Re: [[tuning] re: A Broad Question]

Carl Lumma <CLUMMA@NNI.COM> wrote:
>My parents are ready to buy me a microtunable synthesizer/keyboard of my
>choice. Which one is best?

There's also the good old Yamaha DX7, but you cant get it new anymore. You'd
have to try and find a used one, but from what i hear, it's worth it. Also the
Yamaha TX802 is basically the same as the DX7, but without the keyboard. if
you buy a midi-compatible keyboard (or any other controller), you can hook it
up and play it that way. The TX 802 isnt available new anymore either, but its
probably pretty easy to find used ones. Try ebay.

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Samantha wrote:

> Yamaha TX802 is basically the same as the DX7, but without the keyboard

They are very good, but not that easy to find used; I searched for years...

The Yamaha TX81Z, a similar but much less expensive box, is *very* easy to
find used, and is a good way to get started with tuning. It's really to tune
with the Scala program, too.

Rick

The standard DX7 does not include microtuning to my knowledge, unlike its
mkii counterpart (which the TX802 is the countpart of). The mkii countpart
also is known to have a somewhat sluggish keyboard due to some processing
problems, so the TX802 is probably your best bet as Mr. Lumma suggests since
sluggish processing isn't really known to be a problem on the TX802.

As far as a controlling keyboard, you will probably want a keyboard of at
least 61 keyboard to have some room to play. I really wouldn't suggest a
keyboard any smaller unless you play strictly in "step". Fatar makes some
so-so controller keyboards, but if you have some money to spend, I would eye
a used 76 or 88 controller keyboard (Yamaha, Peavey, Oberheim, and Kurzweil
all made one). In my opinion, since the keyboard is the part you will be
"hanging onto" for awhile, it may be where you should spend most of your
money, since it is the part you will be dealing with the most.

If you don't mind limitations to the octave for scaling, you should be able
to get 650 +/- cents for each note in that octave on Kurzweil's K1000/K1200
keyboards and 1000 AX,PX,SX,GX and HX modules (the difference is the sounds
onboard). I like Kurzweil equipment, although the limitation of an octave
can be a tad irritating.

> Carl Lumma <CLUMMA@NNI.COM> wrote:
>> My parents are ready to buy me a microtunable synthesizer/keyboard of my
>> choice. Which one is best?
>
> There's also the good old Yamaha DX7, but you cant get it new anymore. You'd
> have to try and find a used one, but from what i hear, it's worth it. Also the
> Yamaha TX802 is basically the same as the DX7, but without the keyboard. if
> you buy a midi-compatible keyboard (or any other controller), you can hook it
> up and play it that way. The TX 802 isnt available new anymore either, but its
> probably pretty easy to find used ones. Try ebay.
>
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