Sam Mullins

I've been using the Gator Pedal Tote with two Yamaha FC-7 and two sustain pedals (of varying types) for years. Works well for me and not outrageously priced. All four pedals velcro to the base. I do secure the base with gaffer's tape on most gigs but there are other ways of addressing the slippage issue (against stand, on mat, rubber feet, etc.)

Good playing! I think this demonstrates what I was saying; it sounds pretty good on the attack and passages without a lot of sustain sound good. My brother also has a Livetrak L12 and likes it a lot; .nicely thought out practical combination of features for a good price.

To be more accurate, the problem is the fact that USB is not isolated (the way 5-pin MIDI is, for example). Can be solved with one of these: USB Ground Loop Isolator - Jimbo Interesting. Probably won"t spend the $45 to find out if it solves my particular issue. Not a big problem for me and also trying to minimize connections on my couch setup . Thanks for the info though!

Just a follow-up: After doing a web search, this appears to be a problem that is not unique to CT-S300. Many keyboards appear to exhibit this behavior in this configuration (Keyboard USB MIDI Out -> iPad, iPad audio out -> Keyboard audio in)..often referred to as "USB ground loop". I see that Mike Martin commented on a Casio forum that this as a general problem of the technologies involved, not necessarily a problem with a particular keyboard, i.e. it stems from the fact that USB is not grounded.

I've had an ongoing quest for a "couch keyboard" and recently got a Black Friday deal on a CT-S300 ($115). I only had a couple days to play with it before I had carpal tunnel and orbital tunnel surgery yesterday but I thought give my initial impressions while I'm recovering. Here are my couch keyboard requirements with some comments on how well the CT-S300 meets them: - 4-5 octaves with full size velocity sensitive keys For a keyboard in this class, I really like it. It's light but has some resistance in the travel that makes it OK for playing piano and e-piano. I concur with Mike's comments. - built-in sounds good enough to practice songs, voicings, scales I was slightly disappointed in the main piano sound based on my expectations from watching demo videos. The attacks are decent but short sustain in the mid-range bothered me a bit. Didn't have a lot of time with other sounds bit found an epiano that was fun to play. But overall plenty good enough for my couch practice. - minimal footprint It does have a couple extra inches width to accommodate a pitch wheel and I wiil take that as a trade-off. The depth is fine. As a bonus, I love the buuit-in handle which doubles as the mounting for the music stand. The overall build is quite good for this price level. It doesn't look or feel like a toy. - light weight so I can place on lap Acceptable at 7 pounds (8 with batteries) - speakers loud enough for acoustic jams in a small area The speakers seem fine for this purpose. Not super-high fidelity bit I've heard much worse at higher prices. - usb-midi class compliant for easy integration with iPad Worked with no hassle using standard USB to iPad lightning connector. - power via AC or rechargeable batteries Worked fine with 6 AA Energizer NI-MH batteries (even though Casio says you must use Panasonic eneloop)I did not used the recommended One annoyance: I had the idea that I would put the iPad on the music stand, connect USB midi and then run iPad audio output back to audio input on keyboard so I could use those stereo speakers. This "works" but introduces lots of digital noise (affected by cable positioning, display changes,etc) I tried various things to see if it would help (different cables, using AC power instead of batteries) all to no avail. I'm not too optimistic since the User Manual basically says not to do this configuration (while not explainng why): "When connecting a smart device to the Digital Keyboard, do not connect both a USB cable and an audio cable at the same time." Overall I'm quite pleased for the price and think I will use this a lot while watching football, golf,etc. and on vacation.

showoff ! [j/k] Mostly the Fiona Apple, St. Vincent and Radiohead. Good stuff. Unfortunately I'll have to time to listen to the rest of them this winter; I'm having carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve surgery on both sides in the next 3 weeks.

I've listened to 9 of the 50..a few of them repeatedly. Is that a passing grade for an old fart (58)?

In my continuing quest for a good tv/couch keyboard (criteria: >= 4 octave full size touch sensitive keys, minimal footprint, light weight, speakers, usb-midi class compliant, and battery power)...Casio ct-s300 for $115. Can"t see how i will be disappointed for that little investment.

Bummer. Went to take advantage and by the time I went to cart it had been removed Didn't need it but at that price...oh well.

Mitch, as a fellow Iowa grad, you are missing the larger question. Why is she wearing a Hawkeye jersey? Fess up.. are you two dating?

One vote for Soundcraft Notepad-12fx. I use mine in a duo with 2 mics, guitar and 2 keys and have no complaints. Quiet for the price.

I bought a Soundcraft Notepad-12FX to use as the main mixer in my duo and also as an occasional dedicated keyboard mixer. Just hooked it up and it seems ideal for my use: 4 mic/line neutrik channels (two with Hi-Z options), 4 stereo line inputs, 4x4 USB audio, a simple Lexicon FX unit, and an aux send for monitoring. Quiet and good gain structure. All for around $180 (although I got mine cheaper.) I know the Key Largo is the go to dedicated keyboard mixer these days, but if you also need mic inputs, then give this one a look.

I've seen LSD a half dozen times and will be seeing them again this Sunday at a local brewery. Bassist/Songwriter Bridget Kearney is from our little college town and so we got to see them a couple times before they hit it big. They've done it the right way; great pop sensibility, supported but not hindered by a world-class music education. Add 10 years on the road in a van and suddenly you're an overnight success Rachael can belt it out with the best of them but has the taste and nuance that many of her pop contemporaries lack.

A very tasteful, touching cover of a Tom Waits song by Rachael Price: [video:youtube] A lot of young pop singers could learn from her restraint.

Poking around the web, I see conflicting information about whether the piano samples on the Go:Piano are different/better than the Go:Keys. Anyone have definitive information on that point?

Agreed. I like my Stage 3, but if money was tight I could easily get along with just the Kronos and a decent low-end Casio/Yamaha stage piano.

I was a person who jumped to Korg after using Yamaha Motif-line keyboards for years. This decision was entirely because of the MIDI limitations of the Montage/MODX and I was fairly critical of Yamaha's decision. (Not looking to re-debate this; I'm fully aware that Yamaha doesn't owe me anything.) So anyway...I have to give some credit where credit is due. I played the MODX8 for the first time at Guitar Center yesterday. It was right next to a MOXF8 and I have to say that the keyboard on the MODX8 was soooooooo much better than the MOXF8. Perhaps this was just because it was newer (since I have seen claims that they are the same keybed.) If not, then well done Yamaha.

Highly recommended if you are into Mehldau-style piano covers of pop songs: [video:youtube]

I dont have a dog in this fight because I jumped ship from a long line of Motif-based keyboards to Kronos instead of Montage because of precisely this limitation. Im quite happy with my Kronos so I really dont care if they ever change this...but it just seems like Yamaha is losing sales over something that is useful to many (but admittedly not all) people. A few points: - their previous entry in this market segment (MOXF) didnt have this limitation. My Roland JV-1010 (for a few hundred dollars 20 years ago) didnt have this limitation. - There are high end controllers you might choose for other reasons (e,g, Nord Stage for all the normal reason you might buy one) that dont implement more than one or two MIDI channel outputs. - I have a more complicated use case which requires the flexibility, but the basic use case I have heard articulated by many people is this: I would like to fly with a Montage 61 and rent any basic MIDI weighted 88 controller that I can get locally, which could often be something with limited transmitting channels like a low end digital piano.

I think your reference talks about setting the tranmsit channel...but it's the receive channel that has the limitation.

I was wondering this as well, I emailed someone in the Yamaha keyboard group to ask... Took a brief look at the manual and it seems it has the same limitations: "When the MIDI I/O mode is set to multi, each MIDI Receive Channel number of the MODX corresponds to an individual Part number, such as Channel 1 for Part 1, Channel 2 for Part 2, and so on. When the MIDI I/O is set to single, a single channel is used for receiving all Parts." A little ambiguous, but given the known Montage implementation, I read that as no aribitrary setting of MIDI channel numbers for parts.

Anyone know if it has the same silly MIDI implementation as the Montage?

Nothing too exciting (at least compared to my recent Stage 3 upgrade), but I sold my iConnectivity IConnectMIDI4+ and bought a MOTU Micro Express. The iConnectivity box is a nice idea (with the multiple host inputs and IOS compatability)... but the lack of front-panel presets combined with the finicky config software just continually annoyed me. The MOTU worked out of the box and was easy to configure

Stage 3 88 just arrived to replace my Stage 2! For me, the biggies are the expanded piano memory, better Leslie and the A1 synth engine. From the videos I have watched, the A1 seems to be a nice compromise between capability and easy programming. Looking forward to digging in. Have a gig on Friday and then will start the process of transferring my Stage 2 programs before putting it up for sale Got a really good bundle deal on it, which included a Roland KC-60 that I didn't need or want, but I'll just put it on craigslist tomorrow.

Last night I was listening to.... KC's own Mitch Towne coax some magic from his Mojo with the Steve Grismore Trio at the Iowa City Jazz Festival. If you get a chance to hear Mitch, just do it! http://www.stickmanor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/mitch_towne_steve_grismore.jpg And then on the main stage, "Still Dreaming" which is Josh Redman's homage to his father's band "Old and New Dreams". Redman was already one of my favorite sax players, but I was simply blown away by their set. Smart, joyful, and sacred. http://www.stickmanor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/still_dreaming.jpg Here is a taste: [video:youtube]