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The Keyboard Corner
Synths, pianos, software, analog, digital, modeling, virtual instruments, programming tips - this is the place on the web for discussions, debates, opinions and assistance...and the occasional sports thread.
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Trending posts on MPN
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I wanted to chime in here after having a chance to play an Astrolab for about 40min. I think AnotherScott has the right of it. I own a Korg Vox Continental and it's biggest appeal was the stripped down Grandstage/Kronos sound sets and minimal editing. Yes, I actually wasn't interested in lots of editing parameters. But, they made a really lovely board that did exactly what I needed in a tight and easily adjustable package. Very straightforward, with a number of excellent sounds. I've used it to play large shows covering Motown, Pink Floyd, The Bee Gees, Jazz Big Band, Weather Report (Fusion), as well as regular gigs with Rock, Country, Jazz, or Funk groups. I love that board BUT it would be nice if it had a screen and perhaps a better piano. The Astrolab has both along with solid keys that definitely feel more substantial. And while I mention the keys it is worth noting that they do not lend themselves well to organ playing. The Vox was much better at palm slides or just glissandos in general. These keys are a bit stiffer but they feel better when playing piano, rhodes, general keyboard sounds. I will say they are still light keys but they feel more solid than the Vox. I'm going to buy an Astrolab for sure. It's screen is great and highly visible. The organizational capabilities are solid and will make creating lists of sounds or sets that I want to use painless. Also, I have been dreaming of a really nice 61-key board (my Vox is a 73 missed out on the 61) and I love the compact nature with such a large breadth of sounds. Also, one of the best features of the Vox was all that real estate on the side where I could put an ipad. I use it constantly and this has similar real estate. It's a well built premium feeling board and if you like the Vox you should give it a look. -
For those into modular, especially Eurorack modular, DAWless and beatboxes, here are some essential YouTube channels. Omri Cohen - If you are interested in VCV Rack software modular, this is your place. Loads of videos on the modules available, as well as techniques on how to use them. Red Means Recording - Lots of instructional videos and reviews on modular and DAWless. DivKid - A master of Eurorack patching. Highly respected in the community. True Cuckoo - tutorials on beatboxes, synths, and DAWless. Braintree56 - Eurorack, tabletop synths and beatboxes. His Digitakt tutorial series alone earns him a place here. The Midlife Synthesist - Sequencers, beat boxes, and synths coming from a long time musician. Synth Dad - down to earth reviews and tutorials on modular and DAWless. If I had a channel it would probably be like this. -
By Paul Woodward · Posted
Well, I have played with numerous setups for iPad and I have settled on a Korg Keystage which connects to the iPad with just one cable (and the iPad can power the Keystage). Audio comes out of the Korg and essentially that’s it as you see in the picture. Has sustain and expression pedal as well as standard 5 pin midi in/out. Stand for the iPad is included with the board. You may not need the Poly AT or Midi 2.0 of the Keystage, but I thought why not get something a bit more future proof. Oh, and the software bundle included wasn’t bad. -
@Reezekeys nails it with the powered speaker recommendation. Add a mixer if there is more than 1 KB in mix. Besides, if a KB amp is too heavy, it's time to find and get used to a light-weight powered speaker. No way around if the objective is to continue gigging. There is the option of switching over to headphones or IEMs and a mixer or talking the sound person into bringing a KB monitor.😎 -
By zxcvbnm098 · Posted
Hmmm....very interesting. Thanks Macsaint....looks like the A&H goes on the wishlist. I have on of the small A&H Zed boards, which I love. Great company, great products.
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In MPN’s GEARLAB
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By charliepersol · Posted
I just bought one used two days ago. I had in the past (a very past) the original ARP Odissey and an Avatar (the guitar version of the Odissey). They sounded quite differenti, and now I understand why: two different version of the filter. A friend of mine still have the all black one with coloured sliders, which Is again different, maybe two poles filter? Anyway the Behringer sounds good but a bit differenti too. My ARP had a ring modulator I used to build fabolous bell like sounds: metallic, full of harmonics. The kind of sound you can hear on Japan Tin Drum or Oil on Canvas albums. Until now I couldn't recreate this sound. Neither the Avatar did. Just my ARP Odissey I sold for little Money :( -
In V.A.S.T., be it the original V.A.S.T. or the newer vaster V.A.S.T. with Cascade and Dynamic, there are several ways you can use internal DSP sources with Samples: 1. Samples only 2. Internal DSP Oscillators only without any Sample 3. Samples mixed with internal DSP Oscillators In the new V.A.S.T., you can certainly use a multi-sampled Keymap, alongside an internal anti-aliased DSP Osc, e.g. a 2-block SINE+ for a single Layer, or even an aliased one like the old SAW+. For larger AA DSP Oscs, e.g. the 4-block SAW, you'd need to use Cascade Mode, a passthrough signal and a Mixer ALG. So these aren't mutually exclusive. Instead, what the manual seems to indicate is that if you want to do a traditional analogue subtractive synth, then you'd rather not use a Keymap, which makes sense since analogue subtractive synths don't use them at all. You can still use a Keymap's sample Envelope if it is set to Natural, even if the Sample itself isn't sounding via the Layer, say, if you have simply a 4-block AA DSP SAW. That SAW block effectively cuts off any of the Sample signal. However, as the AMPENV mode is set to Natural, it is the factory AMPENV for that multi-Sampled Keymap that is applied to the Layer. The Natural envelopes have more details than can be produced with a User AMPENV. The thing that happens with setting the Keymap to Silence is that it sets each key's amplitude to the same maximum amplitude. Maybe that's what you need in a certain program, but sometimes, if you are doing an emulative program, you could be better off actually referencing the emulation's Keymaps Sample although the latter isn't heard, with the corresponding Natural Envelope, or of course, you could just go into User Mode and make your own envelope. Hope this helps. -
Sweetwater might accept to deliver to Canada, but you will be charged transport accordingly and as anything going USA to Canada your item will go through customs and it is always possible to end up with extra fees - sometimes very expensive. I personally had a very bad experience about 10 years ago and promised myself to never import again from the USA unless the seller confirms on paper he pays for all possible customs and duties extra fees. Buying Kurzweil products in Canada has always been complicated. In the 1990s a few stores in the province kept a couple of them, but if you wanted something they didn't have you had to order sight unseen and wait months to get your purchase. That is how I bought my MIDIboard, K1200 and finally, around 2000, a PC2X. I hated the Fatar action on the PC2X from day one and swore to never buy a keyboard sight unseen ever again.
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