Paul Woodward

While it’s rare, I have had boards freeze up, behave erratically and even completely crash/reboot so it’s any technology. Anything digital is prone to glitches, just as analogue gear is prone to mechanical failure. Hell, even band members can cock up 😉 Personally I have found iPads to be rock solid in everyday use and for making music.

I imagine you can already run a whole set from the iPad as your backing band, and instrument processor…then watch a movie on the way back from the gig.

A few threads related to using iPads, but thought it deserved its own discussion. I know little beats a dedicated piano or organ board, or even dedicated synth, but the iPad has developed into a versatile musical device. Even the free GarageBand sounds great and has taken a lot of features from its bigger brother; Logic Pro. Just a few reasons I favour an iPad: 1. It’s got some serious processing power, even more than some of the best workstations. 2. You can use it as a sound module, fully fledged DAW or effects processor 3. It can connect to a Mac as a module and transmit audio and midi over one cable. 4. Quite a few board (Yamaha for instance) can integrate an iPad with just a single cable 5. It can also display music, provide backing tracks, set lists etc. 6. It’s a large touch screen device bigger than most workstations offer 7. It detaches and becomes a media device for gaming, movies, even office work. 8. Coupled with a mini key, it’s about the smallest and lightest portable DAW or practice setup you can get 9. It got a good 10 hours of battery life and can even power some boards connected to it 10. It’s almost endless in terms of expanding sound sets, features etc. I could go on, but you get the idea. Apps can also be ridiculously cheap compared to desktop options. I think the iPad can be overlooked by serious musicians but you only have to look at some of the top end apps to see how good this little device can be. Some of us don’t think twice about paying a hundred pounds for a sound pack, you can get a used iPad for that!

The thing about iPads is few apps ever really push their processing limits until they are a few generations old. A 9G or an iPad Pro (I have both) will perform admirably for years. Previously I had a well used 5th gen which also worked just fine. I’m big on a ‘modular’ approach to a rig which is why I originally bought an A800 pro and a YC61. Both integrate so well with the iPad and it’s a cheap way of expanding your palette of sounds without buying another board. This photo is actually a ‘spare’ rig where the A800 can be a second board for organ or piano on the VR and drive the iPad at the same time with audio going back into the VR. On the YC, it’s even easier. Can also have sheet music and set lists on the iPad then sit on the couch with it for the net, movies and games. Try doing that with even the best workstations. Not many boards with a 10” touch screen either 😉

I have had an electric desk in my little office for years. Only way I can get a piano in there and still work. Note. this video is before the room was furnished, its much tighter in there now 🙂 I imagine the stand you ordered works in the same way but with the Omega style frame rather than a large tabletop. 20220718_132135.mp4

Still a bit much for a stand bag, but getting the right size 🙂

Anyone know of a cheap alternative to this in the UK? Ridiculous price but its about the right size (600x1000x150). Or can anyone think of another category of gig bag that would fit. its just to keep the 18880 stand and maybe a folding stool in. This is far too much just to carry a set of stands.

Second the iPad. A recent iPad will have more processing power than something like a Kronos and probably more memory as well. Its easy to think of apps as a gimmick, but when you open up any board and see what is inside, the magic is lost and you see its just some wires and circuits, sensors and switches. The heart of an iPad is far better than anything in most boards in terms of processing and flexibility and there are no boards that allow you to drop in alternative engines from Moog, Yamaha, Roland and more....

I can see why 🙂

K&M 18880 stand arrived today and I thought the box was empty 😉 Seriously light but once set up I put my weight on it (and I am 100kg) but no flex at all so it will be fine with a stage piano. Will give it a try with the band next week and the Korg Grandstage then with the YC61 on top when the extensions arrive. Im pretty happy with it though and 2.5kg? amazing.

Presume you didn’t read further down where Yamaha agreed to transfer the warranty as the seller shared proof of purchase. I had the repair done free under warranty and it’s still covered until 2024…

Seems the best people to ask are K&M direct, awesome service. I think a bag 600x1200x10 would be big enough to leave this set up with the extensions in place for a standing setup in seconds 🙂

Thanks for all the advice guys, after much research I decided I needed to ditch the heavy/bulky X stand and get the smallest and lightest setup I could but one that could still take 30kg plus of board and provide sitting or standing options with space for pedals etc. And one that would be easy to set up....seemed a bit too much to ask... So, I settled on the K&M 18880 and 18881 extensions. I believe the whole set up is less than 4kg yet capable of supporting up to 50kg and I know K&M make good stuff. Got the lot with delivery for just over £130. Stand due any day, extensions on order but no rush. Quick question. would like to get a cheap bag to keep these in for easy carrying/avoid scratches etc. Anyone know collapsed dimensions? they seem to be missing from the website; they just have minimum/maximum sizes that can be accomodated. Seems to be around 630Hx400D but I think the base is wider? Thanks in advance.

A friend pointed out the problem so I never got to try it. A few people advised against it in favour of the updates models, but I hear they are excellent boards.

Marry someone who understands your compulsion to buy music gear... 😉

Already done mate, new house with studio space needed methinks 🙂

Well this is a bit embarrassing, never thought to measure the space I have in the studio and didn’t factor in those wooden cheeks. Bloody thing won’t fit in my office space, that’s why I settled with 73 keys in the first place. Still, if anyone is local to Sheffield, there is a cheap MP7 for sale…doh.

Indeed, it’s a shame it’s so heavy as it has a lot of functions that would make it a great gigging board. 4 sounds at a time over 4 zones (with huge polyphony), multi effects per zone, amp simulation, tone wheel organs, audio in. Has a lot more settings and features than many modern boards costing a lot more.

Easy mistake to make, I was referring to the RH3 in the Korg Grandstage which I enjoy playing. I have read about upgrades from MP7 to MP7Se and it seems to lose some features as well as gaining some. As essentially a controller board in the studio, it’s the feel I am primarily interested in, but if I’m spending more than the cost of a controller, might as well be getting some decent sounds too. impressive that it has 256 note poly and a few features neither the Grandstage or YC61 have and I believe the included triple pedal costs over £100 alone.

Thanks @AnotherScott. At the end of the day, I would be taking the Korg GS to the rehearsals/gigs so I know I would be happy there. So now I guess I am re-evaluating the Mp7 as a board to keep in the studio. In that respect, it has all the feature needed to hook up to my DAW. I believe its about 8/9 years old now, but the GS is a good 4 or 5 years old. The weight won't be an issue there either. As for the price, it does seem good. I'm invited over for a play in the morning and it also comes with the triple pedal.

If its fully weighted/graded, can I ask how it is noticeably different to the RH3?

Well, he is firm at £500 collected and 25 mins away, might be worth trying out. @AnotherScott would you say it was considerably better than an SL88? Although its been suggested its more 'piano like' would it play similar to the RH3? I realise its quite a change of plan, but would rather pay a bit extra than just a 'so so' controller, but at 23kg would have to be the studio board and the Korg GS would be the one I take gigging...

Guy local to me is selling a Kawai MP7 quite cheap (£500). Looks in perfect condition and might be worth getting that for the studio and take the GS out. It’s not much more than a SL88 but I hear Kawai actions are excellent.

Spoke to them this morning and I can return within 14 days but I have to pay the shipping costs. Gear4 music deduct a shipping charge from your refund. Thomann are £4 more expensive, will take longer to get here, but they give you 30 days and cover return shipping. So that looks like the better option.

Good call, but they have no stock for at least a week or so.