keyboard stuff (was Re: Re: re: A broad question)

>Well, I tend to call anything with substandard quality control or stuff
>ridden with cheaper quality plastic lining pretty much the entire
>instrument, and displays that begin to show deterioration over the course
>of about six months of regular use something subject to "corner-cutting".

Unfortunately, a lot of stuff is built this way. But there are some
solid options out there. The Korg Triton looks fairly well-made, as
do all Kurzweil products. My Kawai K5000 is nice, too.

>While, I will agree with you that thoughtful design goes a long way, I
>don't it can entirely break the wall of quality materials. In fact, I
>think a lot of what thoughtful design is about consists of choosing
>materials that can take the "use" and "abuse" over the life of the
>instrument.

I agree. But I still disagree that the cost of a mass-produced, quality
musical electronic keyboard must be prohibitive. Of course, talk really
_is_ cheap... :)

>Although, my one concern is that while it seems certainly more playable
>than the Z-Board, it seems that the kind of synthesizer "horsepower" >required (hence, the expense will far outstep the mere controller itself)

Don't count on it -- do you know how much that controller costs? The
recommended synth for the Microzone, last I checked, is the Kurzweil
K2500.

>steps beyond what most synthesizers are able to provide....

Not really. It does step beyond what MIDI was designed to provide --
way more than 128 notes on this puppy. In fact, you need the majority
of MIDI notes just to fill a single octave on this keyboard! The solution
is to map MIDI channels across the range of the instrument, sacrificing
multi-timbrality (sp?), which is okay; if you can even handle a
single timbre on this baby, you're a virtuoso.

-Carl

Has anyone played with the Yamaha S-80? Any word on its tuning
capabilities? I don't see it on John Loffink's site, but I assume that's
because it's relatively new.

Bill

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^ Bill Alves email: alves@hmc.edu ^
^ Harvey Mudd College URL: http://www2.hmc.edu/~alves/ ^
^ 301 E. Twelfth St. (909)607-4170 (office) ^
^ Claremont CA 91711 USA (909)607-7600 (fax) ^
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>> Well, I tend to call anything with substandard quality control or stuff
>> ridden with cheaper quality plastic lining pretty much the entire
>> instrument, and displays that begin to show deterioration over the course
>> of about six months of regular use something subject to "corner-cutting".
>
> Unfortunately, a lot of stuff is built this way. But there are some
> solid options out there. The Korg Triton looks fairly well-made, as
> do all Kurzweil products. My Kawai K5000 is nice, too.
>
>
I agree about Kurzweil's "pro" products all the way. Korg's Triton is
reasonably well made, although I find that Korg tends to be inconsistant
once you leave the safety of their flagship models (an opinion, of course).
Keep in mind both the Triton and of especially Kurzweil break most people's
definitions of affordability.

As far as the K5000, I disagree to an extent, but I will talk to you
privately about that since it might be dragging this post on unnecessarily.
=)

>> While, I will agree with you that thoughtful design goes a long way, I
>> don't it can entirely break the wall of quality materials. In fact, I
>> think a lot of what thoughtful design is about consists of choosing
>> materials that can take the "use" and "abuse" over the life of the
>> instrument.
>
> I agree. But I still disagree that the cost of a mass-produced, quality
> musical electronic keyboard must be prohibitive. Of course, talk really
> _is_ cheap... :)
>
>
You're right. It "must" not be prohibitive, I came across a little strongly,
as I do agree with you. But I do think it has a major tendency to be
somewhat expensive for what I consider "solid" instruments.

>> Although, my one concern is that while it seems certainly more playable
>> than the Z-Board, it seems that the kind of synthesizer "horsepower"
>> >required (hence, the expense will far outstep the mere controller itself)
>
> Don't count on it -- do you know how much that controller costs? The
> recommended synth for the Microzone, last I checked, is the Kurzweil
> K2500.
>
>
What I meant to say was the overall expense will far outstep the mere
controller itself (sorry about that). But even so, I was not aware that it
was expensive as you imply. Any idea of the expense offhand? Might be a
couple of days before Starr gets back to me. =)

Hmm. I thought they recommended the Kyma, but maybe they were a tad pedantic
for a "worse case" conditions as far as experimentation.

Speaking of the K2500, is everyone aware that Kurzweil is considerably
cheaper from some of the European distributors than the United States?
While, I do know a few people who did order it through musicians-gear.com
and had it sent overseas, I don't want to encourage something I haven't
tested myself.

>> steps beyond what most synthesizers are able to provide....
>
> Not really. It does step beyond what MIDI was designed to provide --
> way more than 128 notes on this puppy. In fact, you need the majority
> of MIDI notes just to fill a single octave on this keyboard! The solution
> is to map MIDI channels across the range of the instrument, sacrificing
> multi-timbrality (sp?), which is okay;
<snip>

Well, that's what I meant. It seems to really tax what most synthesizers
have to offer. I am not sure if my K150's would be up to the task. But, as
could be said, this could be the result of my lack of education regarding
this instrument. If this is the case, I apologize. :P

> if you can even handle a
> single timbre on this baby, you're a virtuoso.
>
Hah really? Do you know any examples anywhere of people who can at least to
some extent produce music on this thing? I am interested what the current
progress is regarding this instrument.

>
> -Carl
>
Thanks again, Carl. =)

-- Art