VanDerGraaf

:o

Thanks for that feedback Radagast. Italian Grand- Fazioli? Hope so!

The loading of your own samples in a common format like sf2 is welcome. I mean, what a simple solution to convert to or create what you need that the developer may have missed or not done to your satisfaction. Im impressed that this is offered on the Dexibel desktop SX7 module. Id jump on one if priced a little better and if I liked more of whats in their library beyond the acoustic pianos. This seems to be the rub for most- the other sounds. I decided to take a chance because I think there's a good possibility that these things will be improved by Dexibell. I'm interested to see what's in their downloadable sample library. Particularly the so-called Platinum quality piano sounds (for reference, they refer to the onboard Vivo Grand as a Gold quality sound).

Although this thread is focusing a lot on the S9....count me in on this Dexibell trip. I just picked up a S3, barely used with the Dexibell wheeled soft case, for just over 50% of retail price. 450 mile round trip today to pick it up, way too late to start playing it tonight, but I think this little board has serious potential. Also very impressed with the strides Dexibell has been making with the new Aqua Viva OS, cool stuff like the usb/audio connection Sven mentioned earlier. A big change is that now users can choose what is loaded at start up, and you want to load (I think) a full 1.5GB of your own stuff (eschewing the factory sounds), then you can, previously you could only load 100mb of user-chosen stuff. These boards could end up making a transition like the Forte did, from stage piano to something with altogether more weight behind the punches. Not on the same level obviously, yet the improvements since the earlier versions are impressive! I think there's enough horsepower beneath the hood to make this an interesting ride! Hopefully an improved Leslie and overdrive are but a short update away...

Well, last week I decided to join this party. Ordered my SpaceStation from Thomann last Monday. Feeling that I needed backup (I play in a rocking wedding band with teeth), I ordered an HK 210A sub to go with it...things that attracted me to that were 600W RMS, 2x10" (a better keys fit than 1x12"?), and built in variable crossover. Tiny vertical footprint too. Laid horizontal in the picture below, it has feet on the side and bottom- nice touch). No-one has mentioned this one before but I thought it might well be an ideal companion so took the plunge. I was delighted when all of the stuff turned up before this weekend's gigs. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v667/VanDerGraaf1974/90823075-cc7d-4086-ab33-a25de56f1619.jpg Took a risk and decided to leave my usual rig of 2 QSC K12's in the warehouse storage. Leap of faith. Well, I can safely say that those QSC's will be going up for sale soon. I am so much happier overall wth the presentation of my live sound through the SSV3. So much more detail, not to mention the spread effect, that width control really can change things tonally and I can see that there is some experimentation yet to be done to get the best from this thing. One thing also that I noticed is the timing. First night playing through it, I just felt that my time was a little off. The snappy response of the smaller speakers let me know more accurately where I am in the music. 2nd night, became used to it and felt right back in the groove. I wonder if the DSP calculations going on inside the K12 induces the merest delay, and maybe makes them feel less connected when I play...? Conclusion- this little box is not only sounding better than the K12's but is also making my playing more accurate and tighter. And lastly...I'm having a lot more FUN! Because I love the sound I'm getting! With the sub taking the strain at under 110Hz (will experiment with that crossover point), I've got all the power I need from this combo. High notes with fast Leslie from my Numa Organ 2 just sing out like never before! It all makes me feel more alive on stage and a real part of the music. The other guy in the band who has ears and gives a crap agrees that it sounds a lot better too. Thanks Aspen for designing this (BIG-sounding) little thing! It's changed gigging for me overnight. I wonder if I'm the first adopter in Scotland? It's nice being a pioneer! Rohan

That Yamaha keybed was pretty good IMO- nice feel and a good unweighted all-rounder. Used in the Oasys 76 too I think. It is very similar/identical to that used in the DX7 and other boards. Only problem- black keys break with alarming regularity. My Trinity Pro has 2 broken just now....it's "retired", so no rush to fix. Oasys has 1 (happened first gig after replacing 2 other broken ones... ) I did wonder if it was me, but my tech guy said he has heard of them breaking easily, and has had many Korgs with this action in for repair with the same problem. Always the black keys. Incidentally I tried the King Korg action in a store today and my god- what a piece of junk. Came home and played the Trinity and the difference was staggering. Ok, the Trinity was in a higher price bracket in its day, but putting out a $1000/£1000 board with the action the King Korg has is ludicrous. Actions have been such a bone of contention in recent years in our built-down-to-a-cost-obsessed age. I agree with recent posts on, for example, the VR09 action- it may not turn out to be the best, but a good musician will make music on it regardless. I'd still contend, however, that his enjoyment and involvement may well still be lessened by the subpar keybed- compared to something superior. For all you older guys, answer me this: Were synth actions better back in the day? I haven't been fortunate enough to play many old high-end synths. Or has the "crap factor" with actions always been there? Actions I'd love to have the chance to try: Sequential T8 CS-80 VAX-77. Weighted actions are odd to me, as they often seem overly heavy. I'm not a pianist, but the last piano I played was a Bosendorfer with the extra bass notes under the black panel (Imperial Grand?) The action on that thing was the best I have ever played, on any keyboard-related instrument. Wonderful, fast and supple. Yet far lighter than almost all the weighted actions I have used on DPs. The same tech guy who must be rubbing his hands when I call him with my black key woes, once commented on my Alesis Fusion 8HD feeling somewhat like the Bosendorfer he used at the conservatoire he once taught at. That's a Fatar action isn't it? (though his memory may be tinged with....well, who knows what? He seems the type- and i know the type very well ). I don't know- sorry, I've lost it after being up for 34 hours. Apologies for the rambling- carry on, gentlemen.