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stoken6

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    Roland FP-E50

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    10 hours ago, aronnelson said:

    That missing MIDI in is another bummer. The lack of saving the Rhythm patterns with scenes is one of the biggest problems of the RD-88. I like the action on it. 

    The RD88 does redeem itself by acting as a USB MIDI host - you can plug in a USB-only (device) controller and drive the RD's internal sounds. Many USB-only keyboards can't do this.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    • Like 1

    Need help: audio setup for next gig (in two days!)

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I would keep an open mind on whether you want to run keys through the venue PA - it might work well. Definitely have your K1800 with you - I suspect somebody in the band won't be able to hear keys from where they are, and the singer won't want more keys in her wedge. I would have it at my side of the stage, acting as a sort of "sidefill"

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    • Like 1

    Need help: audio setup for next gig (in two days!)

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Some good advice here.

    1. You will be as quiet as your drummer. The quieter you are, the easier it will be for everyone to hear everything.

    2. The in-house PA might be enough to carry your singer to the audience. 

    3. Your little 5in monitor will be OK for you if it's really close to you. (I have a similar model, and it mounts on my keyboard stand). 

    4. You should bring your K1800 amp (even if you don't need it). I would have it set up so you are between it and the band. I don't think it will work as a combined monitor-for-your-singer and keyboard-amp-for-the-band. Does somebody else have a wedge monitor that the singer could use?

     

    Arrive early, and try and get as much time for soundcheck as possible. And good luck.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    • Like 1

    Keyboard/Bass Amp 500W with 2+ channels

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    12 hours ago, EricBarker said:

    Y'all are talking about the Markbass, but does that have 2 channels? I'm only seeing 1 input. My search is for a bass amp with 2 or more channels.

    (Sorry, just me doing my "thread derail" thing). I had reasonable results running keys through a Hartke bass amp (2x10in alumin[i]um speakers). But that was the old 1st-gen product. I don't know what their latest stuff is like. 

     

    Thump 15 is nice for keys, that might be an option. A little heavier than the Rumble though...

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Apple announces Logic Pro for iPad

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    13 hours ago, Stokely said:

    Hmm, most definitely I'd have a use case for what you just mentioned:  live show recordings.  Our mixer won't let you simply connect up a hard drive, you need a computer.  Assuming it could connect to an ipad instead of a computer, that would be ideal (I already bring out my ipad but dislike having to find a spot for a laptop).   I'd then take the project and get it somehow over to my mac at home.  Whether or not the band wants me recording more shows, there's another matter :) 

    Other than that, not sure I see any advantage over just bringing my laptop where I need Logic.

    Interesting point - if Logic is a studio tool, why is iPad a better platform than a laptop? One answer is perhaps the new touch-enabled features: step sequencer et al. 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    New synths at Superbooth 2023

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, hurricane hugo said:

    I heard one note before the synth sound vanished.

    Worked for me. TBH not a very effective demo, because there's very little use of expression (lip/bite pressure, breath, etc.). It sounds like note on/note off and nothing else.

     

    What is the wind controller used in that video?

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Pedal boards for kb players?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Sheet of plywood. Velcro. Here's my previous pedalboard.

    IMG_3556.thumb.JPG.6da5ca7fcd80371ca11156942987b712.JPG

     

    The trick to a tidy rig is to run all (yes all) cables down to the pedalboard and back up. Use snakes, or loom wrap, to bundle cables together. And have all connections between your rig and the outside world plug into the pedalboard.

     

    I used a Warwick Rockboard (at the left of my pedalboard) to act as a patchbay. 

     

    Here's a picture of my rig wearing its "clean look":

    IMG_5058.thumb.JPG.d8a037a7420952f75a2c780c726c935d.JPG

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    • Like 2

    Apple announces Logic Pro for iPad

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Just now, Ibarch said:

     

    Mainstage with full AU support and no subscription. 

    I'm of the view that any supplier can charge what they want for a product, and any consumer can choose not to pay it. You're no worse off than if the product had never been released.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Roland FP-E50

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Ibarch said:

    There is an opinion in some companies that USB Midi is sufficient and therefore costs can be saved via not including the 5 pin din connectors. Clearly those who don't own any gear themselves. 

     

    It's like Apple and their decision to remove the iPad audio connector. Whoever would want sound and charging option at the same time?

    Exactly: "They can use USB for MIDI" (not if they want to connect two devices) "They can use bluetooth" (not for low-latency monitoring). Key use cases are being excluded to save money. 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Any love for the Yamaha Reface DX?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    3 hours ago, ProfD said:

    The Reface DX is a cool synth for those who want/need a little FM flavor in their sonic palette.😎

    This. If you like that sort of thing, then this is the sort of thing you'll like.

     

    I must admit I prefer my synthesis physically-modelled, or failing that subtractive. But I can't complain: I'm working up Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" for a gig, and it's crying out for that DX EP.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    • Like 1

    iPad as a serious musical instrument

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    8 hours ago, D. Gauss said:you have no way to charge/power the ipad whilst doing it unless you get all dongled up in dangling adapters. (which defeats the elegant simplicity of the whole thing).  the degree to which i detest apple and their one-single-port only nonsense can't be overstated

    Agree. Two ports on an iPad would solve these problems and many others. 
     

    Cheers, Mike

    iPad as a serious musical instrument

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    The critical issue here for me is how to charge the iPad. I wouldn't want to run one through the entire gig solely on its internal battery - particularly if it has to power a dock/hub/interface as well. So far, I've seen two approaches:

    1. A dock like @D. Gauss uses - with a 1/8in socket for audio, and power passthrough to the iPad

    2. An audio interface connected to the Apple dongle that allows you to power the iPad. 

     

    The M-Audio Audiohub above has a "USB Type-C" socket, but that doesn't guarantee USB3 compatibility. If it can power an iPad (supplying about 15W of power), it looks like a winner (despite the barrel power connecter - why not use USB-C for power input as well?). I like the USB hub functionality for multiple controllers - including those with 5-pin MIDI without USB MIDI (easily connected using an inline MIDI USB interface).

     

    The Arturia Audiofuse seems to confirm the ability to power an iPad: look for the word "mobility" on this page, and see the third diagram. Minifuse 1 and 2 are bus-powered (only), while 4 has an external PSU, but no confirmation that its USBC host port can power an iPad.

     

    USB2 offers a maximum of 500mA/5V=2.5W - enough for a phone, but not a tablet, which needs 10-12W. The USB3 specification has a maximum of 3A/3V=15W before you get into the Power Delivery options - but I'm not clear if that's also a minimum (i.e. if saying "USB3" guarantees this level of power). And neither of the two USB-C equipped interfaces above actually say "USB3", as far as I can tell.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

     

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    Yamaha CK61 and CK88

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    On 4/26/2023 at 3:47 AM, SonicKeysII said:

    Thanks for your comments.  Ironically, I am currently using a Roland VR-09 as a top board and thinking of getting the CK-61 to replace it.  Not sure if that is the right way to go or not.  Thinking of a Numa X Piano 73 as a replacement bottom board.  Looking for light and compact equipment.

    As mentioned above, the Roland's weakness is AP and EP. If you like those in the Numa, then I'd probably keep the Roland for its better rotary sim. But it depends if things like onboard speakers and USB audio are useful to you.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

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