rockit31

i have figured out how to download the 1984 mp3 from Itunes and placed it in my itunes library on my computer and have hooked iphone to computer and it's there now. I think I need some kind of other cable now to connect phone to keyboard. will look that up on internet as well.

there is only one moment of 2 minutes to detune the guitars. I have placed Dance the Night Away and Mr. Brightside at the end of a set. They can retune their guitars on the break. Can someone tell me how to record the song 1984 to my phone? What format do I need to utilize? And what kind of connector from my Iphone do I need to get? I think for now, I will attempt this, just playing the sample . Although I already have plan B in the works with my drummer. Linus and Lucy always goes over well

I don't even understand what sampling means and how to do it on these boards. It is a sad state of affairs that I am so inept at all of these concepts, hell, I don't even know how MIDI works and why I would need it. I am a dammed good piano player who reads music though. Playing solo classical pieces since I was a wee lad is probably my favorite musical thing to do. I get by for the most part in this rock band thing, something that I have only 9 years experience with as a 60 year old today. And I know my keys make this band stand out against our local "competition". It is surprising how few bands have a keyboardist here. I recently achieved something that for me, was like pulling teeth. Our lead guitar has a talk box and we are now covering practically every well know talk box song. I figured out how to split 7 patches over my two boards to bring Living on a Prayer to life. I know this is probably kid's play for most of you but it took alot of man hours to get this right. Thank God for YouTube. I do appreciate all of you and this forum for providing sound advice to the various walls I run into. You should know though, I am not just a guy sitting behind a keyboard in gigs. First of all I stand, and am the lead singer. I have three positions on the field, behind my rig, out front with my keytar, or just out front singing. I also haul the PA gear and set it up and run the sound during the gig. I know of no other thing in my life that burns more energy than a 3 or 4 hour gig. I literally change my shirt every break as it is soaked. But man, nothing really beats it!

That was their desire and I told them it's hard enough singing it in original key, please don't bump it up a half step. I am not young anymore and my voice gets tired quickly singing songs that stretch my vocal chords singing high stuff.

I already have 3 different manuals for this board, owners manual, data list, and reference manual. Just downloaded synthesizer parameter manual and have perused this and the reference manual a bit, but am afraid this is all just over my head. Yamaha was never user friendly in their documentation. It's like you need to be a sound engineer to understand what these manuals are laying down. You state you have been successfully on your MX? I see there is a split with left hand playing what patch on the MX???? Yes, the right hand sounds stringy. What patch did you program for that part? And why is it tuned to C? I'm not even sure what key the original is in.

Ok, before I start, I am a player and live off of presets. I have never dived into synthesis and would like to begin to learn this aspect of keyboards. I have an immediate need though, a desire to be able to pull off the opening song on Van Halen's 1984 album. The song is also called 1984. There is an interesting story behind this. I play keys and sing in a six piece rock cover band and we are just over a year into it, and have decided to finally cover our first Van Halen song. We decided on Dance the Night Away. I quickly learned from our lead guitar that all Van Halen songs require the guitars to detune. This takes time as they don't like those pedals that do it with a click, says it makes the tone sound crappy. I have been told by guitars and bass they need two minutes to do this detuning. No, bringing a backup guitar is also not an option at this point. So we have a moment in the gig where there will be a couple minutes of dead time which is not good juju. So I thought it would be cool to play 1984 in the interim and "jump" into Dance the Night Away when they are ready. LOL! We also have since picked up the song Mr. Brightside which also requires the same detuning, so will place these 2 songs back to back to end a set. So here's the kicker. I don't currently own a synthesizer per say. I have 3 boards, Roland RD2000, Yamaha MX88, and a Roland Ax Edge keytar. I don't know why Yamaha put the MX in a category of synthesizer, and have just used it as my second board to make gig life a little easier when songs call for multiple patches. What are my best options to bring an authentic sounding 1984 with my current gear? Is it even possible? On a side note question, if you needed to buy a synthesizer today, and money was no object, which would you choose between a Nord Stage 4 and an Oberheinm OB-X8?

Thanks guys! This forum is the best!

I am really bad at identifying different synth sounds when learning certain songs. Can you all take a listen to the beginning of this song and suggest what all is making this cool sound. It plays throughout the song with some stacatto eiighth note strings popping during the verses. Thanks in advance. Yeah, our guitar player who is fairly new to the band has a talk box, and this song, plus rocky mountain way and show me the way are our next endeavors.

QSC CP12 12-Inch Compact Powered Loudspeaker for use as personal monitor in band, as well as main speaker for solo functions. Does anyone do it better than QSC?

Anyone have experience pulling together what are at least 4 patches I would venture to give this song justice for your cover band? I love to sing it to but sure could use some pointers on pads/horns/strings/kitchen sink/etc... and splits, yes, must have splits. Thank you in advance.

This video just makes me hurt. Why does rock music insist on the keys being drowned out? I don't get it.

we had practice last night and ran through the song. Sounded pretty good once we decided it wasn't a song for our female singer to tackle. So now on top of the bass line I am playing with a clav, and the horn stabs , also on my second board, I get to sing it too. Lucky me! lol.

Keyboard friends don't let keyboard friends overplay. lol!

I hear ya on the keyboard brass!

we are 6 piece, 2 guitars and a female vocalist. I like the clav idea, was already thinking that would sound cool. Inspiring!