Dave Horne

OK, here's my version of All of You. This is not a very creative version, it would be something in the manner I would play on a cocktail job - very mildly reharmonized. (This was the third take - the first one was exactly what I wanted but there was an electrical glitch on playback which marred it.) http://members.home.nl/davehorne/mp3/AllOfYou.mp3

SK, Where or When Again ... excellent! The intro certainly got my attention.

Wow ... both versions very different and, I really hate to say this, inspirational. As I'm listening I doing my very best to analyse the changes and at the same time thinking, why didn't I approach the tune like that. This is an eye opener. Thanks!

SK, nice treatment of that tune! The GranTouch is a hybrd piano - a real grand piano action with real hammers and real grand piano action but no strings. Instead of having wool heads for the hammers, Yamaha uses a neoprene type material which strikes a similar type material for the feel of hitting 'strings'. I was told the action comes from a six foot grand. Yamaha made the GT to look like a small grand piano but the casing of the piano is metal whch looks like polished ebony.

Marino, re the GranTouch - it is slightly disappointing to hear it though its built in speakers. I always play through headphones which, of course, is the same exact sound you hear as well. It's not a perfect sample, but it's damn close. There are three tones (I'll have to double check) that are slightly out of tune but only when the damper pedal is depressed. The GT2 and the GT1 (which I own) use the same exact samples.

Here's another just for gangsu since she stated this is a reharm thread. The tune is Where of When. What I played was very simple but it is a reharmonization ... at least a few bars are. I'll probably go back and redo this as I left out one melody note - a repeated note. http://members.home.nl/davehorne/mp3.htm

Thanks for the nice words guys. If I would have known this shit was so easy I would have recorded stuff years ago. I'm using Audacity (thanks to Yoozer who recommended it) and a simple stereo 1/4" 'Y' to a stereo mini. I'm using my wife's laptop. I'll be posting more stuff here if only to quiet gangsu.

I finally got around to adding a mp3 file to my web site. The tune is On A Slow Boat To China and the location is ... http://members.home.nl/davehorne/mp3.htm

If Mama Cass and Karen Carpenter had only shared that last sandwich, they'd both be alive today.

Keyoctave, that reminds me of a story attributed to Groucho Marx. Many years ago Jews were not welcome in the swimming pools of some hotels in Miami. Groucho's daughter mentioned an incident to him and he wrote a letter to the hotel stating that since she was half Jewish would it be OK for her to wade up to her navel. My very first group consisted of three friends and myself. They were Jewish and I was the only gentile (now an atheist). I remember playing an audition with them and as I was walking away a customer commented to me, well, at least there's one. I never forgot that either.

We're beginning to sound a little like that other keyboard forum.

There's a few moments that stand out for me. One was about ten years ago when I first moved here. I was playing a Sunday brunch job. A women approaches me and quickly realizes after a few words that I'm not Dutch. She than states, they couldn't get a Dutch piano player? I was nonplussed. I thought of several lines later, but then it was ... too late. I saw that same women at another job at the same restaurant shortly thereafter and she avoided eye contact. I assumed she realized she was a bit too nationalistic on our previous encounter.

Does your house have a fire place? We will be moving to a new home in six months or so and my wife and I are throwing away all kinds of shit. Any magazine older than one year gets tossed. Any book that has been read gets tossed. I'm sure in 100 years those magazines will be worth something, I'm just not sure it's worth the effort to store them.

I'm beginning to think you may be right. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I changed the curve settings for a few patches. The jury is still out if that made any difference as well. What bothers me - the R43 resistor is 10K and not 5.6K as it should have been. Mine may have been a later model and they made that modification, but really didn't solve the problem (as you mentioned). If I learn anything from Roland, I'll pass it on, but I'm not holding my breath. At the very least, I've certainly got my money out of this keyboard. One keyboard for 12 years ain't bad. I have to say I was a bit nervous removing the mother board from the piano. As you get older your ability to focus on close things starts failing. There were about 10 or 12 ribbon/cable connections and I dutifully wrote down all the color codes. The only connection that gave me a little problem was the the flat ribbon from the keyboard to the left side of the motherboard. It was mostly not being able to focus so closely. I'm really going to have to buy a magnifying glass. I'm becoming my grandparents.

My display is still fine. I only use it on jobs and rarely at home. It's too bad they stopped making them. There have been remarks re the noise from the screen. My unit makes a steady noise, but if I place my ear over the power supply, the screen or the left side of the keyboard, I really couldn't tell you the source. I'd bet today they could make the same thing and it would be a few pounds lighter. I'm still glad I bought it years ago. I think I might have mentioned here that it was 14 years old(?), actually I just found the recipt and I bought it 1991, 12 years ago, if my short term memory is correct.

GuestUser, not to be difficult, but the aftertouch has always been as it is now, difficult, a lot of pressure to make it work. I will wait to hear back from Roland Benelux. I've sent them two e-mails in the last week and am still waiting for a response. Thanks, Dave

GuestUser, thanks for the info. I just checked the keyboard and the aftertouch is the same all over the keyboard. That would seem to rule out your suggestion. Thanks, Dave

I just did the modification. According the Roland, the value for the resistor at location R43 should be 5.6K. It was 10K on the board coming from the factory. I replaced that with a 20K variable and if there's a difference, I can't tell. I've sent another e-mail back to Roland (Benelux) giving them this information and asking them to check their info. If any of you guys have the need to open your A-80, I'd appreciate knowing the value of R43 and R45. (There was a mention of that resistor on a non_roland web site.) I have changed the aftertouch curve in the edit menu for the patches I really want. I'm afraid I might have to live with this unless I get more, better, and different info.

I just rec'd a reply from Roland Benelux ... Dear Dave, > Change the resistor R43 5,6 Kohm to 10 Kohm or even 15 Kohm on the main-A board. Just test what's best for you. Best regards, Van Sand Joris Joris.Van.Sand@Roland.be Service Dept. Roland Benelux

Jeroen, was the info at that link in my initial post accurate? Did you receive instructions from Roland re the value of the resistor? Thanks, Dave

In another thread re after touch, the A-80 was mentioned and the fact that the after touch is difficult to trigger. I came across the following site a long time ago http://personal.inet.fi/private/matador/se_roland_a-80.html and am now following up on this modification. I've had my A-80 since 1989 or so and am finally getting around to make this modification. I sent Roland an e-mail and am waiting for a reply.

Arvind, not to defend Korg, but companies do not want you to open their products. They would prefer you take it to an authorized repair center for work. I was hoping to read that you had already replaced the battery by now. Keep us posted.

Try replacing the battery yourself, it is not difficult. There are only a few ways of keeping the battery itself in place so it doesn't move and you only have to spend a few minutes at the most figuring out how to remove some kind of clamp that holds the battery. Sometimes there is a screw holding a cover, other times there might a piece of metal under tension holding it place. There might be a small plastic assembly that slides off ... there are only so many possibilities to get at that battery. Opening up the keyboard is also not difficult. I've opened my A-80 and just spent a few minutes removing a lot of screws. You won't find a book that explains which screws to remove, it's basically using a little common sense. If you feel uncomfortable doing the work yourself have a friend help you; two heads are usually better than one. If you find this daunting, consider video taping the entire process and play the tape backwards if you need help putting it back together. Believe me, it will not be as difficult as you think. I _always_ take everything apart when I buy something new. I bought a Jeep Wagoneer back in 1985 and there were so many rattles, I wound up taking the entire dashboard out and stuffing foam in to stop the noise. There were no manuals, I just took my time. Remember, everything is made to be taken apart to be repaired. Good luck ... and write back to let everyone know how it went.

I just thought of another possibility ... can you save the info via your midi cable to another device ... a bulk dump(?). I vaguely remember doing something like that ages ago. I think the easiest solution is just to borrow or rent a card. I assume you will replace the battery yourself? If you send it to the 'factory', they will save your info for you, but for something this easy, do it yourself and save some money.

I would think there are two possibilities - the first being more attractive. Go to a music store, tell them your situation and rent a card for a day until you replace the battery yourself. The other, replace the battery with the unit on and powered up. Have you actually opened up the unit and seen the location of the battery? I've replaced the internal battery in my A-80, but it was a real pain with removing about 12 or more screws just to get inside. I also have a memory card which makes everything a lot easier. Good luck!