pjd

Got to agree. I just posted some new fodder: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/ck-its-almost-here/ I worked back from the rumored price points (which, I suspect, are MSRP). Short story: MX is toast. Long live CK! If somebody needs an inexpensive "top" or "bottom" for their YCxx or CPxx, CK is it. With respect to "C", the MX doesn't have as many front panel widgets needed to compete with full-size MIDI controllers. So, Yamaha maybe added some more gizmos for people who want to control VIs, especially tablet/phone-based VIs. I'm guessing, but "portable" may mean the addition of battery powered. Battery powered means "not compute intensive" tone generation/effects. The price point is danged low and it affects the internal engineering/design. Aw, heck. We'll know more tomorrow. (I hope.) -- pj

If you need a quick solution and have a Raspberry Pi: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/send-midi-from-usb-b-to-5-pin/ I picked up a DoReMIDI UMH-20 and it seems to be working good. I don't think I could build one for its selling price! Scott is correct. USB started out as an addressable peripheral bus and the functional asymmetry is intentional, HOST vs. DEVICE. The problem with USB for MIDI is replacing a symmetric 5-conductor cable/connector with a physical and electrically asymmetry link. USB-C and MIDI 2.0 may finally alleviate that problem. All the best -- pj

I love these kinds of projects. Good luck! Even though the mainboard is small, Yamaha doesn't leave much extra space. I thought the PSS-A50 had gobs of space, in comparison. Then reality crashed in. 🙂 I wonder if it's possible to make a strip of plastic that sits between the top and bottom tray -- kind of a filler. The end result would be "tall" Reface with the same desktop footprint. That kind of mod would open a lot of interior space. Just a wild idea -- pj

I agree with Al, getting started can be large learning curve. I read through the basic manual and Bruce Wahler's user guide. It didn't start to make sense until I loaded the MIDI Solutions editor and created a few settings. Don't know if you'll need the capability, up to two specific byte values can be stored in variables (XX and YY) or sent along in a CC message. It's a lot to sort through when making a decision to buy. I'm glad I bought an EPP. Hope this helps -- pj

Can’t find the thread at Yamaha Synth anymore. Too close to home? — pj

Sorry if I sound cranky. I grouched at some innocent soul on a different forum. Some aspects of this discussion are getting on my elderly nerves. Ah, yes, the "second coming." Didn't we go through this hysteria last summer with MODX -> MODX+? Unabated anticipation followed by complaining 5 minutes after the drop. 🙂 Please consider the historical progression through MOTIF: MOTIF begat ES begat XS begat XF. Each revision added some voices/performances and some additional workflow functionality. The MOs trailed behind the current MOTIF rev. Readers here are knowledgeable and know the gory details. MODX+ established a little too much parity with Montage. Thus, I expect Yamaha to create just enough functional distance above MODX+ to justify the higher price of "new Montage". Montage already has a tour-quality build, FSX keybed (aftertouch), more capable audio streaming/processing, built-in power supply, pure analog circuit, balanced TRS and so forth. I expect Yamaha to revert to its mean, AKA incremental evolution consistent with its historical practice. Addition of MIDI 2.0 is the only detail that I'm willing to predict. Yamaha is due WRT MIDI 2.0 and Montage is intended to be a studio's centerpiece that integrates with everything. "CK" is another matter... Peace to all -- pj 🙂

Amen! I run into all of these problems even when I'm 100% non-Casio. 😀 Combined with occasional asymmetry issues (A when I need B), I pine for the simplicity, symmetry and reliability of good ole 5-pin. Just had to re-plug everything into my iPad because sometimes it's all recognized, sometimes it's not. And, yes, I keep my working notes in good ole ASCII. 😁 Have a super weekend (literally) -- pj

Count me in! No seizure inducing lights, nobody sticking their booty into the camera lens. They. Just. Freakin'. Played. And ripped it up. Glad to see Nile get a nod and the mic by default. Man is a funk metronome. Only question mark -- No mention of the recently departed Barrett Strong Jr. at the Motown love-in? All the best -- pj

Definitely Roli Lightpad blocks. Roli still sells them. I’m trying to work one into my iPad set-up. — pj

Probably don't get too many field reports like this one... My colleague (pianist and partner in crime) borrowed my CT-S1000V. His daughter (about age 10 or so) needed to accompany two other youngsters on violin and the school piano is shot. Well, I got her set up here at home to make things smoother at their mini-recital. She noticed the difference in the action right away and said, "Oh." She probably plays Dad's Yamaha Silent Grand at home... We left her playing while her dad and I checked out my studio. When we returned, she was already deep into the voice synthesis and was over the moon with enthusiasm. Kids and buttons. 😃 Good thing I backed everything up. Anyway, the recital went fine. As I expected tho', she pretty much bagged shedding the accompaniment and spent most of her time exploring the CT. Their family may buy one, so it's still on loan while they wring it out. It was uplifting to see her enthusiasm. Makes me miss teaching. All the best -- pj

Cool, Live, Sweet, etc. Looking for precision in marketing-speak is like looking for love in all the wrong places. 😉 More than a little puffery, here. Always thought "Cool" meant "velocity switched." Certainly true of PSR Cool! electric pianos. Another term that got abused in voice names: "Dynamic." A few "dynamic" voices appeared in entry-level arranger keyboards. The "dynamic" voices were also velocity switched. So-called "regular" voices did not employ velocity switching. With evolution, a lot of these distinctions got fuzzy. Hope this helps -- pj

Thanks, Craig! Hopefully, this old dog (me) can learn some new tricks. ☺️ The CT-S1000V is a keeper. -- pj

Hi -- I've been using the CT-S1000V for about one year, so a retrospective might be in order. My main gig is church services. The repertoire is contemporary liturgical music with a little gospel and trad sacred music thrown in. In preparation, I pulled together about 16 or so combi's. I rarely use a single voice alone preferring a woodwind section over a solo oboe, for example. This generally hides the imperfections of a lot of solo voices, especially on an entry-level keyboard. (I once owned and played a Yamaha PSR-E443.) I use this approach on Yamaha MODX, too. In all cases, I dial down reverb since the church hall is reverberant. The combinations were good enough to use the CT in church. Normally, the MODX is my gig instrument. When I went back to MODX, again, I realized the difference in quality level and MODX is my gig instrument once more, using the CT for rehearsals. The CT is so light and compact that I can swoop into rehearsal, set up and go. Not so easy (or light) with the MODX. As to rear panel markings, I have trouble reading ALL keyboards. So, both the CT and MODX have vinyl press-on letters right above the critical connections that I have to make. We have only a few minutes for set-up before a service and I don't have time for horsing around; it's plug and go. I agree with comments WRT switching organ rotary speaker speed. There ought to be a way to switch speed via foot pedal. Turning a knob to change speed is not a natural gesture for me although one can keep the knob near its center where not much motion is needed right or left. As to the use of the rotary DSP effect, Yamaha PSR voices and use of DSP effects are similar. These instruments evolved from no DSP effects to rotary sim (and other DSP effects). Older voices have the rotary "sampled-in" and remain in the sound set for backward compatibility. [I see Mike typing...] I like the CT's keybed and prefer it over the MODX. (!) Yamaha need to pay more attention to keybed characteristics and quality of their entry- and mid-range products. Hope these few comments helps -- pj

Hi folks -- Glad to see a review thread for the Casio CT-S1000V. I posted several articles on my blog site and have collected the links: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/new-casio-portable-keyboards/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-first-impressions/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-observations/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-quick-tips/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-drawbar-organ-tones/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-about-them-effects/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-more-tips/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-master-eq/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-ct-s1000v-free-registration-banks/ I also took a brief look into the speech synthesis technology behind the Casio and did a few initial experiments: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-speech-synthesis-technology/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-singing-synthesis-in-pictures/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-lyric-creator-first-experience/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/casio-lyric-creator-pronunciation/ Hope these links help anyone reading this thread. All the best -- pj

Can't wait for a drunk to spill beer into one... 😄 Thank goodness I don't play bars anymore. Totally agree with all points. The more I delve into MPE products, the more I realize the "boutique" nature of this market segment. I had a friend -- a successful software guy -- start a business that ventured into hardware. He was honest enough to admit how naive he was and how many different ways a hardware product can sink a business. A team can build a working prototype, but its the "mundane" stuff like supply chain, inventory, manufacturing, QA, warranty, returns, service/repair that can kill you. Hey, hey, I certainly wish you and early adopters the best. -- pj

Yep, I did catch that. By "connection issues," I meant "software editor to firmware" connection issues. Tim did seem concerned about that, given that it's early days.

ROLI's business problems forced a major retrenchment and they slimmed down product offerings. ROLI advertise three hardware products: Lightpad, Lumi Keys, and Seaboard Rise 2. The Lightpad appears to be the only BLOCK retained from the original product line. I just bought a used Lightpad and I'm waiting delivery. (The package is taking a tour of western USA. 🙂 ) I'm hoping to use it to augment a standard MIDI controller with some modicum of touch. The Lumi Keys look attractive, but I'm trying to live within a budget and cheap out. 🤑 Has the Lumi Keys been reliable for ya? Take care -- pj

I like the video by Tim Shoebridge; it should be essential viewing before one shells out $1800USB (or whatever). Red flags to me are beta-quality software, connection issues, robustness of the keybed. Nice observations all around. I would really like to use Osmose at a gig, not a studio queen. It also sounds like the Osmose and its software will be a bit of a closed system (i.e., not a GP MPE controller). I tried playing SWAM Flute on KMI QuNexus and quickly discovered that one cannot just plug-and-play. If parameters/senstivies aren't carefully dialed in, the controller+synth combo is unplayable. ROLI's Equator (presets) are fine-tuned for Seaboard and same will be true for Osmose. -- pj http://sandsoftwaresound.net/review-kmi-qunexus/

Still on preorder as far as I can tell. Roli revamped their web site recently, so I assume the status info is current. I looked into Lumi Keys and Roli BLOCKS recently. The Lumi and Seaboard BLOCKs look good, but there seem to be a fair number of user complaints (e.g., charging, Bluetooth connection). Lumi Keys is on sale until January 12, 2023 ($254USD). Can't quite bring myself to buy one although I'm anxious to experiment with MPE. The Seaboard BLOCK is discontinued and only available used. -- pj

Yamaha has always supported MIDI standards, so this could be the year for MIDI 2.0. Maybe "controller keyboard" includes MPE with an MPE-compatible synth to go along with it? An MPE AN-X engine? Another suggested meaning for "CK" is "Classic Keyboards". I do believe we will see the "CK" reveal in '23. All the best -- pj

Geek stuff first... The Reface YC and Reface CP digital logic boards are essentially the same. Both use a Yamaha SOC (system on a chip) that combines AWM2 synthesis and a host processor in a single IC. Reface YC organ waveforms are sampled. Reface CP uses both AWM2 and Spectral Component Modeling (SCM). Don't want to deep dive SCM here, but SCM is synthesized through Yamaha's AWM2 pipeline. Hands down, the Reface YC has been a very useful keyboard, especially for rehearsals when I don't want to drag everything in. I love the combo organ sounds. I agree with the limitations mentioned by others -- the rotary speaker fast setting really bites and I don't use it much anymore. I do not regret the Reface YC! Having played other sampled and modeled Hammond lately, Yamaha could up their B-3 just by using beefier samples. Maybe give the player a choice. They've been using the same thin samples for quite some time now in both the synth and arranger product lines. The YC stage models are a different and better story. I have lusted after a Reface CP, too, but the recent price increase has put me off. -- pj

I had one of these beasts in the late 70s, early 80s. Had to haul its miserable weight up and down one flight of stairs -- just to get it to the car for a gig/rehearsal. Lord knows what was at the job... I LOVED that flat top and had a Sequential Circuits Pro-One riding on it. My only regret -- not having a Pro-One for each hand so I could play bass or a lead when I wanted to. Kind of awkward to have the Pro-One on the left a la Manzarek and wishing to solo with the right. Eventually put the CP-30 on consignment to buy a Yamaha CE-20. Ran that sucker through a slew of pedals. Ah, the good old days. 🙂 Still have the Mu-tron pedals. -- pj

I got curious about how much space I use for music apps on my iPad: App Total App Sz Data --------------- ------ ------ ----- iSymphonic 2.30GB 1.41GB .89GB SampleTank 2.11 1.58 .54 GarageBand 1.67 1.66 .01 Cubasis 1.45 1.15 .30 Sibelius 1.30 1.29 .07 Module Pro 1.28 1.28 .04 Music 1.22 .02 1.21 Casio MusicSpace 1.18 1.14 .04 Hammond B-3X 1.11 1.11 .01 Korg Inc. .86 .86 Gadget .82 .82 .01 Model 15 .43 .43 .01 Model D .28 .28 .01 Mobile Sequencer .27 .23 .04 JeuxdorgMini .19 .18 .01 Chord Tracker .18 .14 .04 forScore .14 .02 .12 iSymphonic, SampleTank and Module Pro include add-on expansions like Miroslav, Cinematic Brass, General 128, Neo Soul, Module Performance Expansion, Organ & Clav Collection. Overall, 39.3GB used out of 64GB -- mostly Apps, iPadOS and System Data. I don't do video or many photos. Digital music is modest, a couple of hundred backing tracks. Hope this info helps someone plan. All the best -- pj Music blog: sandsoftwaresound.net

Hi -- The CT-S500 and CT-S1000V include all of the new instruments in the CT-S1. They are a superset. The 500/1000V display, assignable knobs and editable DSP effects sold me. All are fun instruments for not much $$$. -- pj

Got to agree, the Casio CT-S1000V is a pretty decent budget board. I prefer its keybed over MODX! Roland GO:KEYS is one of the very few keyboards that I ever returned. The keys are horrible. Although the basic tone engine is good, I got bored of the loops right quick. The PSS-A50 is a lot of fun and good modder fodder, too: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/pss-a50-midi-mod/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-pss-a50-stereo-mod/ Here's a few other posts that might be of interest to PSS-A50 people: http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-pss-a50-midi-notes/ http://sandsoftwaresound.net/yamaha-pss-a50-motion-effects/ All the best -- pj