ABECK

Funny you bring this up. I had kind of forgotten about the Polybrute since it's initial splash. Off the bat, it didn't seem to have the fatness of the UDO Gemini or the Novation Summit. But just last night I was watching some PB videos and was really surprised by the possibilities. Maybe it just took some time for folks to really dig in and learn the beast. Alas, I have no need for another board, but damn I sure can picture this in my rig. I'm really digging what I'm hearing here:

I've had some playlist sent to me this way. I don't mind so much....Allows me to easily review the tunes in the car. I still get some playlists that are google drives with .mp3 files, but I can appreciate that is a hassle to maintain. I've also had just a list of songs sent in a text, which basically means find em on youtube yourself. I'm just happy that I don't get mailed packets with charts and a CD. That seems so wasteful now.

Interesting observation about the angle of the black keys. I suppose it's tough to rate feel from a pic, but I can see where a pivot so close to the back of the key might not feel great - especially if you are playing something like a funky clav in Eb.

My first thought too. I like doing my editing on the PC or a tablet for my Gemini, then saving on the hardware to take to the gig. Also reminds me of what Nord did with the Micro-Modular 20+ years ago. This! A stage keyboard that has all the controls on the right has me scratching my head. My first thought was...great for the 1 finger noodlers at home, but reaching across the keyboard to adjust parameters while playing with your right hand is just not ideal. Same with with display. VERY cool, but for live playing, there seems to be many layers of navigation and it is small for stage use, where you ideally need to be able to see where you are with only a quick glance. Pros - I love the wood looking end caps that wrap around the back. Soundwise, I really like the quality and breadth of sounds Arturia has.

My most portable rig was an Electro 3-73 in the backpack case, an X stand in my left hand and a Bose L1 Compact in my right. I could easily hump that rig many city blocks without a sweat. If I had to do that again, I'd have to find something more cost effective. The current Electro is like 3 grand. That's crazy! I'm out.

We all should have just played guitar! There, I said it.

I just have a soft case with handles -no strap. I can carry it ok by my side, but any heavier and I'd want something with wheels. It's a double edge sword, though. Robust cases with wheels can add a lot of weight, which becomes a factor when using stairs and loading in and out of a vehicle.

While on the heavy side, it's surprisingly easy to carry and setup. It's fairly narrow, balanced and there are good edges to hold on to. I use a soft case, as I typically don't have to lug it down city blocks or anything. But a rigid case with wheels would take care of that. For me, the extra features like the Audio Interface are key, so it was a better buy than the PC4.

I caught them at a UMASS spring concert around '94. It was just about the time they started playing instruments on stage IIRC. I distinctly remember the long curly cable MCA was using with his bass - at the time that was SUPER retro. They were amazing live (Except Ad-Rock yelled "Thank you New Jersey!" - I couldn't tell if that was some kind of gag, or if in fact he really thought he was in New Jersey.)

I remember hearing a similar sample on Tangerine Dream's Melrose, but that was a few years after So. I don't recall earlier TG albums where it was used (but I'm sure it must have been).

Just curious (cause I see a lot of players on youtube with Nord Stage keyboards that are primarily being used as controllers for Mainstage) - Are you leaning towards digging into Mainstage again because there are shortcomings with the Nord Stage? I often wonder if people are leaving a lot of horsepower and functionality on the table when they incorporate virtual instruments into rigs with already robust hardware. (I realize I may have opened a can of worms here.)

Mine varies based on the gig, but whenever I can bring my Gemini/DMC122, I am happy. Over 10 years use and it's just as useful now as ever. If I have more than a couple piano tunes, I like to have an 88 key board (currently the K2700). Piano on the DMC is NO fun. I've tried introducing VI approaches to my rig (Macbook, and 2 different iPads). I keep coming to the same conclusion - for live gigs, I am a hardware guy. I just don't like working with a computer/tablet to facilitate my playing. Next, I'd like to add a dedicated monosynth like the PolyD, or something simliar.

Thanks to @Dave Weiser for completely hijacking my week by exposing me to this band. I am hooked.

When I had an E-III, I had the full set of factory CD-ROMs the shakuhachi was in there and it sounded amazing. There were a lot of incredible samples in there as well, including a haunting waterphone.