Allan Speers Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 Sounds like a vitamin pill, doesn't it? has anyone actully seen this new beast? It sure looks promissing on the GEM website (though kind of ugly, and no digital output.) None of the typical net retailers have it listed. Vaporware?
Dan O Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 I have seen and played this piano ! It's pretty incredible ! dano www.esnips.com/web/SongsfromDanO
Dave Bryce Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 I, too have played on it. I, too was quite impressed by it. Not only does it sound great, feel great and have something like 8 million voices of polyphony ( 320 ), but the thing has an amazingly simple and intuitive interface that made it really fun to operate. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network
Rick K. Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 320! That's impressive. However, I remember the General Music's of recent yesteryear. I wasn't that impressed with anything about them! I'd like to hear from a couple of pros that are currently using them--likes/dislikes and so forth. I've never seen or heard one in a live situation. Rick
Dave Bryce Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 Originally posted by rickkreuzer: I'd like to hear from a couple of pros that are currently using them--likes/dislikes and so forth. I've never seen or heard one in a live situation. Apparently, Rick Wakeman is using one on tour with Yes...check this thread for more info... dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network
Rick K. Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 From the photos, he's also using an RD700, and a CX3....I'd like to lay my hands on the GEM for a couple of hours.... Rick
Dave Bryce Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 Originally posted by rickkreuzer: I'd like to lay my hands on the GEM for a couple of hours....Yeah, that's what did it for me... I especially liked the EPs. Very authentic. While I'm not prepared to say that's it the do-all end-all 88 key board, I'm not prepared to say anything else is, either. I will say that it compares extremely favorably to anything else that I have ever played, and it would absolutely be one of my top contenders were I in the market for such a thing right now. ...and, I'm tellin' ya, the interface rocks. It took me maybe ten seconds to figure out 90% of its operation. I love that. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network
Rick K. Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 Crap, Dave! Now I'm going to have to go and look for one to test drive....Bummer, hey! Rick
Dave Bryce Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 Originally posted by rickkreuzer: Crap, Dave! Now I'm going to have to go and look for one to test drive....Bummer, hey! You're in Phoenix, right? Synthony doesn't carry them? dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network
Rick K. Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 I believe they do. I've been meaning to stop in anyway... Rick
Byrdman Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 Originally posted by rickkreuzer: I believe they do. I've been meaning to stop in anyway... RickAnybody know who carries them in the Northwest?
Stephen Fortner Posted August 19, 2002 Posted August 19, 2002 I tried one back at January NAMM, although it was through crappy headphones. I loved the pianos and EPs... GEM seems to be onto something here. Then I got to the organs, and they were your typical ho-hum sample-based patches. That's not damning, because it's not being marketed as a "Virtual B," but a drawbar organ mode a la Nord Electro would really put this keyboard over the top. Here's an open suggestion while I'm at it: Keyboards like the Electro, Kurz PC2, and Pro Mega 3 should have the option to route organ sounds to a separate output, sans rotary effect. That way, you can blow those through Leslie or Motion Sound and send the other sounds to your regular amp. I'm sure there's a way to do this with a MIDI performance setup, but it would sure be nice to have the feature right in your face. Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse
Dan O Posted August 20, 2002 Posted August 20, 2002 The Pro MEGA has motorized sliders for settings . When it boots up .......you see the levers jump into position . Like a AW4416 or Pro Tools digital mixer . They have a FAZIOLA 10'( this may be spelled wrong) grand piano sample that is really incredible . I also noticed that the Pro MEGA definately sounds better in stereo vs. mono ( what doesn't these days ?) . The Action on the PM3 is good . Not as good as the MOTIF IMHO . BUT , it's the best fatar action I have played . Much heavier than say an SL880 or 990 . Not as heavy as an Roland A90 however . The interface is really surprising . Very Easy to layer 4 sounds at once ! Very easy to assign a voice to split the keyboard ! Add nice effects such as wha wha , flanger , chorus etc... and have the settings saved . gotta go ....... dano www.esnips.com/web/SongsfromDanO
coyote Posted August 20, 2002 Posted August 20, 2002 IMO a board such as the ProMega3 shouldn't even bother with organ sounds. Focus on pianos & EPs, do 'em great - and leave it at that. Originally posted by SteveFortner: Here's an open suggestion while I'm at it: Keyboards like the Electro, Kurz PC2, and Pro Mega 3 should have the option to route organ sounds to a separate output, sans rotary effect. That way, you can blow those through Leslie or Motion Sound and send the other sounds to your regular amp. I'm sure there's a way to do this with a MIDI performance setup, but it would sure be nice to have the feature right in your face. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football.
Bobro Posted September 17, 2002 Posted September 17, 2002 Well the ProMega 3 seems to be widely available now. It's about $2,750 at the local store. I wrote a quasi-review post here about it some time ago, before it was in stores, and it's been weighing on my mind ever since. Well today I got to sit down and noodle a bit in peace and I love it! My wife loves it too, and we're planning on getting one when we can, maybe in the spring. Maybe it's the Captain Nemo look, but it's first and only electronic piano that I truly feel good about and the first one my wife has ever had anything good to say about at all. Listened to the Mackie 824's and Genelec 1031's to show wife what some people seem to think is "competition" for our ADAM's, she rolled her eyes! Time to drink a beer! -Bobro
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