(with a zillion bucks in your pocket), buy the board/s and software of choice - what would you get, and why? State a 1 sentence reason, on why you'd buy a given board or boards, if you would.

As I learn to play, I also think about buying a good board for later, and I'd like to hear your reasoning on board/s choice, as many of you have several or have owned more than one.

This isn't a clever/sideways "best" category question; I am curious however, on what folks would do, if money were not a concern.

Thanks,
--Pat

Im fairly new to DP's so I couldn't tell you much about what software I would want etc. But as far as DP goes I would probably get the Roland V Piano, Very expensive and heard its meant to be great

AvantGrand N1 with the complete Ivory and Galaxy suites and some outrageously expensive speakers (also a nice big, acoustically treated room in which to play it). I want the nice acoustic action of the AvantGrand without the size and gimmicks of the N3 (and to some degree N2).

A Boesendorfer acoustic grand, no software at all ;-)

Sorry to break out of your loop, but does it really need to be a software and board(s)? With this amount of money I would buy just a house and put some very nice concert grand into it and it does not matter if this is made in Vienna, Hamburg, Berlin, Lo"bau or Hradec Kralove. Well, or even all those and park them into garages and move just one preferred into studio room when going to play. :-)
Go and grab some comments here on the forum, some N1 players (one of the members of the best DP line money can buy) do not pretend at all. They bought N1/N2/N3 just to have AP action and play on headphones to not annoy neighbours. With house or even special house solely for piano (as your amount allows), there is no such issue finally and you can play even in midnight if this is your preferred time you get the best inspiration for interpreting music, or being played by Her Majesty Music. :-)

What gimmicks would they be then?

I was thinking of TRS and Ivory simulated keytops (also the multi-speaker setup). Not a big deal, though, either way. I'd be fine with an N2. The N3 would be a waste since I would be using super-expensive external speakers instead of the onboard ones anyway.

I'm actually not sure what the best speakers are, unfortunately. Magnepan? Or is that just marketing? I'd have to research it for a while.

Not forgetting the soundboard resonator. Gimmicks or "additional features" - depending on your viewpoint.

Me, too.
Plus a Steinway D.
With a zillion dollars, I could afford two pianos, each suited to different music.

You (EssBrace) are absolutely correct. No question they are valuable for some people. I just wouldn't be using them in my ideal setup so there's no need to have them.

I guess I'd have to play the N2 to see whether I actually prefer the surface treatment. Generally I don't but I haven't actually tried the one on the N2.

If I had that much money, I'd fly to the moon and stay for a picnic, just for the fun of it. Of course, I'd bring my Floyd music with me, and an HD videocamera

Seriously though, I'd build the best music studio I could and buy a couple of Nord keyboards and an authentic Hammond B3 - both BECAUSE OF THE SOUND, not the technologies

John

The key surface is nice - very much more subtle than Roland's ivory feel and more so than the Kawai surface. The keys are not matte finish and there are no fake veins/lines running through them like the Roland.

The TRS is nice and gives an impression of genuine vibration through keys and pedals. It's the soundboard resonator on the N3 that impresses me.

I do about half my playing using headphones (when the resonator is an irrelevance - but TRS can still be used), but using the onboard sounds and amplification/speakers and the TRS and soundboard resonator is the complete AvantGrand experience and when played at an appropriate and realistic volume it is uncannily good.

Whilst combining the AG's action with software sounds might seem tempting and undoubtedly could give outstanding results with headphones it would still be a far less complete and less stimulating experience when you just want to play and use it as an acoustic piano substitute. For recording it would be a different matter.

But anyway, if I had a "zillion bucks" I would have a concert grand, simple as that.

V-Piano Grand.



It urinates all over the current DP opposition from a very great height.

Acoustic piano? Fazioli F183. Not too big, not too small and the sound has great body and yet incredible clarity.

Seriously though, I'd build the best music studio I could and buy a couple of Nord keyboards and an authentic Hammond B3 - both BECAUSE OF THE SOUND, not the technologies

John
[/quote]

Yep, me too — I'd also have a B3 and an acoustic grand, plus the best arranger/synth out there.