tarkus

When I first reported the schizophrenic encoders to DSI they asked me to ship the MEK back to them but no estimation on turnaround time. Naturally I would have to pay for shipping, insurance and the $50 for the new encoders. I passed since at the time the De-Oxit remedy seemed to be working. Ultimately,, with time and humidity and Murphy's Law - the original encoders are completely psychotic. $250 is expensive relative to the initial purchase price, however I take an optimistic view: I've had the MEK for 15 years. If I wanted to purchase a used MEK with PE upgrade it would runb about $750-$1000. For $250 should have a good as new instrument, however Murphy's Law looms large.

"Hail Hydra!"

Let's see... I purchased my DSI MEK late in 2004. In 2009 the "glitch" emerged. You know the one where the parameters would slip out of place. I was alerted to this by DSI techs saying I could convert back to PE rather than the current infinite knob tweakage. ... or they would send me enough De-Oxit to remedy the issue, albeit temporarily. The De-Oxit worked and I was trouble free for almost 2-years! In 2011 I moved to Florida and the MEK seemed to get worse with humidity. I bought another can of de-oxit and it seemed to do the trick.... 6 months later, more De-Oxit! I routinely took this thing apart to keep the glitch away. It seemed to work but was predictable which knobs or parameters would be on the fritz. The glitches got worse. So much so that De-Oxit and other brands of contact cleaners didn't do a damned thing. The knobs are useless. Within minutes of switching on, it is out of tune, envelopes go wacky, and trying to reset makes me reach for a hammer. Here we are, 15 years after the initial purchase. My option was - junk the POS! Sell it for Parts and just buy a new monosynth or dig up a Used Kawaii K3 somewhere. I decided that the Used K3 cost as much as my original K3 in 1988 ($400) and when the MEK is working it really is great machine. I called DSI they said $225 for the kit plus shipping. That and a purchase of a soldering kit (this should be fun) will bring the MEK back in good standing. Today the upgrade package arrived. It's like playing the game "Operation!" ... but for keeps! Just remember not to solder the funny bone to the bread basket. I will update the board with the progress on updating the glitchy board with the updated boards. Video of the process will be forthcoming.

just Bought a KAT KTMP percussion controller. exceeded low expectations. Having difficulty using it as a midi controller when midi out to my Triton. but its ok. I didn't buy kick and hi-hat pedals for it. As a test I connected my M-Audio sustain pedals and they achieved a somewhat desired effect albeit with the wrong polarity. Will probably buy a pair of polarity switchable sustain pedals or momentary pedals for it. The piano style pedals are fairly inexpensive these days. Still don't know why someone would pay same or more for the flimsy, square momentary switches when the piano style is available.

[video:youtube]

[video:youtube] Frank, you are sorely missed

[video:youtube] Ruth

Ruth is on this video. [video:youtube] [video:youtube]

LOL - I had a Rally Chopper when I was 12 years old. [video:youtube]

"We only play 80's Joel"

Discovered while taking a walk on the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan bridge. I thought I had seen everything... Funnny thing: the night before I was talking with a keyboardist at a jazz gig downtown, and he kept lamenting the loss of his Motiff...

where was private doberman?

meh. Program aftertouch / pressure sens with expression pedal achieve same results without the bellows.

Here's a recent revelation: around the same time I wrote No 1, I had this piece written for Piano. It was pretty aggressive. again 25 years ago, on a grand piano it was a ripper! Now my forearms ache so much I need soften the attack. So I fiddled with some other patches and voila - Marimba/Vibraphone Concerto is born. An old friend of mine was exceptional at marimba, I wonder if he could transpose this? [video:youtube] Now the second movement: on piano the bass ostenato is absolutely sinister and does harken to Ginastera... But I thought it would still be a fun piece for mallet percussion: [video:youtube] again - accented with the mysterious buzz of an incoming text message... ain't technology grand!

another note, I no longer have the chops or dexterity of 30 years ago. The obvious onset of arthritis, tendonitis and whatever other "-itis" I am currently afflicted has made for some sloppy playing. Oh and the reading glasses... don't forget reading glasses. That horrible buzzing in the fourth movement was My wife texting me LOL!

In the process of preserving my music. All vids shot with Samsung Galaxy 6... Apologies for the sideways video upload, then again, its al about the music. Concerto no 1 - Third Movement (the first two movements are also available. [video:youtube] Concerto no 1 - Fourth Movement: Obviously inspired by Emerson musical quotes although I composed this 30 years ago I dedicate it to his memory. [video:youtube]

I ask the keyboardists because it appears that some are looking at the auction as a used gear sale rather than historic value. But then again what do you call it when sell a hammond to make room for new gear? an organ transplant

I would hope his gear would fetch a high price at auction. This is gear that he toured with and recorded with. I ask the question to Rock Keyboardists: what would a Jimi Hendrix Strat go for at auction? Why? IMHO Because Keith was as important to rock and roll as Jimi was (if not more important).

Had the pleasure of seeing and hearing this gear played live and up close at BB Kings for the first Emerson Band tour. I believe Goff rigged it for midi, but the sound was enormous. Not the ELP stuff, but the Nice tunes like Country Pie were brilliant. When I say up close my table was right in front of the Keith. The Moog solo in lucky man shook the room.

The custom C3 with the matching leslies - sure! I may put a bid on one of the smaller items.

RRHOF wouldn't know what to do with Keyboards. Hard Rock hotels and casinos will probably pick up some of the gear.

While the estate is parting with some of the regularly used stage gear, I'm sure Aaron has a say as to the rest of the gear. Regardless - I hope this stuff gets a good home.

Thanks for the tip on the techies. While its up in WPB, it beats the blind hand-off to electronics guy in Little Havana that used to re-wire the vintage radios in present day Cuba.