As an Electone player you are probably thinking to yourself the same burning question that we all are: Is this an Electone? Can it be played like an Electone? Can it use Electone software?

Though it isn't overtly apparent from the D-DECK Web Site there is one page where the Electone hybrid concept is illustrated in clear black and white. This page describes a STAGEA D-DECK PACKAGE where with the right combination of optional hardware you can make D-DECK into essentially a STAGEA ELS-01 Electone.

For many reasons, this is a very interesting concept. The introduction of the STAGEA Electone model gave us a new, modern Electone instrument. It wasn't one big huge console like a previous EL models. Instead it could be disassembled into more easily moved component pieces. Of course Yamaha failed in this conceptual promise when they chose to direct-wire export model STAGEA components together. But it wasn't anything that some wire cutters and a few molex connectors couldn't fix.

Now a D-DECK outfitted with the necessary STAGEA accessories can transform itself from mild-mannered combo organ into (drum roll please) a super-portable STAGEA. And as an added bonus you get one more octave on the lower manual over what the ELS-01 comes with.

But now the bad news. It is still an ELS-01. It doesn't have many of the extra features that owners of ELS-01C and ELS-01X have come to expect. The extra voices, registration menu item, VA solo section and extra rhythm types just aren't there. D-DECK is, after all, based on an ELS-01. Also missing are the FSV keyboards. But keep in mind that FS keyboards are initial and after-touch sensitive. Even the top-of-the-line Roland Atelier doesn't have after-touch sensitive keyboards. But now how often do we really use horizontal touch control?

D-DECK looks really good on stage. It blends in as most stage keyboards do these days. It allows the artist to be the denter of attention again. Though it does seem to sit a little lower than STAGEA, it doesn't seem to be detrimentally so. But tall players might have problems playing pedals aggressively. And keep in mind that the pedal keyboard does not seem to have any touch sensitivity. So much for playing those expressive cello bass lines with your left foot.

But even with all the caveats and gotchas, D-DECK is still chock-full of great features. The idea of this instrument is that it makes it easier for the artist to create their vision. They don't need to struggle with technology. D-DECK makes it all easily available. Again, this is something Electone players have enjoyed for a long time.

Let's hope that this hybrid keyboard/Electone concept catches-on. If it does it will help to create a new understanding of Electone in the pro music world. That can only mean good things for the Electone world.

Model Name	Dual manual keyboard D-DECK (DDK-7)			399,000 Yen (380,000 Yen in substance price)
Keyboard	Keyboard kind			Upper keyboard: 49 key standard keyboards (FS keyboard) C~C Lower keyboard: 61 key standard keyboards (FS keyboard) C~C
	Touch tone			Upper keyboard: Initial touch/after touch Lower keyboard: Initial touch/after touch
Sound Source	System			AWM2
	The maximum number of simultaneous pronunciations			Voice section: 128 sounds, Organ/rhythm section, XG: 128 sounds
	The number of multiple tin bars			16
	Corrugated memory			Voice section: 177MB suitable (16bit linear conversion) Organ/rhythm section, XG: 166MB suitable (16bit linear conversion)
	Resist Ration	Memory		1~16 and [deisueburu]
		Early registration		1~16 and current registration
		Registration menu		288 registrations
	Voice	The number of voices		Pre-setting: 415 timbre +25 drum kit, XG (only playback): 480 timbre +11 drum kit, User voice: 16
		Voice section		UPPER: 2, LEAD: 2, LOWER: 2, PEDAL: 2
		Voice button		SECTION_SELECT, VOLUME_UP/DOWN and TO_LOWER (LEAD1 and PEDAL1, 2), SOLO (LEAD2)
	Effect			Reverberation: 29 type �~2 systems (voice/rhythm), Brilliance, suspension theine, Insertion (1 and 2) �~183 type �~8 system
	Organ Flute	Organ section		UPPER and LOWER
		Type		SINE and VINTAGE
		[hutsuteji]		16 ', 5_1/3'�A8'�A4'�A2_2/3'�A2'�A1_3/5'�A1_1/3'�A1'�A Attack: 4 ', 2_2/3'�A2'�A LENGTH and RESPONSE
		Mode		FIRST and EACH
		Organ effect		15 types
		Control		U.ORGAN_FLUTES and L.ORGAN_FLUTES, ROTARY_SP_SPEED
	Rhythm	The number of rhythms		Pre-setting: 274 pattern �~7 part �~15 sections, User rhythm: 48 pattern �~7 part �~15 sections
		Rhythm button		SECTION_SELECT and VOLUME_UP/DOWN
		Part		Main drum and adding drum, cord/code 1 and 2, pad, Phrase 1 and 2
		Rhythm control		INTRO: 1/2/3, ENDING: 1/2/3, MAIN: A/B/C/D and FILL_IN: A/B/C/D and BREAK
		Tempo		40~240
		Keyboard percussion		Pre-setting: 2, user: 8
	Performance assistance	Automatic based cord/code		3 types and memory (LOWER and PEDAL)
		Melody on cord/code		3 types
Programming	Voice Editing	Layer		AWM4 layer
		Parameter		Element on/off and EQ low frequency, EQ low gain, EQ high frequency, EQ high gain, level and note limit, pan, note shift, [chiyunhuain], attack rate and release rate, cutoff frequency, resonance and LFO wave, LFO speed, LFO pitch, LFO filter, LFO [anpurichiyudo]
	Rhythm Pattern Program	Section		INTRO 1/2/3, ENDING 1/2/3, MAIN A/B/C/D, FILL_IN A/B/C/D and BREAK
		Diacritic resolution		Four diacritical marks /480
		Rhythm		2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and 5/4
		The maximum quantity of neatness		32 neatness
		Kit		20 drum kits +5SFX kit
		Lower rhythmical		Cord/code 1 and 2
		Voice		480 timbre
		Effect		Reverberation: 29 types, chorus: 15 types, Variation: 183 types
		Drum setup		Pan, volume, reverberation, pitch course/fine
	Rhythm Sequence Program	The number of sequences		140 neatness �~4 sequences
	Resist Sequence Program	The number of sequences		140 registration �~4 sequences, Next resist
		Set resolution		Four diacritical marks /96
	Keyboard Percussion assign	Kit		16 drum kits
		Drum setup		Pan, volume, reverberation, pitch course/fine
	Resist Shift	The number of steps		80 steps
		Shift end		Stop, top and next resist
	Parameter Modification of bundle	Parameter		Reverberation (voice/rhythm), volume and pan, Brilliance, suspension theine
MDR		Folder		Concerning 1 media the maximum of 100 folders
		Song		Concerning 1 folders maximum of 100 songs
		Registration		Concerning 1 songs maximum of 50 registrations
	Sound recording			UPPER, LOWER, PEDAL, CONTROL, LEAD and K.B.P.
	Playback			UPPER, LOWER, PEDAL, CONTROL, LEAD and K.B.P. XG
	Sequence format			SMF format 0/1 (as for format 1 only load), DDK original format (copy protect)
	Format conversion			TO EL conversion, FROM EL conversion and XG conversion
Control	Display control			VOICE_DISPLAY, REGIST_MENU, FOOT_SWITCH, MDR, INTERNET, UTILITY, PROGRAM, SUSTAIN and REVERB
	Foot pedal	Section		1 (expression), 2 (suspension theine)
		Selection		Expression, suspension theine, rhythm and gliding, Rotary speaker, sliding and M.O.C.
	Foot switch (At the time of DDKU-P7 use)	Left		Rhythm and gliding, rotary speaker
		Light/write		Shift and jump, user
Equipment	Display	Picture size		6.5 Type wide 144 (W) �~78.24 (H) mm
		Liquid crystal		TFT (WVGA) + touch panel
		Drive system		Active matrix
		The number of dots		800�~RGB�~480 dot
	Terminal			PHONES (phone), MIC (phone), MIC_VOLUME, OUTPUT_L/L+R and R (phone), AUX_OUT (LEVEL FIXED) MAIN_L/L+R, R and SUB 1 and 2 (phone), AUX_IN L/L+R and R (phone), TO_PEDAL, OPTICAL_OUT, USB_TO_DEVICE�~2, USB_TO_HOST, MIDI_IN/OUT and FOOT_PEDAL 1 (VOLUME), 2 (SUSTAIN), AC_INLET
	Electric power consumption			41W
	Size mass			1,150 (W) �~424(D) �~173 (H) mm, 18kg
	Accessory			Instruction manual, guarantee, AC cord/code, guide of user's registration

D-DECK ships November 1st in Japan.