Heads-up: SpaceStation keyboard amp is apparently back

[Dave Bryce]

I got rid of my K10s. Bandmates complained that they were brittle sounding and beamy. I did find them highly directional, and harsh when cranked.

I had almost exactly the same experience with a K12 - beamy, and unpleasant when pushed. Bandmates preferred the Line6 L2t I had been using....but they like the SpaceStation better than either.

 

dB

[David Loving]

What I'd like is a powered speaker, as a monitor and contributing to the house sound, that the whole band can hear with, over and above the monitors, so that I do not have to chain what I use now (10" peavey passive spkrs that I like just fine) and place one directly at the band. I have a crossover set at about 120 that works great with a powered Alesis 12" I use for a sub, and send the rest to the Peaveys. I'm really interested in taking less stuff to the gig, and I don't care about improving the peaveys' sound. Will theSS do that and keep up with the loud volume? Sounds like it would, but I hate to spend $800.00 on theory.

 

[MathOfInsects]

How big a house? What else is producing FOH sound? What else is producing stage sound?

 

It's a great stage monitor. I've been happy with it on large, loud stages, even when I'm parked in front of the bass cabinet. I would not use it for FOH there, though. In small venues (small enough that, say, FOH is really just two PA speakers, and just the singer is using them) I'd be more than comfortable using it as my rig (with a sub). Once a venue is large enough to warrant micing guitar cab, drum kit, etc., I'd want the FOH system to do most or all of my heavy lifting.

 

It's a very nice sounding stage monitor. If such a creature would work as FOH for the gigs you play, it's a sweet ride. If you're trying to fight back against a mic'd marshall stack without using FOH, you'd probably want a bigger boat.

 

[David Loving]

Thanks for the insight, guys.

[mate stubb]

I'd like to see this technology in a processor box so that we could build higher power ultra flat speaker systems.

[HammondDave]

I am going to buy this amp or a K10. Without regard to stereo effects, how does quality of sound and volume compare to a K10? Why should I buy this amp instead of a K10?

 

I have three EV's, one ELX12P and two SXa100's. The 12P is probably comparable to the K10. I really like EV's. Until I got the SS some combination of these three was my stage setup for years. For sound quality the SS is slightly better but the EV's are still very good. Max volume the 12P is louder and cleaner at that max volume. Obviously that's because of a bigger box, more power and a 12" woofer.

 

My whole gigging life sound dispersion has been an issue with a single stage speaker. If the stage is big enough that I can sit at least 5 feet in front of it fine but if I'm forced to sit either right on top of it or to the side or the worst just a couple feet directly in front of it then I'm either getting blasted or I can't hear myself and/or my sound is muffled. The SS solves all that.

 

If you're not concerned about stereo or those placement issues then I would check out the new version of the 12P, I'll bet it's killer.

 

Bob

 

I totally agree. I had some K10's and sold them after a month. I now own a couple of ELX12P's and they will blow anything off the stage with clean sound, and plenty of bottom.

 

That's why I would seriously consider them if you ever play gigs that don't feed the keys through the PA. If you need your stage amps to serve as the main sound source for your keys, I would def go that way. If you have FOH sound support or play in a volume conscious band, the SS3's with a sub seem to be the way to go.

[TomKittel]

Yesterday I had the third rehearsal with a new funk band project. Last time I used my 750 watt RCF TT08A active speakers for my keys (old Korg SP200 and Kurzweil PC3LE6). For those of you who don't know the RCF TT08A: it's RCF's top-notch premium speaker line. A pair of these RCFs is around 3,500 bucks! I used them as monitors wedged on the floor. While I liked the RCF sound I got complaints from my bandmates. For some I was too loud, some found my sounds too shrill, some others couldn't hear me at all.

 

These complaints completely stopped yesterday after I brought my Spacestation and a small Mackie 402 mixer. I put the Spacestation 9 feet away from me. It was placed next to the bass amp, tilted against a wall. The bass amp shielded the side speaker a little bit. It sounded just terrific! Full, warm, loud, very nice stereo field everywhere in the room. Really, really magic! Right after the first song everybody asked me where the f... that wonderful sound would come from! No one wanted to believe that my keys just came from this little 8" amp on the floor and that the keys were not at all plugged into the band's amplification system in the room. And you know what? This first song was Real Mother For Ya with the fat Moog synthbass line and a sax brass section, all coming from the PC3LE6. No sub needed for that fat synth sound, not at all!! During the course of the evening I used strings, rhodes, clav, piano, organ, synthbass and synthlead sounds. We had a whole lot of fun playing and all keys sounded pristine, just right there! Really the best playing experience I had in a long time.

 

After the rehearsal everybody in the band said that this was the most homogeneous sounding rehearsal they ever had with any keyboard player. No need to add anything to this comment... and it makes me proud of course ;-)

 

BTW: I criticized AP sounds a little bit in my last posts. This criticism is dust! The APs also sounded great yesterday. I think I learned my lesson on how to use the SS V3 best:

 

1) Don't judge your AP sounds from playing them solo with SS. Play them in a band setting and you will absolutely love them (just don't use Nord piano samples ;-))

 

2) Don't put the SS too close to you! This would hamper the magic!

 

3) Put width just a little bit below 12 o'clock

 

4) Adjust Highs and Mids according to the room's requirements. Don't overdo the tone controls! Keep them close to 12 o'clock - in one or the other direction as necessary.

 

Finally my message to all skeptics: do yourself a favor and get a Spacestation. Once you own it accept the learning curve which comes with it. The learning provides higher feelings and less higher feelings. In the end the higher feelings will be overwhelming! I went through that. I LOVE this amp!

 

 

[DanL]

thumbs up Tom!

[WWW]

I ordered my amplifier in December. And I'm still waiting.

 

No word from Sweetwater either.

 

Does anyone know what has happened to see latest shipment?

[WWW]

I'm starting to think this is like the emperors new clothes.

[Raymb1]

This is Aspen's reply from page 51:

 

Hi All, good news; The February was released today and the truck just unloaded your Spacestations. The Longshormens union only held them hostage 11 days this time, which better than 22 days last time (so things are improving!)

 

I am currently heavily absorbed in my usual spot check QC, I usually personally open about 15-20% of all the boxes to hear/see for myself...thankfully, all have been perfect.

 

So I have scheduled a FedEx truck for Sweetwater tomorrow AM and they should have them by middle of next week.

 

I know many of you have been patiently waiting, for which I am so very grateful, but it shouldn't be much longer now!

 

Perhaps the best news is that FINALLY, for the first time since we began shipping Spacestation v.3 last September, this shipment will out pace our backorders! So, we will be fully caught up; both SW and A&A (us) will have some stock on our shelves for immediate delivery...what a concept!

 

Of course, who knows how long these will last? FYI, the next shipment is 60 days out, not due until late April (but it is going to be a double run, our largest yet!). So be advised!

[Al Quinn]

Yesterday I had the third rehearsal with a new funk band project. Last time I used my 750 watt RCF TT08A active speakers for my keys (old Korg SP200 and Kurzweil PC3LE6). For those of you who don't know the RCF TT08A: it's RCF's top-notch premium speaker line. A pair of these RCFs is around 3,500 bucks! I used them as monitors wedged on the floor. While I liked the RCF sound I got complaints from my bandmates. For some I was too loud, some found my sounds too shrill, some others couldn't hear me at all.

 

These complaints completely stopped yesterday after I brought my Spacestation and a small Mackie 402 mixer. I put the Spacestation 9 feet away from me. It was placed next to the bass amp, tilted against a wall. The bass amp shielded the side speaker a little bit. It sounded just terrific! Full, warm, loud, very nice stereo field everywhere in the room. Really, really magic! Right after the first song everybody asked me where the f... that wonderful sound would come from! No one wanted to believe that my keys just came from this little 8" amp on the floor and that the keys were not at all plugged into the band's amplification system in the room. And you know what? This first song was Real Mother For Ya with the fat Moog synthbass line and a sax brass section, all coming from the PC3LE6. No sub needed for that fat synth sound, not at all!! During the course of the evening I used strings, rhodes, clav, piano, organ, synthbass and synthlead sounds. We had a whole lot of fun playing and all keys sounded pristine, just right there! Really the best playing experience I had in a long time.

 

After the rehearsal everybody in the band said that this was the most homogeneous sounding rehearsal they ever had with any keyboard player. No need to add anything to this comment... and it makes me proud of course ;-)

 

BTW: I criticized AP sounds a little bit in my last posts. This criticism is dust! The APs also sounded great yesterday. I think I learned my lesson on how to use the SS V3 best:

 

1) Don't judge your AP sounds from playing them solo with SS. Play them in a band setting and you will absolutely love them (just don't use Nord piano samples ;-))

 

2) Don't put the SS too close to you! This would hamper the magic!

 

3) Put width just a little bit below 12 o'clock

 

4) Adjust Highs and Mids according to the room's requirements. Don't overdo the tone controls! Keep them close to 12 o'clock - in one or the other direction as necessary.

 

Finally my message to all skeptics: do yourself a favor and get a Spacestation. Once you own it accept the learning curve which comes with it. The learning provides higher feelings and less higher feelings. In the end the higher feelings will be overwhelming! I went through that. I LOVE this amp!

 

Wow, I didn't think I needed an SS3 but now I'm wondering. I have a pair of TT08a's also and will be buying a CP4 this week.

[WWW]

I'm hearing conflicting reports on how the SS3 does with Nord Stage piano sounds. I'd like to hear your opinions on this specifically. Thanks.

[Dave Bryce]

2) Don't put the SS too close to you! This would hamper the magic!

 

3) Put width just a little bit below 12 o'clock

 

4) Adjust Highs and Mids according to the room's requirements. Don't overdo the tone controls! Keep them close to 12 o'clock - in one or the other direction as necessary.

Totally agreed...especially the one on width - just a touch below the High Noon detent for me as well.

 

dB

[Dave Bryce]

I'm hearing conflicting reports on how the SS3 does with Nord Stage piano sounds.

Where are you hearing these reports from? That's a new one on me...

 

Interestingly, the main US product specialist for Nord just bought a SSv3 for himself. Aspen sent it to him for eval to see it Nord would want to use it in their booth at trade shows, and he ended up actually buying it for his own personal use.

 

FWIW, it has been my experience that monitoring (in any form) is an intensely personal thing. You can only tell so much by what other people say. At the end of the day, you simply need to try it for yourself.

 

dB

[Polkahero]

What about those of us who are constantly fighting cramped stage situation and don't have the luxury of placing our keyboard amp 10 feet away for the sound to develop?

[ChrisDespo]

What about those of us who are constantly fighting cramped stage situation and don't have the luxury of placing our keyboard amp 10 feet away for the sound to develop?

 

I've found that channelling "MacGyver" by creatively using reflective surfaces helps the sound "bloom" ... iow, I've played mixed size stages and on smaller stages I try to direct the side speaker towards a wall or something like a hard guitar shell or whatever is available, to help blend it better and get the stereo effect to kick in better ... still sounds good to me doing this (albeit not perfect) and MUCH better than running mono ...

Also, I've noticed that when I'm setup beside my bass player if I raise the SS off the floor ("uncoupling it from the floor" using Aspen's term) it helps from keeping it get too muddy sounding ... depends on the stage/size of venue ... you'll just need to try it and see wha works best for you ...

[wizard1]

Alas I ordered a SS back in October, directly from Aspen.Seems though the order was lost in the either and my inquires by e-mail too! I will need to be patient now and wait until April when Sweetwater has fulfilled its back orders an has an ample stock, looking forward to the wonder. Michael

 

Kurwweil: Mark 150, K2000vs,K2000r,PC3k7,Micro Piano,Roland Hp-126

[NosPup]

I've had my SS3 for less than three weeks and have had 1 gig and some basement time so far. For those with much more experience like ChrisDespo and TomKittel, can the side speaker be "too close" to a wall? We tend to play in tight spaces so i'm a little concerned if the side speaker is facing directly at a wall or the bass player's cabinet.

 

What have you been noticing?

[endlessummerkeys]

My Nord Stage 2 88 sounds great through it. It was funky at first but I had to retrain my ears and it is good now. I also have a Korg M50 and the AP are great on that too. Maybe just slightly crisper than the Nord, but both sound very acceptable through the SS.

[Brettymike]

I wonder what 2 x SS3's would sound like? , for stereo/sound surround on steroids

 

Brett

[ChrisDespo]

I've had my SS3 for less than three weeks and have had 1 gig and some basement time so far. For those with much more experience like ChrisDespo and TomKittel, can the side speaker be "too close" to a wall? We tend to play in tight spaces so i'm a little concerned if the side speaker is facing directly at a wall or the bass player's cabinet.

 

What have you been noticing?

 

I've had it up against the wall at an angle facing towards me and the band and it sounds good .. again YMMV but you do need to place it and play through it and see how it sounds depending on the room and adjust as necessary (as much as possible with sometimes limited room) ... Since the speaker is recessed some (maybe 4-5" or so) the sound does get dispersed and gets the stereo effect going when up against the wall - you'll also need to adjust the width control to compensate for the close proximity otherwise it can overwhelm the center speaker and sound "off" ... just my 2 cents ... as other has already said, let your ears be the judge and make adjustments accordingly ... What I've found is you'll be able to get a good sound pretty much anywhere you put it with a little tweaking ...

[ChrisDespo]

I wonder what 2 x SS3's would sound like? , for stereo/sound surround on steroids

 

Brett

 

I wondered the same thing! Like setting 2 up as a PA system (with subs) in small-mid size venues ... not sure if any cancellation would occur or not .... I'm guessing none would ... Aspen?

[NosPup]

I've had my SS3 for less than three weeks and have had 1 gig and some basement time so far. For those with much more experience like ChrisDespo and TomKittel, can the side speaker be "too close" to a wall? We tend to play in tight spaces so i'm a little concerned if the side speaker is facing directly at a wall or the bass player's cabinet.

 

What have you been noticing?

 

I've had it up against the wall at an angle facing towards me and the band and it sounds good .. again YMMV but you do need to place it and play through it and see how it sounds depending on the room and adjust as necessary (as much as possible with sometimes limited room) ... Since the speaker is recessed some (maybe 4-5" or so) the sound does get dispersed and gets the stereo effect going when up against the wall - you'll also need to adjust the width control to compensate for the close proximity otherwise it can overwhelm the center speaker and sound "off" ... just my 2 cents ... as other has already said, let your ears be the judge and make adjustments accordingly ... What I've found is you'll be able to get a good sound pretty much anywhere you put it with a little tweaking ...

 

Thanks. I guess the key (as others have mentioned) is to get to the venue a little earlier than usual and spend a little time to work out the placement.

[Brettymike]

I wonder what 2 x SS3's would sound like? , for stereo/sound surround on steroids

 

Brett

 

I wondered the same thing! Like setting 2 up as a PA system (with subs) in small-mid size venues ... not sure if any cancellation would occur or not .... I'm guessing none would ... Aspen?

 

 

Exactly , I wonder if some kind of cancellation would occur.....or not!!

 

Brett

[drawback]

I wonder what 2 x SS3's would sound like? , for stereo/sound surround on steroids

 

Brett

 

I wondered the same thing! Like setting 2 up as a PA system (with subs) in small-mid size venues ... not sure if any cancellation would occur or not .... I'm guessing none would ... Aspen?

 

 

Exactly , I wonder if some kind of cancellation would occur.....or not!!

 

Brett

 

OMG. I think this very thing was predicted in Star Trek, The Tholian Web.

 

 

 

[16251]

I wonder what 2 x SS3's would sound like? , for stereo/sound surround on steroids

 

Brett

A friend of mine who is buying an SS after hearing mine asked that question to Aspen and he said it's not a good idea. I don't know anymore than that. I'm sure Aspen will chime in.

[ChrisDespo]

OMG. I think this very thing was predicted in Star Trek, The Tholian Web.

[img:left][/img]

 

I think I remember seeing that episode where Spock gave presentation about the SpaceStation ...

%5B/img%5D%20%20%20[/left]

 

Then all hell broke loose when he turned 2 of them on at once ...

http://pctechsource.com/blog/images/after.jpg

 

 

[Jazzmammal]

I think Aspen said the best way to use two would be one on top of the other with maybe the bottom one upside down so both side speakers would be right on top of each other. That should preserve the full stereo effect and double the output. But that would also put the side speakers close to ear level and blast you off the stage. Maybe the thing to do in that case is to raise them both up like a flying PA on some kind of stand.

 

Personally, I think if you need more than one with a sub you're going through a FOH system anyway.

 

Bob

[cphollis]

I use my Nord AP sounds through the SSv3 on a regular basis. Every other sound I make (organs, clavs, samples, synths) sounded great with no fiddling. The APs, however, required a bit of fiddling.

 

One issue (I think) is that there's not a lot of differentiated stereo signal in the Nord AP samples -- just like you'd get if you recorded a real grand piano. So the voices can sound a bit flat as compared to others. A bit of stereo reverb and/or chorus fixed that nicely.

 

Another issue is EQ. The Nord AP voices tend to reflect the EQ characteristics of the instruments that were recorded, which tend to be uneven over the scale. The SSv3 has its own peaks and valleys, which are very dependent on the room you're playing in. So I'm always tweaking EQ it seems. The weirdest experience was when I played outside (no reflections) and it was very treble-y. Still don't know why.

 

One thing I'm doing more of is layering on a thin bit of "sweetener" (in the form of a DX7 sample or similar with chorus) to make the piano voices stand out a bit more.

 

All in all, it's great.