nadroj
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Posts posted by nadroj
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Motorised drawbar faders, but no waterfall action even though past models had it?
I’ll take “backward design decisions that make me claw at my head” for 500
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Can anyone remember if @OB Dave’s Drawbars worked with the FA? If they do, would they work the same with the FANTOM-0?
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19 hours ago, Calumet said:
To address what the original poster said:
I read through this entire thread and only once did I see anything related to “language” or “vocabulary.” I would suggest that what the OP wants is some new language and ability to incorporate that into his current playing. But, at the same time, he seems unwilling or disinterested (for one reason or another) in really investigating the source of a lot of the vocabulary that would lead him to the improved facility he craves.
Just to add a bit of context here - I’ve a bunch of slowed down files on my laptop of transcriptions I’ve taken from guys like Cory Henry, Shaun Martin, David Paich (he had some lovely runs on a live version of georgy porgy I simply had to learn), Billy Preston, George Duke, Richard Tee (left hand in the “stuff’s stuff” live at Montreux solo is still kicking my ass but I’m getting there) Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, etc. There’s even a Charlie Parker diminished run I’m working on just now, but that’s an exception. A lot of my practice time is taken up transcribing whole solos or licks by ear and figuring out how to fit the vocabulary into the funk and soul stuff I play.
The deeper question in my OP was more akin to; am I shooting myself in the foot learning this stuff without delving further down history into straight jazz territory? That, thankfully, has been answered.
Just clarifying that it’s not for lack of ambition or willingness - more wanting to know whether or not I’m better off doing something else. Which has been answered!
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7 hours ago, ProfD said:
To @nadroj, I hope that your take away from this thread is to 1) be comfortable in your own skin as a musician and 2) play with like-minded musicians.
Also, check out Jazz pianist Robert Glasper. IMO, he's the cat who brings it all together musically. 😎
Thanks ProfD. That’s certainly something I’ve taken from it, and I’m glad my retrospective late night hotel room tirade sparked such a great discussion.
Earlier in the thread someone mentioned it sounds like I’m trying to get the acceptance of my peers, and I think there’s been a bit of that. While it’s lessened a bit as I’ve moved into my 30s, acknowledging that has been helpful.
Not that I need an internet forum’s opinion to relax in my own skin (or hey, maybe I do) but I’ve certainly had more peace sitting in front of the keyboard the past couple of days knowing what I want to play, and the direction I want to go in, and what I don’t have to try and make myself.
3~ pages is too much for me to reply to individually, but I’ve read all the responses and have found them immensely helpful as usual. Thanks folks 🤙
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That time I created a poorly titled thread about jazz that sparked a discussion way out of my depth.
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Thanks for the replies folks, read through them all and they’re pretty encouraging. I actually do enjoy playing some of the tunes mentioned above. Are they jazz? Who knows. Throwing labels around isn’t helpful, but it’s good to have perspective about the kind of player I’d be happy being.
More than happy to dedicate my time to knowing a handful of tunes well, rather than half-assing a bunch of tunes for the sake of it.
Regarding goals, my aim just now is to get to the point where I can express myself musically. Not being locked in, but being able to play what I hear in my head and play in a way that reflects me. Not there yet, but that’s my goal. My ambitions of making a living off of music full time are long past lol. Actually did that when I was a student (music paid the bills back then) but with a young family, I can’t do that now. Day job needed for that. Personal satisfaction and a handful of good experiences is the aim of the game.
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Bit of a personal post. Posting this here because you may be one of the few communities online who get what I’m taking about.
disclaimer: This is a long post. Sorry.
preface: forgive my wide ranging and vague use of the word “jazz” in this post. I’m aware of how broad a category it is.
From growing up in the college music scene where “good” was synonymous with having jazz chops, where college lecturers (incidentally, usually the non-instrumentalist tutors) would comment that they were looking for “faster lines” to get a better grade, to the current cancerous Instagram music culture where people with the most out-there chops get the most views and get most attention from the algorithms.
I don’t want to be a jazzer, but for a lot of my peers, jazz is the be all and end all. And the truth is that in the genres I really connect with (blues, funk, gospel), there’s a hell of a lot of overlap with mainstream jazz. Players who are good at one are usually good at the other.
I’m in a hotel room just now watching a documentary about Clapton, and hell, say what you want about him, but I’d probably enjoy playing sets like that night after night more than anything I had to do in college to fit in.
During my time in college I got invited into the city’s main jazz circle once, where all the best musicians are, and was asked to fill in for someone at a straight jazz gig. I never got asked back, and promptly removed myself from that scene afterwards. It just wasn’t me, and the result was that I didn’t get to know the music scene here in the same way a lot of my peers did. I still played regularly, and was sought after for other reasons, but never for my chops. Problem is now that I’m in a place where I actually want some chops, I still don’t want to play jazz.
The problem I have is that it’s hard to find a non-jazz musician who knows their stuff and CAN’T also play jazz well. “Oh great, he’s a blues guy, he’s really good at what he does and he doesn’t seem to have many jazz ch— oh look here’s a video of him playing Actual Proof with one hand” is common.
That’s the thing that discourages me. Just now I’m mostly liking rhythm based guys - guys who’s music is based mostly
off of making melody and grooves…but if you look them up on YouTube chances are you’ll find those same guys shredding through Giant Steps changes like it’s nothing.
Which brings me to the peak of my rant: do you have to do jazz to be “good”? Are there examples of killer players who never touched a jazz standard in their life? Guys who could express themselves
melodically and technically, but who didn’t get into the jazz scene?
Another example: Two weeks ago a guitar lecturer at a local college subbed in for us. He got a solo during a song that just vamps on Am, and I don’t think he touched the tonic once, but it sounded so fluid, musical and simply better than everyone else (at least to the musicians on stage - I don’t think the punters agreed 😂). I caught myself thinking “man I wish I could play like that” but then I remembered he’s also a jazzer who could play something melodic over a room full of monkeys banging on 100 pianos. I’ve a good enough ear and know my theory well enough to recognise what modes and tone centres he was playing in, but do I have to dedicate my time to learning straight jazz to sound like that??
I mean take something like “are you going my way” by Methany. Not a whole lot going on in that tune harmonically…but Mays and Methany made something so wonderful out of it; would they have been able to do that if they weren’t jazzers at heart? Mays was always so melodic and thoughtful in much of his playing, but the guy could shred over anything if you let him. Was the former because of the latter?
Now don’t get me wrong. Minor blues standards I can dig. I love taking something like “isn’t she lovely” and figuring out ways to reharm it and make something different out of it (and figuring out how to play something melodic and interesting over it).
Fusion I can get, reharm I do for fun, outside licks and transcribing I do occasionally, but I don’t want to have to force myself to play through standards and learn stuff I don’t want to play simply because it’s a good musical exercise. I’d rather spend the limited time I now have playing music I actually enjoy.
Anyone able to empathise or offer a word of advice?
Watching Clapton just now and seeing the various ages of the guys in his band is reminding me that if I spend the next 10 years focusing on what I actually like playing, there’s plenty of time for me to be half the musician I want to be by my mid-40s. I’m very fortunate in that , God willing, I’ve still a a lot of years left to play and improve at what I want to, and that I’m nowhere near my prime yet.
If you’ve read this far, thanks. Anyone able to empathise? What’s your experience with this?
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Make sure you join the Facebook page and check out this website here. The 3rd party editor unlocks a lot functionality, makes it 7 part multi-timbral, with 4 separate split zones - without needing a laptop. You connect it to the app, set it up, save it to a registration and that’s you. Can take it to the gig and play your saved registrations without your laptop. There are some caveats, but it’s worth looking into if you want to go deep.
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Got a chance to play the Fantom-07 today. Definitely playable, action was pretty decent. Based on comments here I thought it would be very similar to the FA06, but it wasn’t. Much closer to the FA07 imo. Pleasantly surprised! The slightly bigger keys make it more playable than the MODX to me.
Also surprisingly, I really struggled with the interface to start with, but got there in the end. Main thing I discovered…yeah, that missing 9th drawbar is a pain. Wouldn’t work for me.
They had the new Juno X too, felt and sounded great. Really solid piece of kit. That board will probably make a lot of people very happy.
Tried the latest offerings from Yamaha and Nord too, but the keyboard I connected with most was…
…A Kronos 2 61. That action is buttery, and it still sounds miles ahead than the other workstations imo.
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22 minutes ago, stoken6 said:
How "synth lead" does it have to be? Not many 4-octave boards (MX49 is the leader of a very small pack). Some 3-octave "pure synths" with no ROMpler capabilities.
My initial thoughts were Roland VR09 (ROMpler with a bit of synth, but one octave and one organ too many?) / KingKorg (I think that's got some ROMpler capabilities, but again 5 octaves and wide) / Roland Boutique controlled from your Electro (onboard pitch/mod ribbons, zero octaves, no ROMpler) / Korg Wavestate or Modwave.
What's your budget?
Cheers, Mike.
I’m not against modules with a pitch bend. Minilogue XD has one, so does the Argon module.
vr730 is a contender, but would be a replacement rather than an addition.
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Looking for a cheap, 49keyish (or smaller) board to sit above an Electro (or similar organy instrument). Mostly for synth leads, but ROMpler sounds would be a plus. Something that can fit in a small bag and be carried easily enough with the rest of my gear. Not hugely keen on soloing on mini keys.
Off the top of my head I can think of:
- Yamaha MX49
- Roland GAIA SH-01
Anything else that would fit the bill?
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13 hours ago, AUSSIEKEYS said:
Hah ...I always remember you as the "AIRkeyboard" guy
I know that's some sitcom guy (probably famous) but i can't put my finger on what sitcom as we didnt get as many US sitcoms over here
I think he has the name of Joey??? Every sitcom seems to have a Joey on it?
I try to work it out everytime you post hee hee
Oh just read your thing backwards
"Made it my avatar. There was an episode of frieds where he played keys. I also like paul rudd"
So is this someone called Paul Rudd?
I did a google now and i know that guy ive enjoyed some of his stuff..obviously this shot is a very young version of the photos i can find . God im hopeless with names. Truley.
Anyway your avatar always stuck out Jordan
nadroJ tuo kcuts syawla ratava ruor yawynA
edit: i can see its on the Friends set now (we are bombarderd with 2 sessions everynight around dinner)
..whoo thats a weight off my feeble mind finally. Its definately not the character i thought it was who was in a band on the show (played keyboards or was it guitar) on another sitcom that we rarely saw. A shmaltsy sitcom. More for the 17 to 20 year old demography.
Aussiekeys, im impressed you went through the effort to decipher my post. You nailed it. Kudos!
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sdrawkcab eman.
Avatar: ddur luap ekil osla I. syek deyalp eh erehw sdeirf fo edosipe na saw erehT. ratava ym ti edam.
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14 minutes ago, konaboy said:
after watching and enjoying a few videos yesterday I can answer a couple of questions that were posted here, based on statements from Andy from Roland.
poly is 256 (approx) when using zencore sounds, drops to 32 in total when using the models, for example juno-60 or 106. These are of course shared between the multitimbral parts. For example, when using 4 model tracks, you have 8 notes on each, which is adequate for any Juno emulation! Roland apparently have some clever algorithms to handle note stealing.
kayboard is the same as the new fantom-0 series, albeit with aftertouch (don't think the 0 has that).
my thoughts, looks and sounds beautiful, the concept is wonderful, love that they stuffed a 5080 and RD piano in there.
i heard comparisons with original 106 and it sounds close enough. Wish it had the pattern sequencer in the style of JD-Xi. not clear to me on the capabilities or limitations of the step sequencer.
Would love to see you with one of these Woody - you’ve already conquered Korg and Yamaha. Roland next? 😁
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I’ve softened a bit. The videos certainly out-do the on-paper specs. I accept now that the hardware is obviously the selling point. Aluminium body, aftertouch and internal power supply are all big pluses - though expected at this price point.
For all of the people online (YouTube and Reddit, some Gearspace) complaining that it doesn’t have ACB or whatever…the truth is there are lots of people who are going to produce some wonderful music with this thing.
I can get over the Zencore crossover stuff (Roland seem pretty adamant they aren’t going down the Korg/Behringer route by re-releasing actual analogue classics and the sooner we accept that the better - though I must say Behringer will happily eat up their share in the market for breakfast if it comes to it) but the two gripes for me are: 1) the keybed (if it really IS the same as the Fantom0 - you’d think at this price point and with the rest of the hardware they’d include at least the keybed found in the flagship Fantom) and 2) the price. This synth has a lot of competition at this price point…Hydrasynth Deluxe, Nord Wave 2, anything by DSI, Korg’s latest offerings, maybe the new Oberheim coming out…it needs to stand up to those things.
As it stands the potential ROMpler sounds are ironically the thing that sets it apart - not the hardware, not the features, not the sound. Every comparable product can deliver similar sonic results, but without the ROMpler capabilities. Will be interesting to see how it sells.
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I don’t get it. If it’s purely ZEN core stuff all they’ve done is throw their current VSTs in a box with the Juno name and design and are charging 2 grand for it???
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Nord and Korg by a country mile.
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I don’t like the Bosendorfer pack either. Used to like the “Mellow Grand” but now I find them all flat and uninspiring. Much prefer the CFX. I also happen to think that the Nord piano samples are the best hardware has to offer by far, but there are plenty of people online who hate them so much you’d think they were sampled by satan himself.
Point being: piano sounds are very subjective. If you don’t like what others like that’s fine. If you don’t like them, don’t let them hog up memory in your instrument.
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Zoom MS-70CDR is a steal for the price. Focuses on chorus, delay and reverb. 70+ effects, 120+ with a firmware update. Some nice filtery things too.
Can pick one up for £65 if you know where to look. There’s a few vids of it being used with keyboards on YouTube, definitely a go-to multi FX pedal for our type. Search for the one where it’s being used on a Rhodes - heavenly sounds.
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Ouch. Bruised my tail bone 2 years ago and still get sore if I sit wrong (or on a bad bench) for a while. They can take a long time to heal.
Hope you get better soon. In my case as time went on I was able to sit on more and more surfaces: started super soft cushions, then a mattress, then harder cushions.
Just be mindful of your back. When you start sitting again you may be tempted to sit in such a way that eases the pain for your butt, but is terrible for your back. I have a recurring back problem, and there have been a few times when my tailbone was still healing when I threw my back out after sitting awkwardly on an uncomfortable stool for an hour. Same goes for how you lie down - if you lie down in bed in a way that puts pressure on your back while taking it off your ass it’s going to cause problems. You don’t think of these things at the time because you’re just enjoying the relief, so try to always be aware of your posture.
Speedy recovery, Steve.
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Even simpler than sharing - simply copy the link in the toolbar and paste it here. It should embed automatically.
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55 minutes ago, AnotherScott said:
I think this might be what you're looking for...
https://yamahasynth.com/learn/montage/mastering-montage-vcm-mini-filter-and-mini-boost-in-os-v3
Check especially the section "In Da Night Boost"
Though also keep in mind, there is a reason people like analog and virtual analog synths... you can't quite get the same places with sample or FM based synthesis. This is an area where competitive boards like FA, Fantom-0, Nautilus, PC4 can have an advantage over MODX (though yes, the VCM Mini Filter and Boost help). If you don't get close enough to what you're after, you might consider taking advantage of the Zone Master functions of the MODX to integrate an external sound source. There are some nice VA apps you can run from an iOS device. Or for lead work, you could also look at real rather than virtual analog in a little Roland SE-02. These are all things that are small enough to fit right on the MODX7.
That article was exactly what I was looking for, will have a play around when I’m home tonight. Thanks.
I’ve used the model-d app with the MODX before and it’s outstanding. Love it. If I can’t get what I want on the MODX I’ll likely get it on that.
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Digging this. Hard. The groove, the understated vocals, the wonderfully subtle pitch drifting textures on the chorus layered with the organ (big Nic Semrad vibes)…the solo…the lead tone…good stuff.
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Something new and interesting from Crumar!!!
in The Keyboard Corner
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I’m trying to withhold comment until I actually know what it does, but I’d agree with @Delaware Dave’s comment - where do they get their marketing info?
The thing I’m really struggling with just now is knowing what will set this apart from the Seven. Judging by the control panel and additional features we can see…not a lot. The Seven also will at least hold a keyboard on it. This looks like it won’t.