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TKN

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Posts posted by TKN

    Going all software (?)

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Thank you so much for all the feedback guys!

     

    Today I bought a MacBook Pro 13" early 2015 with a 2.7 GHz processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for $ 900.

     

    I'm downloading MainStage3 now, and I'm looking forward to trying it out.

     

    I was going to ask if you are using an external sound card for the MacBook Pro, but I see that many use the internal sound card of the MacBook Pro. I was going to use my Steinberg UR44, but now I see that I don't need it.

     

    Thanks so much for many good advices!

     

     

    Going all software (?)

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Mid 2012 I believe is when they went to the "unibody" design with the "retina" screen. They can be opened with some effort but be aware the SSDs are a proprietary blade design (NVMe), so to upgrade you will spend more money than with a PC. AFAIK only OWC sells drives for these. You can also look for used OEM drives on Ebay. If you're very adventurous, google "Sintech adapter"; you may be able to use a more standard NVMe drive in your MacBook with one. Every few months I look into this approach and wind up more confused as to what will or won't work in my laptop. I have a late-2013 15" MBP with a 256GB drive. Right now, to go to 480GB would be $219 at OWC, which is better than it was in the past. But 500GB NVMe M.2 drives are typically $80 - $120 where I am.

     

    I do OK with 8GB of ram. More is better but I run a pretty decent-sized live rig with no issues. You might know that RAM is soldered in Apple laptops now whatever it comes with is what you'll be stuck with for the life of the computer.

     

    Will a i7 with 8GB RAM be better than a i5 with 16 GB RAM for Mainstage and VST´s?

     

     

    Going all software (?)

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I've always been a PC guy, but now considering buying a used MacBook Pro to try Mainstage on band rehearsals. The plan is to use a MacBook Pro for VI Labs Ravenscroft 275, Scarbee Mark I, Synthronics, AcousicSamples B5, HALion 6, etc.

     

    I've found some used MacBook Pro 13" from 2015 to about $ 800 - 1000. Most are i5 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD. I expect 8GB of RAM will be at the bottom end and that I should look for a machine with 16GB of RAM. I also expect a 128GB SSD disk to become too small, and that I should get a machine whit a 256GB SSD disk.

     

    How important is the processor in that context? Should I try to buy a machine with a i7 processor - that it's hard to find on the used market - or will an i5-processor do as long as I find one with 16GB of RAM?

    HX3 MIDI expander module

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I looked at some of the latest parameters of the HX3 and to their credit, quite a bit of work has been done on the CV. So they are taking it seriously.

     

    However - tweaking this or that forever and ever can lead to at least temporary insanity.

     

    The HX3 now has adjustable parameters for Scanner Gears, Scanner Leak \Vibrato Amp Mod,Vib Channel Pre emphasis,Vib Channel reflect,Vib Channel response,Line box level, and Modulation amount.

     

    I would think that you would really have to know what you are doing to edit on this level. One thing could cancel out something else.

     

    I am used to Hammonds and I know what sounds good, but am I up to this? A little more info might be helpful about what I am messing with.

     

    I do know that the HX3 I had in 2015 had a very strong throb in the upper octave, and sounded like it could benefit from a line box level adjustment and perhaps a change in modulation amount.

     

    So I am glad they are at least addressing it.

     

    On the other hand, isn't it nice to just turn the thing on and hear that it's already there?

     

    I was A NAMM in 2011 and saw Joey D. show Dr. Lonnie Smith the Numa.

     

    The first thing Dr. Lonnie said was "they got the chorus right"

     

    And they did.

     

    I have made a new recording today with the final version 4.25 to let you hear the C/V without any tweaking.

     

    The recording from yesterday was from the beta version.

     

    The link:

     

     

     

     

    HX3 MIDI expander module

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Still trying to get some idea about the C/V update.

     

    I went to the Keyboard Partner site and they have some live clips. Of course they are still running the leslie sim and the C/V together.

     

    It's not my favorite sound. When it gets into the upper octave you can tell it's not a leslie. It's a decent sim but this is what sets it apart from the real deal. Especially with C/V on.

     

    The other companies Like Crumar ( Tony Monaco, Max Tempia and Mitch) and Key B ( Pat Bianchi, Joey D) have recorded all kinds of clips showing us what C/V sounds like with out the sim. Even Numa put out clips back in 2011 with Brian Auger and Joey D. using just C/V and no sim.

     

    Why is this important? Because if I have to run in MONO, at least I can use C/V and get a decent sound.

     

    So far I haven't been able to find clips of the HX3 with the leslie sim OFF.

     

    Sorry to get back on this rant but I just don't get it.

     

    LX88 - I have made a very easy (and extremely boring) test of the C/V (C3) straight from HX3 version 4.25 to Cubase 9 with no effects and with the Leslie disabeled.

     

    The C/V is highly adjustable, and this is the standard settings.

     

    There are 5 takes pr chord from the mid of the keyboard to top C of the keyboard :

     

    1. 888000000, no C/V

    2. 888000000, with C/V

    3. 888000000, with C/V and 3. perc. soft, fast,

    4. 888888888, no C/V

    5. 888888888, with C/V

     

     

     

    SK-1 and 2 Tips, Tricks and Other Cool Stuff.

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Each time I start my SK2, the volume on the drawbar sound is set to 0 on the P-presets. The user-presets have correct volume on 127.

     

    I then have to set the volume in the drawbar menu to 127, and everything works great. The next time I turn the organ on, the volume is at 0 again.

     

    I have tried a factory reset.

     

    Any suggestions?

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