Baggypants

This handy website has two suggestions https://v-combo.webspace.rocks/gear

If @one_fungi still has a problem, why not?

It'll probably sound fine if the amp isn't a total dogegg and the mic and PA are quality. We've got pretty good at making things sound... 'pretty good' in the 21st Century even with weird audio routing. It's not like we're still kicking around Carlsbro and Peavey stuff from 1992. I went to a cricket match with a live band between innings. The only thing I could hear, being in the top tier stand and side on to the stage, was the drums and the lead guitarist who mic'ed through the amp, so if OP is setting PA up for a cricket match then maybe it'll help?

Presumably they don't want it to weigh a quarter of a ton. No-ones going to point at you mid performance and shout "The key arm is plastic, my evening and whole life is ruined!' Well, no-one outside of Nashville anyway.

Some master keyboards can send Sysex, if you"re going to drag a computer to a gig then you may as well use the iPad app to switch, or program the organ sound to a registration preset.

I run all my stuff off batteries. Internal if available, or chunky usb powerpacks. Edit: I have no pa stuff to worry about though.

Depends on what you want to do with it, which system software (firmware) version is stored in it´s internal flash memory and which (optional) devices you already have installed or want to use in future. This is absolutely NOT the location it deserves ! I got one in very good condition but w/ very early v1.0 firmware and no activation keyfile because it got lost w/ the previous owner´s old Win XP computer´s HDD. Luckily everything is still available to refresh and upgrade ... You can download almost everything HERE ... except activation keys. I wrote to Sonic Core support and asked kindly for activation keys and got ´em even there´s no support for old Creamware products anymore. So, I was able to use the flash-tool to re-flash the machine after I pulled out a old Win XP machine and installed USB drivers, Flashtool and Remote Editor software. Actually I have a few problems because I upgraded to the full blown image containing ALL the previously optional devices. I got the keys for that, but because the so called "keyserver" is down for unknown period of time, I got keys in textform (email,- numbers and letters) which have to be entered manually one.by.one and seems not to be so easy, at least for me. When I got the complete (.rgy / allkeys) activation keyfile instead, that would have been WAY easier to deal with. But, that´s only my story for the time being and not the end because S|C support is already excellent because of still providing keys and host all the software while the community @ PlanetZ is very helpful too. I expect to have it running w/ the system upgrade and all the optional devices soon ! Already w/ the previous system OS and standard plugin config. it worked great and sounded georgeous !!! I´ll use it as the tone generator for my Yammi KX-5, 2 Midi channels, 2 devices at a time, each device across 2 DSP slots (= higher poyphony !). But for me, it was so tempting to install the full blown .dmp file including B-2003, Minimax, Prodyssey, Pro12/Profit-5, ProOne, Lightwave, Vectron Player, Six-String, Vocodizer, Interpole and the s##tload of high quality insert- and aux-fx, and mixer incl. dual-mono/stereo audio inputs and I appreciate the ADAT out which is alternately opt. SPDIF too. So, I go thru the nitemare of re-registration/activation. You don´t have to when you already have or find your keyfile for the standard configuration or,- when you ever bought optional devices and installed, - that keyfile. Even when you upgrade system OS, you can use your old keyfile. Make a backup of your IF (internal flash) before upgrading. But when you add more devices, you´d have to try to request new/ additional keys. So, pull it out of the closet, power up, press the system button and look for systemOS version in display´s upper row to the right. The latest system version is: 1.4.23, 2003-10-16 When you already have that,- in general no need to upgrade and re-flash the unit,- so you´d need the editor software and old Win XP computer only for your comfort. It´s a standalone working machine which can be edited from frontpanel, store and recall presets to/ from internal flash memory and CF card. CF card can be used for backups, at least for the presets, factory and what you yourself created. Use a small CF card, 64 or 128MB, FAT formatted,- 256MB might work too, perhaps 512MB also, but that´s overkill already. My tech/ buddy has a NOAH EX too and uses it live and in his studio,- he´s using a 64MB CF card. You cannot backup entire flash memory incl. system firmaware and all the installed devices to CF card,- this is what you need a old Win XP machine for. And you need it for the Editor,- which IMO is comfortable and easier way to edit everything, adjust MIDI routings, controller assignments etc. And,- with the Editor´s version 1.1, you not only have USB MIDI functionality, you also get an ASIO and WAVE driver which makes the unit a multi- channel USB audio interface, at least for the Win XP computer and DAW software running on Win XP still,- latest Reaper p.ex. !!!. Better trhan nothing ! I still have 3 Win XP machines I run older software on. B.t.w.,- the NOAH v1.1 remote editor software and drivers are usable on Mac OS X macchines up to OS X 10..2.6 or 8 IIRC,- it´s in the instructions. At least don´t go higher when upgrading systemOS/ firmware to be safe. O.k., I hope that helps ! A.C. Depends on what you want to do with it, which system software (firmware) version is stored in it´s internal flash memory and which (optional) devices you already have installed or want to use in future. This is absolutely NOT the location it deserves ! I got one in very good condition but w/ very early v1.0 firmware and no activation keyfile because it got lost w/ the previous owner´s old Win XP computer´s HDD. Luckily everything is still available to refresh and upgrade ... You can download almost everything HERE ... except activation keys. I wrote to Sonic Core support and asked kindly for activation keys and got ´em even there´s no support for old Creamware products anymore. So, I was able to use the flash-tool to re-flash the machine after I pulled out a old Win XP machine and installed USB drivers, Flashtool and Remote Editor software. Actually I have a few problems because I upgraded to the full blown image containing ALL the previously optional devices. I got the keys for that, but because the so called "keyserver" is down for unknown period of time, I got keys in textform (email,- numbers and letters) which have to be entered manually one.by.one and seems not to be so easy, at least for me. When I got the complete (.rgy / allkeys) activation keyfile instead, that would have been WAY easier to deal with. But, that´s only my story for the time being and not the end because S|C support is already excellent because of still providing keys and host all the software while the community @ PlanetZ is very helpful too. I expect to have it running w/ the system upgrade and all the optional devices soon ! Already w/ the previous system OS and standard plugin config. it worked great and sounded georgeous !!! I´ll use it as the tone generator for my Yammi KX-5, 2 Midi channels, 2 devices at a time, each device across 2 DSP slots (= higher poyphony !). But for me, it was so tempting to install the full blown .dmp file including B-2003, Minimax, Prodyssey, Pro12/Profit-5, ProOne, Lightwave, Vectron Player, Six-String, Vocodizer, Interpole and the s##tload of high quality insert- and aux-fx, and mixer incl. dual-mono/stereo audio inputs and I appreciate the ADAT out which is alternately opt. SPDIF too. So, I go thru the nitemare of re-registration/activation. You don´t have to when you already have or find your keyfile for the standard configuration or,- when you ever bought optional devices and installed, - that keyfile. Even when you upgrade system OS, you can use your old keyfile. Make a backup of your IF (internal flash) before upgrading. But when you add more devices, you´d have to try to request new/ additional keys. So, pull it out of the closet, power up, press the system button and look for systemOS version in display´s upper row to the right. The latest system version is: 1.4.23, 2003-10-16 When you already have that,- in general no need to upgrade and re-flash the unit,- so you´d need the editor software and old Win XP computer only for your comfort. It´s a standalone working machine which can be edited from frontpanel, store and recall presets to/ from internal flash memory and CF card. CF card can be used for backups, at least for the presets, factory and what you yourself created. Use a small CF card, 64 or 128MB, FAT formatted,- 256MB might work too, perhaps 512MB also, but that´s overkill already. My tech/ buddy has a NOAH EX too and uses it live and in his studio,- he´s using a 64MB CF card. You cannot backup entire flash memory incl. system firmaware and all the installed devices to CF card,- this is what you need a old Win XP machine for. And you need it for the Editor,- which IMO is comfortable and easier way to edit everything, adjust MIDI routings, controller assignments etc. And,- with the Editor´s version 1.1, you not only have USB MIDI functionality, you also get an ASIO and WAVE driver which makes the unit a multi- channel USB audio interface, at least for the Win XP computer and DAW software running on Win XP still,- latest Reaper p.ex. !!!. Better trhan nothing ! I still have 3 Win XP machines I run older software on. B.t.w.,- the NOAH v1.1 remote editor software and drivers are usable on Mac OS X macchines up to OS X 10..2.6 or 8 IIRC,- it´s in the instructions. At least don´t go higher when upgrading systemOS/ firmware to be safe. O.k., I hope that helps ! A.C. Weirdly compelling argument against softsynths vs analogue

Regarding a stand for iPad I used an iPad bicycle mount, presumably for exercise bikes, and attached it to the bottom of an old chunky aluminium music stand I have.

The Raspberry Pi is pretty underpowered for running some of the more demanding VST software, but the bigger problem is that there are (almost) no VST makers offering anything on Linux. I'm hoping Apple's switch to ARM results in more VSTs ported to Linux, but it's still a long shot. While it's the same hardware architecture, developing for Linux is not as attractive as the Windows, MacOs and iOS markets. That may all change if Intel and AMD decide to start producing ARM hardware for something other than the mobile and server markets, but in the meantime ARM is either Apple or maker/developer boards like the Raspberry Pi. VST's have had a problematic life on linux due to how Steinburg used to licence the SDK. While that's less of a problem with VST3 now being GPL it was too late and most linux audio software has standardised on the LV2 format. For reference, this is a reasonable list of synth engines that run on the raspberry pi. It's not comprehensive. https://zynthian.org/engines

Don't forget the guide to opening https://v-combo.webspace.rocks/open-vr09

Never had that issue but I did wonder briefly if it you were accidentally triggering the D-Beam. Sounds more like dirt though.

We're all going to run it through a cheap DSP chorus anyway and you know it.

That USB-midi doesn't generate itself! Sounds like they've just standardised some controller bits.

I use forScore on an old iPad Air, I do a LOT of scribbling on music, and it's annotation stuff is fantastic. Love the stamps, love the multiple note layers which I can use for the same song with different bands. Love being able to import a massive pdf like the Real Book and bookmark pages so they appear as separate songs. I only wish the tablet was maybe 2.54cm bigger all the way round.

I think there's a few things going on. The iPad was released in 2010, the same year as the Korg Monotron, the first affordable analogue synth in years. Both with a 'Go Anywhere' design concept. Since then we've come to realise "analogue" isn't the panacea everyone said it was and 'Go Anywhere' design drives serious compromises. The products since, monotrons, volcas, Reface series, Akai's Timbrewolf, Behringers budget stuff, New Casiotone, DAWless grooveboxes, even the iPad, and all that are evolution from those concepts sometimes drawing on what worked, sometimes trying out something new.

Ditch the weighted keys idea, you"re busking, you"re just going to be slamming them down to be heard anyway. Another vote for the Casiotone CT-S1. You won"t be so invested if someone robs it.

Pair it with the PX S1000 and you wont need an amp or any psu

Love the Duxbury vid. 'It calls it a standard synth, but it"s anything but!' I was clapping and grinning with each new feature. I thinks he does the best job explaining the velocity layer stuff too. If I was only going to have one keyboard and only had £300 the S400 looks a better bet (49 note polyphony though). But I have a 88 graded weighted keyboard, a 61 key clonewheel, a 49 key VA synth, some midi controllers, a raspberry pi with knobs on and other synthy stuff lurking about, all with 1/4" jack outs. The CT-S1 appeals to my vanity by looking cooler, and my want for simplicity. As well as sounding great, being light, running on batteries and having internal speakers like the S400.

Correct. An under $30 computer which can run two 4K displays at 60fps simultaneously. It"s not the slouch it was. Pick and choose. If you want the computationally beefy synth just run one channel. If you need 16 layers of multitimbral orchestration pick the sample based stuff. Nothing is unique. It"s all off the shelf stuff apart from the case but it is also open source. You can build one with stuff you already own, usb audio interfaces, source your own knobs. The kit is for convenience. Check out the forum, yes, non-techies use one of these. At least one person is dual booting Zynthian OS and Retrocade. Play Super Mario on your synth if you like. Mostly open source ones using the lv2 plugin framework. Some have been cross-compiled Have you heard of clicking on links and researching on the internet? The world is larger and weirder than Keyboard Corner.

Well, for a specific definition of 'best' I agree with you . For taking out to venues and dropping on floors and spilling drinks on laptops and computers can often fall a bit short of 'best'. Compared to a tough small aluminium box with a dedicated screen and programmable rotary controllers you can grab in the gloom, and where the whole OS is on a read-only sdcard you can clone at home and replace in seconds on site. Being able to create a specific sound in software and then load that directly on to a portable keyboard is great! I mean, check out this thing someone built out of a Raspberry Pi, an Edirol midi controller, some bits of aluminium and wood! I'd rather risk that perched on a wobbly stand with a beery band on stage compared to a laptop. Even if you dumped it in the sea you know the mainboard replacement cost is going to be $30. [video:youtube]

Some developers already support ARM. MOD Devices and Pianoteq release proprietary paid for versions of their plugins and pianoteq is well supported on the zynthian. Also there"s such a massive wealth of free open source plugins like SetBFree, obxd, Surge, Vital, TAL NoiseMaker3, Foo-YC, Dexed, sfz and sf2 support your probably going to find something you can work with. Have a listen to the audio samples on the zynth site. If you have a pi3 or pi4 it"s worth downloading the os image and using hdmi for the screen and headphone audio out with a usb midi keyboard.

It"s called http://zynthian.org

I"ve stuck with my DSi because it is exactly the right size for my jacket pocket. I"ve been playing a tangrams game called Neves on it recently.

Greed.

Loads of new digital pianos still have the 5 pin DIN midi if you're willing to branch out beyond Casio. The Korg D1 only came out two or three years ago and that only has DIN MIDI, no USB at all.