Adam Burgess

Having gone thru almost every SysEx message I could on my Integra, every parameter is in Hz that should be, for example. That does mean that the values when moving in steps of 0.1Hz greatly go beyond 128 steps (and, therefore, longer and longer SysEx messages…) Same with delays in steps of 10ms - and, these can be represented easily as note values if they're tied to the clock. Best of both. So, Roland definitely do it. I'm sure Korg have for a long time… Regarding MIDI 2.0 fixing this, a 45/60mm slider, or a pot hardly gives the greatest resolution, and keyboards with actual encoders, especially with visual feedback, are still expensive. Everyone wants a cheap MIDI controller that does everything.

I have a new LCD driver board coming from the UK (got lost on the first attempt) for an old Kronos put together from all the Kronoseses I've fixed up in the past for people. It seems to all be fine apart from a few faders and knobs missing, touchscreen works, just can't see anything! Oh, and all I have is an 88 keybed chassis, not a 73 which this one is 😝 Sounds like everything works! I will probs persevere and make a rack at some point! I did do a few designs during the 'no-gig time!' This will be my 4th Kronos. I'm sure there's a massive reason that I just need one somewhere in my rig! But… having said that - if it ends up having more issues than I have time for, I may have to get a 61 Nautilus! (convincing myself, 'cause it's in bold) Put the Kronos finally to rest.

Been playing (for money) for over 30 years, I love this forum. Some great advice on many levels for everyone. It's definitely one of the most well-behaved forums! And, I'm sure that no question is too basic. All the pros that got me to where I am today always passed their knowledge on, and gave me chances where they could. It's the same here. Quite happy to converse with beginners (and, ALL of us that are still learners…), about musicianship, good practice regarding keeping a band together, tech, best way to put up with singers and crap sound guys etc etc haha… Love reading all the stories that made some guys what they are today… I think this a great place. No such thing as a stupid question.

Back when I was a nipper, I did buy a Peavey KB100. Oh the shame! The heaviest thing I owned at the time and was the most dull, boring, lifeless… etc etc But, it was totally indestructible. Dunno where it is now, but I bet it still works. I did a gig a few years back and the house had a more modern looking KB something (KB5?), and it was actually passable. Didn't last very long before it exploded, and not even being pushed hard. Played for a harmony singing cabaret group for a spell - usually in theatres with a Yammy baby grand, but when playing halls without a piano, they had a Roland 350 and a nice Yammy P120. Again - massively lifeless and abysmal and etc etc (and needlessly heavy) The only keyboard amp that I've ever played which was great (also heavy (Why ARE they all so heavy?!)) was a beastly 3-way Yamaha with a 15", maybe a 6.5" and a tweeter. Three channels. It was amazing to me at the time. That was stolen. I did find it at a gig and my drummer and me attempted to get it back from the thieves, but the police said I had to prove it was mine. Apparently knowing the last date of the service, and the sticker inside the unit on the power amp saying the same thing wasn't enough? As above, we've surely all learned that KB amps are just wrong. Also as above, one band I was in invested in some RCF TT+ for FOH. So, in rehearsals we used those as stereo wedges and they were glorious. EDIT TO ADD: The only decent keyboard amp was my Yamaha KS531. Thanks for the memories!

If you can physically run the cable, get a short jack to a DI box. Then an XLR cable can go for literally miles. I know the Sennheiser radio packs (and equivalent Shure) can take a line level signal. I don’t the 2.4GHz line 6 guitar stuff can.

1) Any real reason a cable will not do? 🙃 2) I use a Sennheiser EW100 G3 with my keytar. Can quite happily take a line level signal. https://en-ae.sennheiser.com/wireless-instrument-cable-guitar-bass-ew-100-g4-ci1 ^^^ A more modern version ^^^ 3) If you'd like stereo, then you'll need 2x units and use a lot of batteries (suppose you could always croc clip some bare wires with 3V DC or so into the battery compartment…!) 4) Bluetooth? (wouldn't use it, personally…) 5) Why not a cable, again?? 🤔

Expensive - but my Radial JDI Duplex has been useful for more than just DI duties!

There were definitely some songs in all those operas! The term singer-songwriter these days seems to have took to mean a guy with a guitar (usually a beard). Songwriters write stuff all the time - sometimes to commission, sometimes for something, or someone. Composers write songs, and pieces without vocals… As pointed out above, the overlap is great. Maybe not all composers are songwriters, but all songwriters are composers…?

A singer I've worked with on a couple of occasions messaged me the other day asking to do a roaming gig. "Yeah, sure." I say yes to everything. I have a AX-Synth. All good. Then, I remember having not used it in years - I sold it to a great player from South Africa! So, not to let the client down… the only battery powered keyboard have is the mighty Korg i3. Got my drill and a spray can out. Made a cable to connect to a Sennheiser belt pack. An hour's work. Honestly, if I did real maths, this thing has paid for itself so many many many times. It's a total gem. I've got, and had, all sorts of things for different jobs, but this thing keeps giving. And, it sounds absolutely fine. A total problem solver. Like a good little cheap mixer, or that box of cables that come in handy when you most need them. It does stuff my Stage 2 never could, and my three Kronosseses and MacBooks over the years will never give the returns on this little thing. (at least at my base pro level 🙃) Off to buy many batteries…

Yes, I get ya. QLab is very similar, just sort of the other way around. The QLab project will just reference which ever spreadsheet, or a text file, or PDF or… … you need. So, the front end for the user doesn't change. All of Song A's settings always look the same no matter what file(s) you're referencing Just need 2x identical projects that the set list points at. No affiliation, admittedly a fan boy. I just find it an amazingly 'Apple-like' program, unlike Mainstage which is not, strangely! 🙃 Cheap is always good, but when it can't afford to go wrong - I'm happy to pay.

My friend and guitarist with me is a massive Cubase/Nuendo fan and keeps trying to get me to switch! Does a lot of beta testing and stuff with Steinberg. Very talented man. I'm the same, I've used Logic for so long, I don't really want to have to learn all the shortcuts again. Was bad enough having to go to Logic from ProTools and the dedicated hardware 12 years ago 'cause that's what the bandleader used! Same with Sibelius and Dorico! But, he makes a living with Cubase. And, an amazing guitarist and arranger! https://www.youtube.com/c/PhilPendlebury/playlists

I got it last year and is good. Paid around $500USD. The installation is a [REALLY BAD] pain, but working fine on an M1 Mac mini and a MacBook Air once done! The BX-3 is good enough for me. Syntronik is useful, for sure. The MODO Bass is great. Haven't really had to use the drum module. SampleTank is fine.

This is one of those reasons that 'pro' software like QLab is worth a look. It's not cheap - compared to a 99p/shareware app - but it doesn't crash and is so well supported. They're a smallish team, but they are so pro-active in adding features. If the feature doesn't yet exist, or is still on their to do list, there's some amazing guys who will happily offer a script to do all manner of things! OSC and AppleScript is amazingly complex, but there's not much audio/MIDI/file wise it can't do. In one band a few years back, we ran multitracks, MIDI program changes to my keys, an X32, and the lighting rig. All the gear was offstage and the iPad remote is excellent. We had to get a basic + audio license to use more than a stereo out and MIDI, but I think MIDI is available free now with QLab 5. Will have to check! It'll happily display or scroll text, PDFs, PNGs, JPEGs, etc., too. EDIT: No - MIDI is still a paid feature 😞 so $500 USD. But, for reliability and support - I'd take it! EDIT 2: Just reading about people using spreadsheets… the cues in QLab can reference external files, such as a PDF chart, or cells in an open spreadsheet and use those as variables for a SysEx string, say. So you could use the same QLab show, and just replace the spreadsheet if you need to use your "B' keyboard rig. The cue would just read the different value.

Those MorningStar things were same idea as my Marshall footswitch. Obviously executed much much much better! Mine was a gaffa tape and glue thing with a MIDI port stuffed in there - was just a proof of concept. A switch can easily toggle or latch with an Arduino, so a toggle will be easy for an on and off; and much less data than a CC. Teensies are very small - may even get one into a regular sustain pedal.

I agree. I squeezed an Arduino into a Marshall amp double footswitch for a singer friend of mine to MIDI control FX mutes on her XR18. 5 pin MIDI out and powered from a USB phone charger, or if you have a handy USB out on a keyboard… Was a bit rough and ready, and I was gonna redo it properly, but it still works… Sending a SysEx string won't really be a problem, either. (And, for Roland stuff, you don't actually have to worry about the checksum byte, which can be a pain if you're not a mathematician! I'm not - I'm a piano player!) What exactly are you trying to send? I have a spare Arduino somewhere I could maybe try something with?

Quite sloppy, and could there BE any more pedal?!

I go between USB and DIN MIDI depending if there's a computer in my set up for that particular gig. I love my little iConnectivity MIDI4+… best of both. One use case a few years ago was using set-list/Combi mode on a Kronos 61 MIDI'd to a Nord Stage2 for Prog Changes, and Control Changes (FX mutes/levels etc.) to an X32 (via a MIDI Solutions splitter). Not possible with USB without a computer in the middle. Never failed once in over 1000 gigs. I've had more troubleshooting to do with USB - nothing show stopping - just annoying.

I'm playing an average Young Chang acoustic grand today. There's a few intonation things going on, like in a B chord, the D# (4th line in treble stave) is awful, but that same note in an Eb or a Db9 sounds beautiful. (Sure there's a reason for that (done with a digital tuner?), but, then, I wouldn't dare tune a whole piano!). The middle E is getting stuck now and again, but, hey! I'm loving it. Feels lovely - and that resonance you get when you can play a chord with every note of the scale in it! - never had that with digital. It may be a lot heavier than my Kronos, Arturia, and SV1 88s, but I don't have to move it and set it up; an iPad is all I need. Lift lid - GO!

Started by ear at 7 playing along to TV shows at my grandparents' house on a mini key Yammy PSR. Had (Hammond) organ lessons for a year or two from 8yrs. Fell in love with Leslies! Then got a better PSR. Did my first paid gig, and had beer at 8 years old 🤩 My organ teacher used to accompany guest singers in a few clubs in town - one day he set me loose! So, sight reading with a stranger singing. An excellent 'thrown in at the deep end' moment. Had some guitar lessons at school, with the guy who would later be my A-level music and performing arts lecturer. He did the same thing when I was at college. Gave me gigs with a day's notice. Deep end, again! Moved on to piano at about age 10 with lessons from the local church guy, did some ABRSM exams over the next few years - grade 8 piano (never worked so hard since! That was tough!) grade 5 vocal (I was playing for a load of students, so thought I'd do it at the same time and accompanied myself) grade 5 clarinet (don't know how I got that - I was abysmal). Played almost every day since!

Don't know how much manufacturers frequent forums like this, but, would like to say a big thank you to Laura and Grant at Korg UK for helping me out quickly with a spares issue after trying and trying with the local reps. Thanks, Korg UK! Another well worn Kronos shall live on.

I had a Fatar Studio 90, 900, 990(?) with an EMU Piano half rack thing that used to drift its pitch along with stage light fades in a certain theatre I used to do musicals in 😆 Was never sure if it was the keyboard or the module; problem was not really repeatable! Used to leave the thing there as it was possibly heavier than a car.

Indeed. Programming on a big monitor is a massive advantage. My main rig is a couple of controllers and MainStage these days. But still love a bit hardware, as both a back up, and for times where I have to maybe leave stuff for a week and do other gigs during the day, or quick dashes between venues etc. Sometimes nice to just have a 'B'-rig ready to go, and not worry about flimsy USB connections - just good old XLR and IEC power!

I started to decipher all the SysEx stuff on my Integra to write a little app to program some boring stuff. Not really an editor, just a thing to do boring bits like setting ranges and typing patch names in. When you get a theatre type run of three nights, three different sets to program in a week; even typing the names on a screen like a JV1080 is a day's work! The iPad editor is ok, but setting velocity and key range stuff isn't there, editing PCM sounds isn't there… Lot of stuff is in the manual, but there's quite a bit undocumented. Was debating whether I should find a real software guy or girl to collab with to make a really good editor. Like, better than the 1980s SoundQuest abomination! Beyond me sending messages to and from an Arduino, it's a bit beyond me. And the AMOUNT of parameters in the Integra, for example, is HUGE. Taught me a lot about how good a little synth it could be, too. Had some amazing quirky noises editing random stuff as I discovered more SysEx stuff 🤩 And - I can't find a LCD driver board for my Kronos, so need to do some poking around to see if stuff like saving is possible over SysEx; not a great deal of info around. If that's doable, everything else I can get around with SysEx 🙂 Seems a shame to throw a usable keyboard away for the sake of one board… PS MINOR RANT: Korg Middle East are next to useless responding to mails and messages. I tried Korg UK and they're dealer only (if they can even find the part)! If anyone has a KLM-3007 board lying round - I'll happily purchase the little elusive bugger!!!!

I enjoyed the first build - took a whole afternoon to get everything in order, and still took a few tweaks over the next week, but that was years ago and its been a faithful friend every time I've used it since! Just double check on which clamps are which - there's a few subtle differences between some of them! And order a couple more memory locks than you think you should. And, don't forget you may be able to save a bit locally if you can find 1 1/2" tubes and get a metalworker to cut them to length… although, assuming you'll get the stuff from Thomann and shipping within Eurpoe, may not be worth it! The clamps are the expensive part - but they're really really well made. Good luck if you decide to go for it! And, thanks, too for your YouTube channel - bought my Korg i3 because of the review. Really enjoy it (and the keyboard)! 🙂

https://www.avid.com/products/pro-tools-hd-io Line ins only - and hardly entry level. First one I thought of. There are many more without mic-pres. Top of the line Yamaha/Korg/Roland keyboards do have them, sure. I think in these cases, a USB interface-equipped keyboard means that everything going to and from the unit stays digital, without the need to take analog jack cables into line-ins to USB…