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LennyTunes

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About LennyTunes

  • Birthday 11/18/1963

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    Live Music Capital ofthe World
  1. I have one of the original Kronos with the infamous trouble with RH3. There were several issues. When they were first released they shipped with cardboard inserts in front of the keys for the 73 and 88 with RH3. It was even suggested to reinsert them when transporting. Since I thought it was strange, I didn't do it while traveling with it in all positions in bouncy vehicles. After a while I noticed some keys beginning to stick, and realized the keybed had even slipped, rubbing against the front rail. I fixed it myself by tightening some internal screws with no further problems. Korg definitely heard about this from its owners, and corrected it. The new ones don't even ship with inserts anymore.
  2. The list of features still make it a competitor today after 10 years (announced at NAMM January 2011). I got one of the first built. Besides the various engines, multiple VAs, SST, Set List Mode, perhaps my favorite is the ability to stream multi-GB sound libraries from the SSD. How many others can do that? Even my studio computer takes time and headaches to load software instruments. Sure, it takes some setup but afterwards, with the touch a button on my Kronos Set List, I have immediate access to gorgeous strings, multi-layered Steinway, Fazioli pianos and many of Busch's fabulous EPs steaming huge GBs of samples. This allows me to take my best studio instruments with me without the mess of a laptop.
  3. What a great marketing model for Roland to continue adding value to their instruments at that time. I collected and still have them all. And never had one explode. lol. Agreed the Session had the best quality piano ...for that time. Also a pretty rhodes, nylon guitar, and some good brass. If it is your only keyboard at a cocktail gig or a pop cover band, that's what you need. But not with a rock band. The Keys of 60s/70s seems overpriced because it is highly sought after and a must for live blues/rock if you have no other option. With a good amp and Vent, it can compete with a Nord.. well perhaps an old Electro. I could still play the wonderful strings for hours from the Orchestra cards, and I love the flutes, pads, and percussion of the Asia.
  4. I use the one he made for the Kronos. More layers and much better than the stock factory one. https://www.purgatorycreek.com/index.php/string-collection-kronos/
  5. The day after our mayor canceled SXSW here in Austin, he encouraged us to move our gigs to the local restaurants and bars.
  6. Great post, Nathanael. It actually helped me to understand the drummer perspective better.
  7. I've heard all the reasons why most drummers use acoustic drums, but there seems to be so many great benefits to use an electronic kit for casual gigs and certain venues. -volume control being one! Sure, I've heard some electronic kits can be expensive, or the response is not the same, or can make a fella look like he's riding a tricycle instead of a motorcycle (questioning their manhood ) But for many venues that are acoustic nightmares, it seems this could be a great solution.
  8. Oh, you didn't know? This sort of experience is prerequisite, and required for earning "The Certificate of Incognizant Colaboration For The Professional Keyboardist". If you haven't been through this, you haven't played long enough. However, if you continue to come across this situation, you have yet to complete your education. The final course is "How to Say No to Your Old Buddies Who Want To 'Put The Band Back Together'".
  9. Well yeah, but this is going to muddy up the band sound, step into other instrument"s sonic space, and start a volume war. You can create what you want with EQ, dynamics and better choice of what you play. (This is about acoustic piano patches). 1). Let"s start with EQ. I play live with a Yamaha CP4. I use the graphic EQ constantly depending on the song and instrumentation. When I"m playing solo I"ll generally set it flat. If I want a warm tone I"ll boost around 200Hz by 3dB or so. If crowd noise gets loud I"ll boost around 5kHz to cut through. Now bring in a bass player. First step: cut 100Hz and down drastically. The harmonics of my lower piano notes can be heard (cut through the mix) but they don"t clash as much with the fundamental tone of the bass. Now bring in more instruments. Leave low bass way down. Lower the 200Hz band from +3dB to -3dB (leaving more room for drums and guitar). And raise the 4-6kHz level to taste. What you"ve done is to increase the volume in one frequency band (for intelligibility) while lowering volume in others. This is a good time to turn off reverb. Don"t judge the sound by how it sounds on its own, but how it sounds in your band"s mix. 2). Lower your dynamic range. (Your low volume notes won"t cut through and will make the band sound less focused and noisy). This can be via compression, MIDI volume curve, dynamic range in a VST, or 'touch" selection on your keyboard. 3). Choose very carefully 'what" you play and stop playing notes that step on somebody else"s part and don"t add to the whole band. Use your own part to help the audience follow the song"s focus as it changes from tutti to vocals to solos, etc. These are steps of a mature, experienced and pro keyboardist that will be in demand and a pleasure to other players. Now, if more guitarists can learn this...
  10. I am still learning how to say No to music projects that promise nostalgic feelings with good old songs, bandmates and friends. When later discovering it is gonna require more commitment of time -worth spending on more fulfilling musical endeavors.
  11. In Austin, there are a lot of fun jams in smaller venues, often with some really great players. Often impromptu (no IEM's), it can get loud with much of the mix coming from stage amps, so I'll bring stage wattage as well. I am sometimes told that my keys are too loud, but I know they are WAY lower than the guitars or caveman drummer. I've considered getting an inexpensive dB meter to help prove the point and fight this war... But na.
  12. Check out OnSong at onsongapp.com. There is a video on their tutorial page that discusses Lyrics Projection. This may work for you.
  13. Dropping a tune in my favorite DAW and lining it up to a click track has helped me. I had the same problem as OP with Car Wash until I did this. I thought Take It Easy was messed up when I was a kid until the Live album came out, and I could hear Henley's count and hi hat. I heard even Bonham had trouble counting the middle section of Stairway. Page insisted that it never departed from 4-count bars the whole time.
  14. Maybe another solution could be to use a digital mixer that can store "scenes". Changing scenes (perhaps via midi) can switch the routing of the mic output. Something like an Behringer X Air might be overkill, but maybe MOTU Ultralite?
  15. I think folks in the audience like to be noticed. So, I make eye contact, smile or nod.
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