stoken6

If the choice was between 28lb and 38lb, and the heavier keyboard had something that really inspired you to dig deep and raise your performance, then I'd vote heavy. (My 36lb keyboard inspires me in this way). 52lb is going to get old very quickly. I gigged an Ensoniq KS32 (49lb) and then a Viscount Oberheim MC1000 (44lb) in my youth, and I wouldn't go back there. Cheers, Mike.

I can't support those who are recommending dropping a four-figure sum on a keyboard for a beginner. (EDIT: I see @Franz Schiller has made the same point). If you have a Mac, buy MainStage and a second-hand 61-key controller. If not, look for something with pitch/mod controllers, virtual-analog(ue) and a mono/portamento mode - that will get you in the ballpark for some of those sounds you referenced in your videos. I'm not an expert in this sector, so I'll let others chime in with their recommendations. Oh, and this. Tuition will make a much bigger difference than what equipment you play. Cheers, Mike.

Happy Birthday You Happy Birthday Dear Dave Bryce Happy Birthday You Cheers, Mike.

You mention "gigging" - there's a reasonable hassle factor in wiring up two controllers to a Mac (variable, depending on whether you use a MIDI and/or audio interface), compared to just powering up a SK2 or similar. You like multi-contacts - so you might be someone who appreciates the high trigger of "real clonewheel" action (vs MIDI controllers). Would a two-manual Crumar Mojo (Classic or Suitcase) be of interest? Round about £1400 here, so estimating $1500? 40lb though. Crumar 61 + its lower manual is another consideration for more $$ but easier shlep. Cheers, Mike.

I saw Noel McCalla (Manfred Mann's Earth Band) in a local pub in my youth. His guitar player told me that the guy behind the kit "was more of a drum owner than a drummer". Cheers, Mike

King Harvest "Dancing In The Moonlight" was the first one that came to mind. Cheers, Mike.

The Forte 7 has Fatar's TP40L, which I found "more than light enough" without being so light that expressiveness is lost. Of course this is subjective, but having played quite a few hammer-action boards, this one is definitely one of the lighter ones (alongside Kawai's ES110). Cheers, Mike

I think this forum hipped me to this band some years back. Very cool, check out "Bump". Isn't their schtick that they are all (rumo(u)red to be) first-call A-list session guys/girls, but of course you can't tell under the costumes? Cheers, Mike.

<Reality TV show voiceover> One's a zombie. The other's a pseudonym. Both are legends. This year, Bill and Michael join forces to kick off ... "Introductions Thread 2024"! Cheers, Mike.

Man, this fan theory has blown the entire thing WIDE OPEN! Cheers, Mike.

Dep (i.e sub) gig at a social club yesterday. "You'll enjoy it Mike, they've got a really good PA". That PA turned out to be an enormous 24-channel Mackie analog(ue) desk, with two JBL subs each side, and iirc four pairs of speakers from all sorts of manufacturers (all 15in+tweeter I think) - one pair angled inwards towards the dance floor, one facing 90degrees straight out from the stage, one pair angled "out" (away from the middle of the stage), and a fourth pair on top - plus various smallers speakers dotted around the venue as "nearfills". Biggest surprise: guess what was provided for a keyboard monitor (and remember this is the UK)... ... ... ... ... ... CLONK I ended up using it (although I also had my IEMs). Singer wanted me to turn up as she couldn't hear me on the dance floor. So I cranked the things, and relied on the seals on my earbuds to preserve my hearing. Go figure... Cheers, Mike.

Unless you count arrangers. Korg in particular has strong (if expensive) offerings in this area. Cheers, Mike.

OT: In an old band I was in, 2nd guitarist had a spare guitar tuned in Open G for a couple of Stones numbers. When we did Bohemian Like You, he used that guitar to play the riff using the 6/4 Keef shape. Sounded pretty cool. Cheers, Mike.

It's true that computers can't produce truly random numbers by following an algorithm. Where a high level of randomness is required, environmental sensors are used (such as temperature). However, today's AI is hamstrung not so much by the shortage of "truly" random numbers, but by the "machine learning" approach that trains it on previously (human)-generated content. GPT models are basically trying to predict "what would a human say next, based on everything I've learned about what humans say?" Cheers, Mike.

The most reliable service I've come across is a post to this forum along the lines of "I'm working up song XYZ by band ABC (link to YouTube/Spotify...) and am struggling with the three chords coming out of the solo before the final chorus." Often you'll get an offer for the entire chart to be sent to you. Cheers, Mike.

My first thought. Although I like @ProfD's suggestion as well. Cheers, Mike. My first thought. Although I like @ProfD's suggestion as well. Cheers, Mike.

Casio CT-S1 is my first choice. CT-S500 adds expression pedal and 1/4in outs for more "pro" possibilities, at extra cost. Cheers, Mike.

While I don't see they point of "narrow" (in the front-to-back dimension), it does seem popular (cf most of the new Casios, and the Yamaha P223/5) This - every time. Needs 5-pin MIDI port. Cheers, Mike.

What is it about your Electro you don't like? Is it the sounds, or the action (or something else)? Cheers, Mike.

A quick google reveals the Suhr MicroMIDI https://www.suhr.com/product/micro-midi-control/. Advance S640 if they ship from Italy http://www.advancetubetech.com/prodotti/prodotti.asp?artid=817 Sound Sculpture Footsim https://www.soundsculpture.com/footsim Cheers, Mike.

Hearing those solo performances highlights just how good Walsh and Felder were together. Cheers, Mike.

I think they're talking about a gadget that accepts MIDI and can flip a relay to connect terminals in a TRS connector. That can then be used to control things that expect a footswitch. (I suspect that kind of device is more a guitar-world "thing" than one for us keyboardists. If something on a keyboard needs controlling, it can normally be done by "pure" MIDI). Cheers, Mike

Unlike some of the posters above, I love the thrill/adrenaline rush of a one-off gig. I follow @Bobadohshe's process, except using Sibelius. Cheers, Mike.

Is your band Tommy McArmada still going? Cheers, Mike.

Yeah, Ab is a bit upmarket for blues. Cheers, Mike.