Noah DC

Given the replies to my recent thread a few weeks back showing a lot of folks are running the most intensive music apps like B-3x on 5th or 6th gen iPads without issues, I"m especially interested in the announcement that they"ll be releasing a new version of their cheapest student model. I"d think that would also drop the price on their current $300 8th gen, which can run every music app anyone would ever want to use, according to some of the members here. What else would you need the extra power for, music-wise? Low- Cost iPad and Mini Anyway, will be keeping an eye out...

Thanks for those points - I've never really delved into iPad tech before so the RAM and storage capacity notes make sense. Honestly, I was surprised that the newest 8th Generation iPad - with 3GB RAM and the faster processor - is only $330 and that people on the used market don't seem to be parting with their older models for much less than that. Thought there might be some savings in getting an older amusic-app-only iPad for 150-250, but looks like the move might just be to pick up the newest model.

Thanks, all. Taking Scott's point about app specs as a reference point, for B-3X, Hammond recommends: iPad 6th Generation (2018), iPad Air 3rd Generation (2019), iPad Mini 5th Generation (2019), and iPad Pro 2nd Generation (2017). The iPad 6th Generation seems to be most affordable of those models (I also don't see much difference between that model and the other slightly less powerful ones). Between those listings and drawback's affirmation that the 6 generation model works for a range of apps, it sounds like that's the iPad to go after. Anyone have thoughts on whether you can get by on 32GB storage? Assuming I'd really only use it for iOS apps - and maybe a couple media/Netflix-types apps on the side.

I run a few basic iOS apps through my old iPhone 6s with a Korg Plugkey. But recently, I wondered whether iPad tech has progressed enough that it would be worth picking up one of the older models that are able to run even the heavier apps without much latency, similar to how iPhone 6s does now. What's the cheapest/oldest iPad model that would run keys apps and how much would it cost me? Let's say my hypothetical budget is in the $150 - 250 range - I have no idea if that's realistic since I don't know much about iPads. The apps I currently run or would add if I got an iPad include Ravenscroft, Korg Module with Ivory and Scarbee, Moog Model D, and the Mellotron. If there is already a thread on this that I missed, feel free to just drop it in there as a reply.

That's great to hear! The SKB and other molded racks that get a lot of play here are probably lighter and have other advantages for touring musicians. But I also just dig having a piece of kit that has a vibe like the wood/Tolex ones that guy makes. I'd upload a picture of the Casesmith Customs rack I use for my Speakeasy stereo tube preamp, but the site is telling me I can't upload anything larger than 1MB and the other picture upload option requires a URL? Not sure what I'm missing, but anyway, I'll upload some shots eventually.

Love this clip - thanks for posting

Apologies - I missed your reply earlier! The build quality is excellent, in my opinion. Solid wood frame, tightly covered in Tolex, great look to it. The guy built it as requested in just a few days and was real responsive to questions. I"d expect it"s heavier than molded plastic-type cases, but mine has two handles and I can easily lug it on stage from a car, etc. I"ll send a photo of mine if I can figure out how to do it on here. The shop is also on Etsy so if you search there, you can find more reviews and contact the company with questions - they were quick to respond.

If you want one that looks good on stage, I got a rack from this guy for a tube preamp and it came out great. Casesmith Customs

Just in terms of background on price, you can regularly find used mono Tall and Fat pedals on Reverb in the $100-125 range and there is an open-box stereo Tall, Fat and Wide on there now for $250. I've had a good experience with those pedals, and Greg Lounsberry will often answer your questions direct if you get in touch.

Haha yes, I suppose that"s true. IF you don"t already have an iPhone and/or don"t want to use the apps that have a phone version AND you don"t already have an iPad made within the last four or five years, then yes, the choice would be to spend a few hundred to buy a sound module that does one single thing (very well!) or buy an iPad or iPhone that can do almost anything a regular computer can. But I do understand how people are inclined to go with modules given how recently it was that the phone or iPad route was unreliable.

The difference in price is just so stark, too. This June iOS app costs $13. This used Korg Plugkey costs $75, shipped. None of the hardware modules mentioned cost less than several hundred dollars.

I think people get scared away from using iPhones or iPads because until recently, you might have reason to be worried about connectivity or latency issues (I had those concerns and those issues on older software and older phones). But at this point it"s undervalued how easy and cheap it is to get prograde sounds from your phone if it is newer than, say, 2016. Buy a Korg Plugkey or similar for $100, pay $20 for Module/Ravenscroft/a synth, and plug in your phone to your keyboard. For a few sounds at a church gig, there is just no reason anymore to buy a $1,000 or $500 piece of hardware in terms of what people will actually hear. Buy an expensive module only if you need to ease any totally understandable (!) but at this point illogical worries about tech setup. I say all this as someone skeptical of the 'use-your-phone' approach until maybe a couple years ago.

Don't want to derail this thread into another on how to keep two boards tiered closely, but with the CP4 resting on a KM 18880, the back panel is 30 inches high. So with those 1.75" drops in the Knox stand, I could in theory keep my Mojo 61 on the Knox at 31" and rest the Mojo's front on the CP4 backpanel I grabbed a Knox stand just now (only 40-ish dollars lightly used) and will scope out that setup.

Scott, what are a few of the heights for the notches in that stand? I ask because I've been trying to figure the best way to hold up my Mojo 61 from the back so the front rests on my CP4, which would sit on my 18880. I can't seem to get something that is the right height, but this stand would be a cheap solution, assuming one of the notches was in the right place. Yes, I could drill holes in my 18881, but I was hoping to avoid that.

My understanding is Jim Alfredson gigged with that white-colored Casio Privia model (never liked the color) - at least as of a few years ago. I would see those newer Privias all over the place at pro gigs back when pro gigs were happening. But yes, as always, your mileage may vary when it comes to the piano action.

What was the reason you didn't include on the list the Privia PX-S3000 or S1000? I just played those briefly when I had to go inside the store for a quick minute the other day and I couldn't believe how small and light they got such a good piano action. It seems to have all the extra sounds you mentioned (RP, rhodes, wurlitzer, clavinet, synth, strings, brass). With those Privias, you'd save something like 500-1000 dollars compared to some of the boards you listed like the MODX8.

A great thread here breaking down his unbelievable career numbers

Thanks, Josh - appreciate all the detail here! Definitely going to look into adding those blocks to my rig. And yes, agreed that the IK iRig Keys 2 Pro isn"t much of a keyboard - mostly I"ve got it relegated now to hotel room practice or small gigs in a pinch.

Man, this is such a killer setup! Never thought I'd be searching around for Korg Microstation listings, but here you've got me doing just that..., I don't want to be presumptuous - already super generous of you to share all the info that you have - but is there any level of detail about those Mojo 61 risers that you could send around to help others get something like that made? If I had the specs, I'd likely dig around the internet to see if I could get identical risers printed somewhere. I've worked a bit on how best to rest a third keyboard on top of the Mojo 61, but encountered some of the same balance issues you were describing (the IK iRig Pro 2 Keys fits on its own, but just barely).

I"ve always appreciated the simple workman look of my CP4. Somebody once tried to start a thread about what kind of curtain/'skirt' setup people use to cover all the bottom board wires and ugly stand poles. Thread didn"t go anywhere, but I"d still be curious about those options - maybe some wall made of tolex or just a jet black curtain like back when guys had big pianos or Hammonds in front of them blocking the lower view.

Truly did not expect the end result here to be the mounting of a defense placing Milli Vanilli 'miles ahead' of today"s 'garbage' music! I agree these conversations do have that ring of dinner table politics - older folks telling younger folks how it is without any real idea about the current scene. If anyone would like to take a constructive approach and learn about all the great music out there these days (and great Vanilli-esque schlock! Schlock can be great and meaningful to people, too!), then I"m sure there are plenty of folks here happy to oblige with some links, myself included.

In 1953, when there was Miles Davis and Nat King Cole and any number of legendary producers and sidemen working in the industry, the number one song for eight weeks on the Billboard charts was 'How Much is that Doggy in the Window.' Schlock is timeless. Bad musicianship is timeless. Great musicianship is timeless. And any of it can make people feel right at any given time and that"s a good thing.

The weirdest part of this thread is that anybody chose 'the last 25 years' as the timeframe to mark the decline of pop music. As a younger guy, it"s just a bizarre hill to die on. I was cracking up googling the Billboard Top 100s from '25 years ago.' Yeah, the inherent musicality of pop music has really gone down hill since 'Every Rose Has It"s Thorn' hit number 3 on the charts. Of course, the true origin of The Great Musicianship Decline in Pop Music is after they gave Milli Vanilli that Grammy in '89. Now those guys knew their tritones!

Man, the fluctuations in these app prices are tough for those of us obsessed with getting the best price. Just bought the Leslie only software for this same price a month ago... May have to grab this, too.

I also would never have attempted this and I didn't like the trem/vibrato too much in this video. But if you just switch off the tremolo and/or vibrato and put the Rhodes layer to max. 18 percent it adds a lovely warmth and a wooden body to the Steinway B or D without any recognizable Rhodes sound. The unlayered Pteq pianos alone lack a little bit of warmth compared with good sample libraries. Yes, I could the benefit with the vibrato off for sure. I use Pianoteq's earlier versions so I'm definitely a fan.