#1940143 - 05/10/08 08:18 AM
Best Piano Module???
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Hammonddave
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Registered: 01/20/08
Posts: 51
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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I am a B3 player and usually gig with a Hammond Pro XK System. I am looking for a good piano module so I can play piano, Rhodes, and Wurlie on the lower keyboard of the XK3. I used to own a Motif ES Rack but sold it a couple of years ago. I heard that the Kurzweil ME-1 and Gem modules are pretty good. Any suggestions?
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#1940164 - 05/10/08 08:55 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: Hammonddave]
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area51recording
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Registered: 12/13/02
Posts: 284
Loc: Newburgh,IN
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I've got both and I MUCH prefer the Gem RP-x.
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#1940195 - 05/10/08 10:20 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: area51recording]
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Moonglow
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Registered: 03/15/03
Posts: 947
Loc: Northwest Indiana
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I've been using the GEM RP-X for over one year now. Best of the bunch, IMHO.
_________________________
"Music is the breath of God speaking to man's soul, so we musicians are as close to God as man can be. We hear His voice, we read His lips..... That is why musicians are honorable." - Beethoven
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#1940225 - 05/10/08 11:29 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: Moonglow]
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XKDave
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Registered: 10/02/07
Posts: 83
Loc: North Central Valley, Californ...
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I was going to be buying a Yamaha Motif EX module later this year, but I'm beginning to feel that a GEM RP-X would be a better value for my limited needs, which are just about the same as Hammonddave's.
I want to be able to have some Rhodes and Wurly patches and I'll probably never need all the things that the Motif is capable of and the size considerations are important to me too. I'd much rather have a smaller sized module that will fit on top of my XK-3c Traditional System and still let me use my music rack.
So, I'm about to pull the trigger on the GEM RP-X.
My question is pretty simple, I'd like a small tube pre-amp for the GEM. What do you guys suggest that would work and compliment the GEM unit's smaller than a full rack module size?
I'll appreciate any help you pro-guys can give. I'm just an amateur Hammond hobbyist and I have to admit knowing nothing about modules, or how they work. The GEM looks pretty easy to use and I won't have to have a laptop tied into it like I probably would with the Motif module in order to access different patches/effects.
Thanks in advance,
XKDave
PS: I'll be using a CRATE KXB-50 as an amp for the module I get. I'll be upgrading that to a Speakeasy Keypack II(?) with a satellite speaker system (for stereo) as soon as I can afford it, after I get the GEM module.
For my latest configuration, I added a Leslie 3301 to the mix and am using it like a Hammond PR-40 tone cabinet. At 300 watts it's a little bit sassyier than a PR-40. :o) :
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#1940498 - 05/11/08 04:59 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: XKDave]
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King Julien
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Registered: 02/27/06
Posts: 238
Loc: Sydney, MADAGASCAR
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Hi Dave,
I've got a Kurz PC2R w Classic Keys ROM which I use with my XK-3. I like it, but I haven't tried the GEM. I've got real Wurlys too and I can't say the emulation is excellent, but its pretty good. Especially some of the added ones in the ROM. The acoustic piano is fantastic, as is the Clavs. I like the Rhodes but am no rhodes expert.
I'd be interested in a direct comparison between these two modules.
_________________________
I like to move it, move it (except The Wurly which can be a bit temperamental and the 122 for obvious reasons)
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#1940880 - 05/11/08 11:30 PM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: XKDave]
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jook
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Registered: 07/25/05
Posts: 501
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So, I'm about to pull the trigger on the GEM RP-X.
My question is pretty simple, I'd like a small tube pre-amp for the GEM. What do you guys suggest that would work and compliment the GEM unit's smaller than a full rack module size?
Stereo or mono?
You may want to consider a pedal based pre-amp, which you can sit alongside your GEM module, or have it on the floor (unless you're playing bass pedals).. but then they're mostly mono.
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#1940915 - 05/12/08 05:03 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: jook]
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DrpianoSP
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Registered: 02/25/08
Posts: 28
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The Kurzweil and the GEM seem to be the only pure or mainly piano modules on the market. Though I have no direct experience with it, I think that the soniccell module by Roland can also be a good option. I donīt know what the internal sounds are like, but I think the interesting part is the two slots for expansion cards. This way you can get the EP-sounds from the SRX-12 card which are supposed to be excellent, and there is also a "Complete piano"-expansion card by Roland.
This seems to me a quite interesting option as it means that you can upgrade any time that new sound cards come out.
This is all a bit theoretical since, as I said, I donīt have any direct experience with this module. Actually I would love to hear opinions from somebody who owns it.
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#1941320 - 05/12/08 07:32 PM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: DrpianoSP]
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reidmc
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Registered: 03/22/08
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Wondering if any RP-X owners have any comparative experience with the GM-X. I'm trying to get decent pianos and an organ sound or two out of one module (or digi piano).
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#1941354 - 05/12/08 09:28 PM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: DrpianoSP]
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TechEverlasting
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Registered: 07/13/07
Posts: 26
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This seems to me a quite interesting option as it means that you can upgrade any time that new sound cards come out.
I don't own a SonicCell, but I think the SRX-11 Complete Piano card and SRX-12 classic EP cards are worth a listen. They can be hosted in several Roland modules, including the XV5080, XV 5050 and Fantom XR. I don't believe any new SRX cards will be coming out, as Roland has already moved on to their new "ARX" system. There is a very extensive library of SRX cards already available, with everything from World to Techno to Orchestral sounds well represented.
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#1941360 - 05/12/08 09:45 PM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: TechEverlasting]
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Jazz+
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 05/15/04
Posts: 2648
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I enjoy the SRX-11 and the SRX-12 in my Roland module. The SRX-11 is on the darker side of pianos.
_________________________
Live: Roland FP4 (33 lbs)+ bag, EV SXa-360 speakers (36 lbs), WS 550 stand, LiveWires in ear monitors
Sold: Kawai ES4, Yamaha P250, P120, P90. RD300SX, Kurz PC2X, Bose PAS, Mackie SRM450, JBL EON10,
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#1941369 - 05/12/08 10:33 PM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: Jazz+]
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Analogaddict
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Registered: 08/19/02
Posts: 1437
Loc: Stockholm, Sweden
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You can put 2 SRX cards in an XV-2020. Those are half rack modules and really cheap used. The SRX-12 editing is limited unless you have some kind of Fantom, though.
I would take a look at a Nord Electro 2 rack, they sound better than any rompler when it comes to ep:s.
_________________________
"Please keep things civil...or I'll have to kill you."/dB
"Lantern or Turbert Paw Kwee..!"
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#1941388 - 05/13/08 01:00 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: Analogaddict]
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Jazz+
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Registered: 05/15/04
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I had an Electro and I think the SRX-12 sounds a lot better. By the way, every key was individually sampled for the SRX-12 EP1. i don't think that was the case for the Electro Rhodes.
_________________________
Live: Roland FP4 (33 lbs)+ bag, EV SXa-360 speakers (36 lbs), WS 550 stand, LiveWires in ear monitors
Sold: Kawai ES4, Yamaha P250, P120, P90. RD300SX, Kurz PC2X, Bose PAS, Mackie SRM450, JBL EON10,
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#1941417 - 05/13/08 04:30 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: Jazz+]
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TechEverlasting
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Registered: 07/13/07
Posts: 26
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If you're going to look into hosting SRX cards in a Roland module I think a used XV5080 is a good choice. The cheaper Roland modules don't have the best converters or analog circuitry on them. XV5080s can be had for $600 or so on ebay or Craigslist. The 5080 can host 4 SRX cards plus 4 of the older SR-JV80 cards. It's far easier to edit than the newer Fantom XR, it has great effects implementation and two sets of MIDI ins (32 channels!) and if you add sample RAM can import Akai and Roland S700 format sample libraries.
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#1941428 - 05/13/08 05:03 AM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: reidmc]
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Moonglow
Gold Member
Registered: 03/15/03
Posts: 947
Loc: Northwest Indiana
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Wondering if any RP-X owners have any comparative experience with the GM-X. I'm trying to get decent pianos and an organ sound or two out of one module (or digi piano).
I briefly demoed a GM-X when I purchased my RP-X. Neither of these have both piano and organ sounds within the same module. The GM-X struck me as having exceptional brass sounds (I recall hearing a fantastic trumpet patch), and the strings and drums sounded good as well, IIRC.
_________________________
"Music is the breath of God speaking to man's soul, so we musicians are as close to God as man can be. We hear His voice, we read His lips..... That is why musicians are honorable." - Beethoven
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#1950237 - 05/29/08 10:12 PM
Re: Best Piano Module???
[Re: Moonglow]
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Mark Schmieder
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Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 1502
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
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What Moonglow said...
I bought the GM-x first, then returned it for the RP-x. The pianos are mono as I recall, and I don't think they had the modeling part for resonance, etc. The e-pianos however do make use of DRAKE.
I considered keeping both modules, but ultimately was disappointed in the usable key ranges of most of the GM-x sounds. With the exception of the brass and some of the strings, they seem to have made some deep samples here and there but took a haphazrd approach, with some of the worst examples sounding like they had stretched a single sample across an entire octave!
So if you're after incredible brass and e-pianos and good but not excellent piano, the GM-x on its own is good (and is easy to find for $200 under list price as it is often on overstock sale at various web stores). If you need a few extra e-piano sounds and brass in addition to the RP-x, it makes a nice complement. I probably would have kept my GM-x if it was more consistent in its quality across the full patch listings.
FWIW, there are some patches in the GM-x that are especially tweaked to work well with Roland's MIDI accordian range! This must be unique! Occasionally I see guitar controller friendly patches or wind/breath controller friendly patches, but I'm guessing that since accordians are extremely popular in Italy, GEM decided it was worth adding a few accordian controller friendly patches to the GM-x.
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