ITGITC

Trust your gut. If you have a situation where none of your creative/musical ideas are taken seriously and incorporated into the act BUT you are getting paid well, then it can be justified. However, I don't think this is your scenario. An alternative is to become the band leader / music director and make it your own. Sure, it's a tall order. Only a few have what it takes to make this happen. Nevertheless, if you're unhappy, it's only a matter of time before you consider an alternative. Been there. Done that. Got the balance sheet with all that red ink.

Who wants a beer? ITGITC?

I've got a Mackie 1402. It uses fully balanced inputs on channels 7-8. 9-10, 11-12, 13-14. Here's their manual: https://mackie.com/img/file_resources/1402VLZ4_OM.pdf

I've owned many pianos and keyboards. They all have their compromises. It's just a fact of life. As a piano player, I have an easier time adjusting to any hammer-action keybed than one that's weighted, semi-weighted or non-weighted. It affects my timing and muscle memory. As far as I'm concerned, my life is too short to play piano parts on a non-hammer action board. I've come to the conclusion that optimally I would have three boards: an 88-key with hammer action, one with a waterfall keybed and real drawbars for playing Hammond organ parts, and one with an action best suited for synth parts that includes mod/pitch wheels, aftertouch, and lots of knobs! Currently, I'm using a lighter, smaller hammer-action board. After the days of hauling everything and the kitchen sink to my gigs, this is the best I've found to keep on going. Old keyboard players don't stop playing because they lose interest... they quit because of all the sh&t they have to carry around. I'm still playing.

Wait. I've honestly never met a soundperson who wasn't. ITGITC?

What was that drum that Mick Fleetwood was playing? He pulled the ropes/strings on the side to raise the pitch, I believe.

Agreed. I said that I suspect a pre-amp that incorporates tubes could be fun to use just to hear how it can warm up Rhodes or organ sounds coming from my boards. However, like you, I don't think it would sound the same as an amp that uses tubes throughout the pre-amp and power amp stages. We've certainly come a long way with lightweight, high-powered amplifiers. For gigging today, I can't imagine using a tube designed power amplifier for keyboards.

The even-order harmonic distortion that tubes (valves) offer is great for electric guitar amps. And the tube amps in the older Leslie tone cabinets helped to add the overdrive that was represented in lots of early R&R. An overdriven B3 connected to a Leslie with a tube amp... What a wonderful sound! In the seventies, I played my Fender Rhodes through a Fender Bandmaster amp connected to a RMI cabinet loaded with two JBL woofers and a couple of tweeters that Allen Organ (parent of RMI) incorporated in their organ cabinets. It sounded AWESOME! Over the years I have found that, in order to realize the dynamics of a solo acoustic piano, for example, a high-powered solid state amp is required, along with a pair of FRFR (Full Frequency, Flat Response) speakers. I suspect a pre-amp that incorporates tubes could be fun to use just to hear how it can warm up Rhodes or organ sounds coming from my boards. I would want to compare this to current tube emulation effects. A Ventilator is good, but for listening to an organ in a ballroom, for example, it's hard to beat the sound of a genuine tube-powered Leslie throwing sound against the walls! Since one of the most difficult sounds to reproduce in a PA speaker is acoustic piano, I think it's best to keep the signal chain free and clear of anything that, by design, colors the sound. If distortion and warmth is desired, this can be included as an option. ITGITC?

What struck me most about the Grammy Awards show was the diversity of music. Here on the east coast, I didn't watch it past 11:30 PM. I went to bed. So I'm sure I missed many of the categories I would like to have seen. But we all have our favorite music. I did not grow up listening to hip-hop artists and naturally, I don't gravitate to it when I listen to the radio. But it was great to see how many people so enjoy it! Last night they celebrated 50 years of hip-hop: "A who’s who of hip-hop royalty took the stage for an epic, rousing 15 minute tribute to the genre’s 50th anniversary. The performance included Grandmaster Flash doing part of his seminal hit “The Message,” Run DMC, Chuck D and Flavor Flav along with Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes and Nelly all taking the stage." Music is what we do. Music and musicians should be celebrated. My congratulations to all the musicians represented last night! ITGITC?

Stevie Wonder - Vintage Vibe provided the clavinet he was playing, but their name was covered up with tape. What was the instrument he was playing at the end of his performance?

What about something like this: SanDisk 128GB iXpand Flash Drive Luxe for iPhone and USB Type-C Devices. https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-iXpand-iPhone-Type-C-Devices/dp/B08JCX96NC/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2UWECJ250KOXD&keywords=iphone%2Busb%2Bflash%2Bdrive&qid=1675292737&sprefix=iphone%2Busb%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-6&th=1

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Thanks Scott. It was late last night. I was tired. I didn't get this far in the PC4 documentation. Tom

CEB, I updated my response. I am pretty sure it can use a standard sustain pedal. However, if you want to use a half-damper pedal, I am uncertain if pedals other than the Kurzweil KP-1H are compatible. They should be, but I don't know for sure. Yamaha offers a FC3A Half-Damper pedal. Perhaps someone here can verify that it works on the PC4. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FC3A--yamaha-fc3a-piano-style-sustain-pedal-with-half-damper-control

I've been playing music all my life. When does this attraction thing kick in? I'm running outta time! ITGITC?

CEB, I have three Kurzweil units. Still love 'em! The PC-4 can use a half-damper sustain pedal. Kurzweil PC4 Getting Started Guide states: Continuous Switch Pedals (Half-Damper) The SW1 (SUSTAIN) jack is also compatible with continuous switch pedals (Half-Damper) that use a 1/4 inch tip-ring-sleeve plug (such as the Kurzweil KP-1H). When connected to the SW1 (SUSTAIN) jack, a Half Damper pedal enables finer control of Sustain than a standard switch pedal. Half Damper control is enabled for Programs in the Piano category. Programs outside of the Piano category will respond to a Half Damper pedal as if it is a standard switch pedal. --------- I haven't tried the action on the PC-4. Kurzweil describes it as, "RPHA: Real Piano Hammer Action / 88-note, fully-weighted hammer-action with velocity and aftertouch sensitive adjustable keys". But you're right, it's only 28.7 lb (13.01 kg). I hope you will enjoy it! Tom

Excellent! Keep up the good work, Mike! ITGITC?

Correct. If you want to audition a TP/110 keybed, you'll need to find a Kurzweil SP7 Grand in a store somewhere. Good luck! I bought my Electro 3 HP with the TP/100 keybed and kept it. I'm a piano player. Although the TP/100 isn't the fastest keybed, for my use it's head and shoulders better than using a semi-weighted Electro. Everyone has their preferences depending on their experiences and how they plan to use the instrument. I wanted a 73-key instrument that is lightweight and has a variety of replaceable high-quality sounds. I'm also a big fan of the Electro's user interface. Playing organ sounds using a hammer action keybed is not ideal, but - for me, because of years of piano lessons, timing, feel, and muscle memory - it is much preferrable to using a semi-weighted keybed for piano sounds. If I had to replace my Electro today, I would probably buy the Piano 5 (73). Fortunately, I don't need to. My Electro continues to be a great solution for me. Tom

I have verified that the Pearl Upright will NOT download into my Electro 3 HP. The Nord website doesn't state that it won't. But yes, it's a 6.0.npno file format. I guess this is how it will be for all the new programs. I'll continue using the Black Upright Petrof. I LIKE my Electro HP, but I want Nord to incorporate a better keybed before I purchase a new one. Why can't they put the Nord Piano 5 keybed (73-note Triple Sensor keybed with grand weighted action) in the Electro HP? Sure, I could get the Piano 5, but I like having the Hammond organ simulation when I need it. The Piano 5 (73) with a Hammond clone is cool, but I don't want to carry two boards. Ummm... dammit! Tom ITGITC?

I still enjoy my Electro 3 HP, although I'm no longer playing out. I believe their red color was a genius marketing idea. Love the sound. Love the light weight. Love the library. Love the knobs. Will buy another Nord one day.

Paul, Thank you for the link to Syntaur.com. I have a Kurzweil PC2X and may need some parts one day. Excellent post, BTW. Tom

Thank you Anne. Murray was very kind and I enjoyed his posts here. We were also friends on Facebook. He will be missed. Take care, Tom

Joey's concert at Duke University in Durham was the last that BluesKeys and I attended together. Later that night we were at a friend's house where he provided us all with a private concert and a duet with BluesKeys. It was a late night. I've got the photos and a grainy video. Heart attack just about got the better of me a few years ago... but I'm still kickin' it. Rest in Peace Joey (and Blueskeys). ITGITC? video2.AVI

Not much to add that hasn't been said before. RMI/Allen Organ set up shop in my little Eastern North Carolina town in the early seventies. Nothing else there except tobacco, cotton, BBQ, and Hardee's hamburger's headquarters. One thing that must've caught their eye: cheap labor. Rocky Mount Instruments was a subsidiary of Allen Organ in Macungie, PA. Not only were the RMI products built in this factory, but many of their church organ parts were too. BTW, their church organs were, at the time, as close as you could get to the sound of real pipes. Allen Organ company was at the top of their game during these years. https://www.allenorgan.com/ I was 15, turning 16 when I met Dave Kirk and the guys at RMI. Dave was a helluva player, a great salesman, and a wonderful mentor to me. I bought the Electra Piano and their keyboard amp. It was my first electronic keyboard. I had years of piano lessons growing up. With that rig, I played cocktail parties and wedding receptions at private homes and country clubs all over the Rocky Mount area with my band. That's how I got my start. I later bought a Wurlitzer EP and traded the RMI for a beat up Fender Rhodes. Traded that Rhodes for a new one in college and bought an old Fender Bandmaster tube head to drive the RMI cab loaded with two 15" JBLs and a couple of Allen Organ tweeters. It sounded GREAT! Then I went on to perform for a couple of seasons at Carowinds theme park and restaurants around Charlotte. Lots of fun! The RMI was a tank. Served me well. Of course, I would have liked a velocity-sensitive keyboard. Those weren't around then. However, I really enjoyed touring the factory and getting to know the engineers at RMI. Pretty cool stuff for a kid like me just getting started. Tom