Keyboard search

I am looking for a reasonably priced keyboard.
I would like one that plays standard notation and has a good grand
piano emulation so that I can play standard music, but I would also
like something that has some microtonal capabilities as well.
Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions?

These days, the most popular choice is to get a MIDI
controller keyboard (with no synth inside) and then
use it with software synthesizers on your computer.
Especially for microtonal work, software synths have
the best microtonal support. Some good controllers
are:
http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/NUMA.html
http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/VMK_176.html
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html

If you want a keyboard with a synth inside, my pick
is the Kurzweil PC3:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--KRZPC3
I don't know if you consider that reasonably priced.
Kurzweil tends to be on the pricey side, but is worth
it in my opinion. I happen to like the semi-weighted
fatar actions they use, the build quality of their
instruments, and they tend to have the best native
microtonal features.

If you already have a keyboard you like, or you find
a keyboard you like that does not have native
microtuning support, or you prefer not to use a
computer when playing, one option is the H-Pi
Tuning Box:
http://h-pi.com/TBX1intro.html

-Carl

At 01:55 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
>I am looking for a reasonably priced keyboard.
>I would like one that plays standard notation and has a good grand
>piano emulation so that I can play standard music, but I would also
>like something that has some microtonal capabilities as well.
>Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions?

is the Kurzweil beyond the 768(?) pitches per octave yet capability?

/^_,',',',_ //^ /Kraig Grady_ ^_,',',',_
Mesotonal Music from:
_'''''''_ ^North/Western Hemisphere: North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>

_'''''''_ ^South/Eastern Hemisphere:
Austronesian Outpost of Anaphoria <http://anaphoriasouth.blogspot.com/>

',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',

Carl Lumma wrote:
>
> These days, the most popular choice is to get a MIDI
> controller keyboard (with no synth inside) and then
> use it with software synthesizers on your computer.
> Especially for microtonal work, software synths have
> the best microtonal support. Some good controllers
> are:
> http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/NUMA.html > <http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/NUMA.html>
> http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/VMK_176.html > <http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/VMK_176.html>
> http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html > <http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html>
>
> If you want a keyboard with a synth inside, my pick
> is the Kurzweil PC3:
> http://www.zzounds.com/item--KRZPC3 <http://www.zzounds.com/item--KRZPC3>
> I don't know if you consider that reasonably priced.
> Kurzweil tends to be on the pricey side, but is worth
> it in my opinion. I happen to like the semi-weighted
> fatar actions they use, the build quality of their
> instruments, and they tend to have the best native
> microtonal features.
>
> If you already have a keyboard you like, or you find
> a keyboard you like that does not have native
> microtuning support, or you prefer not to use a
> computer when playing, one option is the H-Pi
> Tuning Box:
> http://h-pi.com/TBX1intro.html <http://h-pi.com/TBX1intro.html>
>
> -Carl
>
> At 01:55 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
> >I am looking for a reasonably priced keyboard.
> >I would like one that plays standard notation and has a good grand
> >piano emulation so that I can play standard music, but I would also
> >like something that has some microtonal capabilities as well.
> >Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions?
>
>

one may want to consider that m-audio is having a significant problems with
writing drivers for Vista, especially 64-bit Vista. The user forum had
unhappy people when I looked in December. I can't use a midi => usb box
because of this problem. (I've recently upgraded to vista 64 via a new
purchase)

On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 5:35 PM, Carl Lumma <carl@...> wrote:

> These days, the most popular choice is to get a MIDI
> controller keyboard (with no synth inside) and then
> use it with software synthesizers on your computer.
> Especially for microtonal work, software synths have
> the best microtonal support. Some good controllers
> are:
> http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/NUMA.html
> http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/VMK_176.html
> http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html
>
> If you want a keyboard with a synth inside, my pick
> is the Kurzweil PC3:
> http://www.zzounds.com/item--KRZPC3
> I don't know if you consider that reasonably priced.
> Kurzweil tends to be on the pricey side, but is worth
> it in my opinion. I happen to like the semi-weighted
> fatar actions they use, the build quality of their
> instruments, and they tend to have the best native
> microtonal features.
>
> If you already have a keyboard you like, or you find
> a keyboard you like that does not have native
> microtuning support, or you prefer not to use a
> computer when playing, one option is the H-Pi
> Tuning Box:
> http://h-pi.com/TBX1intro.html
>
> -Carl
>
>
> At 01:55 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
> >I am looking for a reasonably priced keyboard.
> >I would like one that plays standard notation and has a good grand
> >piano emulation so that I can play standard music, but I would also
> >like something that has some microtonal capabilities as well.
> >Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions?
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 03:00 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
>is the Kurzweil beyond the 768(?) pitches per octave yet capability?

I'm not aware that they ever had such a limitation.
Are you thinking of ancient Yamaha gear or something?

-Carl

Chris wrote:

>one may want to consider that m-audio is having a significant problems with
>writing drivers for Vista, especially 64-bit Vista. The user forum had
>unhappy people when I looked in December. I can't use a midi => usb box
>because of this problem. (I've recently upgraded to vista 64 via a new
>purchase)

Funny you should say that. I just got 64-bit Vista and a
Fast Track Ultra, and it don't work none 'tall. I just tried
it last weekend, and haven't had time to debug it yet.
What box are you having issues with?

-Carl

I am not sure of the model, but at one point (20 years ago) that was all i could get (actually this is what i recorded the first version of my Lullaby piece on). what is the limit now?

/^_,',',',_ //^ /Kraig Grady_ ^_,',',',_
Mesotonal Music from:
_'''''''_ ^North/Western Hemisphere: North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>

_'''''''_ ^South/Eastern Hemisphere:
Austronesian Outpost of Anaphoria <http://anaphoriasouth.blogspot.com/>

',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',

Carl Lumma wrote:
>
> At 03:00 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
> >is the Kurzweil beyond the 768(?) pitches per octave yet capability?
>
> I'm not aware that they ever had such a limitation.
> Are you thinking of ancient Yamaha gear or something?
>
> -Carl
>
>

At 03:47 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
>I am not sure of the model, but at one point (20 years ago) that was all
>i could get (actually this is what i recorded the first version of my
>Lullaby piece on). what is the limit now?

In software synths, the sky's the limit. In hardware
synths I'm sure it varies, but I think the Kurzweil's have
always had 1-cent resolution. Don't quote me on that
though.

-Carl

I got a midi-man 4x4 original midi => usb

They may never write a driver for it because they have the "anniversary"
edition to sell. I know it is cynical...

I bought an Roland Edirol product - I only had the money for a 1x1 - Roland
has had drivers for Vista 32 and 64 for 2 years now. My driver is version
1.1 (or > 1.0 anyway) dated January 2007.

My 'puter is a quad core HP = sound was an issue with Sonar as well. I got
the mother board sound working with the ASIO 4 ALL = great freeware. But I
ended up buying an Audigy value. The only flaw my computer has is a hum in
the motherboard headphones out. It finally became too irritating. But....
sound is still flakey and requires reboots for no apparent reason at times.
The new driver model in Vista has to be really different - it causes
problems for so many developers.

On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 6:21 PM, Carl Lumma <carl@...> wrote:

> Chris wrote:
>
> >one may want to consider that m-audio is having a significant problems
> with
> >writing drivers for Vista, especially 64-bit Vista. The user forum had
> >unhappy people when I looked in December. I can't use a midi => usb box
> >because of this problem. (I've recently upgraded to vista 64 via a new
> >purchase)
>
> Funny you should say that. I just got 64-bit Vista and a
> Fast Track Ultra, and it don't work none 'tall. I just tried
> it last weekend, and haven't had time to debug it yet.
> What box are you having issues with?
>
> -Carl
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This is what i had thought, but i later found out that , at least the older one, would round it off to the nearest 768 pitch.

/^_,',',',_ //^ /Kraig Grady_ ^_,',',',_
Mesotonal Music from:
_'''''''_ ^North/Western Hemisphere: North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>

_'''''''_ ^South/Eastern Hemisphere:
Austronesian Outpost of Anaphoria <http://anaphoriasouth.blogspot.com/>

',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',

Carl Lumma wrote:
>
> At 03:47 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
> >I am not sure of the model, but at one point (20 years ago) that was all
> >i could get (actually this is what i recorded the first version of my
> >Lullaby piece on). what is the limit now?
>
> In software synths, the sky's the limit. In hardware
> synths I'm sure it varies, but I think the Kurzweil's have
> always had 1-cent resolution. Don't quote me on that
> though.
>
> -Carl
>
>

That would be the Kurzweil K1000 and 1000 series 2U rack modules, circa late 1980s, that had rounding to 3-4 cents. Everything from the Kurzweil K2000 and forward which supports microtuning is true 1 cent resolution.

--
John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
http://www.wavemakers-synth.com

Kraig Grady wrote:
> This is what i had thought, but i later found out that , at least the > older one, would round it off to the nearest 768 pitch.
>
> >> In software synths, the sky's the limit. In hardware
>> synths I'm sure it varies, but I think the Kurzweil's have
>> always had 1-cent resolution. Don't quote me on that
>> though.
>>
>> -Carl
>>

As far as I can tell from the manual, the Kurzweil PC3X intonation tables are not user programmable.

I agree that a keyboard or other controller and softsynth seems to have the most flexibility and microtonal support these days. Try my microtonal synthesis web site for options, though I'm sure I need some more updates again.

--
John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
http://www.wavemakers-synth.com

Carl Lumma wrote:
> These days, the most popular choice is to get a MIDI
> controller keyboard (with no synth inside) and then
> use it with software synthesizers on your computer.
> Especially for microtonal work, software synths have
> the best microtonal support. Some good controllers
> are:
> http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/NUMA.html
> http://www.fatar.com/Studiologic/Pages/VMK_176.html
> http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom61.html
>
> If you want a keyboard with a synth inside, my pick
> is the Kurzweil PC3:
> http://www.zzounds.com/item--KRZPC3
> I don't know if you consider that reasonably priced.
> Kurzweil tends to be on the pricey side, but is worth
> it in my opinion. I happen to like the semi-weighted
> fatar actions they use, the build quality of their
> instruments, and they tend to have the best native
> microtonal features.
>
> If you already have a keyboard you like, or you find
> a keyboard you like that does not have native
> microtuning support, or you prefer not to use a
> computer when playing, one option is the H-Pi
> Tuning Box:
> http://h-pi.com/TBX1intro.html
>
> -Carl
>
> At 01:55 PM 1/8/2009, you wrote:
> >> I am looking for a reasonably priced keyboard.
>> I would like one that plays standard notation and has a good grand
>> piano emulation so that I can play standard music, but I would also
>> like something that has some microtonal capabilities as well.
>> Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions?
>>

A guy on traxinspace just told me about a soft hack that allows him to use a
Wii controller as a fake theremin. The computer sees it as a midi
controller. No doubt a cool device for micro music.

Sorry to be off topic.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks John!

/^_,',',',_ //^ /Kraig Grady_ ^_,',',',_
Mesotonal Music from:
_'''''''_ ^North/Western Hemisphere: North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>

_'''''''_ ^South/Eastern Hemisphere:
Austronesian Outpost of Anaphoria <http://anaphoriasouth.blogspot.com/>

',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',

John Loffink wrote:
>
> That would be the Kurzweil K1000 and 1000 series 2U rack modules, circa
> late 1980s, that had rounding to 3-4 cents. Everything from the
> Kurzweil K2000 and forward which supports microtuning is true 1 cent
> resolution.
>
> -- > John Loffink
> The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
> http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com <http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com>
> The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
> http://www.wavemakers-synth.com <http://www.wavemakers-synth.com>
>
> Kraig Grady wrote:
> > This is what i had thought, but i later found out that , at least the
> > older one, would round it off to the nearest 768 pitch.
> >
> >
> >> In software synths, the sky's the limit. In hardware
> >> synths I'm sure it varies, but I think the Kurzweil's have
> >> always had 1-cent resolution. Don't quote me on that
> >> though.
> >>
> >> -Carl
> >>
>
>