROMpler samples for convenience.
 
You'd think, then, that in the studio a ROMpler might just get demoted to generic MIDI controller. But that's far from the case, at least here at Casa de Bit. Having a ROMpler or workstation (my current instrument is a bonafide workstation, but I use it as a ROMpler) lets me find a patch that's similar to what I'll ultimately turn to Kontakt/Zebra/Omnisphere for, play and monitor in real time (zero latency) while recording the performance as MIDI, no audio. Now I've got a MIDI track that I can use to audition various synth patches or sample libraries. It's a workflow that exploits the best of both worlds: an expressive, live performance played in real time, coupled with the infinite world of computer-based synthesis.
 
One of the hottest ROMplers ATM is Yamaha's Montage. I've played it, and heard it demoed by an expert. I was very impressed. Expensive, though. But I very nearly bought one. The main reason I didn't was it weighs 63 lb. and I have a bad back. 
 
EDIT: I take back calling Montage a ROMpler. It's got a 16-track sequencer like my Kronos, making it a real workstation.

Come to think of it, my old Yamaha MO8 actually had a MIDI sequencer, but it was so complicated I never used it.
 
When it was stolen, I replaced it with a Korg Kronos 2, which is a full-blown workstation that can record 16 MIDI tracks and 16 audio tracks and is a real sampler/vocoder to boot. Samples are not ROM-based, but rather stored on a 60 GB SSD. It includes nine (!) synth engines, one dedicated to acoustic pianos, another dedicated to EPs. You can use it as an audio interface. You can route external audio through it to make use of its effects (there are a boatload of 'em, too). It can stack patches, arrange them in set lists that you punch up from a 10" touch screen. It has every feature I could ever want or imagine in a workstation.
 
But it wasn't cheap - $3600 after adding pedals and cables; I could only justify it because it was replacing two instruments (the MO8 and Hammond XK-1). A used MO8 can be had for around $800 on eBay/Craigslist.

I'm a keyboard player, so I like playing the sounds that I use live directly into Sonar Audio...i.e. from my NORD and my Rhodes Mark I...both are hammer action keyboards. I also like having a MIDI Controller as well with a synth keyboard and the ability to easily do zones and multiple channels, so I can set up a project and quickly do bass, synth, guitar lines (really liking "STRUM" these days). I did drums this way until recently, when I dumped a bunch of United Miles for a simple eDrum kit (Roland TD4) and upgraded the snare sensor. I use this for drum inputs...as a kit for simple rhythms or one or two instruments (i.e. hat and kick) at a time. It's much more expressive to use sticks than pads on a synth (although I sometimes use an old MPD18 for old times sake).
 
I was attracted to the Korg Triton Taktile49 as an option, but it seemed too complicated for the job. So far, I'm very happy with the Novation SL...
 

I ordered an FA 06 yesterday.  Price drop + 15% BF discount + returnable until 1/31/17; not that return is planned unless it doesn't do what it is advertised to do reasonably well.
 
In addition to workstations, I also looked at Akai Advance, Kontrol S and Nektar LX+.  The Akai and Kontrol look flashy, but fiddly.  The LX+ line looks fantastic for Keyboard/Controllers.  In fact, I may end up with an LX88+ later on.  I would have ordered an FA08 if it had synth action keys. 
 
Toyz R Us as they say.  I'm pretty "keyed up" about this.  Can't wait for it to get here.

I almost pulled the trigger on an FA-06 (already have a Motif ES rack so don't more of the same Yamaha sounds) but I just can't get past those dorky, less than full size keys Roland insists on including with a lot of their synths these days. The action isn't great either, but the size (and those rounded off black keys) is a real deal killer for me. WTF is up with that Roland? Are we all hobbits?