obxa

I agree, and good to be reminded. I totally get the way things have progressed. i opened this topic that I wasn't ranting, mainly asking if this is the new norm. At least for certain gigs it appears it is. As others have mentioned, you find ways to adapt if you need a certain workflow. I don't see it changing for pit-show stuff, that's still a byzantine world of copyright and performance use. BTW- any Spotify to Mp3 ripping I'm doing is with Artist blessing. Not using it for covers.

Going off my own topic. Sorry to hear that. I see that all too often. Tell him/her to contact me, happy to show how it fully works, no charge. Forgive my partiality: also MD at my Church, and do a fair amount of consulting for other churches on how to fully use Planning Center. Beta testing on the apps. Most just use it as a service order set list with email and never go any further. I often wish there was something like it in the secular world. The integration of it's music stand app (similar to Forscore and Paperless music) ability to store/segregate arrangements, Pro Presenter, Song Select lyrics, all kinds of housekeeping with tracks, video, band/tech/clergy scheduling, CCLI reporting and polling, and more .. is pretty amazing.

Now that I'm doing more freelance bar/club stuff, plus my regular things, kind of amazed how badly some band leaders, music directors and artist management are about getting material properly out there. But yeah they probably just don't realize it. I think Scott & Jerrythek hit it on the head that our needs are just different from vocalist or bass player's. To paraphrase Mr. Spock: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the keyboard few" I use the YT speed and cue point thing a bunch, but still find the player a bit wonky. Plus if you don't have web access- ugh. +1 on Transcribe, also highly reccomend Capo (free). ForScore's player also has transpose, speed and tune.

I’m a free agent. Disclaimer: also boomer. Most folks I work with don’t send Mp3s (or links to them) anymore- it’s Spotify/Apple playlists. Originals and cover bands. Pit /Show and Oldies circuit are still doing Dropbox/G-Drive live show files of audio & charts. Churches: Planning Center, but now getting streaming playlists from a few. I use Forsore. Like to have Mp3s with the charts to learn the show. Until I got a Spotify to Mp3 convertor, was taking longer to collect material than rehearse it. Great for car listening, but learning not so much. Asked some younger cats in few of the bands: they say they just learn the gig on the streaming app player. I find those players clunky. Especially if needing to transcribe and make charts. Like being able to tune/transpose or slow down the track. I do welcome progress. Old enough to remember when we were given CDs....and Cassettes! Are you seeing this too?? Like using the streaming apps, or old-school? Not a rant, just genuinely curious.

Lots of good advice here and in other posts. I would say don't beat yourself up over it. Putting together a rig that works often entails taking an empirical approach. Reading about other's rigs can only go so far. What works for someone else may not for you and vice versa. I went all in bleeding edge on Ipad and didn't work for me. Did the same with Laptop, but did end up going hybrid with hardware. I do love using Ipads for rehearsals and such. For me, using a Laptop is cleaner & easier in the long run. But I have nothing to preach. Many here have had great success on Ipad. Sounds like you're in PC world, something like Gig Performer would be the place to start, rather than Reaper. If you do Mac, Mainstage is $30.00 and highly recommended. Again you've got to do a couple of gigs to see what works best.

Definitely worth the time. I just did a deep dive on both Leslie and other parameters for some upcoming gigs. Was initially happy with Classic out of the box, but much happier now. Now using a couple of Mitch's organ models. I also found using some of the brighter A100's that I'm most used to, allowed me to be subtractive and just back off the treble on the gig as needed; rather than trying to jack up something that was too dull. Was going to experiment adding my Vent mini, but just a few tweaks on the internal sim really made a difference. E.G. the Leslie mic distance always felt a bit off to me. I prefer no room with the mic sounding like it's inches away - and add verb as desired on the gig. Adding just a minuscule of belt noise also got it close to what i'm used to. Just picked up a 145, and was also thinking of pulling my old MotionSound Pro3T out of mothballs. If stage space and schelp tolerance will allow, I feel like those would be more significant than the extra 5-8% the Vent adds.

Sorry brain fart. Yes YC. Sitting couple feet from a CP reface and it must of invaded my consciousness. 😛

Late to topic. Rig depends on gig. Crumar Classic , YC73, and Nord(s) here. I have 4 basic setups. Obviously an investment to do it like this, but was created out of necessity because I do many different kinds of gigs. I think that's how you best determine what tools you need. For corporate, wedding, oldies-artist/pit band needing "some organ": Nord Electro 6 or Stage Compact on top, Yamaha YC73 on bottom. Plus Mainstage for some pit shows. Used the over-under configuration since Carter was in office. However, starting to now HATE the stacked thing for both interaction and comfort. For Roots rock, Artist, Gospel, Deadhead rig, L-shape with YC73 on LH and Crumar RH. (pic below) Using Mitch's great models. The wheeled case for the Crumar Classic is very easy to deal with. If I'm 2nd keyboardist only doing organ, absolutely need the lower manual. But on some gigs with tight stages; occasionally a tiny bit of regret that I could of just used the Electro. Like knowing YC can also do organ as backup. Sometimes bring or backine a 145 (and occasionally B3) on bigger shows. This is my favorite rig to play. Besides overall piano sound and solo/trio cocktail gigs, one reason I got the YC was for an ongoing jazz concert series I do with a smooth jazz guitar artist. His gig is 90% Rhodes with a bit of organ. Previously did Electro on top. (posted video while back in the share your music thread...) Loved flexibility, but hated being cut off from the audience (and band) in small venues, plus the extra setup. We're usually headliner, but this year also going to be out with some bigger name artists. Needed something super easy to get in and out with if not sharing rigs. Also for one-off bar or church gigs, I like the challenge and comfort of using just one keyboard. Plus being able to easily layer piano and organ. Not embarrassed by the YC organ at all. I may add a bit of Mainstage synth layers. I'll let you know how it works out. Cheers, C EDITED: YC not CP

If I don't have a proper case, or it's fresh out of the box on trial- I use black t-shirts. Having gotten so many give aways at gigs, it's a great way to put them to use. Obviously not great protection, but better than nothing, and keeps them from getting scratched up.

Wanted to say thanks to everyone for the link to Gaudio! I've dabbled with LALAL, which my drummer uses it all the time to remove drums for his students. I'm knee deep finishing Easter music- had our opening Video's audio soundtrack where needed just some of the track. Needed to create a performance track with stems , clicks & cues for band and small orchestra to play along with. Didn't need the piano, bass and drums. Plus needed to transpose the key to segue into our opening song for the service. The track was fairly simple, but didn't have time to create one from scratch. Gaudio did an amazing job. Most importantly, all stems were time correct and lined up perfectly. If I wanted, could of used the drums and guitar. Bass track had artifacts but wasn't using that either. Piano track was clean enough to leave on to create a rehearsal mix. I transposed, assembled and edited everything in Logic, then imported to Abelton.- saved me a ton of time. Original track (transposed), and final Abelton performance track w/clicks & cues (piano won't be used live) Easter Video Key-A.mp3 PERF TRAK VIDEO 2024 .mp3

Weird. I'm very curious- some kind of plastic degradation or possibly (constant) exposure to sunlight? I have a ridiculous amount of reading glasses with plastic arms. Constantly see several pairs- brand new or old where one or both those arms get krinkled or mottled- no rhyme or reason unless my hair contains high PH acid.. Mystifies me.

May I also suggest: this: Campfire, beach friendly. Easy to throw in a bag. Great fit for intimate acoustic jams and fun.

I think if you're reading Brown Eyed Girl, probably. . But originals, or more complex stuff I'll take my chances. Not to sound uppity, I think what we do as keyboard players is a bit more involved than say, the bass player. I come across several great players who also do one-offs and do a lots of other stuff. Happens in ministry, many people assume all you do is Church stuff. One- offs can sometimes be a great way to network. But as mentioned, can also suck. There are some people and bands I know better to never accept, no matter the pay. You live and learn, or you find out from others who to avoid. Being down here I encounter a fair amount of Nashville players and artists, and they of course love number charts. I'm ok with those for doing a session, but hate them for gigs. Charts don't have to be published quality, whatever works. When in a crunch and doing super simple stuff, sometimes use this free custom emoji font on my ipad/iphone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/song-memo/id1459218009. Works in it's own app, or as alternative emoji/font , providing chord, measure symbols perfect for shorthand.

Also gun for hire- I too make Finale charts for everything, more often than not If I get asked back, I'm covered for next time. As other mentioned, charting the song helps me learn it better. I 've also sold a couple to a few artists (especially Christmas shows). Though if I like them, usually just give it to them if they ask-which has scored some points for future gigs. RE Weddings: When I had my little big band and variety band I set a limit to Couples that we'd only learn 1 special, and not do anything that was out of our genre or instrumentation. (E.G. Hip hop, Metal, Josh Grobin, Taylor Swift 🙃 etc......). For those instances we'd play the Mp3. In the "never say never department" : Just finished doing a string of shows with a Jerry Garcia Tribute band (!). 38 songs charted in 7 days. Pay was great, Organ & Piano, Beer, no formal attire. So I took the gig.. I thought I'd smugly hate it, but was almost like a long jazz gig. Charts were helpful, but they definitely went off the page. Crowds (Dead/Garcia heads) were some of the most enthusiastic and appreciative I've ever seen, and actually enjoyed it. Don't often say that on Wedding gigs. Like blues, definitely lot more fun to play than listen to , but glad I got over myself. Was only supposed to be a couple, but signed on for the next leg.

I'll be the crabby boomer... he had these guys on a similar Wurli shootout, to which I wasn't impressed. Got the feeling neither of them has every spent any real time with actual Ob's, Wurlis or older gear. Jack on the other hand always gets my full respect. Regardless, liked the Arturia (which I own) better too. The patches were indeed bit brighter- which I guess could fool you the same way if something is louder. They also had a tad more release on the envelopes in some patches.. Blindfolded I'd be fooled too except for bass patches. For virtual , I think the Gforce OBX is worth a serious look. For what it's worth, also has Tom Oberheim and Marcus Ryle's blessing. Gforce just did the OB -EZ which is absolutely superb. Before you plunk down on the Arturia, try the OBEZ demo. Or just buy it. Though based on the 8 voice SEM's, it's got the OB mojo. Simple interface, but enough to do plenty. The price is a no-brainer. Been considering downsizing the studio, and Gforce's synths have made me feel I could live without hardware. This coming from owner of Obxa, OB1k, and a Matrix 6.