Groove On

This my favorite stereo breakout adapter for 3.5mm. There's something very satisfying about it. Most importantly; no RCA connectors and no awkward/heavy adapter straining the consumer 3.5mm jack. HOSA Stereo Breakout 3.5 mm TRSF to Dual 1/4 in TS https://hosatech.com/products/analog-audio/stereo-breakouts/hosa-breakouts/ymp-434/

MusicNotes.com has an app for their sheet music that runs on Android. It also supports personal PDFs and you can sync across platforms. It's a pretty decent sheet music reader. https://www.musicnotes.com/apps/android/ - ForScore also supports downloads of sheet music purchased from MusicNotes.com. - For lead sheets, I like using iReal Pro's editor. I'm curious about OnSong, but I always get tangled up in their pricing descriptions - can never figure out which one I "really" need.

It's cool to see so many iOS apps are now showing up as compatible on the M1 (For example, just saw that the Lumbeat drum machines now run on M1 Macs, same for iMidiPatchbay.). It looks like I'll be able to consolidate all my music and other software onto one hardware platform! That's a nice upgrade feature But I'm not giving up on the iPad/iPhone yet, it just makes it easier to off-load certain programs to the iOS devices.

Just for fun ... here's the rig in white. Casio CT-S1 Casio PX-S1000

Yes, the Casio's red has much more subtlety, the Nord is kind a run of the mill in-your-face red ...

I notice that the Casio CT-S1 and PX-S1000 have the same retro-form factor/styling. So reading the tea leaves, I'm wondering if we're going to see a 61-key PX-S1? I know, I know - those who know won't tell etc, etc, ... but still, I gotta wonder if we'll see this Unicorn... - maybe, maybe just maybe, Santa will bring one for Christmas. Casio CT-S1 Casio PX-S1000

There's also the Studiologic Numa Compact series. From what you wrote above, you probably want the 2x version. https://www.studiologic-music.com/products/

Yes, I fed the Mac audio into the Casio S1 speakers. For the player, VST/AU sound quality is ok and playable. For an audience, a distance of 10 feet / 3 meters is probably the max; after that volume drops off fast.

That feeling when you take the Casio S1 camping and plug-in a MacBook Air with MainStage instruments >> all running off batteries.

We are basically doomed, we can"t even figure ourselves out as a species, let alone what advanced autonomous A.I. means for humanity. I remember last century when people would say that a machine would never replace a human being (e.g. chess, writing, music making etc.) But back then, we humans were the ones holding the machines back - they could only perform as well as the human made algorithms they were given. Nowadays, the machines can program themselves and come up with algorithms and solutions that stump even the creators. I"m pretty sure the next century will see artificial intelligences beyond any human"s comprehension. Imagine one of those with full control over a genetics DNA lab, who knows what will come out of that lab. I know it still seems like science-fiction to many people, but it"s a bit like going to the moon in the 1960s, it"s do-able, just needs the focus and will power of some agency, government or corporation. In evolutionary terms, humans have only been here for the blink of an eye, and we don"t have any other species to measure ourselves against - so who knows what a tool making species normally looks like when it"s tools evolve beyond their native capabilities.

Just finished re-watching Deep Space 9 for the nth time. And finally got around to binge-watching 4x seasons of Castlevania (1st time). [video:youtube]

I think the S1 does this really well.

For me the CT-S1 piano tone/action is decently playable, you're not going to get the finesse of an US$800+++ hammer action, but the dynamics for a US$199 keyboard are a pleasant surprise for me. Don't let your imagination run away with you, it's still an inexpensive plastic action, but there is a feel of key "travel" that gives decent control over dynamics for this price range. I'm not sure why, but there's a difference in the way the key feels at the top vs the bottom of it's travel. There's some sort of friction or soft padding, so I do get a sense of how hard I'm pressing the key and when it's going to hit bottom. It's a minor but decent step up from the NP-32 / Go Piano actions (dare I say it's even nicer than the Korg Kross 61). I'd even offer that I think of it as a "junior" version of the key action on the Korg VOX Continental. Notes: - FWIW, quick repeated notes are super-easy and a fun to play. - Long sustained legato is also easier than on most other inexpensive plastic actions (perhaps this was tuned by Casio) - regarding playing at the back of the keys, I'd say the keys are fairly uniform up to 75% of their length, the last 25% of the key starts to get rough.

Yes, that's the smell of brand new keyboard

I ended up getting the white CT-S1, but all 3 retro color designs look pretty cool in-person. For US$199, Casio did a good job. I'm finding it a fun-playable keyboard. (pics here) I really like the form factor and I hope Casio thinks about doing a "Pro version". Nothing crazy, keep it simple - pro I/O, an audio interface, and call it a day. But this works nicely right now. I might even get a 2nd one just because. Notes: The Gator GKB-49 fits the S1 pretty snugly. Downside is that it doesn't have backpack straps. https://www.gatorcases.com/products/keyboard/keyboard-gig-bags/gkb/49-note-keyboard-gig-bag-gkb-49/ There's also an official Casio bag, which is back-packable. Looks pretty good, but you have to slip the keyboard in from the "long-side". https://www.casio-intl.com/asia/en/emi/option/list/5_carrying_case/

Casio CT-S1 (White/Grey) - I'm enjoying this portable Casio keyboard, pretty good for US$200

Whelp! I got to try the CT-S1 in-store, and I was pleasantly surprised. So much so, that my only issue was picking a color (see attached). I"ll go have some lunch first to mull over the color, but I"ve been jonesing for a portable 61-key since I sold the Go Piano, and this makes a nice (but very slight) upgrade. Having experience with the Go Piano, I"m liking the CT-S1 better.

I have an SSL2 audio interface for the home studio, but for live performances, I prefer using more solid, built-like-a-tank devices. That looks like a nice piece of kit. Build looks robust/ high quality - like it could live comfortably on-stage or in-studio. I like the volume knob and VU meters, plus the fixed/variable output might be useful. For the price, also take a look at the Key Largo Mixer https://www.radialeng.com/product/key-largo My US$300 budget setup: 1. Mackie MDB-USB DI Box https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MDBUSB--mackie-mdb-usb-stereo-usb-direct-box 2. Yamaha MG-06X Mixer https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MG06X--yamaha-mg06x-6-channel-mixer-with-effects

The original WIDI devices are for MIDI DIN. These new devices are for USB devices. All devices supposedly lower latency and jitter over Bluetooth (BLE MIDI). WIDI Bud Pro - plugs into a USB Host (e.g. Mac, iPad, iPhone or Kenton MIDI Host) - there was an older WIDI Bud which could only connect with 1x device at a time, this new Pro version can connect with multiple devices WIDI UHost - plugs into anything and turns it into a Host (e.g. any of the devices listed above, plus: keyboards, synths, controllers, sequencers)

That was such a great explanation. Now I totally understand the Blues ...

You are correct in theory, but the reality is Apple changes the software logic/rules on a whim - I"ve had several inexpensive cables and devices just stop working after an Apple update (so in your example you"d basically double/triple your loss). Those same cheap devices and cables were all working fine until then. If you"re depending on those items for performances, get the Apple dongles/cables.

That's a good point about upgrading to Standard. My main reasons would be: 1. 1x additional model 2. Mic Placement 3. Morphing and Layering But for those of us who are trying to avoid the time-sink of tweaking settings, the last two reasons are also a turn-off.

One of the fun things about Pianoteq, like when you were a kid, you can 'collect 'em all'. Every few months, I"ve added another one to the stable. And when they introduce a new model, they usually offer a limited 50% off another model. I"ve collected nearly all the pianos under the Stage version. Eventually I"ll move up to the Standard version for the additional model and to try out the morphing, but I"m not a software tweaker, just give me some good presets in the Stage version and I"m happy to work with the sounds I"ve got. My personal favorites are the newest but less known brands: Steingraeber, Bechstein and Ant. Petrofs (including the new Mistral). They"ve done an excellent job with these, very woody and warm sounding. I find myself round-robin playing these 3 models the most. I also agree with Dr. Mike about checking out the antique models (free and paid). I think you"ll be pleasantly surprised by the sound of those 19th and 20th century models, easy to play and get lost in - also very woody and warm. After that, I like all of the Steinways and Bluethner for their character, the K2 for it"s 'perfect but clinical' sound and the Electric Pianos / Organs for pure fun. I don"t get around to the YC5 (Yamaha), Grotrian or Upright as much. One thing about the Grotrian, I find it almost too powerful, too grand - it"s great for some aggressive Beethoven or more regal pieces, but I look elsewhere when I want to finesse the details of the piece more (Steinways and Bluethner are nice for that).

One of my favorite DIY makers redoes an iRig controller with a wood case. [video:youtube]

Au contraire mon frere, the yammie bags do have 'adjustable backpack straps'. Check out the pics on Sweetwater. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MX49BagBk--yamaha-mx49-bag