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stoken6

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Posts posted by stoken6

    How Music Formats Alter the Original...

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    9 hours ago, o0Ampy0o said:

    There have been covers by knowns which are their own special thing

    Too rare in my opinion. I get bored with the "waiflike girl whisper-singing with an acoustic guitar playing cowboy chords" covers. That doesn't compare to Hendrix's Watchtower, or Cocker's Friends, or Aretha's Respect (etc. etc.)

     

    Cheers, Mike

    In Search Of Aftertouch

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Once again I play my Alesis QS recommendation card, in this case QS6.1 or 6.2. The 61-key is 18.5lb, compact and has plenty of the kind of "orchestral" sounds you mention, plus synth sounds (although they're rompler-based, not VA). OK it's not cutting-edge 2023-era synthesis, but it's well built, and has aftertouch and a premium-feel action. Fairly readily available secondhand, if you're prepared to wait a few weeks for one to emerge near you.

     

    If the sounds aren't up to scratch, add something running on an iPad, perhaps? 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    • Like 2

    The "Zone"

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I got in the zone a few hours ahead of a recent gig. My mind was working through the set, and identified problems I had worked on from the previous gig ("yup, I won't make that mistake this time"), and I was looking forward to seeing the band again, and I knew everything was packed and the venue was easy to get to and a straightforward load-in. I recorded the gig and can confirm my playing was free from distraction and hindrance.

     

    I can't replicate that sensation at will, unfortunately!

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    What's next? Could use some support.

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    First of all, thanks for a compelling and eloquent post.

     

    Here are some thoughts:

    1. As posted above, don't leave your university job, or jeopardise it

    2. You said "even tripling the amount of shows we play won't pay my mortgage, and I only have so much PTO to burn for my day job". That tells me you need to dial back your involvement in the well-paying band.

    3. If that means you become the sub, rather than the prime, would that be so bad? I'm a sub in all but one band (where I'm MD), and the relief of saying "sorry, can't do that date" (or "I can't be there before 7:30pm") without any guilt is priceless. 

    4. You mention other opportunities "in my orbit where I have an open invitation to be a part of it as much as I can". Again, you can pick and choose. These kinds of opportunities are unpredictable - some will blossom, some will wither, and others will come along if you keep your eyes and ears open.

     

    Good luck.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

     

    • Like 3
    • Love 1

    USB B Micro to 5-Pin MIDI

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    As Scott posted, you'll need a USB host box. Neither the Casio nor the MicroFreak are USB hosts, both are devices, and so they need a host between them. As well as Scott's suggestion, I'll throw in Mumidi's hublink, which allows you to connect two devices via USB (rather than one side requiring DIN/3.5mm MIDI). It's a bit pricey, but may be of interest.

     

    15 hours ago, allan_evett said:

    a USB A Male to USB B Male cord

    (A useful rule of thumb is: if the answer is a USB male-male cable, you're probably asking the wrong question).

     

    Cheers, Mike.

     

     

    Nord Stage 4 Announced

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    19 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

    I was thinking: I could go to GC and trade in my mint Fantom7, Nautilus73 and NS3c and that should net me around half of

    what I need for a new NS4C.

    Sound about right?

     

    Paul

    I would have thought your NS3c would get you half way there on its own if sold privately. Nord commands crazy high s/h prices.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Rudimentary question - cart and loading

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I've just realised I have something to contribute. I sometimes use a "sack truck" style cart (two wheels, stands vertically, tilt it, push and go) to wheel my boards. To stop them slipping sideways, I don't use bungee cords, instead I use velcro nylon straps. No stretch, so no risk of the boards toppling off. This kind of thing: CLONK

     

    Admittedly, with some of the gear you guys are transporting, you may need much longer (and pricier) straps to secure everything on your four-wheel "horizontal" carts. 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Solo gigs with just an iPad and a keyboard/MIDI controller? Is this a thing?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    6 hours ago, AnotherScott said:

    If you choose an 88 that has a standard 5-pin MIDI Out, you'll be able to connect it directly to the Juno, and use it to play Juno sounds. If you choose an 88 that also has MIDI zoning, you'd be able to split/layer multiple Juno sounds over its 88 keys. Casio PX-5S would be a good lightweight choice for this, and IMO it has better EPs than the Juno as well (especially after you add the additional EPs you can download from the Casio forum).

    +1 (again) on a weighted controller underneath a versatile top board. And of course you can run the Juno into Casio's audio ins, and avoid the need for a mixer.

     

    Cheers, Mike

    • Like 2

    Nord Stage 4 Announced

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    19 minutes ago, sherry said:

    My Kronos is ten years old and I think it would be foolish to buy a used one knowing it's been discontinued.

     

    Why do you need to replace your Kronos? If it works, and it works for you, just keep it.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

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