jejefunkyman

Hi All, I've got the good surprise to learn today about the release of the new Korg Module iOS version, named now Korg Module Pro, and which adds layer, split and Midi CC# learn functions! https://www.korg.com/fr/news/2019/071803/ As I've used Module almost since the beginning, I see these additions as something very positive! OK I will not comment on the still missing AU function, but at least it makes Module a quite attractive solution for a one single keyboard rehearsal setup, which would change my keyboarder life nicely ;-) However, I'm still trying to figure out the best Audio/midi interface to connect everything easily and fast. I still have the Korg Plugkey in the back of my mind, but also in the Module pro introduction video under the link above, one can see in the end a Focusrite interface, which looks pretty much like a Scarlett solo, but with the Midi input and output ports and an USB plug in addition. This looks for me like the perfect solution, but when I checked the Focusrite's website, I couldn't find any information about such an interface. Does it mean that Focusrite is about to release such an Audio/Midi interface in the next days? Summer NAM? Does anybody have any information on this? Thanks a lot for any info and let me know what you think about this new Korg Module update!

Cool guys, glad to hear about other VC users ;-) Im still very happy with mine after a couple of gigs and rehearsals. The keyboard feel is very good and the sounds too, especially the EPs!! In the meantime, I could finally get the gig bag, so everything is fine ;-) Cant put my hands anymore on the Krome, Ive already placed an ad to sell it.

This one is so damn important ;-) One should never let pain grow inside because of bad body or hand positions, otherwise, this may be the beginning of the end... I'll add to this: learn to carry loads in the right way by using legs for going up and down and your abs muscles. Protect your back by all mean necessary!! Back pain is absolutely terrible, you should always keep this in mind!!!

I definitely think this should be a Key Thread!! So many good advice inside ;-)

Hi all, Great post idea and already a lot of useful advices so far ;-) I dont know if we are allowed to repeat what was already said, but here are some advices from me (yes Im 43 years old, so I can share some of my thoughts): - Use every failure as a learning experience: dont be too hard on yourself or on the others, but instead, draw the right conclusions and use your findings in the next situation you encounter. - Practice regularly: it is really much better to practice 10 minutes every day (or every two days) than 2 hours once per month. - Understand how your brain works: you need to push the useful information into your long term memory, and this is possible only with repetition. This is why regular practice is key! - It is never too late to learn something new: I started learning piano at 32 years old, German at 40 years old. Everything is possible if you put the right motivation level into it and don't give up!!! - Never stop learning, just for fun: there is always something you can improve in your playing or in your life experience. - Playing music, even at an amateur level, has a lot to do with relationships. If you cant handle it, then play solo. Otherwise, learn to deal with people and dont do to others what you would not like others doing to you. - Have a good sense of humor, it can help sometimes to deal with bad situations or bad people! - Dont take yourself too seriously and stay humble: there is always somebody playing better than you!! - Dont have too many expectations from life: you will be most of the time disappointed!! - Your health is your most important asset in life: keep it as good as possible however you can (eating healthy food, don't drinking too much alcohol or sodas, doing sport, laughing, meeting friends, spending good time with your S.O and kids when you have some...). - Spend more time listening to others than talking ;-) Ill feed the post later when something else comes to my mind. I hope this can help somebody. Peace and thanks for reading! Jérôme

OK now I will start with my first concern: the gig bag. I ordered one on Thomann 2 weeks ago because it was shown as available there, but 2 days later, I received a message from them saying that they were checking the availability. I waited some more days and hoped that it would soon be available again, but finally, I received the information that the gig bag will not be available before July :-( This is really annoying because I have to rehearse and gig with it very soon. Since the Vox Conti has a very uncommon shape, it is not easy to find an alternative solution. The Krome 73 gig bag which I already own works quite well with the Vox, but the problem is that I can't carry it on my back! So now I'm a bit lost on what to do. I will continue checking at other sellers in Germany, but if anybody has a suggestion, this would also be very welcome! My requirements are pretty straightforward: dimensions should be quite close and it should be possible to carry the bag on the back. Thanks for any hint! Jérôme

Hi Mike, You're very welcome ;-) I understand your position, and I think you are very well equipped with the Grandstage and the Viscount anyway!! The Grandstage 73 was also on my wish list, but these days I just can't imagine myself carrying 17 kg once or twice per week!! At least having two light keyboards (The SK1 73 weights only 9 kg) allows me to split the load between my back and my arms, which I find more manageable. I kind of saw the Vox Continental as a light version of the Grandstage with fewer sounds but coming from similar sound engines. This helped me to pull the trigger somehow ;-) Maybe in the future, I will also go for a Grandstage to replace my SV1, or whatever keyboard in this range will be available at that time! Jerome

Hi everybody, I've been a long time reader of this forum without contributing so far, so thanks to the all the contributors for the valuable advices and discussions. I could make good use of it on several occasions! Now I'd like to talk about the Vox Continental which I recently bought to use as the bottom board on my Carlos Santana tribute band, together with a Hammond SK1. I was using so far a Krome 73 for this purpose, which I bought two years ago, but I was already thinking for a while to replace it. I think the Krome is a nice piece of gear, with some good sounds inside and a lot of possibilities for combinations, sound design, sequencing or drum patterning, but I could never get used to the keys. Not really because of the keyboard feel, which I think was alright for EP's, synths or organs, but rather for the keys size, especially the black ones. It was not working for playing Latin piano parts. I was very often missing the right key, or playing together two keys by mistake. I had to concentrate very hard in order to play things right, and it was a bit killing my playing experience. I must say it is much better with the Vox Continental! I find the keyboard feel pretty good, even for this Santana Latin piano stuff. So my main problem is now solved ;-)! The Nord Electro 6D was also in my mind, but the minimum price you can get here in Germany is around 1,800 EUR, whereas you can grab a brand new Vox Continental for only 1,099 EUR, without the stand, which I don't need anyway. So this price gap between the two keyboards was a strong advantage of the Vox Continental. Now let's talk about the sounds, starting with EPs. I'm pretty happy with the Vox EP sounds: I'm a proud owner of a Korg SV1 and I find the Vox Continental EPs sound more natural, and closer to the real thing. I like also the SV1 EP but only in the case you run it through the amp simulation. However, I always found it was a bit bright, especially when comparing it with recent software emulations (for example Scarbee EP88-S, or even Neo Soul keys). I couldn't really dig the SV1 EP sound without the amp. And the tweaking possibilities on the Vox Conti with the valve drive and dynamics knobs, add a lot to tailor the sound according to one's personal taste. The one sound where I find the SV1 to be the best is the Wurli: here I think the amp simulation adds a lot of character to it and this is really my reference sound for Wurlis. In this area, I find the Conti to be also quite good, though not as good as the SV1. But I think I can live with it. In the piano area, I find the Conti's sound to be also good. Of course, the waterfall keyboard does not allow very subtle piano playing, but for playing in a loud live settings (which is the case on this Santana tribute band...), I think the grand pianos will cut through the busy mix easily, especially with the help of the valve and dynamics knobs. The Key/Layer sound engine covers very well my needs for brass, strings, leads, and even distorted guitar (yes I need one on the song called All Aboard). Last but not least, the organs: I have to admit that I did not buy the Vox for the organs, and certainly not for the Vox emulation, which I will barely use, but I think it does a good job in this area, even on the B3 emulation, and I can think also about using the Vox as a single keyboard to cover all sounds including organs, when needed. So the organ section is a bonus point for me. Ive read the discussion around the lack of splitting possibilities beside organs: as you have seen, my intention was from the very beginning to always use the Vox in a two keyboard setting. I have tried the split approach, because I wanted maybe to bring only one keyboard to rehearsals, but it was too complicated for some of the Santana songs, and I did not want anyway to use only one board during concerts. So I finally gave up on this. Therefore, the weight of the board was one of my main criteria since Ive taken the decision to always carry two keyboards with me, so I particularly appreciate the 8,4kg of the Conti ;-). Im also playing with a soul and blues band, and there the Vox works very well as the bottom keyboard in combination with the Krome for brass and synth sounds. It is clear that the SV1 will now stay at home most of the time, and that I will use it only for playing jazz in a trio for example, or only when Im motivated to carry the 20 kg to some gigs The touch bar section is also quite good, though Ive not yet completely figured out how to run it in a precise manner: for example, when I want to position a bar just by touching the right position, it sometimes work, but sometimes not so I have to touch it two times. Sliding the bars with, one, two, or more fingers works well though. You can also proceed like on the Sweetwater demo, by kind of drawing your desired EQ or drawbar setting curve with one finger. OK, so thats enough said for now. Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to share my positive impressions of the Vox Continental and give it some praise, for those who may be interested to buy it. Ill maybe write another post later to give also some of my concerns (yes there are some) and wishes. Until then, I wish you all a nice day! Jérôme