miden

Oh and just to add a "fly into the ointment" how about the Korg Nautilus 73? About a grand more, though so I guess it would HAVE to be better?

Ok, cool. Interesting observation. Shorter travel would make playing Ap/Ep a bit unenjoyable though. yes I think I may have that tendency - although the 2x sorta got me weaned off weighted beds a bit FA-07 was in the mix, but after research, I think the MODX ticks more boxes Hmmm, yes that was what I was thinking and backs up some other research I've done. Thanks, yeah aren't we all hahaha! Cool, thanks. I'll keep that in mind if I end up getting it.

And if so , impressions please of the keybed feel? I know it's cheap, but there are so may conflicting stories going around, not sure whether it's Yamaha fans don't want to rag on it, or others who don't like Yamaha bagging it for that reason alone!! About the only comparison I could give that I know (so I can get an idea of a comparison to the MODX7) is my old Roland A-70 and I played a Motif XS 7 for a while, and the Studiologic Numa Compact 2x, which wasn't too bad really. So if it like any of those it should be fine. If it's like one of their PSR series 'boards, then forget it hahaha!

They write different styles of songs requiring different playing techniques - EJ imo, is more a singer/songwriter who adds piano, BJ is piano up front in a lot of his songs.....I could never ever see EJ playing Angry Young Man, although he might pull it off. To me, neither is better or worse, just different, and I, for one, am so grateful for the difference!

Was just chatting to my dealer , and he said a new model was coming? I've not read of one, or even if it is only the Roland Fantom series or both? (IE and the "0" series). Anyone here heard anything?

yes, I might research removing the power supply and try and find a digital one, I'd expect it all runs on 12-14v DC circuitry, maybe even 9??

Yeah I had thought of something like that, but down here, I'd have to probably pay someone to take it hahaha! Very small market. And the 37 is pretty. ugh non-existent nowadays.

I've used and broken most of them, and modded them, but this one https://www.herculesstands.com/products/multimedia/tablet/dg307b I agave found to be the best, with the strongest attachment to a stand of any I have used...fits pretty much any iPad...I currently own three of them!!

Thanks m8, yeah I am tending to agree...but it's more to get a flat surface...and maybe even a possibility of squeezing it into some sort of plastic frame from an older non-working keyboard - dunno....might just be a Quixotic quest hahaha! Thanks for the link to the service data too!

Has anyone come across any online stuff about converting the A-70 to a simple keybed only controller? IE with the pedals and MIDI ports intact, but perhaps removing it all to a lighter and more practical chassis (bespoke) with spaces for laptops/iPads etc? I think the biggest issue will be power supply and which control chips need to go with it... Might be too much of an exercise though, and not "do-able" at all There is just such a dearth of 73/76 note controller only keyboards out there, and my A-70 still plays fine!

I play bass primarily in pub rock style bands where it is not too demanding, but these days with the economy as it is, I 've needed to downsize to a duo and a solo act where I play left hand bass and keys, along with very minimal tracks. Left hand bass and keys can work really well I find - here is an audio clip of me playing Wayne Shorters Black Nile, keys and bass, with a drum track with some sparse guitar a bit later on in the tune. - not brilliant but gets the job done right enough, I think. Obviously a jazz oriented tune, and I do have demos of pop and rock songs, but this one should give a good idea of how well it can all blend together. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/m6wlgpfpril6a44u1f221/Black-Nile.wav?rlkey=pq1wyv9dh5ah7f0obuvyv0wo1&dl=0

Camlelot Pro

coming very late to this topic, been running a MacMini M2 Pro for some time now, in a special holder in a rack. if there is anything that has not been answered, please ask. I use one of two USB-C monitors (both touch screen) a Viewsonic and another smaller unit, depending on circumstance. In the studio its hooked up to a 32" monitor. Re the external SSD the Samsung T7 Shield 1tb drive has been great so far.

Sweet thanks Gov!

Oh totally agree! This would make a great at home metronome for sure...I loathe metronomes and it's why, like you, use drum units for a more interesting time-keeping option!

Always worries me when a manufacturer says "fun to practice" on little boxes like this. Usually means the sound samples are going to be pretty naff! Still, a good find, and it might be interesting to keep a watch on, one never knows where the gems are going to be found!

You had any experience with Medeli?

Thanks AS....I will check it out, bit just recently I've been reading some rather disparaging comments re the keybed....I know it's a Medeli, however when I asked support they said it was of their own design, whatever that means. Comments I have read are that it is stiff, the keys sometimes stick, requiring a "gliss" first up each morning to unfree them and it's not really good, decent, but not good for trad piano/EP playing (which I'd be using a VST for) ....so it's giving me pause for thought....shame its NAMM time as the couple of guys who would know this stuff for sure are there, so sort kinda off-air so to speak.

Getting nothing from support, apart from some person who seems disgruntled at having to answer questions, and the manual is about as clear as mud on this topic. I asked the direct question can program strings (msb/lsb/pc) be user defined, or as Stokely pointed out, fixed to the ASM hierarchy - response was just download the manual! See my former comment in this post!

Thanks Stokely - yeah I was thinking maybe something like Camelot Pro that has a pretty extensive MIDI swapping and re-directing tool might be useful in the case you mentioned, if indeed it just sends some preset PC/msb/lsb string. I can get one at a good price, however, like most players here, I need 'boards to be able to "mulit-task" a bit...I only run one axe so it needs to be a bit "swiss"

Can the Hydrasytnh Deluxe be used as a sort of controller as well? In that I can use it to transmit midi program changes, volume control, footpedal messages (sustain and expression). That's about all I'd need it to do. Was thinking of one as a band axe to use along with an iPad running "bread and butter" sound VSTs

Yes I agree, but my point was for chording purposes and in that case what is different to a guitarist, apart from forming the chord with one hand and strumming with the other. The accomp is essentially provided by one hand. Bass and drums are covered in the track, as is the case with a LOT of solo guitarists that use tracks, it is bass and drums. It's just an interesting (to me) thing. Is the keyboardist somehow less of a player because he is only using one hand? Anyway bottom line is that the MAIN thrust of the post was the generally held perception that a guitarist can get away with strumming a guitar to tracks, while a keyboard player doing the same thing, but on a keyboard cannot!

errr, no...and apart from you trying to be a smart-arse your post has no relevance to what I was hoping to be a relatively mature discourse - but I now see the chidren are still up.

thanks folks, interesting views. tbh I was thinking more of a chordal style of play, rather than leads as such. You know, comping along, backing a vocal along to a drum machine or drum/bass track. Or even just playing chords backing a vocal. Sorta like a rhythm guitarist.

So you'd be one of the "knockers" then